Best time to buy an SSD
SSD · NVMe · hard drive · external · NAS · SAS · microSD, all on Amazon.com
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In 2026, buy when you need it; the NAND shortage means waiting mainly risks paying more. If you can wait, the deepest storage discounts cluster around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with Prime Day and back-to-school as secondary windows. Do not expect a broad price crash.
Our price trend (90-day)
Cheapest $/TB we have tracked, by day. As of October 31, 2026. Over this window the floor price is down 76%.
US storage sales calendar
| Sales event | Typical timing | How deep the discount goes |
|---|---|---|
| Black Friday / Cyber Monday | Late November | The biggest event; many drives hit their yearly lows. |
| Prime Day | July (and an October event) | Strong on Amazon house and partner brands; members only. |
| Back to school | July to August | Moderate; SSDs and portable drives see promotions. |
| Memorial Day / July 4th | Late May / early July | Smaller, occasional drive deals. |
What counts as a good deal right now
As of the last update, SSDs typically run about $90-110/TB. A genuine dip is roughly under $85/TB on a 2TB NVMe. Hard drives are cheaper and steadier at about $12-15/TB.
Use the live trend and table below to judge any listing against today's market. Buy on a real dip, not a small day-to-day move.
Buy now or wait?
Because the 2026 NAND shortage keeps prices firm, the safe rule is to buy when you need the storage and time it to a sale if you can. Hoping for a broad decline is a bad bet this year; the savings come from events, not from waiting out the market.
If a purchase can wait, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are usually the best windows of the year for storage.
Buying storage in the US
Prices on this page reflect Amazon.com in US dollars. The deepest storage discounts land around Black Friday and Cyber Monday in late November, with Prime Day in July a strong second; outside those windows, day-to-day prices move little during the 2026 shortage.
Returns and warranty are simplest when the listing is sold by Amazon.com or an authorised US seller. For a single critical drive, prefer that over a third-party reseller so the manufacturer warranty applies cleanly.
Live prices right now
See all SSDs ranked by price per TB ->
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy an SSD now or wait in 2026?
Buy when you need it. The 2026 NAND shortage has lifted prices and analysts expect firmness rather than a near-term drop, so waiting mostly risks paying more. Time the purchase to a major sale if you can.
When are SSDs cheapest?
Around Black Friday and Cyber Monday first, then Prime Day and back-to-school. Watch the live trend below and buy on a genuine dip rather than a small day-to-day move.
Why are SSD prices going up in 2026?
AI datacenter demand is consuming NAND flash supply, tightening the market for consumer SSDs and raising prices per terabyte across the board.
What is a good SSD price per TB right now?
With typical pricing around $90-110/TB, a genuine deal is roughly under $85/TB on a 2TB NVMe. The live table shows today's floor.
Is Prime Day or Black Friday better for storage?
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are usually the deepest for storage, though Prime Day can win on Amazon house brands. If you can wait for late November, it is typically the stronger event.
Should I buy a hard drive now or wait?
Hard drives are far less affected by the shortage and steadier in price, so timing matters less. If you need bulk capacity, there is little reason to wait beyond catching a sale markdown.
Last updated: 2026-10-31 06:02:04 UTC. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date indicated on Amazon.com and are subject to change. Any price displayed at the time of purchase will apply. CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED AS IS AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.