While there are many types of flowers people can give their beloved for Valentine's Day, red roses are the ones most closely associated with the holiday. The gifting of a dozen red roses says, "be mine."
With Valentine's Day approaching, many plan to buy their beloved a bouquet. In anticipation of the big day, the FinanceBuzz team collected data from florists and flower shops in every state to help people across the country anticipate how much they'll likely spend if they send a dozen red roses to that special someone.
Key findings
- The average price for a dozen long-stem red roses in the U.S. is $93.07, which is an almost 3% increase from last year.
- The state where a dozen roses cost the most is Hawaii at $126.65. That's 36% more expensive than the national average.
- A dozen roses are most affordable in Indiana, costing $71.99 on average, which is almost 23% less expensive than the national average.
2026 Valentine's rose prices: Prices are rising
Some shoppers may be curious how rose prices for this year compare to previous Valentine's Days, and whether or not they're getting a better or worse deal when buying a bouquet for their beloved.
Unfortunately for romantics, the cost of roses continues to rise, going up by nearly 3% compared to last year. Since 2023, the price of a dozen roses has increased every single year, with price hikes ranging from as little as $1.89 from 2024 to 2025 to as much as $8.45 between 2023 and 2024. All told, the average cost of roses across the country has risen by $12.91 since 2023, a 16% increase.
How much will a dozen roses cost this year? Average costs by state
Depending on the state, a dozen roses can cost as little as $72 (Indiana), all the way up to $127 (Hawaii). Across the entire country, the average cost came out to $93.07, a 3% increase from last year when roses cost $90.51 on average.
While there is a significant difference between states where roses are most and least expensive, costs are relatively close to the national average in most of the country. In fact, in 34 states (over 60% of the country), the average price for a dozen roses is within $10 of the national average.
When roses cost more, your money needs to work harder
A 16% jump in rose prices over three years means your money isn't going as far in other areas as well. Here's how to fight back:
- Make your savings actually work. If your savings account earns next to nothing, you're losing ground to inflation every day. A high-yield savings account can maximize your earnings.
- Get more from every purchase. Rewards credit cards give you points on travel, dining, and other spending. The right card can offset hundreds of dollars in price increases each year without changing what you buy.
- Earn money without extra work. Passive income from things like renting out a parking space or earning dividends won't make you rich, but it can cover those annoying price increases without eating into your free time.
Rising prices are what they are. Sitting around watching your budget get squeezed isn't your only option.
States where a dozen roses are the most expensive
While rose costs are relatively similar in most of the country, there are places where prices are notably higher or lower than average. Factors such as climate, taxes, shipping costs, and more impact how much roses cost from one state to another.
Hawaii is the state where roses are the most expensive, with a bouquet costing nearly $127 on average, which is 36% more expensive than the national average. That total is also $13 more expensive than any other state.
| State | Average cost |
| Hawaii | $126.65 |
| Kansas | $113.33 |
| Texas | $113.33 |
| Montana | $110.00 |
| North Dakota | $108.63 |
| Maine | $108.30 |
| Wyoming | $107.30 |
| New York | $106.96 |
| Vermont | $106.67 |
| Washington | $106.67 |
Five different Great Plains states are among the 10 where roses are most expensive. Kansas and Texas are tied for the most expensive in the Great Plains group at $113, the second-highest cost in the country.
In fact, Hawaii is the only state in the top five that isn't part of the Great Plains region, showing how consistently expensive roses are in the middle of the country. Maine ($108), New York ($107), Vermont ($107), and Washington state ($107) make up the rest of the top 10.
States where a dozen roses are the least expensive
Indiana is the state where roses are the least expensive. A bouquet of a dozen roses costs just under $72 on average. That is nearly 23% less than the national average and almost $55 less than the cost of buying the same number of roses in Hawaii.
| State | Average cost |
| Indiana | $71.99 |
| Massachusetts | $74.63 |
| California | $78.31 |
| Pennsylvania | $79.30 |
| Alaska | $79.99 |
| New Mexico | $81.65 |
| Arizona | $81.66 |
| Rhode Island | $83.33 |
| Oregon | $83.33 |
| Illinois | $83.65 |
Massachusetts has the second-most affordable roses, at just shy of $75. Getting roses for your main squeeze in California will cost you a little more than $78, the third-lowest price of any state this Valentine's Day.
Tips for finding savings you'll love this Valentine's Day
No matter what a dozen roses cost where you live, it's possible to find ways to pay for flowers or other gifts for loved ones.
- Budget for holidays and gifts. A budgeting app can help you manage your money and save up to buy gifts for Valentine's Day or any other special occasion.
- Use a rewards credit card. A good cash back credit card can help you make the most of every purchase, including romantic ones.
- Make some extra cash. Finding a side hustle can help you pay for gift giving on holidays like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.
Methodology
To compile the data shown above, FinanceBuzz researchers recorded the price for a standard order of one dozen long-stem red roses from at least three individual florists or flower shops in each state. We averaged these figures to create a value for each state.