Myer vs David Jones: Boxing Day vs Mid Year Sale in 2026: Which Sale Is Deeper for Which Category?

Two Australian department stores, two major sale windows, and a lot of category-specific nuance in between. Myer and David Jones both run Boxing Day (starting 26 December) and Mid Year Sale (typically late June through mid-July) as their biggest discount events of the year. Which one gets you the deepest markdown depends less on the retailer and more on the category you're shopping.

The verdict

For sheer discount depth on fashion, shoes, and homewares, Boxing Day at Myer is usually the winner. Myer aggressively clears tail-end sizes and older seasons; discounts on 26 to 28 December frequently hit 40 to 60 percent off, with a second markdown wave in the first week of January reaching 60 to 70 percent on remaining stock.

For winter fashion, bedding and manchester, and EOFY-aligned electricals, Mid Year Sale at both retailers is deeper because these categories are on-season and inventory is fresh; retailers use Mid Year to clear the peak of winter stock.

For premium and prestige brands (beauty, designer fashion, luxury bedding), David Jones typically has the deeper selection. David Jones's Boxing Day sale on beauty and premium fashion sits at 20 to 40 percent off, and its Mid Year Sale runs similar bands with tighter category focus.

Rule of thumb: Buy fashion, homewares, and cookware on Boxing Day at Myer; buy winter coats, boots, and bedding at Mid Year at either; buy beauty and designer at David Jones during their headline sale windows.

Compare current cashback rates at Myer and David Jones on ShopBack Australia before checking out.

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Boxing Day vs Mid Year Sale: how they actually differ

Boxing Day (26 December through mid-January).

• Timing: Online typically opens at midnight on 26 December. In-store from 26 December (or 27 December in states observing the public holiday).
• Depth: 30 to 70 percent off the ticketed range at Myer; 20 to 50 percent at David Jones.
• Breadth: Very wide. Nearly every category runs a sale, from fashion to homewares to travel accessories.
• Traffic pattern: Doorbuster mentality on day one; second markdown wave in first week of January; final clearance in mid-January.
• What's on sale: Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer stock (Australian summer is peak, so summer stock is the primary clearance target).
• What's not on sale: New season stock (autumn drops arriving in February), full-price Apple, and some prestige brands that opt out of doorbusters.

Mid Year Sale (typically late June through mid-July).

• Timing: Pre-launch to loyalty members in late June; public launch typically late June to early July. Wave two mid-July.
• Depth: 20 to 50 percent at Myer; 20 to 40 percent at David Jones.
• Breadth: Focused. Winter fashion, bedding, and homewares lead; some fashion and beauty at moderate depth.
• Traffic pattern: Lower urgency than Boxing Day; more shoppers browse over multiple sessions.
• What's on sale: Winter stock (coats, knits, boots, bedding), EOFY-aligned electricals and appliances, some beauty.
• What's not on sale: New autumn arrivals just landed, Spring/Summer previews.

The structural insight: Boxing Day exists to clear a full season (summer). Mid Year Sale exists to accelerate the peak of a season (winter). That's why Boxing Day is wider and shallower per category, while Mid Year is narrower but deeper on winter-relevant items.

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Category-by-category comparison

Indicative discount depths on 2026 sales. Ranges reflect what's typical; specific brands and lines vary.

Category	Boxing Day at Myer	Boxing Day at DJs	Mid Year at Myer	Mid Year at DJs
Women's fashion (mid-market)	30 to 60% off	20 to 40% off	25 to 40% off	20 to 35% off
Women's fashion (premium/designer)	20 to 30% off	20 to 40% off	20 to 30% off	20 to 35% off
Men's suits and tailoring	30 to 50% off	25 to 40% off	20 to 40% off	20 to 35% off
Shoes	30 to 60% off	25 to 50% off	20 to 40% off	20 to 40% off
Beauty (premium: Chanel, La Prairie, La Mer)	Rarely discounted	10 to 20% off + GWP	Not usually	Not usually
Beauty (mid-market: MAC, Estée Lauder, Clinique)	20 to 40% off	15 to 30% off	15 to 30% off	15 to 25% off
Fragrance	20 to 40% off	15 to 30% off	15 to 30% off	15 to 25% off
Bedding and manchester	30 to 60% off	25 to 50% off	30 to 60% off	25 to 50% off
Cookware (Le Creuset, Scanpan, KitchenAid)	25 to 50% off	20 to 40% off	20 to 40% off	20 to 35% off
Electricals and appliances	15 to 40% off	15 to 30% off	20 to 40% off	20 to 35% off
Luggage	30 to 50% off	20 to 40% off	25 to 40% off	20 to 35% off
Watches	15 to 30% off	15 to 25% off	15 to 25% off	15 to 25% off
Winter coats	Rarely on sale (summer in AU)	Rarely on sale	30 to 50% off	25 to 40% off
Winter boots	Late-summer arrivals shallow discount	Similar	30 to 50% off	25 to 40% off

Where each retailer wins per category:

• Fashion (mid-market and volume): Myer, especially on Boxing Day.
• Fashion (premium and designer): David Jones on selection; Myer on depth.
• Beauty (premium): David Jones, both on selection and gift-with-purchase (GWP).
• Beauty (mid-market): Roughly tied; check exact brands.
• Bedding and manchester: Myer edges ahead, especially on Sheridan, Adairs-adjacent private labels, and larger sizes.
• Cookware: Myer, particularly on KitchenAid stand mixers, Le Creuset dutch ovens, and Scanpan sets.
• Electricals: Both similar, but for major appliances (fridges, washing machines) JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys typically beat department stores at EOFY.
• Watches and jewellery: David Jones for prestige brands; Myer for accessible watches (Fossil, Seiko).

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Loyalty programs and stacking

MyerOne. Free loyalty program. Members earn shopping credits based on spend, unlock birthday offers, and get early access to sale events (usually 24 to 48 hours before the public start). Higher tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum) unlock deeper offers and personal shopper services.

David Jones' loyalty program. Free to join. Members earn points on purchases, redeem for shopping credits, and receive early access to sale events. Higher-tier members access dedicated events and prestige-brand previews.

Practical stack for Boxing Day at Myer:

1. Sign up for MyerOne ahead of the sale.
2. Click through Myer via ShopBack Australia to activate cashback.
3. Apply any promotional code you've received via email.
4. Complete purchase; MyerOne credits accrue automatically.
5. Cashback tracks over the next 30 to 90 days.

Cashback layers on top of MyerOne and David Jones loyalty rewards in most cases. Some promotional-code-exclusive sales may exclude cashback tracking; check the ShopBack merchant page for current terms.

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Online vs in-store: which wins each sale

Boxing Day online. Best inventory in the first 24 hours. Populated sizes (8 to 14 for women's, M to L for men's) sell through fast. If you know the item and size, buy online in the first 6 hours after midnight on 26 December. Check the site 3 to 5 times over the first week for wave-two markdowns.

Boxing Day in-store. Best on 27 to 30 December once initial crowds thin. Store staff can sometimes access online-only sizes via inter-store transfer. Late-January in-store visits catch the final clearance wave.

Mid Year Sale online. Usually equal or better than in-store. Lower traffic urgency, so stock persists longer. Wave-two markdowns in mid-July online often surface online-only exclusive lines.

Mid Year Sale in-store. Personal shopper appointments are often available at Myer and David Jones flagship stores; useful for premium and occasion purchases where fit matters. Try before you buy on structured pieces (coats, blazers, boots).

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What to skip at Myer and David Jones

Not everything at Myer or David Jones is worth waiting for:

• Electronics and major appliances. JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, and The Good Guys typically beat department stores at EOFY and Boxing Day on TVs, laptops, and washing machines.
• Basics and fast fashion. Kmart, Target, Uniqlo, and Cotton On sit structurally below department store base prices on basics like t-shirts, socks, and workout clothes.
• Toys. Big W and Kmart typically discount deeper on Boxing Day and Mid Year Sale.
• Beauty in non-sale months. Adore Beauty and Mecca often run promotional codes throughout the year that beat department store non-sale pricing.
• Groceries and everyday consumables. Not really a department store shop; Coles, Woolworths, Aldi lead.

Use Myer and David Jones for the categories where they compete strongly (fashion, homewares, cookware, premium beauty, bedding). Buy elsewhere for the categories where specialist retailers win.

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How ShopBack fits Boxing Day and Mid Year Sale shopping

Cashback via ShopBack applies to online purchases at Myer and David Jones through the ShopBack app or website.

1. Open ShopBack Australia and search for Myer or David Jones.
2. Click through the ShopBack merchant page to the retailer's site before adding anything to cart. Cashback tracks on click-through, not on return visits.
3. Complete your purchase using any payment method (Afterpay, credit card, MyerOne points, gift card). Payment method typically does not affect cashback tracking.
4. Cashback tracks to your ShopBack account (typically within 30 to 90 days).

Cashback layers on top of Boxing Day sale prices, MyerOne loyalty points, David Jones loyalty rewards, and most promotional codes. Some sale exclusions apply; check the merchant page for current terms and rates.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Boxing Day sale or Mid Year Sale deeper at Myer and David Jones? It depends on the category. Boxing Day is typically deeper on fashion and shoes, homewares and cookware. Mid Year Sale is deeper on winter fashion (coats, knits, boots), bedding, and electricals aligned with EOFY. Boxing Day has broader coverage; Mid Year has more focused winter-category depth.

Which store discounts more deeply: Myer or David Jones? Myer typically discounts more broadly across a wider price band during headline sales. David Jones runs more focused sales on premium and mid-premium brands with less breadth but more prestige-brand availability.

When exactly do Myer and David Jones sales start in 2026? Myer's Boxing Day sale traditionally opens online at midnight on 26 December and in-store on 26 December (or 27 December in states with the public holiday). David Jones follows the same pattern. Mid Year Sale typically pre-launches in mid to late June with member early access. Confirm 2026 dates closer to the window.

Should I shop online or in-store for Boxing Day and Mid Year Sale? Online has best inventory in the first 24 hours of Boxing Day. In-store visits after 28 December often surface additional markdowns not shown online. Mid Year Sale online is usually equal or better than in-store.

How can I stack cashback with Myer and David Jones sale prices? Click through the ShopBack merchant page before starting your purchase. Cashback tracks the click-through and applies on top of the sale price. Cashback layers on top of MyerOne member points and David Jones loyalty rewards in most cases.

Which categories are worth waiting for at Myer or David Jones vs buying elsewhere? Wait for premium beauty, designer fashion, bedding and manchester, homewares and cookware, and Australian designer labels. Buy elsewhere for electronics and major appliances (JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman), basics and fast fashion (Kmart, Target, Uniqlo), and specialist categories.

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Key takeaways

• Boxing Day beats Mid Year Sale on breadth; Mid Year Sale beats Boxing Day on winter categories.
• Myer typically wins on discount depth; David Jones wins on premium and designer selection.
• Category matters more than retailer: fashion at Myer Boxing Day, beauty at David Jones, bedding at either during Mid Year.
• Skip department stores for electronics (JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman win) and basics (Kmart, Uniqlo win).
• Loyalty programs stack with cashback; sign up ahead of the sale.
• Cashback layers on top via ShopBack Australia for both retailers.

Ready to shop? Compare current cashback rates at Myer and David Jones on ShopBack before you check out.

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Related reads

• Australia 2026 Sale Calendar
• Seasonal Sales in Australia
• EOFY Sales in Australia 2026

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Disclosure

Prices, sale timing, discount depths, and cashback rates change frequently. All figures accurate as of July 2026; check merchant pages for current terms and rates. Sale start dates, discount bands, and loyalty program mechanics are subject to change; verify with each retailer before planning a large purchase. This article is intended for general informational purposes and is not consumer advice. Individual results vary.