The US major household appliances market is proving resilient in the face of inflation and new tariffs, as consumers continue to view these products as essential investments. However, the definition…
US
Electrical Goods Retail
simple
US Major Household Appliances Market Report 2026
"The US appliance market thrives despite inflation, focusing on durability, wellness and eco-friendly features to meet evolving generational needs."
The US major household appliances market is proving resilient in the face of inflation and new tariffs, as consumers continue to view these products as essential investments. However, the definition of value is evolving, with greater emphasis on durability, ease of maintenance and long-term savings, alongside features that enhance wellness and simplify daily life.
Generational differences are shaping demand. Younger consumers prioritize wellness and eco-friendly innovations, while older buyers focus on simplicity and reliability. This dynamic presents opportunities for brands to address diverse needs through intuitive designs and advanced technologies like AI diagnostics and microplastic filtering. By framing appliances as future-proof investments that deliver tangible benefits such as efficiency, health and convenience, brands can capture growth, foster trust and stand out in a competitive market.
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
Effects of tariffs, inflation and rising costs on appliance purchasing behavior
Ownership trends and future purchase plans for major home appliances
Appliance purchase channels and preferred shopping locations
Factors influencing retailer selection for appliance purchases
Motivations for buying major home appliances
Key considerations when selecting appliances, based on type
Market Definitions
For the purposes of this Report, Mintel defines the major appliance market as follows:
Clothes washers
Clothes dryers
Refrigerators (refrigerator freezer combinations and refrigerators without a freezer)
Freezers
Dishwashers
Ovens
Cooktops (stand-alone)
Microwaves (stand-alone microwaves and built-in microwaves)
Collapse All
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Market predictions
Opportunities
Put wellness at the center of appliance innovation
Make simplicity the cornerstone of appliance design
Present tech features as vital components of daily routines, rather than standalone tools
THE MARKET
Snapshot – market size and forecast
Inflation and tariffs could deprioritize major household appliance upgrades
Graph 1: headline CPI and core CPI, 2021-25
US Economic Snapshot
Turn increasing cooking enthusiasm into appliance upgrades
Steel and aluminum tariffs push appliance prices higher
Bridge economic challenges by aligning BNPL with household needs and goals
Graph 2: interest in using BNPL for household appliances, by generation, 2025
Meet consumer demand for safer, greener household environments
Market size and forecast
Market size and forecast of major household appliances
Graph 3: total consumer expenditures and forecast for major household appliances, at current prices, 2019-30
Market size and forecast of major household appliances at current prices
Market size and forecast of major household appliances at inflation-adjusted prices
THE CONSUMER
How consumers are adapting to economic pressures
Position appliances as essential investments for long-term savings
Graph 4: intent to purchase major household appliances in the next year, 2020-26
Prioritize reliability and risk reduction for budget buyers
Graph 5: switching behaviors and steady purchasing major household appliance amid rising costs, by age and household income, 2026
Blend green messaging with themes of health, convenience and savings
Connect premium offerings to hassle-free upkeep and cost control
Shopping for major home appliances
Prepare for the next wave of appliance buyers with strong digital presence
Graph 6: purchase channel of last major household appliance, 2019-26
Turn choice overload into clarity with AI‑guided, side‑by‑side comparisons
Fully utilize omnichannel’s strengths to deliver a coherent appliance journey
Graph 7: shopping at select merchandisers for their last major home appliance purchase, by purchase channel and age, 2026
Fully utilize omnichannel’s strengths to deliver a coherent appliance journey
Appeal to older, higher-income consumers’ desire to pay for convenience
Redefining appliance replacements as upgrades
Appeal to younger, affluent buyers with future-ready appliance solutions
Graph 8: reason for purchasing a new major home appliance, by age and income and parental status, 2026
Shift smart tech from novelty to necessity by emphasizing everyday benefits
Brands need to move past listing features and demonstrate their everyday usefulness
Appeal to older consumers needs with practicality over novelty
Graph 9: important factors to appliance selection NET – any appliance, by age and household income, 2026
Turn seasonal promotions into a catalyst for early appliance upgrades
PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING
AI could redefine what consumers expect appliances to do
Innovate to extend product life and protect consumer investments
The line between appliance functionality and advertising is blurring in smart homes
Rather than just highlight holiday togetherness, KitchenAid made it happen
Bosch proves high performance can have personality
APPENDIX
Market definition
The market
Forecast methodology
Forecast methodology – fan chart
Market forecast and prediction intervals
The consumer
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
US generation groups
Consumer questions
Consumer attitudes and behaviors toward appliance purchases as costs rise
Graph 10: impact on rising costs on attitude and behaviors toward major household appliances, 2026
Value drives retail channel selection
Graph 11: reason for retailer selection for last appliance purchase, 2026
Important factors to appliance selection
Graph 12: important factors to appliance selection, by appliance type, 2026
Appliance type base sizes
Ownership and plans to purchase appliances in the next year
Graph 13: current and future ownership of major home appliances, 2026
Market Intelligence Made Easier With Mintel
The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:
Gain a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the market: Mintel reports blend consumer research, market forecasts, product innovation tracking, and competitive analysis, allowing businesses to see every angle of their industry and identify new opportunities quickly.
Make decisions with confidence, grounded in robust data: Each report draws on up-to-date, reliable information from trusted sources and industry experts, ensuring your strategies are based on solid evidence rather than speculation.
Benefit from expert analysis and practical recommendations: Mintel’s reports are written by experienced analysts who interpret complex data and provide clear, actionable insights you can trust to guide your next moves.
Stay ahead with actionable intelligence on market trends and consumer behaviour: By combining fresh research with long-term market monitoring, our reports help businesses anticipate changes and adapt strategically. So you’re prepared to make informed decisions and drive growth.
What goes into a Mintel Market Intelligence Report?
Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.
The Four Pillars of Our Research
We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:
Consumer Research: Direct surveys with real people, giving us clear, current insights into what people think and do.
Desk Research: In-depth review of trusted data sources. We use this rich database, plus powerful internal tools that track new products and market sizes, to detect trends and guide forecasts.
Trade Research: Insights from conversations with industry experts. Their real-world experience helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
Brand and Social Media Research: Analysis of online opinions and trends. This lets us spot trends, measure brand sentiment, and capture feedback in real time, adding further depth to our research.
Bringing It All Together
Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.
Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.
£ 3,695(Excl.Tax)
Pay via credit card or invoice
PDF, PPT and Excel download delivered instantly
Instant delivery when paying by credit card, invoice orders may take longer
Save up to 20% when you purchase multiple reports
Save 10% when you purchase two reports together.
Save 15% when you purchase three reports together.
Save 20% when your purchase four or more together.
Discount automatically applied in basket
The market for major domestic appliances (MDA) is largely driven by necessity, with 60% of consumers buying a new item only when their old one breaks. Most appliances...
The UK small domestic appliance market is on track to reach £2.8 billion by 2025, with 73% of consumers purchasing online – a clear sign that digital convenience...
The key appeal of household and cleaning appliances lies in their ability to free consumers of the burden of housework by offering all-round cleaning and easy maintenance. To...
This report looks at the following areas:
Analysis of current and future directions for the kitchen appliances market; interpretation of market drivers and key trends.
Research on ownership...
Online shopping dominates the German electrical goods retailing market, with high demand for energy efficiency and sustainability, and opportunities for discounted imperfect devices.
Armando Falcao, Associate Director - Retail...
Although high on the agenda during the cost-of-living crisis, price is no longer the be-all and end-all for all consumers. For 16-34s, good customer service even outweighs cost...
When I’m investigating specific sectors I tend to use Mintel reports for their forecasting, which I’ve always found to be very accurate.
They also offer really broad and deep coverage in their reports. They are very, very detailed. For example, we were able to gain insight across a wide range of business areas from just one report, proving that Mintel is excellent value for money.
So overall, it’s the level of detail and the quality of forecasting that really stand out for me.
Rebecca Green, Market Insight Manager, Wincanton
We’ve found it so useful working more closely with Mintel. They helped support our recent flagship event for our top suppliers by providing a really unique viewpoint on the future of online retailing.
Nick Carroll from their Retail Team was also an excellent panelist, sharing useful and actionable consumer insights. We definitely look forward to working with Mintel again on future projects.
Zac Steele, E-Commerce Trading Development Manager, Waitrose & Partners
We have such a great working relationship with Mintel on lots of different levels. As an insight partner, they have helped us to develop our business planning in specific categories as well as supporting our creative process but they’ve also been super helpful with facilitating our events in their inspirational offices near St Paul’s.
They’re an innovative company, with a client-focused team that always delivers.
Abby Carvosso, Group Managing Director, Bauer Media Group
There is no question that Mintel is the go-to resource for the best quality market research, but I did not think it was an affordable option for Abacus Marketing to consider. As a small marketing agency, we only work with a few new clients each year.
However, we have a very high-end consultative approach to our work, so we really do need a partner like Mintel to provide the big agency experience we are always aiming to deliver. Our clients come from an incredibly diverse range of industry sectors, so we obviously need access to market research reports from a very wide spectrum of marketplaces – and that is precisely what we got.
Stephen Taylor-Brown, Managing Director, Abacus
Working in a customer-obsessed organization means that data and insights have to be at our fingertips. Mintel’s reports help us support anecdotes with real quantifiable insights. The summary sections (which I really like) helps save time by giving a birds eye view of the content before spending time combing through the pages.
Our business review discussions are strengthened by the relevancy of the reports to help us better understand our customers. In addition, the customer service received from the team (especially in crunch periods) makes the process of understanding customer behavior even better.