The 20 best-selling products from last year's Black Friday — including the ones that surprised us

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Look no further for some shopping inspiration for Black Friday 2018 than last year's list of best-selling products.
From Instant Pots to Echo Dots to 23andMe DNA test kits, these were the 20 top sellers among Business Insider readers in last year.
Some of these items are currently on sale for Black Friday 2018.

Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year, a way to make a major dent in your holiday gift shopping and perhaps treat yourself to something you've been eyeing as well. With another Black Friday quickly approaching, we wanted to show you what Business Insider readers were buying at this time last year.

Our readers' purchases last year told us a few things, namely that they're using tech in all sorts of ways to streamline their lives. Unsurprisingly, smart home device purchases, particularly from the Amazon Echo family, are on the rise — after all, when you experience the seamless interactions among all your devices, it's difficult to go back.

It's also evident that our readers care about getting their money's worth without having to spend big. The discounts offered on Black Friday are perfect for bargain hunters and deal diggers.

Based on the popularity of these items from last year's Black Friday, you can make a pretty good guess that they'll be discounted this year as well. Bookmark any that you like so you'll be ready to purchase come Black Friday 2018.

While this data tells us a lot about the types of products and services you're interested in, we still love it when you drop us a line at insiderpicks@businessinsider and tell us things you'd like to hear more about or are perhaps having trouble finding on your own.

These are the 20 products Business Insider readers bought the most on Black Friday 2017.

Looking for more deals? We've rounded up the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on the internet.

DON'T MISS: Business Insider's guide to the best Black Friday sales of 2018

1. 23andMe and Ancestry.com DNA tests

23andMe DNA Test, $69, available at Amazon ($49 when you buy 2+ kits)

AncestryDNA Test, $59 (originally $99), available at Ancestry.com [You save $40]

If the increasing popularity of DNA test kits tells us anything, it's that we're all pretty interested in learning more about our roots. So interested, in fact, that we now even have the option to test the DNA of our pets. Our ever-growing fascination with where we come from explains why these DNA testing kits were the top sellers among Business Insider readers last Black Friday.

2. Amazon Echo Dot

Echo Dot (2nd Generation), $39.99, available at Amazon

Echo Dot (3rd Generation), $49.99, available at Amazon

The Echo Dot is small but packs a punch with all its capabilities. Use it to call, shop, play music, set a timer, and control other parts of your home by connecting it to other smart home devices. With nearly 80,000 people giving this convenient device a 5-star rating, it's no wonder it was a top-selling product last year.

3. TP-Link smart plug

TP-Link HS100 Kasa WiFi Smart Plug, $16.99, available at Amazon

You've probably, at least once, been in the predicament of questioning whether or not you unplugged your devices after you've left the house. These smart plugs let you control your outlets from your smartphone, no matter where you are — therefore quelling any fears that you left the toaster on or a hot iron plugged in. They're also compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft Cortana if you want to go hands-free.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider