Highlights. American shoppers are projected to spend $13.5 billion for Halloween 2026.
- In 2025, Halloween consumer spending totaled $13.1 billion.
- The average American has a $115.14 budget for Halloween 2026 supplies, such as costumes and candy.
- 74% of Americans celebrate Halloween.
- Americans will spend $920 million on Halloween costumes for their pets in 2026.
- Candy spending will total $4.1 billion in 2026.
Halloween Shopping for 2026 Statistics
In 2026, Halloween spending is expected to increase by $400 million (up 3.05%) from 2025.
- 31% of Americans report being more excited for Halloween in 2026 than in previous years.
- Halloween shoppers have budgeted $37.32 for costumes in 2026, accounting for 32.4% of expected spending.
- Total Halloween costume spending is expected to total $4.4 billion in 2026.
- Adult Halloween costume spending is expected to total $2.0 billion, while spending for children’s costumes is expected to total $1.5 billion.
- Shoppers are expected to spend an average of $36.61 on Halloween decorations, or 31.8% of their budgets.
- Total Halloween decor spending is expected to total $4.3 billion in 2026.
- The average Halloween shopper has budgeted $34.79 for candy, or 30.2% of their holiday spending.
- Consumers have budgeted an average of $6.43 for Halloween greeting cards (5.58% of the average total budget).
Halloween Spending Statistics
Americans spent a total of $13.1 billion, or $114.45 per household, on Halloween supplies in 2025.
- American households spent an average of $34.24 on Halloween candy in 2025.
- Households budgeted $37.62 for costumes and $36.85 for Halloween decor.
- Total nationwide retail spending for Halloween 2025 increased by $1.5 billion or 12.9% year-over-year (YoY).
- The average household Halloween budget increased $10.82 or 10.4% YoY.
- Americans spent $11.6 billion for Halloween 2024, down 4.92% YoY.
Halloween Candy Spending Statistics
At one time, candy expenses consumed the largest portion of Halloween budgets; since 2018, candy has been the third-largest Halloween budget portion.
- Americans spent a total of $3.9 billion on Halloween candy in 2025.
- Over 191 million Americans have made a Halloween candy budget for 2026.
- The average household Halloween candy budget for 2025 was $34.24.
- Candy is the most popular Halloween purchase; 71.0% of American households buy candy for Halloween.
- Halloween candy accounted for 7.09% of 2025 nationwide candy sales.
- In 2025, 29.9% of the average Halloween budget went toward candy.
- Consumers purchase approximately 600 million pounds of Halloween candy annually.
- Americans’ favorite* Halloween candies are Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, followed by M&M’s, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars, and Snickers.
- Bags of mixed candy bars are the most popular candy purchase for Halloween, with 54% of consumers purchasing.
- 22% of Halloween candy buyers purchase regular-sized candy bars, and 10% purchase king-sized bars.
*Most-purchased by weight in pounds.
Halloween Costume Spending Statistics
The largest share of the average Halloween budget goes toward costume purchases.
- Spider-Man is the most popular costume among American children, with 2.3 million wearing this costume for Halloween 2025.
- In the U.S., adults spent 42.9% more on their own costumes than they did on children’s costumes.
- Shoppers spent a total of $4.3 billion on costumes for Halloween 2025, up 13.2% YoY.
- The average consumer’s costume budget was $37.62, up 10.9% YoY.
- Consumers spent a total of $2.0 billion or 46.5% of all costume expenditures on adult costumes.
- $1.4 billion was the expected total expenditure for children’s costumes for Halloween 2025 (32.6% of total costume expenditures).
- Americans budgeted $860 million for pet costumes (20.0% of total costume expenditures).
- Among adults, witch is the most popular costume; 5.6 million adults (and 1.7 million children) planned on witch costumes for Halloween 2025.
- 46% of Halloween shoppers consider budget when choosing their costumes.
- 37% of shoppers search online for costume inspiration.
- Halloween costume spending totaled $3.8 billion in 2024, down 7.32% from 2023.
- 58% of consumers spent less than $50 on Halloween costumes in 2024, while 16.3% spent over $100.
Halloween Decor Spending Statistics
Decorations are the second-most popular Halloween purchase after candy; 78% of celebrating households had decorations in their 2025 Halloween budget.
- Halloween decoration spending totaled $4.2 billion in 2025, up 10.5% YoY.
- In 2025, $36.85 or 32.2% of the average Halloween budget was for decorations.
- From 2020 to 2025, the average Halloween decoration budget increased 24.4%.
- 49% of Halloween shoppers purchase hanging decorations, and 44% purchase indoor decor.
- 31% of Americans spend as much or more on Halloween decorations than they do on winter holiday decor.
- Halloween decoration spending increased 31.3% faster than total Halloween spending from 2019 to 2024.
Halloween Pumpkin Statistics
In one year, U.S. farmers harvest 1.4 billion pounds of pumpkins.
- Americans spent a total of $834.4 million on pumpkins during the 2025 Halloween season, up 9.32% YoY.
- Halloween pumpkin sales in 2025 were 7.06% higher than their 5-year average.
- The cost of pumpkins increased 35.0% from 2017 to 2025, for a CAGR of 3.82%.
- In 2025, 46% of consumers celebrating Halloween purchased pumpkins.
- The average cost for a carving pumpkin is $5.29.
Halloween Shopping Statistics
Most consumers begin shopping for Halloween in the first two (2) weeks of October.
- 39% of shoppers source their Halloween supplies from discount stores.
- 32% of consumers report shopping at specialty Halloween and costume stores.
- 27% of consumers shop online in preparation for Halloween.
- 25% shop at grocery stores or supermarkets and 25% shop at department stores for Halloween supplies.
- 21% of Halloween shoppers visit home decor stores.
- Craft and fabric stores and home improvement stores each serve Halloween shoppers at an average rate of 14%.
- Small and local businesses serve 13% of Halloween shoppers.
- 11% of shoppers visit clothing stores for Halloween.
- Thrift stores and resale shops attract an average of 10% of Halloween shoppers.
- Greeting card and gift stores serve 9% of Halloween shoppers; drug stores serve 6%.
- 3% of consumers buy Halloween supplies from catalogs or other retailers.
- 49% of consumers begin shopping for Halloween in September or earlier.
Halloween Consumer Statistics
Halloween consumer behavior varies across demographics.
- In 2025, 73% of American consumers planned to celebrate Halloween.
- 38% of consumers consider Halloween shopping to be an important household expense.
- 22% of consumers say it’s never too early for retailers to display and sell Halloween items, both online and in-store.
- Halloween costumes are most popular with consumers aged 18 to 34, who purchase at a 34.8% higher rate than all consumers.
- Shoppers aged 18 to 34 also purchase party supplies at a 36.8% higher rate and decorations at a 10.9% higher rate than all Halloween celebrators.
- Consumers aged 35 to 54 are 12.5% more likely to purchase pumpkins for Halloween.
- Shoppers aged 55 and older are 8.75% more likely to purchase candy than all consumers.
- 86% of 25- to 34-year-olds celebrated Halloween 2024, 19.4% more than the average for all age groups.
- 25- to 34-year-olds budgeted an average of $124.43 for Halloween 2024, outspending other age groups by at least 20%.
Halloween Shopping Trends
In 2005, Halloween spending totaled $3.3 billion.
- From 2020 to 2021, total Halloween spending increased 26.3% while household budgets grew 11.5%.
- While total Halloween retail spending declined 9.09% from 2019 (pre-pandemic) to 2020, the average household Halloween budget grew 6.78%.
- From 2020 to 2021, total costume expenditures increased 27.2%.
- Costume spending in 2021 even surpassed pre-pandemic 2019 totals by 5.06%.
- Costume budgets are the only Halloween-related expenses that increased between 2021 and 2022.
These data and insights were compiled by the Capital One Shopping team based on publicly available data.
Sources
- National Retail Federation, Retail Holiday and Seasonal Trends: Halloween
- Statista, Halloween in the U.S. – Statistics and Facts
- Reader’s Digest, Most Popular Halloween Candy
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Population by Characteristics
- CandyUsa.com
- Power Reviews, Halloween Spending Trends Report
- Google Trends, Halloween
- Finder, Cost of Pumpkins
- Civic Science, Consumer News & Insights
- Forbes, Scary Sugar High from Rising Halloween Candy Prices
- YouGov, Halloween in the USA
- Farm Bureau Intel, Markets