Family Tree DNA’s Black Friday sale has started in mid-November for the last two years, and it usually runs into early December. Right now the Early Bird Sale is on until 11 November, with Family Finder at $39 and Big Y-700 at $399. This page tracks the prices and tells you which test is worth buying if your roots are Irish.
Family Tree DNA Black Friday at a glance
- On now: Early Bird Sale, until 11 November 2026
- Black Friday sale: expected from mid-November; last year it ran 13 November to 3 December
- After that: a Holiday Sale has followed to 31 December
- Best buy for Irish roots: Big Y-700 at $399 for the male line, Family Finder at $39 for everyone
- Y-37: shows whether your paternal line fits the Irish Type III (R-L226) pattern.
- Big Y-700: places you on a specific branch of the tree, the test that project administrators recommend.
- Family Finder: covers all your family lines, not just the male line, and finds cousins from the last five or six generations. Women can take it too.
- Free projects: once tested, join the R-L226 project and your surname project to compare results.
Family Tree DNA Black Friday 2026 prices
All prices are in US dollars, before shipping and tax. We update this table each time Family Tree DNA changes its sale.
| Test | Regular price | Early Bird Sale (to 11 Nov) | Black Friday 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Finder (all lines) | $79 | $39 | Expected mid-November |
| Y-37 (male line) | $119 | $79 | Expected mid-November |
| Y-111 (male line) | $249 | $189 | Expected mid-November |
| Big Y-700 (male line) | $449 | $399 | Expected mid-November |
| mtFull Sequence (female line) | $159 | $129 | Expected mid-November |
When does the Family Tree DNA Black Friday sale start?
Family Tree DNA doesn’t wait for the day itself. In 2025 its Black Friday promotion ran from 13 November to 3 December, and a Holiday Sale followed through to 31 December. The 2024 Black Friday sale also ran into early December, closing on 4 December. In both years an Early Bird Sale came first, which is the pattern we’re seeing again this year.
Black Friday itself falls on 27 November in 2026. Expect the sale to be running well before that, and to last until the first days of December.
Should you wait for Black Friday?
Probably not. Family Tree DNA’s sale prices repeat through the year. Its DNA Day sale in April and its Father’s Day sale in June both had Family Finder at $39, Y-37 at $79 and Big Y-700 at $399, the same as the Early Bird Sale now. Black Friday may add a small extra cut or free shipping, but the big saving is already here. If the price on the page matches the table above, it’s a good time to buy.
Which test should you buy for Irish roots?
The right test depends on which line you are tracing and who is taking it.
- Big Y-700, for men with a Dál gCais surname: if you’re an O’Brien, MacMahon, Kennedy or MacNamara, this is the test that places you on a named branch of Brian Boru’s kindred. It is the one surname projects ask for.
- Y-37, for a first look at the male line: the cheapest way to see whether your paternal line fits the R-L226 pattern. Bear in mind that upgrading later from Y-37 to Big Y-700 costs $339 at full price, so on sale, Big Y-700 straight away is better value if you think you’ll want it.
- Family Finder, for women and all lines: at $39 it’s the best deal in the sale. It matches you with cousins on every side of your family, so it suits anyone tracing a grandmother’s surname or a line without a paper trail.
- mtFull Sequence, for the direct female line: traces your mother’s mother’s line. It’s a specialist test, best added once you have Family Finder results.
Not sure if your surname belongs to the Dál gCais? Check our list of Brian Boru kindred surnames first, then read the Brian Boru descendants and DNA guide to see what the results will tell you.
A DNA test as a Christmas present
The Black Friday sale is the best moment to buy a test as a gift, especially for a father or grandfather with an Irish surname, since only a man can take a Y-DNA test for his line. Order early if the kit has to travel to Ireland, the UK or Australia, because international shipping takes longer in December. Results take weeks to come back, and Big Y-700 takes longer still, so the present on the day is the kit and the story behind it. Shipping is charged on top of the sale price. For more ideas, from Brian Boru books to days out in Ireland, see our Irish heritage gifts guide.
Related guides
See Are you descended from Brian Boru? and our surname histories, including the Considines and MacMahons, who descend from Brian himself.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Family Tree DNA Black Friday sale in 2026?
Family Tree DNA hasn’t announced the dates yet. In 2025 the Black Friday sale ran from 13 November to 3 December, and the 2026 Early Bird Sale ends on 11 November, so a similar start is likely.
Is Family Tree DNA cheaper on Black Friday?
Prices are at or near their lowest, but the same sale prices also appear in spring and summer sales. The Early Bird Sale already has Family Finder at $39 and Big Y-700 at $399.
Does Family Tree DNA ship to Ireland?
Yes. Family Tree DNA ships kits internationally, including to Ireland, the UK, Australia and Canada. Prices are in US dollars, and shipping is extra.
Which Family Tree DNA test is best for Irish ancestry?
For a man tracing an Irish surname, Big Y-700. For women, or anyone tracing several family lines, Family Finder.
Sources
- Family Tree DNA, Test and Upgrade Prices.
- Family Tree DNA, Offer Rules and Regulations: Black Friday 2025.
- Family Tree DNA, DNA Day Sale 2026 Prices.
- Family Tree DNA, Father’s Day Sale Pricing.