Gift-Giving Statistics 2026
By Alex · Updated July 2026 · Sources linked throughout
A sourced reference of gift-giving data for 2026: how much people spend, how often gifts get returned, and when shoppers actually buy. Every figure below links to its original source. We compile this page because good gift data is scattered across dozens of press releases and survey write-ups; this puts the useful numbers in one place.
Overall spending
$890.49
average per-person spending on winter holidays in 2026 (gifts, food, decor). [NRF]
$627.93
of that average goes specifically to gifts for family and friends. [NRF]
$1.01–1.02 trillion
NRF's total 2026 holiday retail sales forecast, the first time projected sales exceed $1 trillion. [NRF]
91%
of U.S. adults plan to celebrate a winter holiday (Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa) in 2026. [NRF]
Father's Day and Mother's Day
$27.9 billion
total projected U.S. Father's Day spending in 2026, a record. [NRF]
$226.58
average per-person Father's Day spending in 2026, up from $199.38 in 2025. [NRF]
77%
of Americans planned to celebrate Father's Day in 2026. [NRF]
60%
of Father's Day shoppers buy a greeting card, the single most popular gift category. [NRF]
Returns and unwanted gifts
40%
of consumers planned to return at least one holiday gift. [Shorr Packaging]
53%
of U.S. adults expected to receive at least one unwanted gift. [Shorr Packaging]
$72
average cost of an unwanted gift, adding up to over $10.1 billion in unwanted spending nationally. [Shorr Packaging]
54%
of people admit to regifting an item at least once. [Shorr Packaging]
48%
have avoided returning a gift they didn't want, out of fear of offending the giver. [Shorr Packaging]
Shopping timing
89%
of consumers planned to shop in the final days before Christmas. [ICSC Super Saturday Survey]
35%
describe themselves as "11th-hour shoppers" who wait until the week of Christmas. [ICSC Super Saturday Survey]
22%
of Gen Z shoppers won’t start buying gifts until Black Friday, compared to 8% of Baby Boomers. [ICSC Super Saturday Survey]
Using these statistics
Feel free to cite any figure on this page with attribution and a link back to this URL or the original source listed. If you spot a stat that's gone stale, let us know.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the average person spend on gifts each year?
For the winter holidays alone, U.S. adults plan to spend $890.49 per person on average in 2026, with $627.93 of that going directly to gifts for family and friends, according to NRF survey data.
What percentage of gifts get returned?
About 40% of consumers plan to return at least one holiday gift, and over half (53%) of U.S. adults expect to receive at least one unwanted gift, per a 2025-2026 consumer survey from Shorr Packaging.
When do most people buy their holiday gifts?
Late. 89% of consumers plan to shop in the final days before Christmas, and 35% describe themselves as 11th-hour shoppers who wait until Christmas week itself.
How much do people spend on Father’s Day gifts?
NRF projects $226.58 in average per-person spending for Father’s Day 2026, part of a record $27.9 billion in total U.S. spending for the holiday.