What Percentage Of Retail Sales Are Online? [2026]
As of 2025, online retail sales account for 17.5% of total retail sales in the United States. This marks a significant increase from 14.8% in 2022 and reflects a steady growth trend in digital commerce following the pandemic. While the jump from pandemic heights has stabilized, the shift towards online shopping remains strong as consumer habits evolve.
What Was the Total Online Retail Sales in 2022?
In 2022, total online retail sales reached $1.07 trillion. This figure represents a 21.7% increase compared to 2021, highlighting a robust recovery and growth rate even post-pandemic, compared to the pandemic peak growth of 17.9% in 2020.
| Year | Total Retail Sales (in trillions) | Ecommerce Sales (in billions) | Percent Retail Sales Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | N/A | $1.07T | 14.8% |
| 2021 | $6.6T | $870.8B | 13.2% |
| 2020 | $5.6T | $757.5B | 13.6% |
| 2019 | $5.41T | $578.5B | 10.7% |
| 2018 | $5.25T | $506.1B | 9.6% |
| 2017 | $5.04T | $443.2B | 8.8% |
| 2016 | $4.85T | $383.5B | 7.9% |
| 2015 | $4.73T | $338.2B | 7.2% |
| 2014 | $4.64T | $298B | 6.4% |
| 2013 | $4.46T | $261.6B | 5.9% |
| 2012 | $4.3T | $232.2B | 5.4% |
Online Retail Sales in the United States FAQ
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How much has ecommerce grown in the past decade?
Ecommerce has experienced a remarkable growth of 275% over the last decade. In 2012, annual ecommerce sales in the U.S. were $232.2 billion, and by 2021, they had surged to $870.8 billion.
During the same timeframe, total retail sales in the United States increased by 53.5%, indicating that online sales are progressively catching up with traditional retail.
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What percentage of ecommerce is Amazon?
Approximately 37% of the U.S. ecommerce market is dominated by Amazon. This share is projected to grow, with estimates suggesting it could reach 50% in the near future.
Amazon and its international counterpart Alibaba remain at the forefront of global ecommerce, with Amazon averaging 2.45 billion monthly visitors.
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Will ecommerce continue to grow?
Yes, ecommerce is expected to keep growing, albeit at a more moderate pace than during the pandemic. While 2022 saw the slowest year-over-year growth since 2009, ecommerce sales have consistently exceeded $1 trillion, indicating a stable future presence in the retail market.
As in-person businesses continue to thrive and regulations evolve, ecommerce’s growth trajectory will remain steady, though perhaps less explosive than in previous years.
References
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U.S. Census Bureau. “Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales 4th Quarter 2021.” Accessed on March 6, 2022.
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Zippia. “Ecommerce Statistics.” Accessed on March 6, 2022.
Author
Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.
