How Much Time the Average Household Wastes on Returns (2025)

The average household wastes significant time on returns. This guide breaks down the statistics and shows how to save time.

Time Statistics

Per Return

Average Time Per Return:

• Starting return: 5-10 minutes
• Packaging (if needed): 10-20 minutes
• Driving to store: 15-30 minutes
• Waiting in line: 10-30 minutes
• Processing: 2-5 minutes
• Driving home: 15-30 minutes
• Total: 57-125 minutes per return

Average: 90 minutes per return

Per Household

Average Returns Per Year:

• Typical household: 10-15 returns
• Active shoppers: 20-30 returns
• Heavy users: 30+ returns

Time Per Year:

• 10 returns: 15 hours
• 15 returns: 22.5 hours
• 20 returns: 30 hours
• 30 returns: 45 hours

That's:

• 15-45 hours per year
• 1.25-3.75 days per year
• Significant time waste

Time Breakdown

Starting Return

Time: 5-10 minutes

• Log into account
• Find item
• Start return
• Select reason
• Choose method

Can Be:

• Faster if organized
• Slower if searching
• Varies by person
• Average: 7 minutes

Packaging

Time: 10-20 minutes

• Find packaging
• Package item
• Print label
• Affix label

Or:

• 0 minutes if store drop-off
• No packaging needed
• QR code method
• Saves time

Transportation

Time: 30-60 minutes

• Driving to store: 15-30 minutes
• Driving home: 15-30 minutes
• Total: 30-60 minutes

Factors:

• Distance to store
• Traffic
• Time of day
• Location

Waiting

Time: 10-30 minutes

• Wait in line
• Processing time
• Varies by location
• Time of day

Factors:

• Store location
• Time of day
• Day of week
• Busy periods

Annual Time Waste

Typical Household

10 Returns Per Year:

• 10 returns × 90 minutes = 900 minutes
• = 15 hours per year
• = 1.25 days per year
• Significant time

15 Returns Per Year:

• 15 returns × 90 minutes = 1,350 minutes
• = 22.5 hours per year
• = 1.875 days per year
• More time

20 Returns Per Year:

• 20 returns × 90 minutes = 1,800 minutes
• = 30 hours per year
• = 2.5 days per year
• Even more time

Value of Time

At $20/Hour:

• 15 hours = $300
• 22.5 hours = $450
• 30 hours = $600
• 45 hours = $900

At $30/Hour:

• 15 hours = $450
• 22.5 hours = $675
• 30 hours = $900
• 45 hours = $1,350

At $50/Hour:

• 15 hours = $750
• 22.5 hours = $1,125
• 30 hours = $1,500
• 45 hours = $2,250

How to Save Time

Method 1: Use Store Drop-Off

Time Savings:

• No packaging: Saves 10-20 minutes
• QR code: Saves 5-10 minutes
• Still need to drive: 30-60 minutes
• Total: 45-90 minutes per return

Savings:

• 15-35 minutes per return
• 2.5-5.8 hours per year (10 returns)
• Significant savings

Method 2: Batch Returns

Time Savings:

• One trip for multiple
• Saves driving time
• More efficient
• Total: 90 minutes for 5 returns

Savings:

• 4.5 hours for 5 returns
• Instead of 7.5 hours
• Saves 3 hours
• More efficient

Method 3: Pickup Service

Time Savings:

• 1 minute to book
• We handle rest
• Total: 1 minute per return

Savings:

• 89 minutes per return
• 14.8 hours per year (10 returns)
• Massive savings

Value:

• Saves 15-45 hours per year
• Worth $300-2,250 (time value)
• Plus eliminates stress
• Better value

Real-World Impact

Family of 4

Returns:

• 20-30 returns per year
• Multiple people
• More items
• More returns

Time:

• 30-45 hours per year
• Significant time
• Could be better spent
• Time waste

With Pickup Service:

• 20-30 minutes (booking)
• Saves 29-44.5 hours
• Massive savings
• Better use of time

Busy Professional

Returns:

• 10-15 returns per year
• Limited time
• High time value
• Important to save time

Time:

• 15-22.5 hours per year
• At $50/hour = $750-1,125
• Significant value
• Better to outsource

With Pickup Service:

• 10-15 minutes (booking)
• Saves 14.75-22.25 hours
• Worth $738-1,113
• Better value

The Bottom Line

Time waste on returns:

Per return:

• Average: 90 minutes
• Range: 57-125 minutes
• Significant time
• Wastes hours

Per year:

• 10 returns: 15 hours
• 15 returns: 22.5 hours
• 20 returns: 30 hours
• 30 returns: 45 hours

Value:

• At $20/hour: $300-900
• At $30/hour: $450-1,350
• At $50/hour: $750-2,250
• Significant value

How to save:

• Store drop-off: Saves 15-35 min/return
• Batch returns: Saves hours
• Pickup service: Saves 89 min/return

Remember: The average household wastes 15-45 hours per year on returns. That's 1.25-3.75 days that could be better spent. Use efficient methods or pickup service to save massive time.

Want to save time on returns? Text Returnful at 469-790-7579 and we'll handle your returns—saves 15-45 hours per year.

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Wasting time on returns? Text us at 469-790-7579 and we'll handle your returns—saves 15-45 hours per year that you can spend on what matters.