Highlights. Online consumers are six (6) times more likely to value free shipping over fast shipping.
- 93% of consumers shop to qualify for free shipping; buying additional items is the most common strategy.
- While 80% of American shoppers expect free shipping above a certain order threshold, 66% expect free shipping on all orders.
- 50% of consumers have abandoned their online shopping cart due to shipping and/or delivery options.
- 76% of shoppers are more likely to complete a purchase if delivery is free.
Free Shipping Consumer Statistics
Free shipping is more important to consumers than product availability or brand trust.
- 82% of consumers consider free shipping the most important factor when choosing which online retailers to purchase from.
- 24% of consumers are more likely to purchase if return shipping is free.
- 88% of online consumers value free shipping more than fast shipping.
- 46% of online shoppers have chosen a longer shipping option to save money.
- 8% of consumers will not buy a product they must pay for shipping.
- 26% of consumers have abandoned their carts because they did not meet the free shipping threshold.
- 75% of online shoppers took advantage of free shipping in the past six months, while only 50% paid for shipping.
- 34% of shoppers usually won’t purchase when a retailer doesn’t offer free shipping.
- 94% of holiday 2021 shoppers consumers sought out retailers with free shipping; 60% looked for fast shipping.
Free Shipping Policy Statistics
Approximately 3-in-4 retailers offer free shipping under some or all conditions.
- 20.4% of retailers offer free shipping on all orders.
- 45.1% of retailers offer free shipping beyond a certain payment threshold.
- The average free shipping threshold among the top 100 clothing retailers was $58 in 2022.
- 14.5% of retailers have a requirement to qualify for free shipping, such as a loyalty program membership.
- 5.6% of retailers offer free shipping beyond a payment threshold along with one or more additional requirement(s).
These data and insights were compiled by the Capital One Shopping team based on publicly available data.
Sources
- Digital Commerce 360, The Shopper Speaks
- Whiplash, How to Set Your Free Shipping Threshold
- National Retail Federation
- Maergo, State of Shipping Report
- Statista, E-Commerce
- Digital Commerce 360, Shipping and Delivery Satisfaction