Major appliances Spending

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

Annual average (2024)
$385
Share of total spending
0.5%
Change vs 2023
+0.3%
Change vs 2020
+8.8%

Spending Insight: Major appliances

American households spent an average of $385 on major appliances in 2024, representing 0.5% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was +0.3% (from $384 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.

Since 2020, major appliances spending has risen by 8.8% (from $354 to $385), broadly tracking with inflation-adjusted cost changes.

Income is the strongest predictor of major appliances spending: the top income quintile spends $658/year versus $182 for the lowest quintile — a 3.6x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($462/year) while the Northeast spends the least ($319/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 $385
2023 $384
2022 $408
2021 $464
2020 $354

By Income Level (2024)

How major appliances spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $182
Second 20% $217
Middle 20% $353
Fourth 20% $514
Highest 20% $658

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in major appliances spending

Midwest
$420
0.6%
Northeast
$319
0.4%
South
$352
0.5%
West
$462
0.5%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How major appliances spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $307
35–44 $431
45–54 $435
55–64 $478
65–74 $392
75 and older $298
Under 25 $144

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $239
2 People $448
3 People $390
4 People $484
5 or More $466

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $524
Homeowner (no mortgage) $576
Renter $453

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on major appliances? ▼
The average American household spent $385 on major appliances in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.5% of total household spending.
Is major appliances spending increasing? ▼
Major appliances spending increased by 0.3% from 2023 to 2024 ($384 to $385). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +8.8%.
How does income affect major appliances spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $182/year on major appliances, while the highest quintile spends $658/year — a 3.6x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on major appliances? ▼
The West region spends the most at $462/year, while the Northeast region spends the least at $319/year on major appliances.
Which age group spends the most on major appliances? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 55–64 age group spend the most on major appliances at $478/year.
Does household size affect major appliances spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $239/year on major appliances, while 4 People households spend $484/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.