Convenience Store Industry Statistics (2026)
The numbers behind the industry in one place: store count, ownership, sales, fuel, food and store formats, each with its source.
Updated October 25, 2026
Quick answer
The U.S. had 151,975 convenience stores at the end of 2025, 80.7% of them selling fuel, and 63% belonged to companies with 10 or fewer stores (NACS/NIQ TDLinx). In-store sales reached $341.2 billion in 2025. Fuel was 65% of sales dollars but 38.8% of gross profit, and foodservice was 28.5% of in-store sales and 38.9% of in-store gross profit (NACS).
These are the most-cited current figures for the U.S. convenience store industry, with the source for each. We update this page as NACS publishes new data.
Store count and ownership
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. convenience stores (Dec. 31, 2025) | 151,975 | NACS/NIQ TDLinx, Jan. 2026 |
| Change from prior year | −280 stores (−0.2%) | NACS/NIQ TDLinx |
| Stores selling motor fuel | 122,620 (80.7%) | NACS/NIQ TDLinx |
| Change in fuel-selling stores | +768 (+0.6%), an eight-year high | NACS/NIQ TDLinx |
| Share of U.S. consumer fuel sold by c-stores | About 80% (estimate) | NACS |
| Stores owned by companies with 10 or fewer stores | 95,672 (63%) | NACS/NIQ TDLinx |
| Stores owned by companies with 500+ stores | 33,810 (about 22%) | NACS/NIQ TDLinx |
Sales and profit (2025)
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| In-store sales | $341.2 billion, up 1.7% | NACS, April 2026 |
| Consecutive years of inside sales growth | 23 | NACS |
| Fuel sales | $476.3 billion, down 5.4% | NACS |
| Fuel share of sales dollars | 65.0% | NACS |
| Fuel share of gross profit dollars | 38.8% | NACS |
| Average gas price | $3.11 per gallon (from $3.30) | NACS |
| Gallons sold | Up 0.5% | NACS |
| Foodservice share of in-store sales | 28.5% | NACS |
| Foodservice share of in-store gross profit | 38.9% | NACS |
| Prepared food share of foodservice sales | 73.9% | NACS |
| Packaged beverages share of in-store sales | 18.7% (No. 2 category) | NACS |
Store operations (2025)
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Transactions per store per month | 45,160 (about 1,484 a day), down 2.7% | NACS |
| Employees per store | 19.9 | NACS |
Store formats
| Format | Size (sq ft) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kiosk | Under 800 | NACS |
| Mini | 800–1,200 | NACS |
| Limited selection | 1,500–2,200 | NACS |
| Traditional | About 2,500 | NACS |
| Expanded | 2,800–3,600 | NACS |
| Hyper | 4,000–5,000 | NACS |
See convenience store sizes for what each format means for design.
What the numbers mean for a new store
- Independents still dominate by count, so a well-designed single store can compete.
- The store earns the profit. Inside sales are about a third of sales dollars but more than 60% of gross profit.
- Food is the margin lever. See how convenience stores make money.
Sources
- NACS, "2026 Sees Slight Decrease in C-Store Count" (January 26, 2026), NACS/NIQ TDLinx store count.
- NACS, "U.S. Convenience In-Store Sales Top $340 Billion" (April 15, 2026), 2025 State of the Industry data.
- NACS, "What Is a Convenience Store?" (convenience.org), store formats.
Frequently asked questions
How many convenience stores are there in the U.S.?
How many convenience stores sell gas?
Are most convenience stores independent?
Keep planning
- How c-stores make moneyFuel brings the traffic, the store makes the money. Here is how the profit splits, using NACS's 2025 industry data, and what it means for design.
- How to open a c-storeThe ten steps from idea to opening day, in the order they happen, with the industry numbers that shape each decision.
- Store sizes comparedThe standard store formats from kiosk to large-format, and how your menu, cooler wall and site decide which one to build.
- How to start a gas stationWhat makes a gas station different from any other retail start-up: fuel supply, tank regulation, the forecourt budget, and the store that carries the profit.
Ready for real numbers?
Turn a planning range into a quote for your store
JayComp Development has designed and built more than 2,500 convenience stores, liquor stores and travel centers since 1996, from Ravia, Oklahoma to all 50 states. We design the store, then supply and install the equipment.
Send the site, the store type and your timing. Quotes are free, with no obligation.
Request a design-build quote
Or call (877) 843-0183.