I’ve Been Reporting on Prime Day for Years, and These Are Always the Best Items To Buy

If you ignored the last set of deals, yet another Amazon Prime Day is taking place on October 10 and 11 (now they're calling it "Prime Big Deal Days"), offering deals on thousands of items in time for the holidays. But it can be completely overwhelming to find the best of the best when everything looks like it's on sale. 

I’ve been writing about the top deals for Amazon Prime Day for years, and have noticed a few trends that, year after year, are always hot tickets. 

These are the Amazon Prime Day categories to look for.

(We also have tips on what not to buy on Amazon Prime Day.)

Headphones and ear buds are always on sale for Prime Day. Last year, you could get Beats Studio Noise-Canceling Headphones for over 50% off, and it's likely that there will be plenty of others offering a hefty sale this year. It's probably worth grabbing a pair in time for holiday gifting.

This pretty much goes without saying. If you've been interested in getting a new Kindle, Fire device, Echo, or other Amazon-brand smart home device, now is the time. There will be deals galore on these items, perfect if you can't wait until Black Friday. If you don't care about the latest model, you can find 50% off and more on some devices, like a Fire HD 10 tablet with a 2021 release date.

Every year, you probably see Black Friday deals on various versions of the popular KitchenAid mixer (it's one of those kitchen tools that are built to last). Now you get a another chance to find it on sale. Last year, the KitchenAid Artisan Mini Mixer was about 30% off;  you're very likely to find similar discounts on various mixers on Amazon this year. 

If you don't own an air fryer yet, what are you waiting for? These little ovens are cooking magic (and that's coming from someone who hates cooking). You have two choices: Either wait until Black Friday, or check out the deals on Prime Day. You'll typically be able to find an air fryer between 30% and 40% off. 

Related: 40 Cheap Air Fryer Recipes to Cut Calories Not Flavor

It's sweater weather, and Prime Day is a good chance to grab some clothes for the season. In particular, Amazon Essentials brand sweaters (and jackets, too) are likely to be discounted. 

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Amazon is determined to make you a Roomba owner for some reason (probably because Amazon now owns the company that makes them), so these devices always go on sale over Prime Day. They've previously been listed for 50% off, and you may even find an even greater discount if you go with an older model. 

Related: 20 Cleaning Products That Are a Complete Waste of Money

An affordable cookware set is always useable. You can gift them for weddings or the holidays. There are likely to be tons of discounted sets on Prime Day that include pots, pans, and more. Last year, this T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized Nonstick Fry Pan Set was 50% off. 

Related: The Ultimate Buy-It-For-Life Gift Guide, According to Redditors

If you've been eyeing a new espresso machine or are just ready to upgrade your old coffee pot, Prime Day is a great time to do so. There are many coffee machine deals to be had, and you may not see them again until Black Friday. Last year, we saw Keurig coffee machines for about 40% off. 

Related: The Best K-Cups for Your Morning Brew

During the last Prime Day sale, if you had the Amazon app, you could sign up for push notifications and be notified five minutes before a deal starts. This sale has another new feature — deals by invitation. Select deals are accessible only if you request an invite on the product's page. There's a limited quantity available, so not everyone can take part. If you get through, you'll get an email notification with a unique link when the Prime Day sale starts.