Footwear Spending

How much American households spend on footwear — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey

Annual average (2024)
$461
Share of total spending
0.6%
Change vs 2023
+3.8%
Change vs 2020
+46.8%

Spending Insight: Footwear

American households spent an average of $461 on footwear in 2024, representing 0.6% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 3.8% increase from 2023 ($444), outpacing general inflation and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.

Since 2020, footwear spending has risen by 46.8% (from $314 to $461), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.

Income is the strongest predictor of footwear spending: the top income quintile spends $840/year versus $302 for the lowest quintile — a 2.8x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($503/year) while the South spends the least ($446/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 $461
2023 $444
2022 $399
2021 $336
2020 $314

By Income Level (2024)

How footwear spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $302
Second 20% $299
Middle 20% $415
Fourth 20% $450
Highest 20% $840

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in footwear spending

Midwest
$467
0.6%
Northeast
$503
0.6%
South
$446
0.6%
West
$451
0.5%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How footwear spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $534
35–44 $648
45–54 $617
55–64 $483
65–74 $276
75 and older $159
Under 25 $256

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $289
2 People $535
3 People $447
4 People $501
5 or More $615

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $469
Homeowner (no mortgage) $550
Renter $339

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on footwear? ▼
The average American household spent $461 on footwear in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.6% of total household spending.
Is footwear spending increasing? ▼
Footwear spending increased by 3.8% from 2023 to 2024 ($444 to $461). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +46.8%.
How does income affect footwear spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $302/year on footwear, while the highest quintile spends $840/year — a 2.8x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on footwear? ▼
The Northeast region spends the most at $503/year, while the South region spends the least at $446/year on footwear.
Which age group spends the most on footwear? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 35–44 age group spend the most on footwear at $648/year.
Does household size affect footwear spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $289/year on footwear, while 5 or More households spend $615/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Spending Guides

Average Household Budget
How the typical American household allocates spending
Housing Costs by Income
How shelter spending varies across income quintiles
Food Spending Breakdown
Groceries vs dining out and who spends what
Healthcare Spending by Age
How medical costs rise across the lifecycle
Transportation Costs
Vehicle ownership, fuel, and transit spending

Related Spending Categories

Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Category
Food
$10,169/yr avg
Category
Alcoholic beverages
$643/yr avg
Category
Housing
$26,266/yr avg
Category
Apparel and services
$2,001/yr avg
Category
Transportation
$13,318/yr avg

Related Economic Data

Cost of Living by Metro → Fair Market Rents → Salary Data by Occupation → ZIP Code Demographics →
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (BLS CEX). BLS CEX homepage. Data represents average annual expenditures per consumer unit. 2024 data released 2025. See our methodology for processing details.

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.