How Much Do Australians Really Spend on Furniture Each Year?

If you've ever wondered whether your furniture shopping habits are normal, you're not alone. After digging through the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, I've found some interesting insights about what Australian households actually spend on furniture and home furnishings.

The short answer? Most Australian households fork out around $3,016 per year on furniture and household equipment. That works out to roughly $58 per week – about the same as a decent night out for dinner.

What's particularly fascinating is how consistent this spending has been over the years, even through economic ups and downs. Let me break down what the numbers really tell us.

The Numbers That Matter Most

Here are the standout figures that caught my attention:

• The typical Australian household spends $3,016 annually on furniture and household equipment
• That's $58 per week or $251 per month – not exactly pocket change
• Australia's furniture market is currently worth $10.86 billion (2024 figures)
• Furniture purchases make up 4.1% of what households spend overall
• The market's growing at 5.98% each year
• Surprisingly, Northern Territory households lead the pack with $1,700 per week in total spending

Breaking Down the Weekly Spend

When you look at it week by week, $58 might not sound like much. But it adds up:

• $3,016 per year
• $251 per month
• $58 per week
• $8.26 per day

What surprised me most was how stable these numbers have been. Between 2009-10 and 2015-16, spending only increased by 1.5% – that's practically flat when you consider inflation.

Here's how the spending has tracked:

Data from Australian Bureau of Statistics

Where Furniture Sits in the Family Budget

Furniture spending lands at 8th place in the household expenditure rankings. Here's the full picture of where our money goes:

Put another way, we spend:

• About 25% of our food budget on furniture
• 28% of what we spend on transport
• 34% of our recreation spending
• 71% of our medical expenses

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Regional Differences Tell a Story

While I couldn't find state-by-state furniture spending breakdowns, the overall household spending patterns are revealing:

It's reasonable to assume that states with higher overall spending (particularly those resource-rich northern territories) are likely spending proportionally more on furniture too.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

The Big Picture: Market Size and Growth

Australia's furniture market hit $10.86 billion in 2024 – that's a substantial chunk of the economy.

The key numbers:

• Current market value: $10.86 billion
• Where it's heading by 2030: $15.35 billion
• Annual growth rate: 5.98%
• Total retail industry revenue: $12.1 billion annually
• 5-year growth rate: 0.9% annually

The market's expected to grow by 41% over the next six years. But here's the interesting part – this growth is mainly driven by more households being formed, not existing households spending more.

Sources: TechSci Research, IBISWorld

Why Furniture Spending Stays So Steady

The stability in furniture spending over the past decade is quite remarkable. Between 2009-10 and 2015-16:

• Started at: $57 per week ($2,964 annually)
• Ended at: $58 per week ($3,016 annually)
• Total growth: Just 1.5% over six years
• Average annual growth: 0.25%

This suggests Australians treat furniture as more of a necessity than a luxury. Even during tough economic times, we still need somewhere to sit and sleep.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

When We Actually Buy Furniture

Recent data shows furniture spending isn't consistent throughout the year:

2024-2025 trends:

• April 2024: Furniture spending jumped 0.6%
• Early 2025: Spending dropped 1.5%
• Economic sensitivity: Furniture is often the first thing cut when budgets tighten

Seasonal patterns usually include:

• Peak buying times: December-January (post-Christmas moves and New Year resolutions)
• Quieter months: Mid-year periods
• Moving season: Spring months typically see more activity

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

What's Coming Next

The furniture market looks set for steady growth through 2030, though it won't be without challenges.

Growth expectations:

• 2024-2029: Expected growth of 5.05% annually
• 2029 market value: $15.31 billion
• 2030 market value: $15.35 billion
• Total growth: 41% increase from 2024

What's driving growth:

• More people means more households needing furniture
• Work-from-home trends that started during COVID are sticking around
• We're spending more time at home and want it to look good
• Rising incomes in some demographics
• New homes being built and renovated

What could slow things down:

• Economic downturns hit furniture spending first
• Competition from overseas online retailers
• Supply chain problems
• Currency changes affecting imported furniture prices

Sources: TechSci Research, Statista

What This Means for Your Household

To put that $3,016 in perspective:

• It's 4.1% of what the average household spends on everything
• Equivalent to 1.5 weeks of typical household spending
• About 2.3% of the median Australian household income
• Similar to what we spend on medical expenses ($4,264) and communication ($2,444)

Reading the economic tea leaves:

• Furniture spending often signals consumer confidence
• When people feel secure, they invest in their homes
• When times get tough, furniture purchases get delayed
• It's closely tied to the housing market's health

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

The Bottom Line

Australian households consistently spend around $3,016 per year on furniture – a figure that's remained surprisingly stable over time. While individual spending stays steady, the overall market keeps growing simply because Australia keeps adding new households.

It's one of those categories where we spend just enough to stay comfortable without going overboard. Whether you're spending above or below this average, at least now you know where you stand compared to everyone else.

Where These Numbers Come From

• Australian Bureau of Statistics: Household Expenditure Survey 2015-16
• Australian Bureau of Statistics: Monthly Household Spending Indicator 2024-2025
• TechSci Research: Australia Furniture Market Analysis 2024
• IBISWorld: Furniture Retailing in Australia Market Research Report 2024
• Statista: Australian Furniture Market Forecast 2024-2029