Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment Spending
How much American households spend on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment
American households spent an average of $1,069 on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment in 2024, representing 1.4% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was +1.1% (from $1,057 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.
Since 2020, pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment spending has risen by 24.4% (from $859 to $1,069), 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 pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment spending: the top income quintile spends $2,250/year versus $439 for the lowest quintile — a 5.1x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($1,401/year) while the Northeast spends the least ($863/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 | $1,069 |
| 2023 | $1,057 |
| 2022 | $908 |
| 2021 | $969 |
| 2020 | $859 |
Subcategories
| Subcategory | Annual Amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Pets | $880 |
| Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment | $189 |
By Income Level (2024)
How pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $439 |
| Second 20% | $645 |
| Middle 20% | $843 |
| Fourth 20% | $1,164 |
| Highest 20% | $2,250 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment spending
By Age Group (2024)
How pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $584 |
| 2 People | $1,277 |
| 3 People | $1,175 |
| 4 People | $1,518 |
| 5 or More | $1,360 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $1,369 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $1,547 |
| Renter | $1,105 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment? ▼
Is pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment? ▼
Which age group spends the most on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment? ▼
Does household size affect pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment spending? ▼
Spending Guides
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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.
