How Big Is the Sports Equipment Industry in 2025?

The sports equipment industry isn’t just about running shoes and basketballs anymore. It’s a $500 billion global machine that touches everything from backyard pick-up games to Olympic podiums. In 2025, it’s bigger than ever-and it’s changing faster than most people realize.

What’s the real size of the sports equipment market?

In 2024, the global sports equipment market hit $497 billion, according to data from Statista and IBISWorld. By mid-2025, it’s projected to cross $510 billion. That’s more than the entire automotive aftermarket industry in North America. And it’s growing at about 5.2% annually, which is faster than retail as a whole.

This isn’t just driven by pro athletes. The real engine is everyday people. More than 2.5 billion people worldwide play sports regularly, and nearly 70% of them buy at least one piece of equipment each year. That’s not a trickle-it’s a flood.

What’s driving the growth?

Three things are pushing this market higher: health awareness, tech integration, and accessibility.

After the pandemic, people didn’t just go back to gyms-they kept buying gear. Home workouts stuck. People bought dumbbells, resistance bands, yoga mats, and smart scales. Even in countries with lower incomes, like Indonesia and Nigeria, demand for affordable fitness gear jumped 22% between 2022 and 2024.

Technology is another big piece. Smart equipment isn’t a novelty anymore-it’s standard. Smart basketballs that track spin and release, connected treadmills that sync with apps, GPS-enabled running shoes that give real-time form feedback-these aren’t luxury items. Brands like Whoop, Garmin, and Polar have made performance tracking part of the product. In 2025, over 38% of all sports equipment sold includes some kind of digital sensor or app integration.

And then there’s accessibility. Online shopping made gear easier to find. Subscription services like Peloton and Tonal turned equipment into a monthly expense. Even in rural areas, you can order a pair of running shoes and have them delivered in two days. No more waiting for the local sports store to restock.

What are the biggest categories?

Not all sports gear is created equal. Some segments are booming; others are shrinking.

Footwear leads the pack. It makes up nearly 30% of the total market-about $150 billion. Running shoes still dominate, but basketball, soccer, and training shoes are growing fast. Nike, Adidas, and New Balance control about 65% of this space, but smaller brands like Hoka and On Running are stealing market share with niche designs and better cushioning tech.

Apparel comes second. Jerseys, shorts, sports bras, compression gear-this segment hit $120 billion in 2024. What’s interesting? People aren’t just buying for performance anymore. They’re buying for style. Athleisure isn’t a trend-it’s a lifestyle. Brands like Lululemon and Under Armour now sell more casual wear than actual workout gear.

Equipment like balls, rackets, and protective gear is third. This includes everything from tennis rackets to hockey sticks to boxing gloves. It’s a $90 billion market. Growth here is slower, but innovation is happening. Carbon-fiber rackets, impact-absorbing helmets, and smart gloves that measure punch force are pushing prices up-and sales along with them.

Then there’s the wild card: home gym equipment. This category exploded from $18 billion in 2019 to $62 billion in 2024. It’s the fastest-growing segment. People aren’t just buying dumbbells anymore. They’re buying full racks, rowing machines, smart mirrors, and even AI-powered personal trainers built into treadmills. Peloton’s revenue from hardware alone hit $2.1 billion in 2024.

Who’s buying this stuff?

It’s not just men in their 20s. The buyer profile has changed.

Women now make up 53% of all sports equipment purchases-up from 41% in 2015. They’re buying yoga mats, running shoes, resistance bands, and even boxing gear. Brands that used to ignore women’s sizing and design are now redesigning entire product lines. Nike’s women’s line now accounts for 40% of its footwear revenue.

Gen Z is the most active segment. They’re not loyal to brands-they’re loyal to values. If a company doesn’t use sustainable materials or support local athletes, they’ll skip it. A 2024 survey by McKinsey found that 68% of Gen Z buyers would pay 15% more for gear made from recycled plastic or organic cotton.

And seniors? They’re a hidden growth engine. In the U.S. and Europe, people over 65 spent $28 billion on sports equipment in 2024. Walking shoes, balance trainers, low-impact bikes, and even smart golf clubs are flying off shelves. The aging population isn’t slowing down-they’re upgrading their gear.

Where is the industry headed?

The next five years will be defined by three shifts.

First: sustainability. By 2027, every major brand will be required to disclose the carbon footprint of their products. Adidas already makes shoes from ocean plastic. Puma’s Futurecraft.Loop is a fully recyclable running shoe. If you’re not doing this, you’re falling behind.

Second: personalization. AI-driven custom gear is coming. Imagine a running shoe molded to your exact foot shape, pressure points, and stride pattern-printed in 72 hours. Companies like 3D Systems and Carbon are already testing this. Custom-fit gear won’t be a luxury in 2026-it’ll be expected.

Third: access over ownership. Why buy a $2,000 rowing machine when you can rent one for $50 a month? Subscription models are expanding beyond fitness apps. Companies like Fitbit and MyProtein are testing equipment rental programs. In cities like Tokyo and Berlin, you can now rent a full home gym for a week. This could shrink the equipment market-but increase total spending.

What does this mean for you?

If you’re buying gear, you have more options than ever. You can get high-performance tech at lower prices. You can support eco-friendly brands. You can rent instead of own. You don’t need to spend $200 on running shoes-there are solid options under $80 that still track your stride.

If you’re selling gear, the rules have changed. You can’t just make a better shoe. You need to make a better experience. That means data, sustainability, and community. The days of selling a product and walking away are over.

The sports equipment industry isn’t just about what’s inside the box anymore. It’s about what happens after you put it on. The gear is just the start.