You've sorted through your belongings, priced everything, and planned your display. The last big decision is when. Every garage sale in McAllen needs a city permit, and those permits go back to 2011, so the question of when people hold sales here has a real answer. Our McAllen garage sale insights have the full charts; here's what they mean for picking your weekend.

The Garage Sale Year in McAllen

Averaged over every complete year of permits, the year has a clear shape:

• March to August is the busiest stretch for new sales, building to a peak in July. Summer alone (June to August) holds about 32% of the year's sales.
• September dips between summer and fall.
• October and November bring a second busy stretch. October is one of the three busiest months of the year, alongside July and June.
• December to February is the quietest part of the year. January, February and December have the fewest new sales, about 17% of the year together.

The month-by-month chart shows the numbers behind each window.

Busy month or quiet month?

The permits count sales, not shoppers, so they can't say when the most shoppers are out. What they do show is how much company your sale will have. In a busy month like July or October, there are more sales on the map, which is great for shoppers planning a route and means your sale should stand out with a clear listing. In a quiet month like January, there are fewer sales competing for attention. Neither is wrong: pick the weekend that suits your schedule, then make your listing work for it.

The Days Most Sales Are Open

Most McAllen sales start on a Thursday or Friday and run three days, the most a single permit covers. That's why Friday through Sunday is when the most sales are open, and Saturday has the most of all, with Friday close behind. Check the weekday chart for the split.

What that means for planning:

• Run three days. Each $20 permit covers up to three days in a row (our permit guide has the rest of the rules). A Friday-to-Sunday sale lines up with when most sales are open.
• Open on day one with your best items. Whoever arrives first gets first pick, so day one is the day to put the furniture and tools out front.
• Use the last day to clear out. A lower-price final day helps move what's left before you pack up.
• Mark your days open. Set each day as open on your McAllenGarageSales.com listing, so shoppers know when to come (a Featured Listing can also show your exact hours).

Holiday Weekends

Some holiday weekends look very different from a normal weekend in the same month. Compared side by side:

• Memorial Day weekend averages about 24% more garage sales than a normal May weekend.
• Thanksgiving weekend averages about 76% fewer than a normal November weekend.
• Christmas weekend averages about 67% fewer, and Easter weekend about 50% fewer.

A busy holiday weekend means lots of company on the map; a quiet one means your sale is one of only a few. Our post on Thanksgiving weekend garage sales looks at the quietest one in detail, and the holiday chart covers the rest, including National Garage Sale Day in August.

What About Hours?

Permits don't record what time a sale opens, so there's no permit-based answer to the best hour. A few practical points still help:

• Start early in summer. McAllen's summer is the busiest stretch for sales, and it's also hot. Setting up early, adding shade and keeping cold water on hand makes the day easier on you and everyone who stops by. Our summer heat strategy guide has more.
• Tell people your hours. If your hours matter, a Featured Listing shows exact times for each day. Otherwise, mention them in your description.
• For shoppers: arrive early for the best selection, and check each listing before you go.

Putting It All Together

A simple plan for a McAllen garage sale:

• When: any month works. Pick July or October for the busiest map, or January and February for the least competition.
• Days: Friday through Sunday, on one permit.
• Holidays: Memorial Day weekend is busy; Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter weekends are quiet.
• Listing: claim it as soon as your permit shows up on the map, add a cover photo and tags, and mark your days open.

Once you've picked your dates, get your permit, then claim your free listing so shoppers can find you on the map.

Happy selling, McAllen!