In 2024, returns on online purchases in the United States amounted to nearly *** billion U.S. dollars. That is a significant increase compared to the previous year when the cost of e-commerce returns was approximately *** billion U.S. dollars. The impact of free returns Numerous factors contribute to a shopper's decision to return items bought online, with varying preferences guiding their return process. Nonetheless, certain consumer preferences hold greater significance than others. In 2022, nearly ** percent of United States consumers who returned an online order listed free returns as a one of their main e-commerce returns preference. The impact of free returns on consumer shopping behavior in the U.S. is considerable, with roughly **** out of ten consumers indicating a strong likelihood of discontinuing purchases from a brand if it were to remove the option of free returns. Paying for returns: U.S. vs. EU The willingness of consumers to pay for e-commerce returns varies across countries. Despite resistance from many U.S. online shoppers, the North American country still boasts one of the largest shares of consumers willing to invest in online returns. Moreover, a 2022 survey conducted among consumers in the U.S. and selected European countries revealed that the percentage of shoppers anticipating free online returns was higher in Italy, Belgium, France, and Spain compared to the United States.

Spain was the country with the highest return rate of online retail purchases in 2023 according to aggregate data of the Mastercard Economic Institute. In 2023, Spaniards returned a ******* of e-commerce retail purchases, while Germans returned over ** percent, more than doubling their return rate from 2019.

From 2023 to 2024 the share of returned clothing items purchased online slightly increased by *** percentage points. By 2027, the online return rate of clothing orders is expected to reach *** percent.

According to Statista Market Insights, *** percent of the e-commerce market revenue in the United States will be returned to the retailers in 2025. This figure is forecast to growth by *** percentage points by 2029, reaching 12.1 percent of the e-commerce market revenue.

The return order volume for purchases made online was at **** percent in 2022 in India. This was a decrease as compared to the previous year when the return volume stood at over ** percent. Moreover, the majority of the returns belonged to the fashion segment under apparel and footwear.

When asked about "Most returned online purchases by category", most U.S. respondents pick "Clothing" as an answer. 25 percent did so in our online survey in 2025. Looking to gain valuable insights about customers of online shops across the globe? Check out our reports about consumers of online shops worldwide. These reports offer the readers a comprehensive overview of customers of eCommerce brands: who they are; what they like; what they think; and how to reach them.

According to Statista Market Insights, *** percent of the e-commerce market revenue in Mexico will be returned to the retailers in 2025. This figure is forecast to grow by ***** percentage points by 2029, reaching *** percent of the e-commerce market revenue. In 2025, *** percent of the e-commerce market revenue worldwide was returned to the retailers.

In Europe, *** percent of the overall e-commerce market revenue was forecast to be returned to retailers in 2025. According to Statista Market Insights, the return rate will increase by *** percentage points from 2025 to 2029.

The share of market revenue returned to retailers in Italy was **** percent in 2024. The return rate increased by *** percentage points from 2017 to 2025 and is forecast to decrease to *** percent by 2029. In Germany, the return rate in 2024 was *** percent.

In Europe, clothing items had the highest fashion return rates in 2022, a study revealed. About ** percent of dress purchases got returned, while skirts followed with roughly ** percent. Being a popular category among online shoppers, shoewear reached significant online return rates, too. Over ** percent of backless slippers orders were sent back in the considered year.

In 2025, the purchase return rate of e-commerce fashion as a share of revenue in Israel was estimated at **** percent. This reflected a moderate increase of *** percentage points from the previous year. Revenue from online fashion shopping in Israel was expected to reach *** billion U.S. dollars in 2025.

Almost ***** percent of the e-commerce market revenue in France was returned to the retailers in 2025, according to Statista Market Insights. This share increased by *** percentage points since 2017, and is forecast to surpass ** percent by 2029.

In 2025, the return rate in Germany was forecast to reach *** percent, according to Statista Market Insights. The share of market revenue returned to the retailers increased by *** percentage points from 2017 to 2025. The return rate is forecast to increase to *** percent by 2029.

When asked about "Most returned online purchases by category", most UK respondents pick ********** as an answer. ** percent did so in our online survey in 2025. Looking to gain valuable insights about customers of online shops across the globe? Check out our reports about consumers of online shops worldwide. These reports offer the readers a comprehensive overview of customers of eCommerce brands: who they are; what they like; what they think; and how to reach them.

In 2021, European online shoppers aged 18 to 24 returned the highest proportion of items purchased on the web. With an online return rate of over ** percent, young adults located in Switzerland were the most prolific returners out of the *** countries analyzed.

In Belgium, *** percent of e-commerce market revenue was forecast to be returned to retailers in 2025. According to Statista Market Insights, the return rate will increase by *** percentage points from 2025 to 2029. In Germany, the return rate in 2024 was *** percent.

When asked about "Most returned online purchases by category", most Indian respondents pick ********** as an answer. ** percent did so in our online survey in 2025. Looking to gain valuable insights about customers of online shops across the globe? Check out our reports about consumers of online shops worldwide. These reports offer the readers a comprehensive overview of customers of eCommerce brands: who they are; what they like; what they think; and how to reach them.

In 2025, *** percent of the e-commerce market revenue in Spain was returned to the retailers, according to Statista Market Insights. This share has constantly increased since 2017, and is forecast to reach **** percent by 2029. The share of revenue returned to the retailers worldwide was *** percent in 2025.

In Europe, German-speaking countries registered the highest online return rates of fashion purchases in 2022. A study monitoring fashion shopping on leading marketplaces showed that nearly ** percent of fashion orders got returned by consumers in Switzerland. Germany and Austria followed with ** and ** percent, respectively.

A survey conducted in 2025 revealed that most online purchase returns were completed at home without any issues, with ********percent of consumers reporting this. Additionally, almost ******* stated they completed their return in-store or with a delivery agent, also without hassle.