Most consumers plan to spend less than $100 this Father's Day
Most consumers are keeping Father's Day spending modest, with more than 70% planning to spend less than $100 on gifts.
Practical presents like gift cards, food, grilling gear, clothing, and hobby-related items are proving more popular than experience-based gifts.
Experts say shoppers can stretch their budgets by combining discounts, using cash-back offers, and focusing on gifts Dad will actually use.
Father's Day may be a time to celebrate Dad, but many consumers are taking a practical approach to both gift-giving and spending this year.
New survey data from RetailMeNot shows that while a majority of Americans plan to mark the occasion, most are sticking to modest budgets and choosing gifts that offer everyday value.
From gift cards and restaurant meals to grilling equipment and hobby-related items, shoppers appear to be prioritizing useful presents over extravagant splurges. ConsumerAffairs spoke with RetailMeNot Retail Insights Expert Stephanie Carls who explained that the trend reflects how consumers are balancing meaningful celebrations with ongoing budget-conscious shopping habits.
Practical gifts are winning out
One of the key findings from the survey was that Fathers Day shopping was geared towards practical gifts, while Mothers Day had an emphasis on experience-based gifts.
Dads tend to deflect when asked what they want, and consumers have stopped fighting that, Carls explained. When someone tells you not to make a thing of it long enough, you eventually believe them.
Our 2026 Fathers Day data backs this up. Forty-two percent of consumers arent spending on Fathers Day at all, and the ones who are spending are picking gifts with the lowest risk of missing the mark.
Value reigns
Additionally, over 71% of shoppers plan to spend under $100 on Fathers Day gifts.
The result? Retailers are prioritizing value for shoppers.
Lots of bundled offers, gift-with-purchase promotions, restaurant gift card bonuses, and bigger sitewide discounts in the categories Fathers Day shoppers are actually buying, Carls said.
Whats working is being upfront about the price. Fathers Day shoppers arent trying to hunt down a deal. They want to see the discount, know what theyre paying, and move on.
Buy what Dad will use
If youre struggling to find a meaningful Fathers Day gift that also fits into your budget, youre not alone. Carls best advice: buy what your dad will use!
Spend on the thing hell use, not the thing that looks impressive, she said. A $40 piece of grilling gear he uses all summer beats a $100 gift that ends up in a drawer by July.
A few easy moves: pair a smaller gift with a shared meal, layer a promo code with cash back so youre actually getting the discount, or grab a gift card to a place he already loves.
Here are some more strategies from Carls on staying within budget this Fathers Day:
Stack your savings. A promo code at checkout combined with cash back is where the price actually drops. Most shoppers do one or the other. The ones doing both come out ahead.
Time the purchase. Fathers Day deals soften the week before and get more aggressive in the final few days. If you can wait, wait.
Lean into gift cards strategically. The RetailMeNot 2026 data has gift cards as the top Fathers Day category at 15%. Theyre flexible, they arrive on time, and they let Dad pick the thing he truly wants instead of you guessing on his behalf.
Buy something hell use. The Fathers Day list is functional for a reason. A grilling tool, a piece of clothing he wears out regularly, a subscription to something hes into. Those gifts get used. The cute ones end up in a drawer.
Posted: 2026-06-18 20:35:38
