50 Gift Card Industry Statistics and Market Trends (2026)
Gift cards remain one of the most popular consumer products in the world, consistently ranking as the most requested holiday gift for over 15 years running. But beyond personal gifting, the gift card industry is evolving rapidly with digital formats, corporate incentive programs, and small business adoption. These statistics reveal the scale of the market and the opportunities it presents.
50 Gift Card Industry Statistics and Market Trends (2026) reveal key trends in scheduling and appointment management. This page compiles 32 data points from industry sources to help you make informed decisions. Sources include G2, Capterra, and published industry research.
Table of Contents
Market Size and Growth
Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the global gift card market through 2032.
Consumer Behavior and Preferences
Of consumers say gift cards are their preferred gift to receive.
Of consumers have purchased a gift card in the past 12 months.
Of consumers buy at least one gift card during the holiday season.
Digital vs Physical Gift Cards
Of gift card sales are digital/e-gift cards, surpassing physical for the first time in 2024.
Of digital gift cards are purchased same-day as the gifting occasion.
Faster redemption time for digital gift cards compared to physical cards.
Gift Cards for Small Businesses
Of small businesses that offer gift cards say they drive new customers.
Average additional spend above the gift card value when redeemed at a small business.
Of gift card recipients visit a business they have never been to before.
Of small business gift card revenue comes from the holiday season alone.
Return on investment for small businesses running gift card promotions.
Redemption, Breakage, and Fraud
Of scam victims report gift cards as the payment method used by the scammer.
What the Data Tells Us
The global gift card market is $1.1 trillion, growing at 16.2% CAGR through 2032.
75% of gift card recipients spend more than the card's value, making gift cards a revenue multiplier.
Digital gift cards now account for 57% of sales and are growing at 23% annually.
44% of small businesses now offer gift cards, and 72% say they drive new customer acquisition.
$4.7 billion in gift card value goes unredeemed annually in the U.S. alone.
Gift card fraud costs $530 million per year, with 25% of scam victims citing gift cards as the payment method.
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