Pets Spending

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

Annual average (2024)
$880
Share of total spending
1.1%
Change vs 2023
+0.5%
Change vs 2020
+27.5%

Spending Insight: Pets

American households spent an average of $880 on pets in 2024, representing 1.1% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was +0.5% (from $876 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.

Since 2020, pets spending has risen by 27.5% (from $690 to $880), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.

Income is the strongest predictor of pets spending: the top income quintile spends $1,861/year versus $368 for the lowest quintile — a 5.1x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($1,151/year) while the Northeast spends the least ($685/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 $880
2023 $876
2022 $741
2021 $770
2020 $690

By Income Level (2024)

How pets spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $368
Second 20% $529
Middle 20% $673
Fourth 20% $967
Highest 20% $1,861

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in pets spending

Midwest
$837
1.1%
Northeast
$685
0.8%
South
$836
1.2%
West
$1,151
1.2%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How pets spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $831
35–44 $866
45–54 $1,266
55–64 $959
65–74 $779
75 and older $714
Under 25 $200

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $502
2 People $1,043
3 People $1,021
4 People $1,219
5 or More $983

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $1,147
Homeowner (no mortgage) $1,281
Renter $953

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on pets? ▼
The average American household spent $880 on pets in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 1.1% of total household spending.
Is pets spending increasing? ▼
Pets spending increased by 0.5% from 2023 to 2024 ($876 to $880). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +27.5%.
How does income affect pets spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $368/year on pets, while the highest quintile spends $1,861/year — a 5.1x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on pets? ▼
The West region spends the most at $1,151/year, while the Northeast region spends the least at $685/year on pets.
Which age group spends the most on pets? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on pets at $1,266/year.
Does household size affect pets spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $502/year on pets, while 4 People households spend $1,219/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
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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.