Around 4.7 million Australians are expected to spend a combined $720 million on gifts for dads, grandads, partners and father-figures this year, with alcohol one of the top purchases.
However, spending is down $100 million from 2024, as cost-of-living pressures continue to impact discretionary spending.
According to research from the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), in partnership with Roy Morgan, while overall participation in the retail event has dropped this year, many are set to spend more per person, with an average of $145 planned per gift-buyer – a jump of nearly 44% compared to 2024.
Popular gift choices this year include alcohol and food, clothing and footwear, grooming products, and tech items, along with experiences such as dinners or trips. Around 28% of Australians plan to celebrate over a meal at home (19%) in a restaurant or café (9%).
ARA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Rodwell, said while fewer people are participating, the customers who are spending are committed to making it special.
“There’s no hiding the fact we’re seeing a drop in gift giving this year,” he said.
“This year’s Father’s Day projections indicate around 20% of Australians expect to buy gifts compared to 36% in 2024. This tells us how real the ongoing cost-of-living pressures are for many households.
“At the same time, families who can are choosing quality over quantity this year when it comes to celebrating Dad. A quarter of gift-buyers plan to spend more than $200, and 26% say they’ll spend more than they did in 2024.
“Older Australians, in particular, continue to make Father’s Day a priority, while younger groups are tightening their spending, likely because they face the greatest mortgage and budget pressures. That’s why as we head into retail’s peak season, we are calling on the Reserve Bank of Australia to remain open to further interest rate cuts.”
Around 8% of Australians (1.9 million people) plan on purchasing a Father’s Day gift for a person other than their birth father this year.
Most popular gifts
- Alcohol/food – 17%
- Clothing/shoes/sleepwear – 14%
- Toiletries/grooming items – 7%
- Voucher/gift card – 7%
- Tech items – 5%
- Car or bike gear/accessories – 4%
- Experiences (dinner, trip, outing) – 4%
- Homewares – 4%
- Sporting/Camping/Fishing gear – 4%
Father’s Day takes place on Sunday 7 September 2025.
ANZ forecasts $611 million retail surge this Father’s Day
ANZ is forecasting a significant retail uplift this Father’s Day weekend, with customer spending expected to reach $611 million – a 3.45% increase on last year’s spending.
The bank’s latest data shows Australians embrace both experiences and gifts to celebrate dads and father figures, with strong growth anticipated across categories including dining out and wineries.
In 2024, popular spend categories included cafes and restaurants, wineries and bottle shops, clothing, camping, sports, and music.
ANZ Acting Managing Director of Retail Products Yiken Yang said: “Father’s Day continues to be a powerful moment of connection for Australians, with spending trends reflecting a desire to celebrate through both meaningful experiences and thoughtful gifts.
“Over the Father’s Day weekend, ANZ customers embrace everything from dining out to charitable giving to honour the father figures in their lives. We expect many dads to be spoiled with a nice dinner, some new socks, or a brand-new vinyl for his record player this year.”
In 2024, women outspent men on Father’s Day, particularly in categories such as food, camping, music, and stationery. Gen X led overall spending, followed by millennials, while Gen Z recorded the highest year-on-year growth at 22%.
Victoria led as the highest spenders, with an additional $9.1 million spent compared to a regular weekend, while South Australia saw the greatest uplift at 6.3%. Every state and territory recorded a per capita increase of over 35%.
Spending patterns also revealed key differences between Father’s Day and Mother’s Day: motor vehicles and computers saw higher spending for Father’s Day, while health and beauty dominate Mother’s Day. Interestingly, women tend to spend more on Father’s Day, while men spend more on Mother’s Day.
2024 spending data & trends
ANZ customer credit and debut card data highlights include:
- In 2024, total spend increased by 6.7%, reaching $591 million during Father’s Day weekend compared to the previous year (2023).
- Per capita, every state spent over 35% more during the Father’s Day weekend, compared to a normal weekend.
- Victorians are the biggest spenders, spending the most during the Father’s Day weekend ($165million).
- Western Australia, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland, had the largest year-on-year increase in spend with 8.8%, 8.1% and 7.5% respectively.
- The Northern Territory had the highest spend per capita, $267, with a year-on-year increase of 4.1%.
- In 2024, women spent more than men on Father’s Day, with a 4.32% year-on-year increase.
- ANZ customers who celebrate Father’s Day dining out prefer to go out for dinner more than lunch, with the peak spending hours occurring between 5 and 7pm.
- People spent slightly more on Saturday (56% of the overall spend) than on Sunday during Father’s Day weekend, possibly due to last minute preparation for the Sunday event.
Pictured main: Wolf of the Willows has once again released its DAD Lager for Father’s Day.