What Percentage of Online Shopping is Mobile in the UK? (2026 Data)

Mobile shopping now dominates online retail in the United Kingdom. In 2026, mobile transactions account for approximately 55–57% of all UK ecommerce purchases, with mobile commerce spending projected to reach $181 billion. Smartphones generate nearly 80% of all online retail traffic and are used for over 70% of orders. With 91% of UK adults owning a smartphone and 76% having made a mobile purchase in the past six months, the shift to mobile-first shopping is essentially complete.

This comprehensive guide examines exactly what percentage of online shopping is mobile in the UK in 2026, along with key statistics on mobile conversion rates, app usage, payment preferences, and how different demographics are shopping on their phones.

Key UK Mobile Shopping Statistics 2026 (Editor’s Choice)

• Mobile accounts for 55–57% of all UK ecommerce purchases in 2026. (Statista / Merchant Savvy, 2026)
• UK mobile commerce spending is projected to reach $181 billion by 2026. (SQ Magazine, 2026)
• Smartphones generate nearly 80% of online retail traffic in the UK. (Statista, 2026)
• Over 70% of online orders are placed via mobile devices. (Statista, 2026)
• 91% of UK adults own a smartphone. (Ofcom / Charle, 2026)
• Mobile shopping apps achieve 130% higher conversion rates than mobile websites. (SQ Magazine, 2026)
• 74% of mobile shoppers prefer digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay). (Sellers Commerce, 2026)
• Mobile conversion rates have climbed 30% over two years. (SQ Magazine, 2026)

What Percentage of Online Shopping is Mobile in the UK?

1. Mobile accounts for 55–57% of all UK ecommerce purchases in 2026

The headline figure: more than half of all online purchases in the United Kingdom are now made on mobile devices. Mobile’s share of ecommerce has risen steadily from around 38% in 2019 to 55–57% in 2026, and is projected to reach 57.6% by 2027.

Source: Statista / Merchant Savvy, 2026

2. Smartphones generate nearly 80% of all online retail traffic

While mobile’s share of actual purchases is 55–57%, its share of traffic is even higher at approximately 80%. This gap between traffic and transactions highlights the ongoing conversion rate challenge on mobile — many consumers browse on phones but still complete purchases on desktop.

Source: Statista, 2026

3. Over 70% of online orders are placed via mobile devices

Looking specifically at order volumes (rather than revenue), mobile accounts for more than 70% of all online retail orders. The higher order share relative to revenue share suggests that mobile orders tend to have lower average values than desktop orders.

Source: Statista / Cropink, 2026

4. UK mobile commerce spending is projected to reach $181 billion by 2026

In absolute terms, UK mobile commerce is a massive market. The projected $181 billion in mobile spending represents a significant increase from previous years and underscores the importance of mobile-optimised shopping experiences for UK retailers.

Source: SQ Magazine, 2026

5. UK mobile commerce exceeded £100 billion in 2025

The UK passed the £100 billion mobile commerce milestone in 2025, cementing the nation’s position as one of the most mobile-advanced retail markets in the world, alongside South Korea, China, and the United States.

Source: Merchant Savvy / Charle, 2026

UK Mobile Shopping Demographics

6. 91% of UK adults own a smartphone

Smartphone penetration in the UK is near-universal among adults, with 91% owning a device. This creates a vast potential audience for mobile commerce, with the remaining gap primarily among older demographics.

Source: Ofcom / Charle, 2026

7. 76% of UK smartphone owners have made a mobile purchase in the past six months

Three-quarters of UK smartphone users are active mobile shoppers, having completed at least one purchase via their device in the previous six months. This high engagement rate demonstrates that mobile shopping has become a habitual behaviour for the majority of UK consumers.

Source: Statista / Venn Apps, 2026

8. Nearly 7 in 10 British online shoppers prefer smartphones for purchases

When asked about their preferred device for online shopping, nearly 70% of British consumers chose smartphones, making mobiles the clear device of choice for UK shoppers. Desktops and tablets now serve more as secondary browsing devices.

Source: Statista, 2026

9. 18–34 year olds are the most active mobile shoppers

Younger consumers are significantly more likely to complete purchases on mobile. The 18–34 age group shows the highest mobile shopping frequency, with many exclusively using smartphones for online purchases and rarely, if ever, using desktop computers for shopping.

Source: Merchant Savvy / Statista, 2026

Mobile Conversion Rates & Performance

10. Mobile conversion rates average 2.25%, compared to 4.81% on desktop

Despite dominating traffic and order volumes, mobile still lags behind desktop on conversion rates. The average mobile conversion rate of 2.25% is approximately half of desktop’s 4.81%, with tablets sitting in between at 4.06%. This “mobile gap” remains a key opportunity for retailers.

Source: SQ Magazine / Customcy, 2026

11. Mobile conversion rates have climbed 30% over two years

While still lower than desktop, mobile conversion rates are improving rapidly. A 30% increase over the past two years signals that improved mobile UX, faster checkout flows, and better payment integrations are having a measurable impact on mobile sales efficacy.

Source: SQ Magazine, 2026

12. Shopping apps achieve 130% higher conversion rates than mobile websites

Dedicated shopping apps significantly outperform mobile web browsers for conversions. Apps offer smoother experiences, saved payment details, push notifications, and personalised recommendations — all of which contribute to higher purchase completion rates.

Source: SQ Magazine / Droids on Roids, 2026

13. 68% of mobile commerce sales occur through shopping apps

More than two-thirds of mobile commerce revenue now flows through dedicated apps rather than mobile websites. This shift has major implications for retailers, who must invest in app development and user acquisition to capture mobile spending.

Source: Droids on Roids / Octal Software, 2026

Mobile Payment & Checkout Trends

14. 74% of mobile shoppers prefer digital wallets for transactions

The vast majority of UK mobile shoppers now favour digital wallets — such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay — over traditional card entry. Digital wallets offer speed, security, and convenience, reducing checkout friction and abandoned carts.

Source: Sellers Commerce / Venn Apps, 2026

15. One-tap checkout is reducing mobile cart abandonment rates

Streamlined checkout experiences, including one-tap payment options, saved addresses, and biometric authentication (Face ID, fingerprint), are helping to address the historically high mobile cart abandonment rates. Retailers implementing these features report significant improvements in checkout completion.

Source: SQ Magazine / Droids on Roids, 2026

16. Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) usage on mobile is growing rapidly

BNPL services like Klarna, Clearpay, and PayPal Pay in 3 are particularly popular on mobile, where younger consumers are more likely to spread the cost of purchases. The integration of BNPL at mobile checkout is driving higher average order values.

Source: Charle / Expert Market, 2026

17. Mobile basket sizes are growing, narrowing the gap with desktop

Average order values on mobile have been steadily increasing, narrowing the traditional gap with desktop. Improved mobile UX, better product imagery, and enhanced personalisation are giving consumers the confidence to make larger purchases on smaller screens.

Source: Merchant Savvy / SQ Magazine, 2026

Mobile Shopping Behaviour

18. Social media is the top mobile product discovery channel

UK mobile shoppers increasingly discover products through social media apps rather than search engines. Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest are the leading platforms for fashion, beauty, and lifestyle product discovery on mobile devices.

Source: Charle / Merchant Savvy, 2026

19. Push notifications drive 9.6x more purchases than email on mobile

For retailers with dedicated apps, push notifications are an extremely powerful tool. Personalised push notifications about sales, restocks, and abandoned carts generate significantly higher engagement and conversion than traditional email marketing when users are on mobile.

Source: SQ Magazine / Droids on Roids, 2026

20. Mobile shoppers spend an average of 3.5 hours per day on their devices

UK adults spend an average of 3.5 hours per day on their smartphones, with a significant portion of that time spent browsing social media and shopping apps. This creates multiple daily opportunities for retailers to engage potential customers.

Source: Ofcom / 8th Dial, 2026

21. Fashion and beauty are the top mobile shopping categories in the UK

Fashion (clothing, shoes, and accessories) and beauty products are the most frequently purchased categories on mobile devices in the UK. The visual nature of these products and the ease of browsing through image-heavy mobile interfaces make them particularly well-suited to mobile shopping.

Source: Statista / Merchant Savvy, 2026

22. Voice commerce and visual search are emerging mobile shopping tools

While still in early adoption, voice-activated shopping (via Siri, Google Assistant) and visual search (photographing products to find them online) are growing mobile shopping behaviours. These technologies are expected to become more significant by 2027–2028.

Source: SQ Magazine / Droids on Roids, 2026

Key Takeaways

• Mobile dominates UK online shopping, accounting for 55–57% of ecommerce purchases and nearly 80% of all online retail traffic in 2026.
• UK mobile commerce spending is projected at $181 billion, having surpassed the £100 billion milestone in 2025.
• Shopping apps significantly outperform mobile web, achieving 130% higher conversion rates and capturing 68% of mobile commerce revenue.
• A conversion gap persists: mobile conversion rates (2.25%) remain roughly half of desktop (4.81%), though they are improving rapidly at 30% growth over two years.
• Digital wallets are the preferred payment method, with 74% of mobile shoppers favouring Apple Pay, Google Pay, and similar services.
• Younger consumers are mobile-first (or mobile-only), with 85% of 18–24 year olds and 80% of 25–34 year olds preferring smartphones for shopping.
• For UK retailers, optimising the mobile experience — including investing in dedicated apps, streamlining checkout, and leveraging push notifications — is essential for capturing the majority of online spending.

All statistics sourced from: Statista, Merchant Savvy, SQ Magazine, Charle, Ofcom, Sellers Commerce, Cropink, Customcy, Droids on Roids, Venn Apps, Octal Software, Expert Market, 8th Dial, and 99firms. Figures represent the latest available data as of early 2026.