Smart shopping

Updated 26 March 2026

Best day to buy groceries in Australia

When do supermarket specials start? Wednesday at Coles and Woolworths. Here is the full weekly cycle and how to time your shop.

Wednesday is the big day

Both Coles and Woolworths drop new specials on Wednesday morning. This is the single biggest sale day of the week. If you're planning a big shop and want the widest selection of discounted items, Wednesday to Thursday is when to go. You'll beat the crowds and get first pick.

The full weekly cycle

Here's how the major retailers stack up across the week:

Day	Coles	Woolworths	ALDI	Harris Farm
Monday	Tail end of Wed special	Tail end of Wed special	Tail end of Wed special buy	Standard pricing
Tuesday	Markdowns on expiring deals	Markdowns on expiring deals	Last day of Wed special buy	Standard pricing
Wednesday	New specials start	New specials start	New special buy	Standard pricing
Thursday	Wed special runs strong	Wed special runs strong	Special buy strong	Standard pricing
Friday	Wed special mid-run	Wed special mid-run	Special buy picks up	Standard pricing
Saturday	Crowded, stock depleted	Crowded, stock depleted	New special buy	Standard pricing
Sunday	Few specials left	Few specials left	Special buy thinning	Standard pricing
Tuesday	Last day of Wed special	Last day of Wed special	Last day of special buy	Standard pricing

Tuesday night: the markdown window

If you're hunting markdowns, Tuesday evening is your move. As specials wind down, both Coles and Woolworths discount items to clear stock. This is particularly good for meat and prepared foods coming off special. You won't get the full discount range of Wednesday, but you'll find genuine bargains on items with shorter shelf lives.

Fresh produce and stock rotation

For fresh produce, there's no single best day. Timing depends on when each store receives delivery. Early morning tends to be better than late evening because you get first pick of new stock. That said, late evening can be good for vegetables marked down as they approach their sell-by date, though selection will be thinner.

Weekend: myth vs reality

Saturday and Sunday are the worst time to shop for specials. Deals are picked over from midweek shoppers, stock is depleted, and stores are crowded. If you do shop on the weekend, go early (as soon as the store opens) to catch any remaining specials before others grab them. The exception is ALDI's Saturday special buy, which is new stock and worth checking out.

The real answer: it depends

The best day ultimately depends on what you're buying.

• Wide selection of specials: Wednesday or Thursday
• Steep markdowns on perishables: Tuesday evening
• Fresh produce at peak quality: Early morning, any day (varies by store)
• Avoiding crowds: Monday to Wednesday morning
• ALDI special buys: Wednesday or Saturday (new stock)

The data is clear: if you can shop on Wednesday, you'll find the most discounts. But if Tuesday night or fresh-produce timing works better for your schedule, you're not missing out on much. The real savings come from knowing your prices and comparing across stores, not from picking the single best day.