Americans buy 7.5 pairs of shoes per year (2024)

Jan 22, 2015 United States

The number has been released by the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) while announcing their ApparelStats 2014 and ShoeStats 2014 reports

"The industry continued to fire on all cylinders in 2013", stated AAFA President and CEO Juanita D. Duggan, adding: “As a result, apparel and footwear contributed a record 361 billion US dollars to the US economy in 2013, a bigger contribution than new cars, alcohol, toys, or practically any other industry."

The same source estimates that on average every American (including every man, woman, and child) "spent 1 141 US dollars to purchase 64 garments and 7 ½ pairs of shoes in 2013, more than any other country in the world." They added that the rebound in Made in USA clothes and shoes, first seen in 2011, continued in 2013 with US manufacturing of clothes up 6.2% and shoes up 8.5%.

Despite the growth registered, the AAFA notes that 97% of all clothes and 98% of all shoes sold in the US today are imported items. "The fact remains that the U.S. apparel and footwear market is dependent on international trade", commented Duggan, adding: "Therefore, we call on Congress and the Obama administration to take immediate action on long-pending trade legislation and trade agreements to help the industry's 4 million US workers, and the country's 316 million consumers."

Americans buy 7.5 pairs of shoes per year (2024)

FAQs

How many pairs of shoes does the average American buy per year? ›

Americans buy 7.5 pairs of shoes per year.

How many pairs of shoes does the average person buy in a year? ›

A poll of 1,057 women by shopping magazine ShopSmart found that the average woman owns 19 pairs of shoes (Source: Reuters & Shopsmart). On average, women purchase 4 new pairs of shoes per year.

How many pairs of shoes does the average person need? ›

The traditional rule of elegant dressing recommended seven pairs of shoes, that is, as many pairs as there are days of the week.

How much do Americans spend on footwear? ›

On average, the American consumer spends 419 U.S. dollars on footwear over the course of the year.

How many pairs of shoes does the average woman own in America? ›

“The average woman owns 20 pairs of shoes but wears only five of them regularly.”

How many pairs of shoes does the average American have? ›

On average, each American owns six pairs of sneakers. Interestingly, eBay's study found that men have a larger sneaker collection than women. Women owned six pairs on average, while men owned one more on average at seven pairs.

What country spends the most on shoes? ›

China was the world's leading consumer of footwear, with around 4.32 billion pairs of shoes bought in 2021. It is of little surprise that China tops the list of footwear consumers as it had the highest number of inhabitants on the planet as of 2021.

How much does the average American woman spend on shoes per year? ›

According to the research, women and girls spend an average of $545 per year on clothing, while men and boys spend just $326. Footwear costs the average household $314, while clothes for children under two comes in at $68. That comes to a total of $1,434 each year on clothes -- or about $120 a month.

What age group spends the most money on shoes? ›

Average annual U.S. consumer spend on footwear in 2021, by age. This statistic shows the average annual expenditure on footwear by consumers in the United States in 2021, by age. In 2021, the 45 to 54 age group was the highest spender on footwear, spending 470 U.S. dollars on average in the year.

How many pairs of shoes does a person go through in a lifetime? ›

“It is estimated that the average woman (with a life expectancy of 80 years of age) will spend approximately $125,000 in her lifetime on clothing and accessories. This will equate to just over 3,100 different items and include 145 handbags, 185 dresses and yes you've guessed it, over 270 pairs of shoes.” Source.

How many pairs of shoes does a woman really need? ›

A flawless pair of shoes can turn basics into an outfit, and with a well-edited shoe wardrobe, your style is unstoppable. But what does a basic shoe wardrobe look like? And what is the minimum number of shoes that a woman can own and still cover all her bases fashion-wise? In my opinion, 12 is the magic number.

How many pairs of shoes should a minimalist own? ›

Five pairs of shoes is the perfect amount for my current lifestyle because I have an appropriate choice to wear for anything on my agenda. I don't miss having more than one pair of each style or options for activities that haven't been on my calendar in years, like ballet class.

What is the 1 selling shoe in America? ›

The largest shoe brand in the US is Nike, with a revenue of $46.7 billion and over 79,000 employees. As of 2022, the US shoe industry has a market size of $85.84 billion.

What shoe size sells the most in the US? ›

The most common shoe size in the US is 10.5, and the size increases as your height increases. What is the most common shoe size in Uk?

What is the average American shoe? ›

It has been estimated that the average global shoe size among adults is 9-12 for men and 7-9 for women (both US sizes). In the United States the average shoe size for men is believed to be 10-11, while the average shoe size for women is roughly 9 (again, both in US sizes).

What is the average American female shoe size? ›

In the United States, the average foot size of a woman was 6.5 in the 1960s. It rose to 7.5 in the '70s. While there are no official statistics available, anecdotal evidence received from shoe sales personnel indicates that the current women's average shoe size is around a U.S. 7 to 8.

What is the most common women's shoe size in America? ›

While there are no official statistics about shoe sizes, anecdotally, the average shoe size for women in the United States ranges between 8.5 and 9.

Which gender buys the most shoes? ›

The second thing to note is that women and girls have more shoes to choose from than men and boys. Figure 1 shows that 63% of the 1.1 million+ shoes we looked at in the online marketplace target women, versus 27.6% for men. Girls' assortment outweighs boys' at 5.6% to 3.9%, respectively.

Do most Americans wear shoes at home? ›

It's pretty common for Americans to walk around the house in shoes…and they don't necessarily don and doff their shoes near the door. But, it's also not a universal thing either. A fairly large percentage of Americans do indeed take their shoes off, consistently.

Which person has the most pairs of shoes? ›

Geller's record for the largest sneaker collection has allegedly been broken by three sisters from South Florida who have amassed over 6,000 pairs.

What is the average shoe size for everyone? ›

Average shoe size by height
HeightShoe size
5'5″ or shorter7 to 9
5'6″ to 5'9″9.5 to 10.5
5'10” to 6'2″11 to 12.5
6'3″ and taller13 to 20+
Aug 7, 2019

Who is the largest consumer of shoes? ›

Asia accounts for more than half of global consumption

At country level, the distribution of consumption continues gradually to approach that of the population: China and India lead the top footwear consumer markets and together account for almost one third of world consumption.

Which state has the most shoes? ›

Maine came in first with over half of respondents saying that they own 16 or more pairs of shoes.

How big is the shoe market in the US? ›

The Textile & Other Footwear segment is the largest segment in the market, with a market volume of US$27.14bn in 2023.

What do people spend the most money on? ›

The average household earned $87,432 in 2021 before taxes and spent $66,928, according to the BLS survey. Significant expenditures were housing, transportation and food. Slightly more than three-quarters of people's income in 2021 was devoted to living expenses.

How much does an average woman spend on shoes? ›

This statistic shows the average annual expenditure on footwear per consumer unit in the United States in 2021, by gender. That year, the country's average expenditure on women's footwear amounted to 136.62 U.S. dollars per consumer unit.

What shoe size resells for the most money? ›

According to StockX, shoes of these sizes sell for a higher amount:
  • Men's size 16 resells for 1.86 times more than retail value.
  • Men's size 4.5 resells for 1.83 times more than retail value.
  • Women's size 10.5 resells for 1.62 times more than retail value.
  • Women's size 11.5 resells for 1.61 times more than retail value.
Feb 6, 2023

Which gender spends more money? ›

Here's what they found: Overall spending: Single men outspent single women. Men spent an average of $41,203 a year as opposed to $38,838 by women. It's important to note, though, that the median earning data from the Census Current Population Survey found that overall, women are paid about 17% less than men.

What month do people buy the most shoes? ›

The peak of sales usually falls on October-January, then fall in April-August. The reason is weather factors that are important for shoe sales.

How often should you wear the same shoes? ›

We define ample time as around 24 hours – so ideally give it a day between wears. If you don't give your shoes a day to air out, the sweat-soaked leather will warp, and your shoes can start to lose their shape — not to mention get musty and start to smell.

Do you wear the same shoes everyday? ›

The Importance of Footwear Rotation

When it comes to how often you should wear your favorite pair of footwear, Dan recommends trying to rotate every other day. This not only extends the life of the shoes, but it's best for your feet.

How often should you get a pair of shoes? ›

According to podiatrists, everyday shoes need to be replaced every 8 to 12 months – or when they start showing signs of wear and tear. But how do we know when it's time to swap our favourite pumps, trainers or boots for a new pair?

How long should you own a pair of shoes? ›

A good rule of thumb is to replace your shoes every 350-500 miles. For some shoes that could mean six months, but others could last longer. If you don't keep track of your shoe mileage, replacing a pair that you use often every 8-12 months is good practice.

How many pairs of shoes is considered a collection? ›

As the old saying goes, it's quality, not quantity. Secondly, 37% of sneakerheads said that they have eleven to thirty shoes in their collection. This is a pretty good amount as it's not too much and not too little either.

What is considered a minimalist shoe? ›

Minimalist shoes are defined as providing "minimal interference with the natural movement of the foot, because of its high flexibility, low heel to toe drop, weight and stack height, and the absence of motion control and stability devices." Minimalist shoes provide more sensory contact for the foot on the ground while ...

What shoe does Nike sell the most? ›

The all-time classic Air Force 1 is the most consistently popular Nike of all time and debatably one of the best sneakers ever made for collectors.

Is it possible to just buy one shoe? ›

Absolutely! Whether you are buying just one (1) shoe, or two (2) shoes of different sizes or widths to create a pair, we refer to this as buying 'single' shoes.

Who owns #1 shoes? ›

AND1
IndustrySporting goods, footwear
FoundersSeth Berger, Jay Coen Gilbert, Tom Austin
ProductsAthletic shoes, clothing, sports equipment, accessories
ParentGalaxy Universal
Websiteand1.com
2 more rows

What is the most common shoe in the world? ›

The “Nike Air Force 1 comes out on top in every single state as the most popular and searched for iconic sneaker in 2021,” according to eBay. It come in women's, men's and kids; high-tops, medium and low-tops; and a variety of colors.

Is the footwear industry saturated? ›

With this craze of social media and the ability to just create a shoe brand and build it on Instagram, the industry has become immensely saturated and the consumer has a million options to choose from these days.

What age do feet stop growing? ›

Usually, feet stop growing around age 20 or 21, but it is dependent on when puberty begins. The earlier one starts puberty, the earlier the feet should stop growing. Genetics is a factor as well.

What is the average shoe size by age? ›

Average Children's Shoe Sizes By Age Chart
Kids' AgeUS Kids SizeFoot length
3 years9C6 1/4"
4 years11C6 7/8"
5 years12.5C7 1/4"
6 years13.5C7 1/2"
8 more rows

What shoe size is average men? ›

Most American males who are 20 or older and who are at least 5 feet 10.9 inches tall carry a shoe size of 10.5. Men who are shorter than 6 feet 2 inches often wear a size 8 or 9 shoe size, whereas taller men typically don a size 11 or 12.

How often do Americans buy new shoes? ›

Seventy-three percent of adults have been buying footwear for themselves every six months or more frequently, AlixPartners' survey found. Meanwhile, 48% say they've bought new shoes for their children either monthly or twice a month.

What shoe size is sold the most? ›

The National Shoe Retailers Association announced in late 2012 that the most popular shoe sizes have increased over the last 30 years, from size 7½ to 8½ for women, and from size 9½ to 10½ for men. Experts say one reason for our expanding feet is that they're proportionate to our expanding bodies.

What is the most purchased shoe? ›

Top Selling Shoes of All Time
  • Nike Air Jordan 1 16. Reebok Pumps Original.
  • Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars 17. Air Jordan VI.
  • Nike Air Force 1 18. Air Jordan XIV.
  • Air Jordan XI 19. The Kobe adidas.
  • Air Penny 2 20. Nike Air Flight 1989.
  • Air Jordan XII 21. Air Jordan VII.
  • Nike Zoom Kobe IV 22. ...
  • Reebok the Question 23.

What age group buys the most sneakers? ›

What demographic buys the most sneakers? Data shows that the target market for Nike shoes includes Millennials (24–39-year-olds) and Gen Z (9–24-year-olds). Presumably, many Millennials are buying sneakers for their young children.

How long should everyday shoes last? ›

According to podiatrists, everyday shoes need to be replaced every 8 to 12 months – or when they start showing signs of wear and tear.

Can you tell a lot about a person by their shoes? ›

Yes. Someone's age, gender, income, and attachment anxiety can be determined at an above chance level just by looking at photographs of their shoes. Surprisingly minimal appearance cues lead perceivers to accurately judge others' personality, status, or politics.

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