All you need is love and probably a bit of cash to spend if weāre to believe these UK Valentineās Day spending statistics. Are Brits ready to spend a fortune on their loved ones, or would they rather splurge on themselves?
UK Valentineās Day Spending Statistics
- Brits spent approximately Ā£1.37 billion in 2022. (WunderKind)
- Spending in 2022 increased by around 15% from 2021. (Statista)
- In 2021, the total expenditure hit Ā£926 million, decreasing from Ā£1.45 billion in 2020. (Finder)
- Since 2017, Valentineās Day spending in the UK has increased by Ā£300 million. (Statista)
- An average Brit spent Ā£35 on Valentineās Day in 2020. (Professional Jeweller)
- 2022ās most significant spikes in online sales occurred on 2 February (up by 99% compared to the daily average for the month) and on 13 February (up by 72%). (Wunderkind)
- Traffic to e-commerce sites increased by 33% against 2021 and 39% compared to pre-pandemic levels. (Wunderkind)
- One in five Brits buys Valentineās Day gifts for their pets, spending Ā£27 million on them. (American Express)
Men vs Women: Who Spends More on Valentineās Day?
- Men spend on average Ā£44 for Valentineās Day, compared to Ā£26 for women. (Evolution Money)
- Research has found that, in general, men spend 57% more on their loved ones than women. (Barclays)
- In a survey of 3,000 people, 13.4% of men respondents said they could spend over Ā£50 for Valentineās Day. (Statista)
- In the same poll, only a third said they would spend less than Ā£10. (Statista)
- 50% of women expect a gift worth at least Ā£40 for Valentineās Day. (Donāt Disappoint Me)
- 47% of British men donāt expect gifts at all! (Donāt Disappoint Me)
- 2% of men felt let down by the present they got, compared to 42.6% of women. (Donāt Disappoint Me)
Are the Youngsters More Willing to Spend?
- The silent generation spent the least (Ā£10) and Generation Z the most (Ā£41) in 2021. (Finder)
- 2% of 25-34-year-olds spend over Ā£60 on their significant other. (Ocean Finance)
- 3% of Millenials are willing to fork out Ā£200 for Valentineās Day, compared to just 2.4% of Baby Boomers. (Ocean Finance)
- 35% of those over 65 said they donāt plan on spending money on Valentineās Day. (Ocean Finance)
- 31% of 18 to 25-year-olds interviewed for a survey said theyād be happy to buy a second-hand gift, compared to just 10% of 55 to 64-year-olds. (Shopiago)
Valentineās Day Spending by Region
- London had the biggest Valentineās Day spenders, with an average spend of just below Ā£40 in 2021. (Finder)
- Those in the East Midlands spent around Ā£16, the lowest average for 2021. (Finder)
- Out of the four nations, Scotland spends the least on gifts, with an average of Ā£26. (Evolution Money)
- However, people in Wales and the South West of England are the least likely to celebrate. (Evolution Money)
Singles vs Couples: Self-Love on the Rise
- 68% of single ladies now celebrate Galentineās Day, which is Valentineās Day but with friends! (Donāt Disappoint Me)
- 69% of men choose to stay home and spend the day alone. (Donāt Disappoint Me)
- 25% of Brits said theyād treat themselves on Valentineās Day in 2020, spending an average of Ā£12.50. (Finder)
- Interestingly, single people were the least likely to gift themselves on Valentineās Day. (Finder)
Favourite Valentineās Day Gifts
- According to digital payments company Square, sales for products with āheartsā increased by 57.7% in 2022, and chocolate sales went up by 44.9%. (Square)
- A quarter of respondents in a survey said they planned to buy flowers and plants, 22% said perfume and aftershave, and 21% clothes and lingerie. (Yodel)
- 2019 spending shows that Brits spent approximately Ā£319 million on dining out, Ā£267 million on flowers and Ā£193 million on clothing and lingerie. (Statista)
- 23% get gift suggestions from friends and family. (Statista)
- One in five women in the UK said they donāt want to get a gift card or a lingerie set for Valentineās Day. (Statista)
- For couples that live together, 27% planned on getting takeaway, and 26% prioritised cooking a special meal. (Finder)
- In a Barclaycard survey, 61% of respondents said theyād cook a special dinner at home, followed by 38% of people thinking about gifting chocolates. (Barclays)
- Brits spent Ā£267 million on romantic weekend breaks in 2019. (Business Leader)
- 23% of Brits had or would be happy to receive a second-hand Valentineās Day present. (Shopiago)
- 25% of Brits buy Valentineās Day gifts online. (MuchNeeded)
- Over 50% of Brits search for Valentineās Day gift ideas in the supermarket. (Statista)
- The average Brit spends just 30 minutes on Valentineās Day shopping. (eHarmony)
Cards & Flowers Rule Valentineās Day
- Around 145 million cards get sold on Valentineās Day in the UK, the second most popular holiday after Christmas for sending cards. (BobBooks)
- Over a third of men thought theyād get a gift card for Valentineās Day. (Statista)
- In 2021, a Valentineās Day card was the most unwanted gift for men. (Statista)
- 3% of British people have received a card or a gift from a secret admirer. (Ocean Finance)
- Brits spend Ā£261 million on flower bouquets on Valentineās Day. (The Valley Group)
- 40% of British women expected to receive flowers for Valentineās Day. (Statista)
What Do Brits Think about Valentineās Day?
- 25% of couples in the UK think the holiday is too commercialised, and over 50% donāt plan on celebrating. (Marie Claire)
- 59% of British men believe Valentineās Day celebrations are pointless. (New Statesman)
- 37% of people in the UK broke up the week leading up to Valentineās Day. (The Sun)
- February 14th is among the busiest days for divorces in the UK, with a 549% bump in trade for solicitors compared to the yearly average. (The Daily Mirror)