Better late than never: Brits to splash £1.32bn on Father's Day despite last-minute scramble

June 16, 2026 - PRLog -- Dads are in for a treat this weekend, predicts the international delivery expert Parcelhero. It says record amounts will be spent on pampered pops on Sunday, 21 June, which is Father's Day in many countries.

However, it's warning retailers should prepare for a last-minute spending splurge. This year 64% of UK shoppers have left it until the week before to buy their Father's Day gifts.

Parcelhero is predicting a 5% increase in UK Father's Day spending, resulting in a £1.32bn event. However, that's nothing compared to expected results over the other side of the Pond. A 16% jump in spending is forecast in the USA, rising from last year's $24bn to $27.9bn this year, according to America's National Retail Federation.

'Fortunate fathers are in for a record-breaking Father's Day,' says Parcelhero's Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T.: 'A survey from the retail agency Savvy predicts a 3% increase in UK Father's Day spending this year, while our own analysis of recent spending trends indicates a slightly more generous 5%, leading to a climb from last year's £1.26bn to £1.32bn.

While record numbers are set to splash the cash on their pops, with meals and drinks out featuring strongly, Brits are increasingly leaving it until the last minute to choose their gifts. According to research from the personalised gifts specialists Create Gift Love, 64% of UK shoppers have left it until the week before to buy their Father's Day gifts, up from 53.8% in 2023.

'While they may be tardier than in previous years, Brits are not stinting on the spending. Two-thirds of shoppers in the UK expect to spend between £10 and £50 on Father's Day gifts in 2026, with the most common amount being £10-£30 (34%).

'Many people like to spend personal time with their dads on Father's Day. If your Dad doesn't live in the UK, however and, like most Brits, you have left it until the last minute to buy a gift, there's still just time to send a gift overseas to destinations such as the USA in time for 21 June, using a 2-day express service. For full information on sending gifts overseas, see Parcelhero's international shipping page at: https://www.parcelhero.com/en-gb/international-courier-services