Entertainment Spending
How much American households spend on entertainment — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Entertainment
American households spent an average of $3,609 on entertainment in 2024, representing 4.6% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was -0.7% (from $3,635 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.
Since 2020, entertainment spending has risen by 23.9% (from $2,912 to $3,609), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden. The category breaks into 4 subcategories, each with its own spending dynamic — drill into any row below to see the finer-grained picture.
Income is the strongest predictor of entertainment spending: the top income quintile spends $7,660/year versus $1,316 for the lowest quintile — a 5.8x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($4,544/year) while the South spends the least ($2,999/year). Use the cross-cuts below — by income, region, age, household size, and housing tenure — to see which demographic factors drive this category hardest for your situation.
Spending Trend (2020–2024)
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,609 |
| 2023 | $3,635 |
| 2022 | $3,458 |
| 2021 | $3,568 |
| 2020 | $2,912 |
Subcategories
| Subcategory | Annual Amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Fees and admissions | $935 |
| Audio and visual equipment and services | $965 |
| Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment | $1,069 |
| Other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services | $640 |
By Income Level (2024)
How entertainment spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $1,316 |
| Second 20% | $2,156 |
| Middle 20% | $2,764 |
| Fourth 20% | $4,133 |
| Highest 20% | $7,660 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in entertainment spending
By Age Group (2024)
How entertainment spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $2,187 |
| 2 People | $4,221 |
| 3 People | $3,933 |
| 4 People | $4,091 |
| 5 or More | $4,995 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $4,523 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $5,024 |
| Renter | $3,834 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on entertainment? ▼
Is entertainment spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect entertainment spending? ▼
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Spending Guides
Related Spending Categories
Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
