Recent surveys show Americans spend around $23–24 billion on Easter, or roughly $170–$190 per celebrating household.
Candy, ham, brunch, church outfits, travel, decorations, and basket fillers all add up fast. If you have ever wondered “How Much Do Americans Spend On Easter?” and how your own budget compares, the latest data from retail groups gives a clear picture.
How Much Do Americans Spend On Easter? Big Picture Numbers
The National Retail Federation annual survey shows that Easter spending has climbed over the past decade. For 2025, consumers are expected to spend about $23.6 billion in total on Easter-related items, close to the record set in 2023. That works out to roughly $189 per celebrating adult on average.
Recent Easter Spending In The United States
The table below shows how total spending and average spend per person have changed in recent years. These figures come from the National Retail Federation Easter spending surveys and their research partner Prosper Insights & Analytics.
| Year | Total Easter Spending (USD Billion) | Average Spend Per Person (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 18.1 | 151.25 |
| 2020 | 21.7 | 175.85 |
| 2021 | 21.6 | 179.70 |
| 2022 | 20.8 | 169.79 |
| 2023 | 24.0 | 192.01 |
| 2024 | 22.4 | 177.06 |
| 2025 | 23.6 | 189.26 |
You can see how Easter kept pace with other major seasonal events. Spending dipped in 2022, then rebounded. Inflation explains part of the climb, yet participation rates stay high, which means the holiday still matters to most households.
Average Easter Spending Per Household
Survey data usually reports average spending per adult who says they will celebrate. With 2025 estimates around $189 per person, a family with two adults answering the survey might easily cross $350 once kids and guests are included.
For anyone asking “How Much Do Americans Spend On Easter?” the short take is this: most celebrating households land in a range between about $100 and $300, with larger families and big gatherings pushing the upper end. That range comes from combining national averages with the way costs stack up across food, gifts, and festive extras.
Taking American Easter Spending Apart By Category
Total dollars only tell part of the story. To understand where that money goes, you need to look at spending by category. Survey data for recent years paints a pretty consistent picture: food leads, candy follows, and gifts, clothing, and decorations fill out the rest.
Candy And Other Sweets
Candy sits at the center of Easter shopping. The National Retail Federation estimates more than nine in ten Easter shoppers buy candy, with spending on chocolate eggs, jelly beans, and marshmallow treats hitting roughly $3.3 billion in 2023 and similar levels in 2024 and 2025. The Easter aisle is often where shoppers start, and it is easy to toss extra chocolate bunnies or novelty candies into the cart.
Food And Holiday Meals
Food makes up the largest slice of the Easter budget. Recent NRF surveys point to food spending of around $7.3 to $7.4 billion for Easter meals, brunches, and snacks. Many families plan a big Sunday lunch or dinner, which can mean a main dish, several sides, dessert, and drinks. Rising grocery prices mean that even a modest spread can lift the bill, especially when relatives and friends join the table.
Gifts, Baskets, And Toys
Many parents treat Easter a bit like a mini gift event. On top of candy, kids might receive stuffed animals, crafts, board games, or small toys tucked into baskets. Across the country, gifts account for roughly $3.8 billion in Easter spending. Adults sometimes exchange small presents as well, especially in families that treat Easter as a spring celebration with flowers, books, or home items.
Clothing, Decorations, And Flowers
Clothing has long been tied to Easter, from Sunday best outfits to pastel dresses and suits. Recent NRF surveys estimate clothing at around $3.5 to $4 billion for the holiday. Decorations and flowers add more. Americans spend close to $1.9 billion on flowers and about $1.7 billion on decorations, from table settings and centerpieces to wreaths and porch decor. These categories give Easter its visual feel, but they also add real dollars to the bill.
American Easter Spending Habits And Easter Budget Patterns
While national totals grab headlines, the way individual households approach Easter costs varies widely. Age, income, household size, and religious practice all shape how much people spend and where they choose to put their money.
Who Spends The Most On Easter?
Middle-aged adults typically lead Easter spending. Surveys often show the 35–44 age bracket at the top for per-person Easter budgets, partly because many in that group have children at home and host extended family. Younger adults might spend more on clothing and outings, while older adults may focus on food, church giving, and gifts for grandkids.
Income also matters. Higher-income households can stretch to bigger meals, fancier baskets, and seasonal home decor. Lower- and middle-income households often keep the same core traditions but hunt more aggressively for discounts or switch to lower-priced brands. Retail surveys point out that discount stores remain the top shopping destination for Easter, followed by department stores and online retailers.
How Inflation Has Shaped Easter Costs
Over the past few years, inflation has raised the price of many Easter staples, especially eggs and sweets. A National Retail Federation Easter outlook released in 2024 noted that participation stayed above 80 percent even as overall costs climbed. In other words, people still celebrate; they just shift where they spend, buying more store brands, chasing promotions, or trimming back on big-ticket extras.
Higher prices mean that the same basket of goods now costs more, which partly explains why total Easter spending reached $24 billion in 2023 and is expected to stay above $22 billion in the mid-2020s. When you compare those numbers with earlier years in the table above, the upward drift becomes clear even when total participation stays fairly stable.
How Much Do Americans Spend On Easter Compared With Other Holidays?
Easter does not match winter holiday shopping, but it holds its own alongside events like Halloween and Mother’s Day. The National Retail Federation tracks spending across many seasonal events, and Easter usually ranks in the upper tier for both total dollars and per-person spend. Part of that ranking comes from the mix of categories: food, candy, clothing, home goods, and gifts all move at once.
For retailers, this spread means that Easter acts like a spring mini-season across grocery, apparel, and general merchandise. For households, it means that a few “small” purchases in each category can quickly add up to a three-digit total.
Easter Spending Rules, Deals, And Smart Shopping Moves
If national averages suggest that $150–$200 per person is normal for Easter, many families still want to keep their costs under tighter control. The good news is that small planning choices make a big difference. You can match the spirit of the season without matching every national statistic.
Set A Clear Easter Budget
Start by deciding how much you want to spend in total. For some households that might be $100; for others it could be $400. Once you have a top-line number, divide it across food, baskets, and extras. A simple split might look like half on food, one quarter on candy and gifts, and the rest on clothing and decor.
Quick Easter Budget Example
The sample budget below uses a $250 household target. Adjust the numbers up or down to match your own situation, family size, and local prices.
| Category | Sample Spend For One Household (USD) | Simple Ways To Trim Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Food And Drinks | 120 | Plan a potluck meal and ask guests to bring a side or dessert. |
| Candy And Basket Fillers | 50 | Buy store brands in bulk and split large packs into smaller baskets. |
| Gifts And Toys | 30 | Limit each child to one small toy and one non-candy treat. |
| Clothing | 30 | Shop sale racks or reuse outfits and refresh them with low-cost accessories. |
| Decorations And Flowers | 20 | Reuse stored decor and add a few fresh accents from discount stores. |
Stretching Your Easter Dollar Without Losing Traditions
Many families care more about shared time than about what is inside each basket. If your goal is to stay well below the national average, focus on low-cost activities: home egg hunts, simple crafts with kids, or a picnic at a nearby park. Those memories last longer than extra candy or another stuffed rabbit.
Shopping earlier in the season can also help. Retail surveys for Easter show that a lot of shoppers buy on sale as soon as displays go up. Waiting until the last minute narrows your options and can push you toward higher-priced picks when shelves start to thin out.
How To Tell Whether Your Easter Spending Is On Track
Once you see national totals, it is normal to compare them with your own situation. One way to sanity-check your Easter budget is to frame it as a share of your monthly take-home income. For many households, keeping Easter below one week of net pay keeps it from squeezing other bills.
Another angle is to compare this year with last year. If your Easter expenses keep climbing faster than your income, it might be time to reset expectations with family and friends. A shorter guest list, fewer side dishes, or scaled-back baskets can still feel generous when the focus stays on shared time.
The question of how much Americans spend on Easter has a clear numerical answer when you read national surveys, yet the more useful question is what level of spending fits your own budget and values. The national averages give you a reference point for food and fun. Your job is to decide which parts of the holiday truly matter, then direct your dollars toward those pieces and let the rest stay on the shelf.