IT Spending Benchmarks 2026
Comprehensive IT spending data by industry and company size. Based on Deloitte and Flexera research, with Gartner for worldwide spending totals. Global IT spending: $6.37 trillion in 2026, up 14.2%.
IT spend benchmarking by industry: the short answer
To benchmark IT spend by industry, measure your IT budget as a percentage of revenue, then compare it to your sector. The cross-industry average is 5.49% of revenue (Deloitte, 2022 data), with most companies between 2% and 10%. Industry sets the band and company size shifts you within it. Ranked highest to lowest, IT spending as a percentage of revenue by industry:
7-10%
Financial services
6-9%
Healthcare
6-9%
Technology
4-7%
Professional services
4-7%
Media/entertainment
3-6%
E-commerce/retail
3-6%
Education
3-5%
Logistics/transport
2-5%
Manufacturing
2-4%
Non-profit
Company size splits each band further: see the by industry detail, the by company size breakdown, or the full industry x size matrix below.
Sources: Deloitte Global Technology Leadership Study for the cross-industry percentage of revenue, Flexera State of Tech Spend Report for the by-industry figures, and Gartner's published forecast for worldwide IT spending totals. Company-size and per-employee figures are this site's model, not published data. Gartner IT Key Metrics Data, Avasant and IDC publish deeper benchmarks; those are paid products we do not hold and do not reproduce. Compiled August 2026. Full methodology and source list.
$6.37T
Global IT Spending 2026
up 14.2% YoY (Gartner, Jul 2026)
5.49%
Average IT/Revenue Ratio
All industries, all sizes
+62.5%
Data Centre Growth
$822B in 2026
+47%
AI Spending Growth
To $2.59T (Gartner, May 2026)
IT Budget as % of Revenue: Industry x Company Size Matrix
| Industry | Startup (1-50) | SMB (51-250) | Mid-market (251-1K) | Enterprise (1K-5K) | Large Enterprise (5K+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Services | 8-10% | 7-9% | 6-8% | 5-6% | 4-5% |
| Healthcare | 7-9% | 6.5-8% | 5.5-7% | 4.5-6% | 4-5% |
| Technology | 7-9% | 6.5-8% | 6-7.5% | 5-6% | 4-5% |
| E-commerce/Retail | 5-7% | 4-6% | 4-5% | 3.5-4.5% | 3-4% |
| Professional Services | 5.5-7% | 4.5-6% | 4-5.5% | 4-5% | 3.5-4.5% |
| Manufacturing | 4-6% | 3.5-5% | 3-4% | 2.5-3.5% | 2-3% |
| Education | 5-7% | 4-6% | 4-5% | 3.5-4.5% | 3-4% |
| Logistics/Transport | 4-6% | 3.5-5% | 3-4% | 2.5-3.5% | 2-3% |
| Media/Entertainment | 6-8% | 5-6.5% | 4.5-5.5% | 4-5% | 3.5-4.5% |
| Non-profit | 3.5-5% | 3-4.5% | 2.5-3.5% | 2-3% | 1.5-2.5% |
Global IT Spending by Segment 2025-2026
| Segment | 2025 Spend | 2026 Spend | Growth 2025-2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Centre Systems | $506B | $822B | +62.5% |
| Devices | $790B | $868B | +9.8% |
| Software | $1,271B | $1,468B | +15.5% |
| IT Services | $1,714B | $1,857B | +8.3% |
| Communications Services | $1,296B | $1,354B | +4.4% |
| Overall IT | $5,577B | $6,369B | +14.2% |
Source: Gartner Worldwide IT Spending Forecast, July 2026 press release. 2025 figures are Gartner's revised actuals from the same release; IT Services includes IaaS.
IT Budget by Industry
Detailed breakdown for each vertical with cost drivers and priorities.
IT Budget by Company Size
Per-employee costs, team sizing, and priorities for each growth stage.
IT Spending Forecast 2026-2027
AI, data centres, security driving above-average budget growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you benchmark IT spend by industry?
What is the average IT spending as a percentage of revenue in 2026?
How fast is IT spending growing in 2026?
Which industry spends the most on IT?
Why do smaller companies spend a higher percentage of revenue on IT?
Calculate your own benchmark
Enter your revenue, headcount, and industry to get a personalised IT budget recommendation.
Use the IT Budget Calculator