Popular online shopping categories in 2024

E-commerce sales have increased every year for the past decade, with consumers spending more than $1 million per day. $5.7 trillion With more and more sales happening online, it’s no surprise that more and more businesses want to get a piece of this revenue. To get in, it’s important to know which product categories are in demand.

Here are the top global and US online shopping categories by revenue. Use this data to: E-commerce business.

Understanding the top online shopping categories

To understand the top online shopping categories, it’s important to look at two data points: how much revenue the category is generating and how popular it is.

An e-commerce category that’s growing in popularity can be a smart investment, even if it’s not yet generating the most revenue. On the other hand, a category’s high revenue could mask its waning popularity, creating business risk.

Monitor individuals Trending Products is also important for businesses: breakout products can boost revenue across an entire product category and generate interest in similar products.

Let’s take a closer look at the top online shopping categories by revenue, globally and in the U.S., and which categories have seen the biggest changes in revenue over the past year.

Top Online Shopping Categories by Revenue: Worldwide

electronics

Projected spending is $922.5 billion, with electronics Global e-commerce salesThe strength of this category lies in the broad range of products it offers, from essential devices like smartphones to niche items like drones and smart home gadgets.

Fashion and Apparel

Fashion and apparel ranks second among the top online shopping categories, with consumers expected to spend $760 billion on fashion-related products this year. fashion dropshipping It’s becoming easier for entrepreneurs to set up online clothing stores, and existing clothing brands are finding new opportunities. collaboration.

food

Food remains a popular e-commerce shopping category, with projected sales expected to reach $460.1 billion. Online Grocery ShoppingCombined with the rise of delivery apps, this has changed the way consumers shop for groceries.

Beverages

Beverages rank fourth on the list of top online shopping categories, with projected revenue of $248.7 billion. Craft Beer, teaand Premium Coffee This reflects a consumer trend of seeking unique, high-quality beverages.

DIY and Hardware

DIY and hardware products are also popular online purchases. Consumers are projected to spend $220.2 billion on home improvement supplies. The convenience of comparing and browsing products is reviewThe ability to get heavy items delivered is a major advantage of online shopping in this category.

furniture

Furniture is second only to DIY and hardware, with projected sales of $220.1 billion. Direct to Consumer Brands continue to disrupt the industry by cutting out the middleman. Mattress Firmhome furniture suppliers, and luxury designers can rely on us to provide high quality products at low prices. Online furniture shopping It is becoming an increasingly attractive option for consumers.

media

Media ranks seventh on the list with projected revenues of $193.9 billion.

Beauty and Personal Care

Beauty and personal care products are expected to generate $169.6 billion in revenue. New ingredients, price points, or Niche skin care products They often thrive in this category.

Tobacco products

Tobacco products are projected to bring in $116.6 billion in sales this year. The availability of tobacco alternatives such as e-cigarettes and vapes shows that this traditional industry is evolving in response to the preferences and needs of online consumers. Regulatory challenges.

Toys and hobbies

Toys and hobbies rounds out the list with an expected revenue of $89.8 billion. Online demand for toys and hobbies is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.4% from 2018 to 2024. Educational toyscollectibles, craft activities and more.

Top Online Shopping Categories by Revenue: United States

The top e-commerce shopping categories in the US show similar trends to global trends: Overall US:

• fashion It’s the highest-grossing category among U.S. shoppers, with annual revenue expected to reach $162.9 billion.
• food In second place is projected revenue of $125.6 billion.
• electronics It comes in a close third with sales projected to reach $120.1 billion.
• Beverages It is expected to generate revenue of $111.6 billion.
• DIY and Hardware Stores The item ranks fifth, with projected revenue of $108.6 billion.
• furniture Revenue is projected to be $74.5 billion.
• media It is projected to be $37.7 billion.
• Beauty and Personal Care These products are expected to generate revenue of $28.4 billion.
• Toys and Hobbies It is projected to bring in $21.2 billion in revenue.
• Luxury goods Projected revenue rounds out the list with $14.9 billion.

Most popular online shopping categories

When we look at online shopping categories by popularity, the results are a bit different. Change in annual revenue Instead of total revenue, the top five shopping categories worldwide are:

food

The food category saw a massive growth of 51.6% in 2020, likely driven by the shift to online grocery shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although growth has slowed since then, food remains a popular category, with current growth forecast at 24.1%.

Household Essentials

Household staples also saw strong growth of 39.6% in 2020, reflecting increased demand for essential products during the pandemic. Growth is expected to stabilise, increasing by 22.2%.

Beverages

Online beverage sales are expected to increase by 18.9%.

electronics

After declining revenue in 2022, online electronics revenue is growing year over year. In 2024, growth of 18.1% is forecast.

furniture

The furniture sector is expected to grow by 17% this year, signalling continued interest in purchasing furniture online.

How to leverage online shopping trends for your business

Online businesses can stay relevant by keeping up with the top trends. Tailoring your product catalog based on consumer demand can save you money and build a stronger business. Brand awareness.

Here’s how to make the most of your product popularity data:

Experiment with growth areas

Many businesses find success by optimizing their online stores for specific product categories, allowing them to provide specialized services to their customers. Target AudienceAt the same time, your business may be limited by the size of your niche audience.

One way to expand is Product Niche It’s about offering trending products through additional sales channels, such as online. Sales siteMarketplaces like Etsy and eBay are especially useful for businesses looking to tap into growth areas without compromising their brand and website optimization.

For example, a business known for its curated selection of craft items may want to expand by offering a variety of handmade goods made by the local community. By first listing these products on a platform like Etsy, the business can test a new market without having to completely overhaul its website.

Understanding market demand Product Research Similarly, it is important for businesses to align their product lineup. For example, companies can use tools such as Google Trends to identify popular home fitness products and then source or create similar products to meet demand in this growing category.

Personalize your shopping experience

Personalization is another way to gain attention when competing within top product categories. Companies can leverage consumer data to understand shopper preferences and personalize the shopping experience.

Personalized marketing and store design Targeted email campaigns Or make personalized product recommendations based on a customer’s browsing and purchasing history. Loyalty programs also encourage repeat purchases.

Even just calling customers by their name can improve their shopping experience. Build stronger customer relationships.

Social Media Shapes Online Shopping Trends

Not only does social media influence the top online shopping categories, it is also a significant sales channel in its own right. After 2025, sales via social media will account for at least 20% of total e-commerce sales.

As Generation Z To increase the purchasing power of Generation Alpha, companies are adopting strategies to reach these consumers on social media. 4 hours per dayThis includes embracing social selling, such as publishing posts about your products and setting up shop on social media platforms.

💡 Shopify makes it easy to connect your store to social media, Sell ​​on social media platforms.

Know what sells

Knowing which online shopping categories are currently trending is a great way to gain insight into the e-commerce consumer. If you’re planning to expand your product range, enter new markets, or improve your online shopping experience, use these insights to guide your e-commerce marketing strategy and decisions.