A new study reveals the best large US malls for festive shopping this season.

The study, conducted by Cloud ERP provider Priority Software, awarded the 20 largest malls in America a score out of 100 based on performance across five key metrics.

These were mall size, number of stores, parking spaces per 10,000 square feet, Instagram posts (Instagrammability), and average Google rating out of five. The metrics were weighted as follows: Instagrammability at 10%, mall size and Google rating at 20% each, and parking spaces and number of stores at 25% each.

American malls, ranked from best to worst:

Rank

Mall name

Size (sq ft)

Parking Spaces

Stores

Average Google Rating

Instagram Posts

Final Score (Out of 100)

King of Prussia Mall, Pennsylvania

2,793,200

13,400

450

4.5

186,000

100

The Galleria, Texas

2,400,838

13,000

400

4.5

58,700

92.6

Mall of America, Minnesota

5,600,000

12,300

520

4.5

279,000

89.3

American Dream Meadowlands, New Jersey

3,000,000

33,000

450

3.5

40,000

81.6

Ala Moana Center, Hawaii

2,400,000

11,000

350

123,000

71.1

Westfield Garden State Plaza, New Jersey

2,118,718

10,796

346

1,000

70.7

Aventura, Florida

2,700,000

9,800

300

4.5

201,000

70.6

Sawgrass Mills, Florida

2,370,610

1,715

400

4.5

63,700

68.4

Tysons Corner Center, Virginia

2,400,000

11,000

300

4.5

5,000

65.4

Del Amo Fashion Center, California

2,517,765

12,000

255

4.5

11,900

56.1

Roosevelt Field, New York

2,372,053

11,000

243

4.5

31,700

56.0

NorthPark Center, Texas

2,000,000

9,000

221

4.5

28,700

55.4

Palisades Center, New York

2,217,322

18,000

218

5,000

50.2

Lakewood Center, California

2,069,000

8,000

225

4.4

1,000

48.3

Woodfield Mall, Illinois

2,154,014

3,082

234

4.5

42,000

41.1

Oakbrook Center, Illinois

2,018,000

8,000

175

4.5

19,200

41.0

South Coast Plaza, California

2,623,385

1,000

270

4.5

144,000

40.0

Westfield Valley Fair, California

2,200,000

8,500

236

5,000

39.3

Destiny USA, New York

2,400,000

5,500

239

26,400

31.3

Millcreek Mall, Pennsylvania

2,200,000

5,720

165

1,000

17.1

Pennsylvania’s King of Prussia Mall was named the best for Christmas shopping in the US, earning a perfect score of 100 out of 100. This mall offers over 13,400 parking spots, or 5.8 spaces per 10,000 square feet, and around 450 stores for visitors. It’s the third-largest mall on the list, measuring over 2.79 million square feet.

The Galleria in Texas ranks second, with a score of 92.6 out of 100. It has over 400 stores across 2.4 million square feet, offers more than 13,000 parking spaces, and boasts an average Google rating of 4.5 stars out of five.

In third place is the Mall of America in Minnesota, scoring 89.3 out of 100. As the largest mall in the US, it spans over 5.6 million square feet and houses over 520 stores.

With 12,300 parking spaces, the mall provides approximately 3.2 spaces per 10,000 square feet, catering to millions of annual visitors. The mall is also the most Instagrammed of the top 20, with over 279,000 posts under #mallofamerica.

Next is the American Dream Meadowlands mall in New Jersey, ranking fourth with a score of 81.6 out of 100. The mall spans three million square feet and has over 450 stores for visitors to enjoy.

It has the highest number of parking spaces overall, with over 33,000 available, reducing the likelihood of parking struggles. However, it has the lowest average Google rating, at just 3.5 stars out of five.

In fifth place is Hawaii’s Ala Moana Center, with a score of 71.1. This mall, covering 2.4 million square feet, includes 350 stores and 11,000 parking spaces. It holds a 4-star rating on Google but is one of the least Instagrammed, with only about 1,000 posts.

Ranking sixth, Westfield Garden State Plaza in New Jersey scored 70.7. The mall offers 346 stores within its 2.1 million square feet and has a 4-star rating on Google.

Aventura Mall in Florida takes the seventh spot with a score of 70.6, featuring over 300 stores across 2.7 million square feet. It is the second-most Instagrammed mall on the list, with 207,000 posts on Instagram (#aventuramall).

In eighth place is Sawgrass Mills, also in Florida, scoring 68.4 in the index. It is followed by Tysons Corner Center in Virginia, which scored 65.4 out of 100.

Rounding off the top ten is California’s Del Amo Fashion Center, with a score of 56.1. The center boasts a 4.5-star rating on Google and more than 12,000 parking spaces for its 2.5 million square feet of shopping area.

Commenting on the findings, Sagive Greenspan, CEO of Priority Software, said, “Trips to shopping centers and malls are always hectic as Black Friday and Christmas near, but they can also make for great outings.

“With the holiday season fast approaching, shopping centers across the US will ramp up efforts to attract holiday shoppers. Malls like King of Prussia and The Galleria exemplify what draws customers during these peak times: a wide variety of stores, convenient parking, and an enjoyable shopping environment.

“Nowadays, malls are not just about shopping – they’re also about experiences too. These centers add restaurants, cinemas, events, and play zones, turning a simple shopping trip into a day-long outing that families and friends can enjoy together.”

Joseph Bond