37+ Free Shipping Statistics And Data in 2024
Shipping costs can have a big impact on business and customer happiness.
But just how much do they really matter?
With that in mind, we’ll cover some powerful free shipping statistics that are crucial to note immediately.
Free Shipping Statistics: The Key Data
- 66% of consumers expect free shipping on all online purchases.
- 48% of online shoppers abandon their carts due to shipping costs.
- Free shipping can increase retailer sales by up to 10%.
- Free shipping has led to a 90% increase in e-commerce orders.
- Free shipping orders have a 30% higher average order value.
- Businesses that offer free shipping have a 20% higher conversion rate than those that do not.
- 84% have made a purchase specifically due to free shipping.
- 58% of customers have added additional items to their carts to qualify for free shipping.
- 90% of consumers say that free shipping is their primary reason for shopping online.
- 27% of consumers will avoid shipping costs by shopping in-store.
Sources: (PR Newswire, Hot Jar, Square Up, Shift 4 Shop, USPS Delivers, Up Sell It, E-Consultancy, Martech, Shopify.)
Actions Taken by Consumers for Free Shipping
Consumers go to great lengths to qualify for free shipping, like adding extra items to their carts to joining loyalty programs. Here’s a rundown of what they’re willing to do:
- 58% add items to cart for free shipping.
- 50% choose the slowest transit time for free shipping.
- 47% search online for promo codes for free shipping.
- 35% choose ship-to-store for free shipping.
- 31% join loyalty programs for free shipping.
- 30% delay purchases for free shipping offers.
- 28% shop in physical stores instead of online for free shipping.
- 16% buy alternative products to meet free shipping threshold.
- 7% do not take action to qualify for free shipping.
Source: Econsultancy
What Consumers Expect for Free Shipping Thresholds
Consumers have clear expectations for free shipping, ranging from low to high spending amounts. Here’s a breakdown of what different spending brackets expect:
- 8.8% expect free shipping under $5.
- 8.4% expect free shipping $5-$10.
- 15.8% expect free shipping $15-$20.
- 25.8% expect free shipping $20-$30.
- 26.8% expect free shipping $30-$50.
- 11.6% expect free shipping $50-$75.
- 2.8% expect free shipping over $75.
Source: Statista
Shipping Preferences of U.S. Online Buyers Statistics
U.S. online shoppers have clear preferences when it comes to shipping, focusing on convenience and delivery options. Here’s a breakdown of what they care about most:
- 89% value free delivery.
- 65% prioritize easy return shipping.
- 36% want next-day delivery.
- 30% prefer same-day delivery.
- 20% choose shipping by a specific provider.
- 19% like self-selected delivery windows.
- 18% value green/sustainable shipping.
- 1% have no specific shipping preferences.
Source: Statista Top Shop Survey 2023
How Lack of Free Shipping Affects Purchases
Not having free shipping really affects how people shop, with many avoiding purchases because of it. Here’s a breakdown of how it influences buying decisions:
- 28% of shoppers are deterred by the lack of free shipping most of the time.
- 23% of shoppers avoid purchases due to no free shipping about half the time.
- 23% of shoppers occasionally avoid purchases without free shipping.
- 17% of shoppers are consistently deterred by the lack of free shipping.
- 9% of shoppers are never deterred by the lack of free shipping.
Source: Digital Commerce 360/Bizrate Insights, free shipping survey, March 2019.
Why Consumers Choose to Pay for Shipping
Consumers have different reasons for paying shipping fees, like needing stuff fast or finding the total cost reasonable. Here’s why they choose to pay for shipping:
- 41% pay for shipping if free shipping is not offered and they want the product.
- 32% pay for shipping if the total cost of the order is acceptable, even with the shipping charge.
- 26% pay for shipping if they do not have enough items in the cart to meet the threshold.
- 26% pay for shipping if they need the item faster than the free-shipping time offered.
- 25% will pay for shipping if the item is only available on one site with additional shipping fees.
- 19% will pay for shipping if the product discount exceeds the cost of shipping.
- 18% pay for shipping if they can not locate a promo code for free shipping.
- 18% pay for shipping if they want same-day delivery.
Source: Digital Commerce 360/Bizrate Insights survey of 1,097 online shoppers, August 2022.
Reason for Abandonment Duirng Checkout Related to Shipping
Extra costs and slow delivery are why people ditch their carts during checkout. Here’s a breakdown of the main shipping-related issues causing this:
- 53% of customers abandoned their carts due to extra costs being too high (shipping, tax, and fees).
- 16% abandoned their cart because the delivery was too slow.
- 20% couldn’t see or calculate the total order cost up-front, including shipping.
- 10% abandoned their cart due to an unsatisfactory return policy.
Source: Baymard Institute, 2019