Install for freeThe 11.11 Sale on AliExpress in 2026: The Truth About the Discounts of the November Sale
11.11 is a date that many shoppers around the world eagerly await. It is the day when AliExpress, the largest online shopping platform, holds one of the biggest sales of the year. What is the 11.11 sale on AliExpress, why is it so popular, and can you really make profitable purchases during this period? Let’s find out!
AliExpress 11.11: the 4 rules that matter
- A large discount percentage does not guarantee the lowest price — always check the final checkout total.
- Use the preparation period to build your cart, save available coupons and check price history.
- Some discounts can be combined, but the rules depend on the promotion, country, product and order.
- Compare the same or similar product from several sellers, including shipping, before deciding which offer is actually cheaper.
What is Singles’ Day and why is it on November 11?
Singles’ Day originated in China in the 1990s as an informal celebration of being single. The date November 11 — 11/11 — became associated with the occasion because the four “1” digits were seen as representing four single people.
Alibaba turned November 11 into an online shopping festival in 2009, initially with just 27 participating merchants. Over time, 11.11 grew into a major annual e-commerce event and spread well beyond China.
When does AliExpress 11.11 sale start in 2026?
Like all major events on the Chinese marketplace, the November sale on AliExpress is carried out in two stages – the warm-up and the sale itself.
• 07.11-10.11 – warm-up
• 11.11-19.11 – sale
What to do before and during the 11.11 Sale
Before the sale
- Add only the products you actually plan to buy to your cart or wishlist.
- Check their price history before promotional prices appear.
- Compare the same item from several reliable sellers.
- Save any coupons or promo codes that may apply.
- Note the normal shipping cost so you can see whether it changes during the sale.
During the sale
- Check the price of the exact product variation you want.
- Apply available coupons and promo codes.
- Compare the final checkout total, including shipping.
- Re-check the seller rating and recent reviews.
- Buy only if the final price is genuinely better than the price you recorded before the sale.
Secrets to Successful Shopping on the 11.11 Sale
Beware of fake discounts in November
Unfortunately, major sales are an additional reason for sellers to profit from buyers. This is especially true for November sales. Taking advantage of the excitement, some stores display an unrealistic “pre-discount” price. They may edit the prices on the product card at their discretion. Like, for example, on this toolbox. Allegedly, it used to cost $9.29, and now it has a generous 56% discount.
However, if you install the free AliHelper browser extension and go to the “Price Changes AliExpress” section, you will notice that the price has not risen above $1.27 recently.
If you come across a similar fake discount but would like to buy this item cheaper, even later, in the same “Price Changes” section, click the “+ Monitor the Price” button. When the price drops, you will receive a notification.
Use coupons
Look for discount coupons and activate them before placing your order. We have a section with valid AliExpress coupons. In this section of the site, you can sort coupons by product type, discount amount and total order price. As well as a filter by month, so you can see discount coupons specifically for November. You can also search by specific merchants or individual products. To see the discount code on AliExpress, click on the orange button, which is located opposite the offer you are interested in. After that, you will only have to copy the code and apply it at checkout. The coupon database is regularly updated to ensure that only valid and relevant discounts are available.
Compare the final price, not just the product card
Compare the same product from several sellers before ordering. Make sure you are comparing the same model, size, color, configuration or bundle, because the lowest price shown in search results may belong to a different variation.
Also include shipping in the comparison. A seller with a lower product price can still be more expensive at checkout if delivery costs are higher.
The number that matters most is the final amount you will actually pay after selecting the correct variation, shipping method and applicable discounts.
How to calculate your real 11.11 discount
Do not calculate your savings from the crossed-out price alone. Compare the final price with what the product actually cost before the sale.
Check these five things:
- Historical price — what did the product cost during the previous weeks or months?
- Exact variation — are you comparing the same model, size, color or bundle?
- Shipping — did delivery become more expensive during the sale?
- Coupons and promo codes — which discounts actually apply to your cart?
- Final checkout total — how much will you really pay?
For example, if a product normally sells for $40, is advertised as “50% off $70” and costs $35 during 11.11, the real saving is $5 — about 12.5% — not 50%.
Can AliExpress prices go up before 11.11?
Yes. Product prices on AliExpress can change before and during major shopping events. A seller may increase the price before applying a promotional discount, or the cost of a particular variation may change independently.
This does not mean that every 11.11 discount is fake. It simply means that the sale percentage shown on the product page should be verified against real historical prices.
If you are planning a larger purchase, start tracking the product several weeks before November. This gives you a useful reference point when the 11.11 price appears.
Is 11.11 cheaper than Black Friday on AliExpress?
There is no rule that makes 11.11 cheaper than Black Friday for every product. The better event depends on the seller, product, available promo codes and shipping conditions.
If an 11.11 offer is genuinely below the product’s historical price and you need the item, there is no guarantee that waiting for Black Friday will make it cheaper. If the discount is weak, however, monitoring the product for the next promotion can make sense.
Price history is more useful here than trying to choose one sale as universally “better.”
Why is the AliExpress November sale 11.11 so popular?
On November 11, discounts on many items can be much larger than in other periods of the year. Using AliHelper, you can find the real ones. But they are likely to be lower in any case than those claimed by the seller. Here is an example of a more or less real discount.
If you believe the product card, the toolbox is sold at a 35% discount for $15.69, and supposedly it used to cost $24.14.
In the “Price Changes” section, you can see that the cost has indeed decreased by $3. However, it is still not $24.14, which the seller claimed on the product card.
Is the AliExpress 11.11 Sale worth it?
Yes, 11.11 can be a good time to buy on AliExpress, but the sale badge itself should never be the reason to place an order.
I recommend checking the price of products you want before November, comparing several sellers and looking at the final checkout total after shipping and discounts. If the 11.11 price is genuinely lower than the product’s recent price history, you have evidence that you are getting a real deal rather than simply a larger discount percentage.
AliHelper makes this easier by showing six months of price history and allowing you to monitor products for future price drops. The goal is not to buy more because it is 11.11 — it is to buy the products you already need when their real price is actually good.
The percentage shown on the product page is often calculated from a different variant or an inflated “before” price. The amount actually deducted at checkout depends on the specific variant, quantity, and any coupons applied — always check the final total in your cart rather than the headline percentage.
Yes. Some sellers adjust prices before or during the event. Use price history to verify what actually changed.
Yes — it’s the best time to prepare your cart, collect coupons, and identify fake discounts before you pay.
