💐Mother's Day is coming up. What are we buying for mom and how much are we spending?

Apr 21, 2026

Sometimes, mom just needs a break. She certainly deserves one on Mother’s Day. While some gifts, such as time for herself without any interruptions, are priceless, plenty of us will surprise her with more tangible forms of appreciation that come with a price tag.

We’re digging deeper to celebrate mom this year on May 10.

Total spending on Mother’s Day is expected to reach a record $38 billion, outpacing last year’s total of $34.1 billion, according to an annual survey of shoppers by retail industry trade group the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The previous record was $35.7 billion set in 2023.

“Mother’s Day remains a priority for many Americans, and they plan to lean into the holiday despite current economic uncertainty,” NRF chief economist, Mark Mathews, said in a statement.

Shoppers plan to spend an average of $284.25 per person on Mother’s Day, up from $259.04 last year, and the previous record of $274.02 in 2023, the NRF said.

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As expected, flowers are the most popular gift choice (75% of shoppers plan on a flower delivery to mom), followed by greeting cards, brunch or dinner, gift cards and clothing or accessories.

Mother’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants. Even as menu prices rise, families aren’t holding back on celebrations, according to a new report from Wells Fargo.

According to analysis from Wells Fargo Agri‑Food Institute, Americans will spend an average of $67 dining out for Mother’s Day in 2026, up roughly 4% from last year. The report indicated the uptick in spending will primarily be driven by higher labor costs rather than food alone.

Jewelry is a go-to option, too, along with gadgets and treating mom to an outing, such as a concert or sporting event.

“Electronics, in particular, are a popular gift category this year, with expected spending on electronics surpassing $4 billion for the first time in the survey’s history.” said Phil Rist, Prosper’s executive vice president of strategy.

The survey, conducted from April 1-8, polled 7,877 adult consumers in the US.