Buyers are looking to give practical and unique gifts like clothing, special outings, and gift cards, but the top category is greeting cards, with 60% choosing it
Spending is expected to reach a record $27.9 billion for Father’s Day this Sunday, according to the annual survey from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Consumers could break last year’s record of $24 billion as they search for the perfect gift for their fathers. The numbers put average spending at just under $227 per person, a notable jump from $199 in 2025.
Popular gifts
Over half of buyers are looking to give practical, unique gifts like clothing, special outings, and gift cards, but the top category is greeting cards, with 60% choosing them.
Additionally, 45% of shoppers plan to give subscription boxes, while 31% plan to give experiential gifts. Personal care items and electronics also saw a massive spike.
Analysts note that experiential outings are heavily influenced by summer events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Among the 7,914 respondents, 45% plan to buy for a father or stepfather, followed by husbands (25%), sons (13%), brothers (10%), friends (8%), and grandfathers (7%).
Online shopping remains the top venue at 38%.
NRF Chief Economist Mark Matthews noted that consumers are spending despite a minor goods inflation of 1% to 2%.
Spending was expected to hit a record $38 billion for Mother’s Day in May.