MarginReality

Electronics E-commerce Benchmarks

Typical benchmark ranges for online electronics stores. Figures are editorial estimates compiled from public research and practitioner experience — not formal citations or aggregated merchant data.

Want to know how these ranges are sourced and calculated? Read our methodology.

Electronics profit benchmarks — at a glance

Online electronics stores average a 27% gross margin and a 5% net margin, with a typical refund rate of 8% and customer acquisition cost of $38.

These are typical ranges compiled from public e-commerce research, company filings, and practitioner experience — not formal citations. See how these figures are calculated →

Why these numbers look like this

Electronics runs on razor-thin net margins (5% average) because price comparison is frictionless — customers can check Amazon, Best Buy, and your store simultaneously, forcing race-to-bottom pricing. The 8% average refund rate understates the real cost: warranties, technical support, and product obsolescence within 6-12 months create ongoing margin erosion that doesn't show up in standard metrics. The winners in electronics either bundle services (setup, extended warranties) or focus on niche categories where comparison shopping is harder.

At a Glance

27%

Avg gross margin

5%

Avg net margin

3.3x

Avg ROAS

$38

Avg CAC

$120

Avg order value

$350

Avg CLV

Profit Margin

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Gross margin20–35%(avg 27%)
Net margin3–8%(avg 5%)
COGS50–70%(avg 60%)
Return on ad spend2.8–4.5x(avg 3.3x)
Ad cost % of revenue6–12%(avg 9%)

Customer Acquisition

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CAC$25–$55(avg $38)
CLV:CAC ratio9.2:1 avg

Order Value

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Average order value$50–$300(avg $120)
Refund rate5–12%(avg 8%)

Lifetime Value

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Customer lifetime value$200–$600(avg $350)
Shipping cost %3–8%(avg 5%)

Compare your store to these benchmarks

Drop your Shopify Orders CSV into the CSV Profit Checker or use the Profit Calculator to see how your margins compare to the electronics industry average.

Read the full Electronics profit guide

Want the narrative breakdown behind these numbers? See our Electronics store profit margin guide for costs, seasonality, and margin-improvement tactics.

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