Interactive tools · BLS CE 2024
Household Spending Tools
Free calculators and lookup tools built on the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Every tool shows its assumptions and the source data behind the math.
- Tools available
- 2
- Data source
- BLS CES
- Cost
- Free
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average American household spent $78,535 across all categories in 2024. PlainHousehold's free tools turn that data into something you can act on: a budget-percentile calculator that matches your spending to a national income quintile, and a private watchlist for the categories you want to track. No sign-up, and your numbers stay in your browser, see our methodology for how the figures are compiled.
Household budget percentile
Enter your annual spending by category and see which BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey income quintile your household matches, with a side-by-side comparison against the national averages.
Open tool → WatchlistMy saved categories
Build a private watchlist of the spending categories you care about, compare them side by side, and share your list, saved in your browser, no account needed.
Open tool →What the calculator compares you against
Average total household spending by income quintile (2024)
Where to go next
The tools turn the BLS data into your own numbers, then explore the full breakdowns behind them.
- See the full spending breakdown by category, income, age, and region. All categories
- Find where your household lands against the five income quintiles. By income
- Read the plain-language guides that explain what the numbers mean. Spending guides
All figures are national-average BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey data; individual households vary.