Valentine’s Day flower prices: what to expect and when to order

Valentine’s Day is the one day a year when nearly everyone wants the same flower in the same color on the same date. That’s a recipe for higher prices and tighter delivery slots. Here’s what the numbers say, and how to plan around them.

How much do people spend on Valentine’s flowers?

• 41%of shoppers planned to buy flowers for Valentine’s Day 2026 [National Retail Federation]
• $3.1Bexpected U.S. spending on Valentine’s flowers [National Retail Federation]
• $52.21average planned flower spend among buyers [Medill Spiegel Research Center, Northwestern University]

NRF’s survey of 7,791 adults ran January 2 to 8, 2026 [National Retail Federation]. Flowers tied with greeting cards as the second most popular gift after candy (56%) [National Retail Federation].

Do flowers really cost more in February?

Yes, and government data shows it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics price index for indoor plants and flowers rose from January to February in each of the last three years: 4.4% in 2024, 4.8% in 2025, and 4.0% in 2026 [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]. In 2026, February was the highest reading of the year so far [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]. The index covers all indoor plants and flowers, not just roses, so the jump on red roses during Valentine’s week itself is likely sharper. We couldn’t find a public source that measures that week alone.

Local rose prices have also been rising year over year. FinanceBuzz found its national average for a dozen up from $90.51 to $93.07, and up 16% since 2023 [FinanceBuzz].

What a dozen roses costs online (outside the holiday rush)

This is our November 2026 check. Treat it as a floor: Valentine’s prices and fees will be at or above these.

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When to order

Planning tends to be last-minute: 41.8% of celebrants start planning in the first week of February or the week before, 18.9% the week of, and 5.5% on the day itself [Medill Spiegel Research Center, Northwestern University]. That last-minute crowd is competing for the same same-day slots. Valentine’s Day 2027 falls on a Sunday. FTD, for example, says its carrier deliveries run Monday through Saturday, with Sunday delivery only on select holidays [FTD], so confirm Sunday delivery before you pay or plan for Friday or Saturday.

• Order one to two weeks ahead to see the most delivery dates and prices.
• Check the same-day cutoff if you’re late. Teleflora’s is 2 p.m. in the recipient’s time zone on weekdays and noon on weekends, for $2.99 extra [Teleflora].
• Read the delivered total before paying. The median online fee is $19.99 before any holiday surcharge [SendFlowers.io].

Ways to stretch a Valentine’s flower budget

• Pink, white, or mixed roses avoid the red-rose crush and still say the same thing.
• A half dozen or a single stem arranged nicely beats a squashed dozen.
• A potted plant can last for weeks with basic care.
• Deliver early and say so in the card. Flowers on Feb 12 are still Valentine’s flowers.

For the long view on rose prices, see what a dozen roses costs and our price study.