2026
9
US Arts and Crafts Consumer: 2026
2026-02-06T10:02:03+00:00
REP9F0E734A_1E7A_475C_8E73_4A1E7A375C16
3695
190919
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Despite persistent economic pressures, crafting remains resilient: 73% of US adults participated in a crafting project in the past year, confirming its continued popularity as a creative outlet. With ongoing…
US
Retail
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US Arts and Crafts Consumer: 2026

Despite persistent economic pressures, crafting remains resilient: 73% of US adults participated in a crafting project in the past year, confirming its continued popularity as a creative outlet.

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for arts & crafts consumer
    • Opportunities
    • Crafting does not always have to be a solo hobby
    • Encourage busy crafters to embrace crafting micro-moments
    • Appeal to video-first skill builders
  2. THE MARKET

    • Consumer sentiment meets creative resillience
    • Graph 1: consumer sentiment index, 2022-25
    • Economic strain sets up a creative slowdown for cost-conscious crafters
    • Graph 2: unemployment rate, 2021-25
    • The time ROI of crafting
    • Jo-ann’s closure leaves gap in craft retailing
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Participation in arts and crafts
    • DIY decor brings joy to celebrations
    • Graph 3: “I enjoy making decorations to celebrate occasions (eg parties, holidays)” (% agree), by age, 2025
    • A majority of consumers are crafting
    • Graph 4: arts and crafts projects worked on in the past 12 months, 2025
    • Men and women focus on different crafts
    • Graph 5: arts and crafts projects worked on in the past 12 months, by gender, 2025
    • Modern crafters embrace online tutorials, while in-person events lag behind
    • Graph 6: crafting-related activities participated in the past 12 months, 2025
    • Younger crafters more engaged with crafting-related activities, with a generational divide seeing older crafters opting out
    • Graph 7: crafting-related activities participated in the past 12 months, 2025
    • Videos speak to bilingual crafters
    • Graph 8: watched online videos or tutorials to learn how to create something in the past 12 months, by bilingual status, 2025
    • Crafting frequency and confidence in skills
    • Most crafters do so on at least a monthly basis
    • Graph 9: crafting frequency, 2025
    • Younger crafters pick up their crafts more frequently, while older crafters do so irregularly
    • Graph 10: crafting frequency, by age, 2025
    • Crafting confidence varies, but most feel moderately confident
    • Graph 11: crafting skill, 2025
    • Women more likely to see themselves as somewhat skilled
    • Graph 12: crafting skill, by gender, 2025
    • Bold and crafty: younger crafters stand out in the confidence gap
    • Graph 13: crafting skill, by age, 2025
    • Reframe “granny crafts” in an era that celebrates The New Young
    • Graph 14: crafting skill, by generation, 2025
    • Participation and interest in crafting are linked
    • Graph 15: reasons for not crafting in the past 12 months, 2025
    • Older crafters are staying consistent in their crafting frequency
    • Graph 16: changes in crafting frequency in the past 12 months, by generation, 2025
    • Patience and perspective: crafting can get more rewarding with age
    • Motivations and barriers to crafting
    • Time is a top barrier to crafting
    • Graph 17: reasons for crafting less in the past 12 months, 2025
    • The wellbeing benefits of crafting are motivating for those crafting more
    • Graph 18: reasons for crafting more in the past 12 months, 2025
    • Mindfulness through making
    • Balancing work and play: creative breaks offer emotional downtime
    • Graph 19: changes in crafting frequency in the past 12 months, by work from home status, 2025
    • Crafting quality time: parents are more likely to be crafters
    • Graph 20: changes in crafting frequency in the past 12 months, moms vs dads, 2025
    • Younger crafters balance passion and price
    • Graph 21: crafting attitudes (% agree), by age, 2025
    • Retailers shopped and sources of crafting inspiration
    • The Amazon Effect is strong in the arts and crafts sector
    • Graph 22: craft retailers, 2025
    • Consumers expect more from craft retailers as they balance a need for convenience, community and expertise
    • Graph 23: attitudes toward craft retailers (% agree), 2025
    • Women prefer craft retailers and discount stores whereas men are comfortable at home improvement stores
    • Graph 24: craft retailers shopped, by gender, 2025
    • Younger generations appreciate general retailers while older crafters are more likely to look to craft retailers
    • Graph 25: craft retailers shopped, by generation, 2025
    • Social media is a top source of inspiration, behind friends and family
    • Graph 26: sources of inspiration for creative projects, 2025
    • Men trust media whereas women get inspiration from browsing
    • Graph 27: sources of inspiration for creative projects, by gender, 2025
    • Video and short-form video drive inspiration
    • Graph 28: social media platforms for creative inspiration, 2025
    • Younger consumers rely on digital platforms for inspiration
    • Graph 29: sources of inspiration for creative projects, by age, 2026
  4. PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • “Analog bags” make crafting easier to take on-the-go
    • Crafting at the movies
    • Inspiring new forms of upcycling, @Willitlamp_clayandrory asks, “will it lamp?”
    • All-in-one art kits offer crafters convenience
    • Breville taps grandma power to make the holidays cozy
    • From little hands to big plans: Lowe’s inspires families through DIY
    • AI-artist in residence: Copilot’s coloring book generator allows users to create custom coloring pages
  5. APPENDIX

    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Infegy Starscape coverage
    • Generations
    • Abbreviations
    • Abbreviations and terms
Download Report Summary

US Arts & Crafts Industry – What You Need to Know

  • Social crafting brings crafters together
  • Younger makers are shaping the industry
  • Video resources are a go-to resource

US Arts & Crafts Consumer – Trends and Insights

  • Despite persistent economic pressures, crafting remains resilient: 73% of US adults participated in a crafting project in the past year, confirming its continued popularity as a creative outlet. With ongoing periods of uncertainty, the popularity of arts and crafts highlights the category’s ability to serve as a reliable and flexible leisure pursuit – one that offers value, emotional balance and self-expression across generations.
  • In the craft retail space, JOANN’s 2025 bankruptcy and withdrawal from brick-and-mortar retail has shifted market share, heightening consumer expectations of remaining craft retailers. Amazon and Michaels have moved to fill this crafting void, shoppers want to rely on them for more than just product inventory. Supply shopping benefits from the convenience of ecommerce platforms, but with more limited access to in-person retailers, crafters will look to in-person spaces for connection and creativity.
  • With a range of crafting skills and interests, there is opportunity for brands to launch smaller budget-friendly, project kits that respond directly to consumer pain points: cost and time. Crafting is likely to remain a popular pursuit, but with continued economic uncertainty, smaller project types may offer crafters more immediate gratification and sense of accomplishment.

This Report Looks at the Following Areas:

  • Types of crafts consumers are participating in
  • Frequency of crafting
  • Motivations and barriers for crafting
  • Retailers shopped
  • Sources of inspiration for craft projects

Methodology

Consumer Research Methodology

For the purposes of this Report, Mintel commissioned exclusive consumer research through Kantar Profiles to explore consumer attitudes and behaviors toward arts and crafts. Mintel was responsible for the survey design, data analysis and reporting. Fieldwork was conducted in November 2025 among a sample of 2,000 adults aged 18+ with access to the internet.

Mintel selects survey respondents by gender, age, household income, region, race, ethnicity and parental status so they are proportionally representative of the US adult population using the internet. Mintel also slightly oversamples, relative to the population, respondents who are Hispanic or Black to ensure an adequate representation of these groups in our survey results and allow for more precise parameter estimates from our reported findings. Please note that Mintel surveys are conducted online and in English only. Hispanic consumers who are not online and/or do not speak English are not included in our survey results.

While race and Hispanic origin are separate demographic characteristics, Mintel often compares them to each other. Please note that the responses for race (White, Black, Asian, Native American or other race) will overlap those that also are Hispanic, because Hispanic consumers can be of any race.

Consumer research questions

  • What types of projects have you worked on in the past 12 months?
  • Which of the following activities have you done in the last 12 months?
  • How often do you work on creative arts and crafts projects?
  • Which of the following best describes your skill level in making arts/crafts?
  • Why have you not worked on any arts or crafts projects in the past 12 months?
  • Are you crafting more, less or about the same now compared to a year ago?
  • Why are you crafting more often now than a year ago?
  • Why are you crafting less often now than a year ago?
  • Where do you purchase arts and crafts supplies?
  • Where do you get inspiration for your creative projects?
  • Where do you get inspiration for your creative projects on social media?
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