The short answer: for most regular-season games, the cheapest time to buy NFL tickets is 1–3 days before kickoff. Resale data shows seats sold three days out went for about 13% below the season average, while buying three or more weeks early cost about 3% more than average.
But "wait" is not a rule for every game. Rivalries, primetime slots and playoff-race matchups can climb instead of fall. This guide breaks down the best time to buy across the season, the game week and the final hours, plus when you should lock in early.
Ready to check prices now? Compare every listing side by side on TicketWhiz NFL tickets.
How NFL ticket pricing works
Most NFL games sell out their season-ticket base, so single-game fans usually buy on the resale market. Resale prices float with demand, much like airline fares. Sellers list high early, then cut prices as kickoff nears and an unsold ticket becomes worthless.
That also means the same seat can carry different prices on different sites. One seller may list on StubHub, another on SeatGeek, and fees vary by marketplace. TicketWhiz pulls listings from Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek, Gametime, Vivid Seats and more into one search, so you can compare total prices before you buy. TicketWhiz does not sell tickets or add fees; you check out on the marketplace you pick (how TicketWhiz works, FAQ).
Best time in the season to buy
The schedule drops in spring, and that is usually the most expensive window for resale. Resale tickets bought more than two months ahead cost about 3% above the season average, yet nearly half of all resale tickets sell in that window. Early buyers pay for certainty, not value.
Within the season, these windows tend to be the cheapest:
- Preseason (August): the lowest prices of the year, since starters barely play.
- Early-season games against weak opponents: demand is lower before a playoff picture forms.
- Late-season games for eliminated teams: once a team is out of the race, fans unload seats.
- December cold-weather games: snow and single-digit temperatures push casual buyers out. Look at teams like the Green Bay Packers or Buffalo Bills when the forecast turns rough.
The opposite holds for teams in a tight playoff race. Late-season games with seeding on the line often rise week by week.
Best time in game week to buy
The sweet spot is three days before kickoff. For a Sunday game, that means Thursday. Here is how resale prices compared with the season average in an analysis of over 900,000 regular-season resale tickets:
| When you buy | Price vs. season average |
|---|---|
| 3+ weeks before | About 3% higher |
| Week of the game (0–7 days) | About 8% lower (roughly $20 saved per ticket) |
| 3 days before | About 13% lower |
| 1–2 days before | More than 10% lower |
| Game day | About 12% lower |
Game day can be cheap, but only 2% of resale tickets sell that day. Choice is thin, and good pairs or groups of four can vanish. Some resellers do cut prices 60–90 minutes before kickoff to avoid being stuck with seats. Treat that as a bonus, not a plan, especially if you need to travel to the stadium.
Our take: start watching prices 7–10 days out, and aim to buy Wednesday through Friday for a Sunday game. For a deeper look at the tradeoffs, read Buying NFL Tickets Early vs. Last Minute.
When not to wait
Waiting pays off when supply is healthy. When supply is tight, prices can rise into kickoff. Consider buying early for:
- Rivalry games: Cowboys–Eagles, Packers–Bears, Chiefs–Raiders and similar matchups draw both fan bases. See Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles tickets.
- Primetime games: Sunday, Monday and Thursday night games are one-off events for many fans.
- Teams with traveling fan bases: a Kansas City Chiefs or San Francisco 49ers road game can fill an opposing stadium.
- Smaller stadiums with low supply: fewer seats means fewer desperate sellers.
- Holiday games and international games: Thanksgiving and overseas games draw tourists and travelers who book far ahead.
- When you need specific seats: a group of four together, accessible seating or a certain section.
A useful middle ground: if you see a fair price for a must-see game, buy it. The few dollars you might save by waiting are not worth missing the game.
What moves NFL ticket prices
Timing is only one lever. These factors often matter just as much:
| Factor | Pushes prices up | Pushes prices down |
|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Star QB, rival, defending champ | Rebuilding or losing team |
| Team record | Playoff race, win streak | Eliminated, losing streak |
| Time slot | Primetime, holiday | 1 p.m. Sunday, late-season weekday |
| Weather | Mild forecast | Snow, rain, extreme cold |
| Injuries | Star confirmed to play | Star QB ruled out |
| Stadium size | Small venue, high demand | Large venue with spare seats |
Injury news is a quiet price mover. If a star quarterback is ruled out midweek, listings for that game often soften fast. Watching the injury report Wednesday through Friday lines up neatly with the cheapest buying window.
How to buy NFL tickets at the lowest price
- Pick your game early, buy later. Decide on the game when the schedule drops, but hold off on buying unless it is a high-demand matchup.
- Start tracking 7–10 days out. Search the game on TicketWhiz and note the cheapest listing on each marketplace.
- Compare total prices, not list prices. Fees differ by site, so a lower list price can end up costing more at checkout. TicketWhiz shows listings from every major marketplace side by side.
- Check single seats. A lone seat is often cheaper than one seat in a pair, since sellers struggle to move odd tickets.
- Look at upper corners and end zones. Sideline seats carry the biggest markup. For a stadium-specific example, see our guide to the cheapest sections at MetLife Stadium.
- Buy Wednesday to Friday for a Sunday game. This is where data shows the best balance of price and choice.
- Only buy from trusted marketplaces. Skip social media sellers and cash deals outside the stadium. Established marketplaces offer buyer guarantees.
Planning a stadium trip? Browse NFL venues like SoFi Stadium, Allegiant Stadium and MetLife Stadium, or find games by city in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Atlanta.
Best time to buy NFL playoff and Super Bowl tickets
The same pattern holds in the postseason, only faster. Playoff matchups are set about a week out, and the cheapest average price usually lands the day before the game. An analysis of over 50,000 playoff resale tickets found game-day prices were lower than prices one week earlier in every round:
| Round | Game day vs. one week before |
|---|---|
| Wild card | 21% lower |
| Divisional | 11% lower |
| Conference championship | 17% lower |
| Super Bowl | 49% lower |
Two cautions. Divisional prices rose about 20% in the days right after matchups were set before falling. And conference championship tickets cost over $200 more on game day than the day before. So the day before is the safer target.
For the Super Bowl, the most expensive moment is usually right after the conference title games. Gametime's data shows prices softening most in the final 48–72 hours. Track live prices on the Super Bowl tickets page.
Frequently asked questions
What day of the week are NFL tickets cheapest?
For a Sunday game, Wednesday through Friday of game week usually offers the best mix of low prices and seat choice. Prices three days out averaged about 13% below the season average.
Do NFL tickets get cheaper on game day?
Often, yes, by about 12% on average. But few tickets sell that day, and high-demand games can go up instead. See Do NFL Tickets Get Cheaper Closer to the Game? for more.
Is it cheaper to buy NFL tickets right when the schedule comes out?
Usually not on the resale market. Buying three or more weeks early cost about 3% more than average.
What is the cheapest month to go to an NFL game?
August preseason games are the cheapest overall. In the regular season, look at December games for eliminated teams or cold-weather cities.
Why are prices different on each ticket site?
Different sellers list the same kind of seat on different marketplaces, and each site charges its own fees. Comparing them in one search on TicketWhiz is the fastest way to find the lowest total.
Is it safe to buy last-minute NFL tickets?
Yes, if you buy from an established marketplace with a buyer guarantee. Mobile tickets transfer instantly, so last-minute purchases work fine.
The bottom line
For most NFL games, patience pays. Start watching prices a week or so out and buy one to three days before kickoff. Lock in early only for rivalries, primetime games, playoff-race matchups or when you need specific seats.
Whichever game you pick, compare before you buy. Search NFL tickets on TicketWhiz to see every listing across major marketplaces side by side, then check out on the site you trust.
