Glossary/Retail Media & Commerce/Return Rate
Retail Media & Commerce
Return Rate
The percentage of units or orders sold that customers send back, a major cost driver in categories like apparel.
By Brandon Mina·CEO, BrandPilot AI·Updated November 2026
Short answer
Return rate is the percentage of units or orders sold that customers send back. It is calculated by dividing returned items by items sold over a period. High return rates drive significant shipping, processing, and inventory costs, especially in categories such as apparel, and can signal problems with sizing, product quality, or descriptions.