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E-commerce Returns
Statistics

The most comprehensive collection of e-commerce returns data for 2026. Industry benchmarks, category breakdowns, seasonal trends, and financial impact analysis.

Last Updated: January 15, 2026
•
Sources: NRF, Returndotai Data, Industry Reports
$817B
Total Returns Value (2026)
20-30%
Average Return Rate
$15
Avg Cost Per Return

Overall Industry

20-30%
Average E-commerce Return Rate
vs 8-10% for brick-and-mortar
$817B
Total Returns Value (US)
in 2026 (projected)
+11%
Percentage Increase YoY
growth from 2025
16.5%
Returns as % of Sales
average across all categories
$10-$20
Cost Per Return
logistics + processing

By Product Category

30-40%
Fashion & Apparel
highest return rate category
35-45%
Shoes & Footwear
sizing issues common
10-15%
Electronics
lower due to product stability
18-25%
Home & Garden
varies by item type
5-8%
Beauty & Cosmetics
lowest return category
12-18%
Jewelry & Accessories
mid-range returns

Return Reasons

35%
Wrong Size/Fit
most common reason
23%
Changed Mind
buyer's remorse
18%
Item Not As Described
expectations mismatch
15%
Defective/Damaged
quality issues
5%
Ordered Wrong Item
customer error
4%
Other Reasons
miscellaneous

Financial Impact

16.5%
Revenue Lost to Returns
of total online sales
$10-$20
Processing Cost Range
per return item
$12-$18
Shipping Cost (2-way)
average cost
$3-$5
Restocking Labor
per item
$12.2B
Fraud/Wardrobing Loss
annual (US)
5.8B lbs
Landfill Waste
returns sent to landfill

Customer Behavior

92%
Free Returns Expectation
of shoppers expect free returns
92%
Will Buy Again After Easy Return
if process was smooth
67%
Check Return Policy Before Buy
of online shoppers
48%
Abandoned Cart (No Free Returns)
cart abandonment rate
61%
Mobile Returns
initiated on mobile devices
3-5%
Serial Returners
of customer base

Seasonal Trends

+30%
Holiday Returns (Nov-Jan)
vs average months
Jan 2-15
Post-Holiday Peak
highest return volume
25-35%
Black Friday/Cyber Monday Returns
due to impulse buying
28-38%
Summer Apparel Returns
May-Aug peak
+15%
Back-to-School Returns
Aug-Sep increase

Key Insights for Store Owners

What These Numbers Mean

  • •If you're seeing 20-30% returns, you're at industry average
  • •Fashion stores should expect higher rates (30-40%)
  • •Each return costs you $10-$20 minimum in logistics
  • •Size/fit issues drive 35% of returns (fixable!)

Action Items

  • •Improve size guides to reduce "wrong size" returns
  • •Offer exchanges with incentives to reduce refunds
  • •Prepare for +30% volume during holiday season
  • •Track your return reasons to identify patterns

Methodology & Sources

These statistics are compiled from multiple sources including:

  • National Retail Federation (NRF) - 2026 Returns Report
  • Returndotai platform data from 500+ Shopify stores
  • Industry surveys and research reports
  • E-commerce analytics platforms
  • Carrier and logistics provider data

Last updated: January 15, 2026. Statistics are subject to change as new data becomes available.

How to Cite This Data

Returndotai. (2026). E-commerce Returns Statistics 2026. Retrieved from https://returndotai.com/resources/statistics

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