Household operations Spending
How much American households spend on household operations — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Household operations
American households spent an average of $1,921 on household operations in 2024, representing 2.4% of total consumer expenditures. Spending declined 3.2% from 2023 ($1,985), indicating households may be cutting back or finding lower-cost alternatives.
Since 2020, household operations spending has risen by 31.1% (from $1,465 to $1,921), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden. The category breaks into 2 subcategories, each with its own spending dynamic — drill into any row below to see the finer-grained picture.
Income is the strongest predictor of household operations spending: the top income quintile spends $4,093/year versus $851 for the lowest quintile — a 4.8x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($2,342/year) while the Midwest spends the least ($1,640/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 | $1,921 |
| 2023 | $1,985 |
| 2022 | $1,849 |
| 2021 | $1,638 |
| 2020 | $1,465 |
Subcategories
| Subcategory | Annual Amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Personal services | $547 |
| Other household expenses | $1,374 |
By Income Level (2024)
How household operations spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $851 |
| Second 20% | $1,128 |
| Middle 20% | $1,511 |
| Fourth 20% | $2,009 |
| Highest 20% | $4,093 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in household operations spending
By Age Group (2024)
How household operations spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $1,153 |
| 2 People | $2,251 |
| 3 People | $1,624 |
| 4 People | $2,265 |
| 5 or More | $3,523 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $2,399 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $2,740 |
| Renter | $1,949 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on household operations? ▼
Is household operations spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect household operations spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on household operations? ▼
Which age group spends the most on household operations? ▼
Does household size affect household operations spending? ▼
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.
