Statistic,Value,Unit,Geography,Segment,Basis,Period,Source,Evidence tier,Series ID or note,Primary source URL,Note
Total merchandise returned (NRF),817,billion US dollars,United States,All retail,"Reported as ""nearly $817 billion""",2022,Retail TouchPoints on NRF,D,n/a,https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/market-news/nrf-returns-reach-14-5-of-sales-in-2023-fraud-contributed-101-billion-in-losses,NRF said its 2023 numbers cannot be compared with 2022 because the method changed.
"Return rate, share of annual sales (NRF)",16.5,percent of sales,United States,All retail,Share of annual sales returned,2022,Retail TouchPoints on NRF,D,n/a,https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/market-news/nrf-returns-reach-14-5-of-sales-in-2023-fraud-contributed-101-billion-in-losses,As reported by Retail TouchPoints.
Total merchandise returned (NRF),743,billion US dollars,United States,All retail,NRF with Appriss Retail data,2023,"NRF and Appriss Retail, 2023",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-and-appriss-retail-report-743-billion-merchandise-returned-2023,Estimate.
"Return rate, share of annual sales (NRF)",14.5,percent of sales,United States,All retail,Share of annual sales returned,2023,"NRF and Appriss Retail, 2023",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-and-appriss-retail-report-743-billion-merchandise-returned-2023,
Online return rate (NRF),17.6,percent of online sales,United States,Online retail,Share of online sales returned,2023,"NRF and Appriss Retail, 2023",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-and-appriss-retail-report-743-billion-merchandise-returned-2023,Equal to $247 billion returned online.
"In-store return rate, purchases made in stores (NRF)",10.02,percent of in-store sales,United States,In-store retail,"Share of in-store sales returned, excluding online orders returned in store",2023,"NRF and Appriss Retail, 2023",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-and-appriss-retail-report-743-billion-merchandise-returned-2023,Equal to $371 billion.
Return fraud losses (NRF),101,billion US dollars,United States,All retail,Fraud losses on returns,2023,"NRF and Appriss Retail, 2023",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-and-appriss-retail-report-743-billion-merchandise-returned-2023,About $13.70 per $100 of returned merchandise.
Total merchandise returned (NRF),890,billion US dollars,United States,All retail,"NRF with Happy Returns, projected",2024,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2024",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-and-happy-returns-report-2024-retail-returns-total-890-billion,Projection from retailer survey.
"Return rate, share of annual sales (NRF)",16.9,percent of sales,United States,All retail,Retailers' estimate of share of annual sales returned,2024,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2024",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-and-happy-returns-report-2024-retail-returns-total-890-billion,Projected.
Total merchandise returned (NRF),849.9,billion US dollars,United States,All retail,"NRF with Happy Returns, projected",2025,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2025",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025,Projection from retailer survey.
"Return rate, share of annual sales (NRF)",15.8,percent of sales,United States,All retail,Retailers' estimate of share of annual sales returned,2025,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2025",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025,Projected.
Online return rate (NRF),19.3,percent of online sales,United States,Online retail,Share of online sales returned,2025,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2025",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025,"All online retail, not footwear."
Share of returns that are fraudulent (NRF),9,percent of returns,United States,All retail,Retailer estimate,2025,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2025",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025,
"Change in NRF returns dollars, 2024 to 2025",-4.5,percent,United States,All retail,$849.9 billion against $890 billion,2024-2025,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/shoe-return-statistics/#usf-method,"UrbanStyle calculation. Methods differ between NRF reports, so changes between years are indicative only."
"Change in NRF return rate, 2024 to 2025",-1.1,percentage points,United States,All retail,15.8% against 16.9%,2024-2025,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/shoe-return-statistics/#usf-method,"UrbanStyle calculation. Methods differ between NRF reports, so changes between years are indicative only."
Total merchandise returned (Appriss Retail),706,billion US dollars,United States,All retail,"Appriss Retail benchmark, analysis of returns data",2025,"Appriss Retail, 2026 benchmark",C,n/a,https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260219293604/en/Appriss-Retail-Benchmark-Report-Uncovers-$796B-in-Total-Retail-Loss,Differs from NRF's $849.9 billion for the same year because the methods and data differ.
"Returns by channel: Bought in store, returned in store",367,billion US dollars,United States,All retail,Appriss Retail benchmark,2025,"Appriss Retail, 2026 benchmark",C,n/a,https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260219293604/en/Appriss-Retail-Benchmark-Report-Uncovers-$796B-in-Total-Retail-Loss,52% of $706 billion.
"Returns by channel: Bought in store, returned in store",52,percent of returned dollars,United States,All retail,Appriss Retail benchmark,2025,"Appriss Retail, 2026 benchmark",C,n/a,https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260219293604/en/Appriss-Retail-Benchmark-Report-Uncovers-$796B-in-Total-Retail-Loss,
"Returns by channel: Bought online, returned in store",208,billion US dollars,United States,All retail,Appriss Retail benchmark,2025,"Appriss Retail, 2026 benchmark",C,n/a,https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260219293604/en/Appriss-Retail-Benchmark-Report-Uncovers-$796B-in-Total-Retail-Loss,29% of $706 billion.
"Returns by channel: Bought online, returned in store",29,percent of returned dollars,United States,All retail,Appriss Retail benchmark,2025,"Appriss Retail, 2026 benchmark",C,n/a,https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260219293604/en/Appriss-Retail-Benchmark-Report-Uncovers-$796B-in-Total-Retail-Loss,
"Returns by channel: Bought online, returned online",131,billion US dollars,United States,All retail,Appriss Retail benchmark,2025,"Appriss Retail, 2026 benchmark",C,n/a,https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260219293604/en/Appriss-Retail-Benchmark-Report-Uncovers-$796B-in-Total-Retail-Loss,19% of $706 billion.
"Returns by channel: Bought online, returned online",19,percent of returned dollars,United States,All retail,Appriss Retail benchmark,2025,"Appriss Retail, 2026 benchmark",C,n/a,https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260219293604/en/Appriss-Retail-Benchmark-Report-Uncovers-$796B-in-Total-Retail-Loss,
Returns from online purchases (returned online or in store),339,billion US dollars,United States,All retail,$208 billion plus $131 billion,2025,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/shoe-return-statistics/#usf-method,UrbanStyle sum of two Appriss Retail figures.
Share of returned dollars from online purchases,48.0,percent of returned dollars,United States,All retail,$339 billion of $706 billion,2025,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/shoe-return-statistics/#usf-method,UrbanStyle calculation from Appriss Retail figures.
Preventable loss from returns fraud and abuse (Appriss Retail),100,billion US dollars,United States,All retail,Appriss Retail benchmark,2025,"Appriss Retail, 2026 benchmark",C,n/a,https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260219293604/en/Appriss-Retail-Benchmark-Report-Uncovers-$796B-in-Total-Retail-Loss,"Reported as 14.2%, which is consistent with a share of the $706 billion returned. The release does not state the base."
Loss from returns abuse (Appriss Retail),86,billion US dollars,United States,All retail,Appriss Retail benchmark,2025,"Appriss Retail, 2026 benchmark",C,n/a,https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260219293604/en/Appriss-Retail-Benchmark-Report-Uncovers-$796B-in-Total-Retail-Loss,Described as six times returns fraud.
Sample: unique customer identifiers analysed (Appriss Retail),250,million,United States,All retail,Appriss Retail benchmark,2025,"Appriss Retail, 2026 benchmark",C,n/a,https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260219293604/en/Appriss-Retail-Benchmark-Report-Uncovers-$796B-in-Total-Retail-Loss,Number of participating retailers not stated.
Consumers who would buy again after a returns warning (Appriss Retail),90,percent of respondents,United States,All retail,"Consumer survey, more than 1,000 respondents",2025,"Appriss Retail, 2026 benchmark",C,n/a,https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260219293604/en/Appriss-Retail-Benchmark-Report-Uncovers-$796B-in-Total-Retail-Loss,
Consumers who say free returns are a major consideration,82,percent of respondents,United States,All retail,"Consumers who returned an online purchase in the past 12 months, n=2,006",2025,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2025",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025,Up from 76% the year before.
Consumers who say free returns are a major consideration,76,percent of respondents,United States,All retail,"Consumers who returned an online purchase in the past year, n=2,007",2024,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2024",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-and-happy-returns-report-2024-retail-returns-total-890-billion,
Consumers more likely to choose an instant refund or exchange option,76,percent of respondents,United States,All retail,"Consumer survey, n=2,006",2025,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2025",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025,
Consumers less likely to shop with a retailer again after a poor returns experience,71,percent of respondents,United States,All retail,"Consumer survey, n=2,006",2025,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2025",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025,Up from 67% in 2024.
Consumers less likely to shop with a retailer again after a poor returns experience,67,percent of respondents,United States,All retail,"Consumer survey, n=2,007",2024,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2024",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-and-happy-returns-report-2024-retail-returns-total-890-billion,
Consumers who say bending the truth on a return is acceptable,45,percent of respondents,United States,All retail,"Consumer survey, n=2,006",2025,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2025",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025,
"Average online returns in the past 12 months, consumers aged 18 to 30",7.7,returns per person,United States,All retail,"Consumer survey, n=2,006",2025,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2025",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025,Highest of any generation in the survey.
Gen Z consumers who bracket,51,percent of respondents,United States,All retail,"Consumer survey, n=2,007",2024,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2024",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-and-happy-returns-report-2024-retail-returns-total-890-billion,Bracketing means buying several items intending to return some.
Consumers who bracket at least some online purchases,63,percent of respondents,United States,All retail,"Narvar State of Returns 2022, as cited by Footwear Magazine",2022,Footwear Magazine,D,n/a,https://footwearmagazine.com/whats-the-return-rate-for-shoes-purchased-online/,Original not read.
Retailers citing rising operating costs as a reason to charge for returns,40,percent of retailers,United States,All retail,"Retailer survey, n=358",2025,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2025",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025,Base not stated in the release.
Retailers citing rising carrier shipping costs as a reason to charge for returns,40,percent of retailers,United States,All retail,"Retailer survey, n=358",2025,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2025",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025,Base not stated in the release.
Retailers citing economic uncertainty or tariff risk as a reason to charge for returns,33,percent of retailers,United States,All retail,"Retailer survey, n=358",2025,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2025",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025,Base not stated in the release.
Retailers using AI to detect or prevent return fraud,85,percent of retailers,United States,All retail,"Retailer survey, n=358",2025,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2025",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025,
Retailers prioritising an update to their returns process in the next six months,64,percent of retailers,United States,All retail,"Retailer survey, n=358",2025,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2025",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/consumers-expected-to-return-nearly-850-billion-in-merchandise-in-2025,
Retailers who say fraud and exploitative behaviour is a significant issue,93,percent of retailers,United States,All retail,"Retailer survey, n=249",2024,"NRF and Happy Returns, 2024",C,n/a,https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-and-happy-returns-report-2024-retail-returns-total-890-billion,
"Online return rate, shoes and boots",56,percent of online purchases,Not stated,Footwear,"Shopper survey, n=1,882, commissioned by an eyewear brand",2026,Overnight Glasses study via Retail Insider,D,n/a,https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2026/07/online-clothing-leads-e-commerce-returns-with-sizing-driving-most-send-backs-overnight-glasses/,"Geography not stated. Read through a news report, not the study."
Footwear share of reported online returns,13.9,percent of reported returns,Not stated,Footwear,"Shopper survey, n=1,882",2026,Overnight Glasses study via Retail Insider,D,n/a,https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2026/07/online-clothing-leads-e-commerce-returns-with-sizing-driving-most-send-backs-overnight-glasses/,
Share of footwear returns accepted by retailers,90,percent (about),Not stated,Footwear,"Shopper survey, n=1,882",2026,Overnight Glasses study via Retail Insider,D,n/a,https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2026/07/online-clothing-leads-e-commerce-returns-with-sizing-driving-most-send-backs-overnight-glasses/,Reported as about 90%.
"Online return rate, clothing",60,percent of online purchases,Not stated,Clothing,"Shopper survey, n=1,882",2026,Overnight Glasses study via Retail Insider,D,n/a,https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2026/07/online-clothing-leads-e-commerce-returns-with-sizing-driving-most-send-backs-overnight-glasses/,For comparison with footwear in the same survey.
"Online return rate, all online products",17.6,percent of online orders,India,All products,Return Prime platform data,2024,Return Prime via Apparel Resources,D,n/a,https://apparelresources.com/business-news/retail/third-online-bought-fashion-footwear-products-get-returned-says-report/,Reported 31 July 2024; data year not stated.
"Online return rate, certain categories such as clothing and shoes",30 to 35,percent of online orders,India,Clothing and shoes,Return Prime platform data,2024,Return Prime via Apparel Resources,D,n/a,https://apparelresources.com/business-news/retail/third-online-bought-fashion-footwear-products-get-returned-says-report/,"Reported as ""30 to 35 per cent in certain categories like clothing and shoes""."
Share of returns attributed to size concerns,almost 40,percent of returns,India,Clothing and shoes,Return Prime platform data,2024,Return Prime via Apparel Resources,D,n/a,https://apparelresources.com/business-news/retail/third-online-bought-fashion-footwear-products-get-returned-says-report/,Includes shoes and clothing.
"Average share of ordered items returned, one retailer",35,percent of items ordered,United States,All items,"Zappos disclosure, March 2010, as reported by Footwear Magazine",2010,Footwear Magazine,D,n/a,https://footwearmagazine.com/whats-the-return-rate-for-shoes-purchased-online/,A single retailer built around free returns.
"Share of items returned by best customers, one retailer",50,percent of items ordered,United States,All items,"Zappos disclosure, March 2010, as reported by Footwear Magazine",2010,Footwear Magazine,D,n/a,https://footwearmagazine.com/whats-the-return-rate-for-shoes-purchased-online/,Reported secondhand.
"Online return rate, apparel and footwear",24.4,percent of online purchases,United States,Apparel and footwear,"Coresight Research, April 2023, as cited by eightx",2023,eightx benchmark blog,D,n/a,https://eightx.co/blog/average-footwear-return-rate-benchmarks,Original not read.
"Online return rate, footwear, median of trade members",19,percent of online sales,United Kingdom,Footwear,"British Footwear Association member survey, as cited by eightx",Not stated,eightx benchmark blog,D,n/a,https://eightx.co/blog/average-footwear-return-rate-benchmarks,Range 2% to 31%. Original not read.
"In-store return rate, footwear, median of trade members",5,percent of in-store sales (about),United Kingdom,Footwear,"British Footwear Association member survey, as cited by eightx",Not stated,eightx benchmark blog,D,n/a,https://eightx.co/blog/average-footwear-return-rate-benchmarks,Original not read.
"Online return rate, footwear, Statista figure",18,percent,Not stated,Footwear,"Statista, as cited by Corso",Not stated,Corso blog,D,n/a,https://www.corso.com/post-purchase-resource-center/footwear-returns-and-the-online-fit-problem,Original not read; not charted.
"Online return rate, shoes, unsourced",27,percent,Global,Footwear,"PRIME AI article, no source cited",Not stated,PRIME AI benchmarks,D,n/a,https://www.prime-ai.com/en/media/clothing-return-rates-by-category-and-country-csf-a/,Example of an unsourced figure; not charted.
Spread of charted online shoe return rates (highest divided by lowest),2.9,times,United States,Footwear,56% divided by 19%,2010-2026,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/shoe-return-statistics/#usf-method,"UrbanStyle calculation across the charted figures, which measure different things."
Share of wearers in ill-fitting shoes,63 to 72,percent of wearers,Multiple countries,All footwear,"Systematic review of 18 studies, 3,205 participants",2018,Buldt and Menz (2018),A,DOI 10.1186/s13047-018-0284-z,https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-018-0284-z,Shoes that did not accommodate the length or width of the foot; fit definitions vary between studies.
Share of footwear returns due to poor fit,57,percent of footwear returns,Not stated,Footwear,"PowerReviews, as cited by Corso",Not stated,Corso blog,D,n/a,https://www.corso.com/post-purchase-resource-center/footwear-returns-and-the-online-fit-problem,Original not read.
Share of footwear returns linked to fit,up to 70,percent of footwear returns,Not stated,Footwear,"Taggstar, as cited by Corso",Not stated,Corso blog,D,n/a,https://www.corso.com/post-purchase-resource-center/footwear-returns-and-the-online-fit-problem,Original not read.
Return window: Brooks,90,days,United States,Footwear,"Company help page read Oct 8, 2026",2026,Brooks returns page,C,n/a,https://www.brooksrunning.com/en_us/returns/,90-day trial run. Item conditions are not listed on the returns page; see the Returns and Exchanges FAQ.
Return window: Nike,60,days,United States,Footwear,"Company help page read Oct 8, 2026",2026,Nike returns policy,C,n/a,https://www.nike.com/help/a/returns-policy,"60 days from delivery (online) or purchase (store). Proof of purchase needed and Nike may capture ID details. Worn shoes are not addressed on the page. Clearance store purchases are final. After 60 days, defects go through the shoe warranty."
Return window: Zappos,60,days,United States,Footwear,"Company help page read Oct 8, 2026",2026,Zappos returns page,C,n/a,https://www.zappos.com/general-questions,"60 days of purchase. Items must be unworn, in the state received and in original packaging. Noncompliant returns ""could result in a restocking fee up to 50%"". Final Sale items cannot be returned."
Return window: New Balance,45,days,United States,Footwear,"Company help page read Oct 8, 2026",2026,New Balance return policy,C,n/a,https://www.newbalance.com/returns/,45 days from shipment (online) or purchase (store). New condition required; worn or damaged items may be refused. Items marked final sale cannot be returned.
Return window: HOKA,30,days,United States,Footwear,"Company help page read Oct 8, 2026",2026,HOKA guarantee,C,n/a,https://www.hoka.com/en/us/guarantee.html,"30 days from purchase (""Fly for 30""); 60 days for HOKA members. Full refund or exchange, ""no questions asked"". Worn shoes are not addressed. HOKA may deny requests it finds abusive or fraudulent and may ask for proof of purchase."
Return window: adidas (performance footwear),30,days,United States,Footwear,"Company help page read Oct 8, 2026",2026,adidas 30 Day Guarantee,C,n/a,https://www.adidas.com/us/30_day_guarantee,"30 days. Return ""in any condition"" if the shoes are not the one. Covers performance footwear; eligibility is detailed on linked pages."
Return window: HOKA members,60,days,United States,Footwear,"Company help page read Oct 8, 2026",2026,HOKA guarantee,C,n/a,https://www.hoka.com/en/us/guarantee.html,
Restocking fee for non-member online returns: New Balance,5,US dollars,United States,Footwear,"Company help page read Oct 8, 2026",2026,New Balance return policy,C,n/a,https://www.newbalance.com/returns/,Deducted from the refund.
Maximum restocking fee for noncompliant returns: Zappos,50,percent of item price,United States,Footwear,"Company help page read Oct 8, 2026",2026,Zappos returns page,C,n/a,https://www.zappos.com/general-questions,Applies where a return does not meet the stated conditions.
Typical mail-in return fee at many major stores,4 to 12,US dollars,United States,All retail,"Baker Retailing Center article, Jan 8, 2026",2026,Baker Retailing Center,D,n/a,https://bakerretail.wharton.upenn.edu/news/shoppers-face-new-return-fees-as-retailers-crack-down-on-holiday-exchanges/,The article does not name the source of this figure.
Range of return windows across six brands checked,30 to 90,days,United States,Footwear,Comparison of company help pages,2026,UrbanStyle calculation,E,n/a,https://urbanstylefootwear.com/shoe-return-statistics/#usf-method,UrbanStyle comparison.