The DIY habit has spread across the world. Whether it is a fresh coat of paint or a full kitchen gut job, more homeowners are picking up hammers and brushes than ever.
We dug into the latest home improvement data to bring you the numbers that actually matter. From market size to who is doing the work and why, here are 38 statistics, facts, and trends worth knowing.
Key Takeaways
- The US home improvement retail market is worth about $298 billion in 2026 and keeps growing.
- Kitchen remodels top the value-adding projects, and a minor kitchen refresh returns the most at resale.
- Home Depot and Lowe’s together account for over 80 percent of US home improvement store sales.
- TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest are shaping the trend: 57 percent of homeowners who tried DIY say social media or TV influenced the project.
What Are the Top DIY Facts and Trends?
Here is a quick snapshot of the most telling stats about the US and global market:
- The US home improvement retail market is worth about $298 billion in 2026 and is still growing.
- Kitchen renovations are the most popular large-scale project, and a minor kitchen remodel returns the most at resale.
- Home Depot booked $164.7 billion in fiscal 2025 sales, making it the largest US home improvement retailer.
- Millennials and Gen Z now make up over 60 percent of DIY participants.
- More than 80 percent of DIYers learn how to install products from how-to videos before they start.
- Married couples are more likely to tackle remodeling projects than single homeowners.
- The global home improvement market is near $970 billion in 2026 and is projected to top $1.4 trillion by 2035.
- The Asia-Pacific region is currently the fastest-growing market for home improvement.
- Over half of homeowners who tried DIY say social media or TV influenced the project.
- Ladder falls are the leading cause of DIY injuries, sending roughly 48,000 people to the ER at home each year.
How Big Is the DIY Industry?
The US home improvement industry is worth about $298 billion in 2026, and the global market is closing in on $970 billion. Here is a clear picture of the do-it-yourself world, backed by current data.
Home Improvement Industry Statistics
Let’s start with the US market. From sales figures to the battle between the retail giants, here is how the money moves.
1. Market Valuation
The US home improvement stores market is worth about $298 billion in 2026. Look beyond retail to all consumer spending on home improvement products and the figure climbs toward $400 billion. Growth is steady, fueled by aging housing stock, the rising cost of professional labor, and demand for energy-efficient upgrades.
2. Why We DIY
Americans like to customize. Roughly a third take on projects specifically to personalize their living spaces, while others are driven by plain maintenance and wear and tear.
A smaller share renovate strategically to boost property value before a sale.
3. Industry Employment
It is not just homeowners; the industry supports a large workforce. The US paint and coatings sector alone employs nearly 300,000 workers.
4. The Kitchen King
The kitchen is still the most popular room to remodel, though it is rarely cheap. A major kitchen upgrade can run well into five figures, and high-end luxury remodels climb much higher. You can keep costs down by doing more of the work yourself and budgeting tightly. Google search trends confirm the interest, with kitchen remodel queries staying at historic highs.
5. Kitchen Remodel ROI
Smaller kitchen jobs pay back better than big ones. A minor kitchen remodel delivers the best return of any interior project, recouping about 113 percent of its cost at resale, according to the 2025 Zonda Cost vs. Value Report. Major remodels recoup only 36 to 51 percent, so a targeted refresh usually beats a full tear-out for resale value.
6. Average Spend
Home improvement spending varies widely by household, and a single large project can push the total far higher than a typical year. The home improvement industry proved resilient during recent economic wobbles, largely because homeowners shifted money from travel and dining into their living spaces.
7. The Retail Heavyweights
Home Depot and Lowe’s are the two names that define home improvement retail. Home Depot holds roughly 17 percent of the total US home improvement market and Lowe’s about 11 percent. Measured just among home improvement stores, though, the pair together account for over 80 percent of store sales.
Online ordering keeps growing, but most shoppers still prefer physical stores. There is something about holding a power tool or seeing a paint color in person that a screen cannot match.
8. Retail Revenue
The scale is hard to overstate. Home Depot ended fiscal 2025 with $164.7 billion in revenue. Lowe’s reported $86.3 billion over the same period (1).
9. The Homebody Economy
One lasting effect of recent shifts is that Americans spend more time at home. With hybrid work now common, many homeowners are choosing to stay put rather than move.
That leads to two things: more wear and tear on the house, and more motivation to make it look good.
Interesting Point
Almost 40 percent of US homeowners prefer to pay for their improvement projects in cash rather than financing them.
10. Outpacing Retail
The home improvement sector often outpaces other retail categories. When other spending slows, people redirect that energy into their immediate surroundings. Sanding a floor turns out to be a fine way to burn off nervous energy.
The DIY Generation
Thanks to viral videos and easy access to tools, today’s DIY enthusiasts are younger and more ambitious than ever.
11. Social Media Influence
YouTube remains the go-to classroom for DIY. You can find a tutorial for almost anything, from fixing a leaky faucet to building a deck. More than 80 percent of DIYers, whatever their age, prefer to learn how to install a product by watching a how-to video.
TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest are now major players too. Short-form clips tagged “CleanTok” or “DIYHacks” drive huge interest, and 57 percent of homeowners who tried DIY say social media or TV pushed them to start.
12. Younger Generations Lead
The old assumption that older homeowners drive remodeling has flipped. Millennials and Gen Z now make up over 60 percent of DIY participants. About 56 percent of Gen Z homeowners and 60 percent of millennials had renovation plans for 2025, compared with just 32 percent of baby boomers (2).
Here is roughly how participation compares across the age brackets in this partial sample (not every age range is shown):
| Age Group | Participation Percentage |
| 21 to 30 | 24% |
| 31 to 40 | 26% |
| 51 to 60 | 19% |
| 61 to 70 | 16% |
| 70+ | 15% |
13. Generational Spending
Millennials do not just start the most projects; they spend the most. In 2025 they led all generations with an average total home spend of $14,199, while Gen Z spent the least at $10,283.
14. Smart Home Integration
Millennials and Gen Z are not just painting walls; they are wiring them. The smart home category keeps growing, with smart locks, thermostats, and security cameras becoming standard weekend installs.
15. Relationship Status
Married couples are more likely to undertake renovations than single people. This tracks with homeownership rates: couples are more likely to own property, while singles are more likely to rent, which limits how much they can change.
16. The Etsy Economy
Etsy has grown into the go-to hub for handmade goods, proving that DIY is not only a hobby but a side hustle. It lets crafters turn weekend projects into small businesses, and that maker movement feeds tool and material sales.
17. Women in DIY
Women make up the large majority of Etsy sellers of handmade products. The female audience on YouTube’s home improvement channels is also growing quickly, chipping away at the idea that power tools are a men’s domain.
18. Sustainability Matters
The modern DIYer cares about the planet. Many enthusiasts say they will pay more for sustainable, eco-friendly materials. Low-VOC paints, reclaimed wood, and recycled finishes are no longer niche; they are becoming the default.
Global DIY Market
We know the US loves to renovate, but what about the rest of the world?
19. The Big Eight
Eight countries dominate the global picture: the USA, Japan, the UK, Germany, France, Australia, Canada, and Italy. Together they account for the large majority of the entire market.
20. European Growth
Germany, France, and the UK are the heavy hitters in Europe, making up around half of the continent’s market. France in particular has seen steady growth, driven by a cultural habit of maintaining historic properties.
21. The Asian Boom
The fastest-growing market is the Asia-Pacific region. Rapid urbanization in countries like India and China, along with a housing boom in Australia, is pushing demand higher year after year.
22. Global Value
The global home improvement market is worth about $970 billion in 2026 and is projected to top $1.4 trillion by 2035. The DIY segment alone sits near $837 billion in 2026 and is climbing toward the trillion-dollar mark.
23. Retail Dominance
Home Depot and Lowe’s are not just American giants; they carry serious weight in the global market. Other major international players include Kingfisher in the UK and ADEO in France.
24. A Sea of Paint
Global paint sales run into the billions of gallons every year. That is enough liquid to fill thousands of Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Current Industry Trends
Where is the market heading? Here is what is hot right now.
25. Upcycling and Recycling
“Trash to treasure” is more than a catchy phrase. Upcycling vintage furniture and repurposing waste materials is a major trend. It saves money and keeps items out of landfills.
26. Outdoor Living
One of the biggest recent shifts is the focus on exterior spaces. Decks, patios, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens are drawing bigger investment, with homeowners now putting up to 25 percent of their improvement budgets into outdoor living. Backyards have become extensions of the living room.
27. Omnichannel Shopping
Online research is king, but the “Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store” model is the new standard. People want the convenience of digital shopping with the immediacy of physical retail.
28. Rental-Friendly Upgrades
With more people renting long-term, renter-friendly DIY is booming. Peel-and-stick wallpaper, swap-out light fixtures, and non-permanent flooring let tenants upgrade without losing their deposit.
29. Storage Wars
Aside from kitchens, maximizing storage is a top priority. Closet organization kits and garage shelving systems are consistent best-sellers. We simply have too much stuff and nowhere to put it.
Fun DIY Facts
Let’s wrap up with some lighter facts about renovation.
30. The Danger Zone
Be careful this summer. The months between May and September see the highest rates of DIY accidents. Good weather encourages people to climb roofs and use saws, which leads to more ER visits.
31. Ladder Risks
Falls from ladders are the number one cause of DIY injury. More than 500,000 ladder-related injuries are treated in the US each year, and about 48,000 of those ER visits come from ladder falls at home, most during DIY projects. If you are cleaning gutters or painting high ceilings, stabilize that ladder.
32. DIY Therapy
It is not just about the house; it is about the head. Many people cite stress relief as a main reason for crafting, knitting, or building. Working with your hands is a proven way to step back from digital burnout.
33. Ancient Origins
We have been painting our walls for 30,000 years. Early cave paintings in France used ochre, plants, and animal blood. Thankfully, modern paint options smell much better.
34. The Half-Finished Reality
Start strong, finish eventually? The average US household has several unfinished DIY projects pending at any time, and plenty of people admit to giving up on one halfway through.
35. Small Wins
While TV shows highlight gut renovations, most real-life projects are small. The majority of DIY tasks are modest, budget-friendly jobs rather than full overhauls.
36. Interior Focus
Most home improvement jobs happen inside the house. Curb appeal matters, but we care more about where we sleep and eat.
37. Botched Jobs
Ambition has a downside. About 85 percent of tradespeople say the rise in botched DIY attempts is tied directly to YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok tutorials that make hard jobs look easy. Know when a project is above your skill level.
38. Future Plans
The appetite for projects is not slowing. Some 77 percent of millennials say they plan to take on a major home project in the next five years, the highest share of any generation.
FAQs
Final Thoughts
The DIY industry is large and showing no signs of slowing. With the global market heading toward record highs and Home Depot and Lowe’s dominating retail, the outlook stays bright.
Online tutorials have changed how we learn, but the satisfaction of fixing something with your own hands has not. Whether you are a pro or a first-timer, there is never a bad time to pick up a toolbelt, just keep that ladder steady.
