Black Friday in the UK: Statistics for 2023

Brits plan to spend an estimated £3 billion in the 2023 Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

Black Friday is fast approaching, and the shopping weekend is sure to cause a rush of shoppers keen to get their hands on the best deals. In fact, Brits plan to use their bank accounts to spend an estimated £3 billion on Black Friday and Cyber Monday purchases in 2023, according to our latest research. Find out the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday statistics and how they compare to the previous 3 years.

Black Friday statistics: Highlights

  • Brits plan to spend an estimated £3 billion in the 2023 Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.
  • Black Friday spending is expected to drop by £900 million in 2023, down 23% from a planned spend of £3.9 billion in 2022.
  • Half of UK adults (51%) plan to spend during the Black Friday weekend, which is around 26.9 million people, up from the 39% planning to spend in 2022.
  • The average spend per person on Black Friday 2023 is predicted to be £113, 40% less than in 2022 and 59% less than in 2021.
  • 8 in 10 Brits from gen Z (79%) plan to spend in the Black Friday sales, with an estimated average spend of £176, 56% higher than the national average.
  • On average, men are planning to spend £31 more than women during Black Friday 2023.
  • Londoners are expected to spend the most, with approximately 68% of residents planning to spend an average of £181 each.

How much money is spent on Black Friday in the UK?

In 2023, it is predicted that Brits will spend a total of £3 billion while shopping the Black Friday sales, £900 million less than the expected spend of £3.9 billion in 2022. The average spend per person is estimated to be £113, which has also dropped and is 40% lower than the average spend of £190 in 2022.

When is Black Friday in the UK?

This year, Black Friday falls on 24 November 2023, but the deals will continue throughout the weekend until Cyber Monday on 27 November 2023. Black Friday falls on the final weekend of November and, in 2022, it happened on 25 November.

Black Friday: expected spending by year

In 2023, Black Friday spending in the UK is predicted to reach £3 billion, down 23% from a planned spend of £3.9 billion in 2022 and down 37% from a planned spend of £4.8 billion in 2021.

Expected Black Friday spending has been decreasing every year in the UK since 2020, likely driven, in part, by the cost of living crisis and high inflation. Brits are tightening their purse strings and spending less in the sales, as they are more mindful of paying for essentials.

Black Friday expected spending 2019-2023
Year Total spend on Black Friday (£)
2019 £5.6 billion
2020 £6 billion
2021 £4.8 billion
2022 £3.9 billion
2023 £3 billion

What is the average spend on Black Friday?

According to Finder research, the average spend per person on the Black Friday weekend in 2023 is estimated to be £113, down 40% from £190 in 2022 and down 59% from £275 in 2021.

Although Brits are spending less on average, the number of people spending is expected to increase, with half of UK adults planning to make at least one purchase. This number was sitting at just 39% in 2022, and only a third of Brits (33%) were planning to spend in 2021.

Therefore, while Brits are hoping to spend less overall this year, more of us are still hoping to be thrifty and take advantage of the deals available during the Black Friday sales weekend. Again, with costs so high at the moment, Brits are clearly hoping to bag a bargain in the sales more than ever!

Number of credit and debit cards in issue UK 2023
Year Average spend per person % making a purchase
2019 £251.2 42%
2020 £295.67 39%
2021 £275 33%
2022 £189.59 39%
2023 £113.1 51%

Gender differences in Black Friday spending

As we’ve seen for the past 4 years, men are set to spend more than women during the Black Friday weekend sales. It’s predicted that men will spend £129 on average, while women will spend £98, a difference of £31.

The biggest difference in spending was seen in 2021 when men were planning to spend around £335 each while women were planning to spend £145 less at £190 each on average.

Black Friday expected spend men and women
2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
Average spend for men £129 £205 £335 £349 £289
Average spend for women £98 £174 £190 £243 £215

Black Friday spending by generation

Younger generations are far more likely to spend (and spend more) during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales this year, while fewer members of the older generations are planning to make a purchase.

8 in 10 members of generation Z (79%), who are aged 18-23, intend to make a purchase during the sales and, on average, are expecting to spend a whopping £176 each, 56% higher than the UK average.

On the other end of the spectrum, just 8% of the silent generation is planning to make a purchase in the Black Friday sales, and the average spend is expected to be just £27. This is less than a quarter of the planned spend for the average Brit.

This difference may, in part, be due to younger generations having more access to online shopping and are, therefore, more likely to be subjected to advertising on the web and social media.

Black Friday spend by generation 2023
Generation Percentage spending Average spend (£)
Gen Z 79% £176
Millennials 70% £155
Gen X 49% £131
Baby boomers 32% £60
Silent generation 8% £27
UK average 51% £113

Black Friday spending by region

Londoners are planning to spend the most during the 2023 Black Friday weekend, with 68% expected to make a purchase, spending an average of £181 each.

Two-thirds (66%) of those in Northern Ireland are also planning to spend during the sales, followed by 57% of those in the West Midlands. Meanwhile, only 40% of those in the East of England are planning to spend.

After Londoners, those in Wales will spend the most on average, with an estimated spend of £150 per person. They are followed by West Midlanders, who plan to spend around £146 each. Those in the South West are expecting to splash the least cash, with an average estimated spend of £60.

Region Average spend Percentage spending
Greater London 181.33 67.68
Wales 149.74 55.32
West Midlands 145.99 56.57
Northern Ireland 143.58 66
North East 137.28 49.38
Scotland 117.22 46.71
North West 103.41 45
Yorkshire and the Humber 98.13 53.05
South East 93.01 46.93
East Midlands 84.56 45.89
East of England 71.96 39.68
South West 60.05 41.38

Methodology

  • We calculated these figures from a survey of 2,000 British adults commissioned by Finder UK and conducted by Censuswide from 29.09.23 to 02.10.23.
  • Data from 2021 and 2022 was calculated from a survey of 2,000 British adults commissioned by Finder and conducted by Censuswide in each of those years.
  • Data from 2019 and 2020 was calculated from a survey of 2,000 British adults commissioned by Finder and conducted by OnePoll in each of those years.

For all media enquiries, please contact

Matt Mckenna
UK communications manager
T: +44 20 8191 8806
matt.mckenna@finder.com@MichHutchison/in/matthewmckenna2

Related articles

More guides on Finder

Go to site