GITNUXREPORT 2026

Retail Returns Statistics

Rising online return rates cost retailers billions and are a growing problem.

Gitnux Team

Expert team of market researchers and data analysts.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

78% of online apparel orders are returned due to fit issues

Statistic 2

Electronics returns for shoes average 50% in online fashion

Statistic 3

Furniture online returns reach 25-30% primarily for damage or wrong size

Statistic 4

Beauty product returns are 10-15% due to allergic reactions or color mismatch

Statistic 5

Home improvement goods like paint return 20% for wrong shade

Statistic 6

Toys return 15-20% post-holidays for dissatisfaction

Statistic 7

Grocery online returns 8% for damaged or wrong items

Statistic 8

Consumer electronics returns 15% for defects or wrong specs

Statistic 9

Jewelry returns 7% mostly for sizing issues

Statistic 10

Sporting goods returns 18% for fit or performance

Statistic 11

Books return 5% for damage or wrong edition

Statistic 12

Automotive parts 25% returns for incompatibility

Statistic 13

Office supplies 10% for wrong quantity or defect

Statistic 14

Pet products 12% for wrong size or allergy

Statistic 15

Luggage returns 22% for damage during shipping

Statistic 16

Watches 9% for battery or function issues

Statistic 17

Handbags 20% for material quality complaints

Statistic 18

Sunglasses 17% for prescription errors

Statistic 19

Apparel returns in fast fashion brands like Shein hit 40%

Statistic 20

Mattresses online returns average 15% for comfort issues

Statistic 21

Kitchen appliances 14% returns for malfunction

Statistic 22

Baby products 11% for safety concerns

Statistic 23

Retailers lose $47 billion annually to return fraud in the US

Statistic 24

Processing one online return costs retailers up to $30-50, totaling $82 billion yearly

Statistic 25

Wardrobing (wear and return) costs fashion $20 billion annually

Statistic 26

Empty box returns fraud $10 billion in 2023 US e-com

Statistic 27

Returns reduce gross margins by 10-15% for apparel retailers

Statistic 28

Logistics costs for returns are 15% higher than outbound shipping

Statistic 29

20% of returns are never resold, leading to $40 billion inventory loss

Statistic 30

Brick-and-mortar returns cost $15 per item vs $25 online

Statistic 31

Refund abuse costs $15-20 billion yearly in grocery

Statistic 32

Electronics returns lead to $12 billion obsolescence loss

Statistic 33

Furniture returns disposal costs $5 billion annually

Statistic 34

International returns add 20% extra customs fees, $3 billion hit

Statistic 35

Labor costs for returns processing up 25% post-pandemic

Statistic 36

65% of returns are free shipping, costing $25 billion

Statistic 37

Resale value of returned goods averages 50% of original price

Statistic 38

Holiday returns spike costs retailers $100 billion in Q4

Statistic 39

Small retailers lose 8% revenue to returns vs 5% large chains

Statistic 40

Reverse logistics market valued at $700 billion globally 2023

Statistic 41

Apparel returns erode 12% of EBITDA for mid-tier brands

Statistic 42

Fraudulent returns insurance claims $2.5 billion yearly

Statistic 43

40% of Gen Z buy-to-return, costing $30 billion

Statistic 44

BOPIS returns reduce costs by 40% vs online, saving $10B

Statistic 45

Used returns landfill waste costs $1 billion in disposal

Statistic 46

Free returns policy increases sales 20% but costs 15% margins

Statistic 47

AI fraud detection saves $5 billion in return losses annually

Statistic 48

85% of consumers expect free returns, driving $50B policy costs

Statistic 49

Retailers with strict return policies see 20% lower return rates

Statistic 50

Buy Online Return In Store (BORIS) adopted by 60% retailers, reducing costs 30%

Statistic 51

RFID tagging reduces returns by 15% in apparel via better inventory

Statistic 52

Extended return windows (60+ days) boost loyalty 18%

Statistic 53

Virtual try-on tech lowers beauty returns by 35%

Statistic 54

Blockchain for returns tracking piloted, reducing fraud 40%

Statistic 55

70% consumers abandon carts if no free returns

Statistic 56

Self-service return portals cut call center costs 50%

Statistic 57

No-return policies for final sale items reduce abuse 22%

Statistic 58

AR fitting rooms decrease apparel returns 28%

Statistic 59

Machine learning predicts returns, optimizing inventory 20%

Statistic 60

Partnered returns with UPS/FedEx save 15% logistics

Statistic 61

Receiptless returns via app increase convenience, adopted 75%

Statistic 62

Sustainability policies charge for returns, cutting volume 12%

Statistic 63

Dynamic pricing for returns based on item condition, recovering 65% value

Statistic 64

Mobile return labels generate 40% faster processing

Statistic 65

Data analytics on returns patterns improve product dev 25%

Statistic 66

Zero-waste return programs resell 80% goods

Statistic 67

Customer segmentation for return policies boosts retention 15%

Statistic 68

Integration of returns with CRM reduces repeat offenders 30%

Statistic 69

3D body scanning cuts fit returns 32%

Statistic 70

Automated sorting robots speed returns 50%

Statistic 71

Policy transparency increases trust, sales up 10%

Statistic 72

Gen Z favors eco-friendly return options, 55% switch brands

Statistic 73

Cross-border return policies challenge 40% of global retailers

Statistic 74

Voice commerce returns lower due to better descriptions, 10% less

Statistic 75

Subscription box returns managed via credits, reducing cash refunds 25%

Statistic 76

92% of consumers check return policy before purchase

Statistic 77

In 2023, the average return rate for online retail purchases in the US reached 24.4%, up from 20.8% in 2021

Statistic 78

US e-commerce returns totaled $218 billion in lost merchandise sales in 2022, representing 16.5% of gross merchandise value

Statistic 79

Brick-and-mortar stores saw a return rate of 8.9% in 2023 compared to 24.4% for online

Statistic 80

During the 2022 holiday season, apparel returns hit 30% of sales volume online

Statistic 81

Global retail returns are projected to reach $1.06 trillion by 2027, growing at 11.7% CAGR

Statistic 82

In 2022, 30% of all US retail returns were fraudulent, costing retailers $101 billion

Statistic 83

E-commerce fashion returns averaged 32.5% in Europe in 2023

Statistic 84

US consumers returned $761 billion worth of goods in 2022 across all channels

Statistic 85

Online returns in the UK stood at 27% in 2023, higher than the 22% EU average

Statistic 86

Apparel and accessories had the highest return rate at 28% in US e-commerce in 2022

Statistic 87

General merchandise return rates were 14.2% for online sales in 2023

Statistic 88

In 2023, 67% of returns happened within 30 days of purchase

Statistic 89

Footwear online returns averaged 25% globally in 2022

Statistic 90

Consumer electronics returns were 12.5% in US retail in 2023

Statistic 91

Home goods and furniture returns hit 20% online in 2022

Statistic 92

Jewelry returns were lowest at 6.8% in e-commerce in 2023

Statistic 93

Grocery online returns averaged 5.2% in 2023 due to perishables

Statistic 94

Beauty products had 11% return rate online in US 2022

Statistic 95

Toys and games returns were 15.4% during holidays 2022

Statistic 96

Sporting goods returns averaged 18% online in 2023

Statistic 97

Books and media returns were 4.7% in e-commerce 2023

Statistic 98

Automotive parts online returns hit 22% in 2022

Statistic 99

Office supplies returns were 9.3% online US 2023

Statistic 100

Pet supplies returns averaged 13% in 2023 e-com

Statistic 101

Luggage and bags returns 19.2% online 2022

Statistic 102

Watches returns were 8.5% in luxury e-com 2023

Statistic 103

Handbags online returns 21% in 2023

Statistic 104

Sunglasses returns averaged 16.8% online 2022

Statistic 105

Online returns processing costs retailers $55 per return on average in 2023

Statistic 106

Didn't fit/wrong size accounts for 58% of all apparel returns

Statistic 107

Changed mind is the top reason for 27% of general merchandise returns

Statistic 108

Defective/damaged goods cause 22% of electronics returns

Statistic 109

Wrong item shipped leads to 15% of all online returns

Statistic 110

Allergic reaction or skin issue for 18% beauty returns

Statistic 111

Color/shade mismatch 25% for paint and cosmetics

Statistic 112

Late arrival past return window 8% of returns

Statistic 113

Poor quality/materials 20% of fashion returns

Statistic 114

No longer needed 30% post-holiday toy returns

Statistic 115

Duplicate purchase 12% of consumer returns

Statistic 116

Shipping damage 16% for furniture/large items

Statistic 117

Incorrect fit for footwear 45%

Statistic 118

Technical malfunction 28% electronics

Statistic 119

Gift returns 35% during holidays

Statistic 120

Hygienic reasons prevent 40% of opened beauty returns

Statistic 121

Assembly issues 10% furniture returns

Statistic 122

Scent dissatisfaction 15% candles/fragrances

Statistic 123

Performance not as expected 22% sporting goods

Statistic 124

Wrong prescription 30% eyewear returns

Statistic 125

Pet didn't like it 18% pet products

Statistic 126

Size too small/large 60% kids clothing

Statistic 127

Overbought 14% grocery returns

1/127

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

+497

In 2023, a staggering 24.4% of all online purchases were sent back, revealing an urgent truth for retailers: mastering the returns experience is no longer a cost of doing business but a decisive battleground for customer loyalty and profitability.

Key Takeaways

In 2023, the average return rate for online retail purchases in the US reached 24.4%, up from 20.8% in 2021
US e-commerce returns totaled $218 billion in lost merchandise sales in 2022, representing 16.5% of gross merchandise value
Brick-and-mortar stores saw a return rate of 8.9% in 2023 compared to 24.4% for online
78% of online apparel orders are returned due to fit issues
Electronics returns for shoes average 50% in online fashion
Furniture online returns reach 25-30% primarily for damage or wrong size
Didn't fit/wrong size accounts for 58% of all apparel returns
Changed mind is the top reason for 27% of general merchandise returns
Defective/damaged goods cause 22% of electronics returns
Retailers lose $47 billion annually to return fraud in the US
Processing one online return costs retailers up to $30-50, totaling $82 billion yearly
Wardrobing (wear and return) costs fashion $20 billion annually
85% of consumers expect free returns, driving $50B policy costs
Retailers with strict return policies see 20% lower return rates
Buy Online Return In Store (BORIS) adopted by 60% retailers, reducing costs 30%

Rising online return rates cost retailers billions and are a growing problem.

Category-Specific Returns

78% of online apparel orders are returned due to fit issues
Electronics returns for shoes average 50% in online fashion
Furniture online returns reach 25-30% primarily for damage or wrong size
Beauty product returns are 10-15% due to allergic reactions or color mismatch
Home improvement goods like paint return 20% for wrong shade
Toys return 15-20% post-holidays for dissatisfaction
Grocery online returns 8% for damaged or wrong items
Consumer electronics returns 15% for defects or wrong specs
Jewelry returns 7% mostly for sizing issues
Sporting goods returns 18% for fit or performance
Books return 5% for damage or wrong edition
Automotive parts 25% returns for incompatibility
Office supplies 10% for wrong quantity or defect
Pet products 12% for wrong size or allergy
Luggage returns 22% for damage during shipping
Watches 9% for battery or function issues
Handbags 20% for material quality complaints
Sunglasses 17% for prescription errors
Apparel returns in fast fashion brands like Shein hit 40%
Mattresses online returns average 15% for comfort issues
Kitchen appliances 14% returns for malfunction
Baby products 11% for safety concerns

Category-Specific Returns Interpretation

The retail industry's staggering, category-specific return rates collectively paint a portrait of the costly gap between a digital promise and a physical reality, proving that convenience often comes with a hefty side of logistical heartburn.

Financial Impact

Retailers lose $47 billion annually to return fraud in the US
Processing one online return costs retailers up to $30-50, totaling $82 billion yearly
Wardrobing (wear and return) costs fashion $20 billion annually
Empty box returns fraud $10 billion in 2023 US e-com
Returns reduce gross margins by 10-15% for apparel retailers
Logistics costs for returns are 15% higher than outbound shipping
20% of returns are never resold, leading to $40 billion inventory loss
Brick-and-mortar returns cost $15 per item vs $25 online
Refund abuse costs $15-20 billion yearly in grocery
Electronics returns lead to $12 billion obsolescence loss
Furniture returns disposal costs $5 billion annually
International returns add 20% extra customs fees, $3 billion hit
Labor costs for returns processing up 25% post-pandemic
65% of returns are free shipping, costing $25 billion
Resale value of returned goods averages 50% of original price
Holiday returns spike costs retailers $100 billion in Q4
Small retailers lose 8% revenue to returns vs 5% large chains
Reverse logistics market valued at $700 billion globally 2023
Apparel returns erode 12% of EBITDA for mid-tier brands
Fraudulent returns insurance claims $2.5 billion yearly
40% of Gen Z buy-to-return, costing $30 billion
BOPIS returns reduce costs by 40% vs online, saving $10B
Used returns landfill waste costs $1 billion in disposal
Free returns policy increases sales 20% but costs 15% margins
AI fraud detection saves $5 billion in return losses annually

Financial Impact Interpretation

Retailers are hemorrhaging money through a thousand cuts, from fraudulent refunds and logistical nightmares to sheer waste, all while being squeezed by the double-edged sword of customer-friendly return policies.

Policy and Technology Impacts

85% of consumers expect free returns, driving $50B policy costs
Retailers with strict return policies see 20% lower return rates
Buy Online Return In Store (BORIS) adopted by 60% retailers, reducing costs 30%
RFID tagging reduces returns by 15% in apparel via better inventory
Extended return windows (60+ days) boost loyalty 18%
Virtual try-on tech lowers beauty returns by 35%
Blockchain for returns tracking piloted, reducing fraud 40%
70% consumers abandon carts if no free returns
Self-service return portals cut call center costs 50%
No-return policies for final sale items reduce abuse 22%
AR fitting rooms decrease apparel returns 28%
Machine learning predicts returns, optimizing inventory 20%
Partnered returns with UPS/FedEx save 15% logistics
Receiptless returns via app increase convenience, adopted 75%
Sustainability policies charge for returns, cutting volume 12%
Dynamic pricing for returns based on item condition, recovering 65% value
Mobile return labels generate 40% faster processing
Data analytics on returns patterns improve product dev 25%
Zero-waste return programs resell 80% goods
Customer segmentation for return policies boosts retention 15%
Integration of returns with CRM reduces repeat offenders 30%
3D body scanning cuts fit returns 32%
Automated sorting robots speed returns 50%
Policy transparency increases trust, sales up 10%
Gen Z favors eco-friendly return options, 55% switch brands
Cross-border return policies challenge 40% of global retailers
Voice commerce returns lower due to better descriptions, 10% less
Subscription box returns managed via credits, reducing cash refunds 25%
92% of consumers check return policy before purchase

Policy and Technology Impacts Interpretation

The retail returns landscape is a high-stakes ballet where customer convenience dances with cost control, and every statistic reveals a new step in the delicate choreography of giving shoppers what they want without giving away the store.

Return Rates and Volumes

In 2023, the average return rate for online retail purchases in the US reached 24.4%, up from 20.8% in 2021
US e-commerce returns totaled $218 billion in lost merchandise sales in 2022, representing 16.5% of gross merchandise value
Brick-and-mortar stores saw a return rate of 8.9% in 2023 compared to 24.4% for online
During the 2022 holiday season, apparel returns hit 30% of sales volume online
Global retail returns are projected to reach $1.06 trillion by 2027, growing at 11.7% CAGR
In 2022, 30% of all US retail returns were fraudulent, costing retailers $101 billion
E-commerce fashion returns averaged 32.5% in Europe in 2023
US consumers returned $761 billion worth of goods in 2022 across all channels
Online returns in the UK stood at 27% in 2023, higher than the 22% EU average
Apparel and accessories had the highest return rate at 28% in US e-commerce in 2022
General merchandise return rates were 14.2% for online sales in 2023
In 2023, 67% of returns happened within 30 days of purchase
Footwear online returns averaged 25% globally in 2022
Consumer electronics returns were 12.5% in US retail in 2023
Home goods and furniture returns hit 20% online in 2022
Jewelry returns were lowest at 6.8% in e-commerce in 2023
Grocery online returns averaged 5.2% in 2023 due to perishables
Beauty products had 11% return rate online in US 2022
Toys and games returns were 15.4% during holidays 2022
Sporting goods returns averaged 18% online in 2023
Books and media returns were 4.7% in e-commerce 2023
Automotive parts online returns hit 22% in 2022
Office supplies returns were 9.3% online US 2023
Pet supplies returns averaged 13% in 2023 e-com
Luggage and bags returns 19.2% online 2022
Watches returns were 8.5% in luxury e-com 2023
Handbags online returns 21% in 2023
Sunglasses returns averaged 16.8% online 2022
Online returns processing costs retailers $55 per return on average in 2023

Return Rates and Volumes Interpretation

It appears that the modern shopper has fully embraced the 'try before you buy' model, albeit at the retailer's staggering expense, turning our digital carts into glorified fitting rooms that cost the industry hundreds of billions to operate.

Return Reasons

Didn't fit/wrong size accounts for 58% of all apparel returns
Changed mind is the top reason for 27% of general merchandise returns
Defective/damaged goods cause 22% of electronics returns
Wrong item shipped leads to 15% of all online returns
Allergic reaction or skin issue for 18% beauty returns
Color/shade mismatch 25% for paint and cosmetics
Late arrival past return window 8% of returns
Poor quality/materials 20% of fashion returns
No longer needed 30% post-holiday toy returns
Duplicate purchase 12% of consumer returns
Shipping damage 16% for furniture/large items
Incorrect fit for footwear 45%
Technical malfunction 28% electronics
Gift returns 35% during holidays
Hygienic reasons prevent 40% of opened beauty returns
Assembly issues 10% furniture returns
Scent dissatisfaction 15% candles/fragrances
Performance not as expected 22% sporting goods
Wrong prescription 30% eyewear returns
Pet didn't like it 18% pet products
Size too small/large 60% kids clothing
Overbought 14% grocery returns

Return Reasons Interpretation

This bleak parade of data suggests the modern retail experience is a high-stakes comedy of errors, where shoppers, brands, and logistics are locked in a constant, costly tango of unmet expectations, bad guesses, and finicky pets.

Sources & References

Logos provided by Logo.dev