How The Prices Of Common Household Essentials Are Changing In 2026

If you feel like you're spending more on the basics to keep your household running smoothly, you're not wrong. Even though 2025 has only been in the rearview for what seems like a minute, the cost of products we rely on daily continues to inch up, impacting how much we spend. From household cleaners to paper products to home improvement, and everything in between, these shifting prices can put a dent in your family's budget over the next year. The good news is that price hikes aren't the same across the board, which means you may pay more in some categories, but you might be able to save in others.

Much of 2025 was uncertain as people were preoccupied with looming tariffs and stocking up on household items like appliances, furniture, and other necessities. While tariffs continue to be a big topic in 2026, the intense focus has lessened somewhat since some tariff hikes have been paused, and pricing has become more stable. The average inflation rate in January 2025 was 3%. Today, the projected 2026 inflation rate is lower at 2.4%. So, if recent trends are any indication of where prices will go in 2026, the cost of common household essentials will continue to rise, but not as fast as they did last year. You may not experience sudden price jumps, but that doesn't mean you won't be paying more at the checkout line over the next 12 months. 

If you compare the 2022 inflation rate for household products — the highest since 2000 – to 2026 prices, things aren't that bad. The cost of some household items isn't increasing as fast as others, similar to some U.S. states dealing with higher home electricity prices, while other states aren't. We often hear about rising grocery costs, but everyday products are either holding steady or increasing at a slower pace, which offers a little wiggle room to manage your spending. Take household cleaners, like laundry detergent, multipurpose cleaners, dish soap, and disinfectant spray. According to BLS statistics (per in2013dollars), between 2025 and 2026, household cleaning product prices are likely to increase by 0.71%. So, say you bought a $10 cleaner in 2025. Today, that same product will cost you about $10.07. While that may not sound like a lot, it can quickly add up, especially when other household items cost more, too. 

Paper product prices, like paper towels and toilet paper, are expected to increase by 1.26% over last year, according to BLS statistics (per in2013dollars). In other words, if you bought a $20 package of Charmin toilet paper last year, it will now cost $20.25. To put this into perspective, a $20 price tag for paper products in 2020 would have set you back to over $25 just last year. When you look at it through this lens, 2026 prices don't seem that steep, at least in some home goods categories.

Spending a little more during trips to grocery or home improvement stores isn't such a big deal on its own, but by the end of the month — or end of the year — those small increases really add up. At the end of 2025, the Trump administration paused some tariffs on imported furniture and kitchen cabinets. That doesn't mean prices are going down, but they are stabilizing. Although inflation is slowing in some home categories, prices are still high, especially over the last five or so years. According to BLS statistics (per in2013dollars), since 2020, living room, kitchen, and dining room furniture has risen 27.01%, and is expected to go even higher in 2026 by 2.16%. Home furnishings like sofas, chairs, beds, and shelves are likely going to be pricier in 2026, thanks in part to labor, shipping, and material costs, like wood and metal. On the other hand, bedroom furniture has only inched up by 0.05% compared to last year.

Planning any home improvements in the upcoming year, you can't live without? Well, that'll cost you more, too. Home renovations are expected to hit $524 billion by early 2026, a 2.4% increase, which is the same as the national inflation rate. The cost for tools, hardware, and supplies rose 5.6% from November 2024 to just one year later. Factors affecting these costs include an increase in material and labor prices by as much as 8%. If you've got a project in the works, make sure to get at least three quotes before picking a company.