How Much Do Consumers Spend on Online Shopping Each Month?

eCommerce: Global Online Spend Key Insights

• Monthly Online Shopping Spend: Different countries tend to have varying approaches to eCommerce and monthly spend diverges in terms of habit and currency.

• Spending per Consumer: Depending on the currency, spending limits yield distinct results. ¥100 equal US$14, which is why most consumers in China (88%) tend to spend a higher amount. In the other three markets depicted, shares are more similar than that.

Marketers and business analysts working in eCommerce need to make informed decisions. For example, they need to know how much consumers tend to spend each month on their online purchases. With the help of DHL’s most recent Purchasing Behavior Report in its 2024 Online Shopper Trends series, we compare four key eCommerce markets and their consumer spending patterns.

U.S. Consumers: 44% Spend More Than $100 per Month

The DHL survey asked respondents how much they spend on their online purchases each month. The results were categorized into two sections: Above 100 units of the respective national currency or below. Please note that the values diverge for this reason.

• In China, 88% of consumers spend more than ¥100, which is equivalent to US$14. While the share in China may seem particularly high, suggesting that online shoppers in China spend much more than those in other countries, it should be noted that ¥100 is worth less in the direct comparison made here. 

• In Germany, where €100 equals US$111, 35% of online shoppers spend more than that each month. The remaining 65% tend to stay below this monthly threshold. 

• The United Kingdom has a similar distribution to Germany. But because £100 equals a little more, namely US$132, and 34% of consumers say they spend more than that each month, one can conclude that UK consumer spending is slightly above the German average.  

• For consumers in the United States, the distribution is roughly in line with the previous two markets. As US$100 is slightly lower than €100 and £100, a higher proportion of consumers say they spend more than US$100 on online purchases each month, namely 44% of users. The remaining 57% remain below this threshold. The 101% total is due to rounding.

The DHL report further states that consumers who responded affirmatively to shopping on social media tend to spend more online in general. But considering that the currency values in some markets equal less than the limit in others, the conclusion should be seen from a relative perspective.

Sources: DHL