Halloween 2026 Shopping Trends: Spending, Shopping Habits & Consumer Insights

Costumes, candy, decorations, and lots of shopping - that's what Halloween brings. But how people shop for it is changing. Consumers in 2026 are comparing prices, making plans, and watching their budgets more when shopping both online and in stores. Even with this focus on value, spending remains high, with the National Retail Federation expecting US Halloween spending to reach $13.5 billion.

What should you buy this year? When should you shop, and how much should you spend? Here is an overview of Halloween 2026 Shopping Trends, including spending and buying habits, top purchases, online shopping, discounts, and more.

Halloween 2026: Key Shopping Trends & Statistics

Before you start your Halloween shopping, here’s a quick look at the Halloween 2026 Shopping Trends. US Halloween spending is expected to reach $13.5 billion, with 74% of consumers planning to celebrate. Average planned spending stands at $115.14 per person, according to the National Retail Federation.

What is the best time to start shopping

Nearly half (49%) of shoppers begin their holiday shopping by September or earlier, making it the prime time to shop! Shopping early allows you more time to look for the lowest prices and best product options.

What if your budget starts to stretch

26% say they would look for Halloween discount codes or sales if Halloween items cost more than expected. Deloitte’s 2026 research also puts planned household spending at $285 across Halloween purchases, experiences, activities, and dining.

Source note: These Halloween shopping statistics come from the 2026 NRF Halloween Consumer Survey and Deloitte’s 2026 Halloween Survey. Their spending measures differ, so the figures are not directly comparable.

Halloween Spending 2026: How Much Are Consumers Spending?

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), US Halloween spending in 2026 is projected to hit $13.5 billion, up from $13.1 billion in 2025. The NRF predicts an average expenditure of $115.14 per person, compared with $114.45 in 2025.

Deloitte estimates that there will be $285 spent per household, but this takes into account retail, experiences, activities, and food; thus, it cannot be directly compared to the NRF figure on a per-person basis.

So, what is driving this spending? 74% of consumers plan to celebrate Halloween in 2026 keeping demand for costumes, candy, decorations, and other seasonal products strong. At the same time, shoppers are becoming more careful with their budgets. 79% expect tariffs to increase Halloween prices, while 31% would compare prices and 26% would look for coupons or sales if costs rise.

How can you make your Halloween budget go further? Comparing prices and checking legitimate discounts before buying can help you get more value from your spending. But spending is only part of the picture when consumers start shopping is another important Halloween shopping trend to consider.

What Are Consumers Buying for Halloween?

Costumes, candy, and décor comprise the largest share of the shopping basket, while greeting cards, party supplies, and other seasonal products fill out the remaining percentage.

• Costumes: 71% plan to buy costumes, with expected spending of $4.4 billion.

• Candy and treats: 96% plan to buy candy, making it the most popular purchase, with spending expected to reach $4.1 billion.

• Decorations: 78% plan to buy decorations, with expected spending of $4.3 billion.

• Greeting cards: 42% plan to purchase Halloween cards, up from 38% in 2025.

• Party supplies: Consumers are also purchasing supplies for Halloween parties, gatherings, and celebrations.

• Other seasonal items: Novelty products, Halloween-themed accessories, and other smaller items further increase the seasonal shopping basket.

These Halloween shopping statistics show that traditional Halloween essentials continue to lead consumer purchases in 2026.

Are Halloween Shoppers Looking for Coupons and Discounts?

With Halloween spending in 2026 expected to reach $13.5 billion, are shoppers doing more to keep costs under control? According to the survey conducted by the National Retail Federation in 2026, 26% of the respondents said that they would look for coupons or sales on overpriced Halloween items, and 31% would compare prices.

While shopping for Halloween, a customer on a budget might want to

• Look for coupons and sales: More than a quarter of Americans would do the same in the case of excessively high prices.

• Shop around: Check to see if any of the retailers are offering a better deal on the product you want.

• Look for promotions: There are usually coupons and discounts on Coupondopa for the season.

• Go through a budget: Try to have a priority list and budget for yourself so you don't make unplanned purchases.

For Halloween shopping 2026, these habits show that shoppers are paying closer attention to value while still spending on the products they want.

Online vs In-Store Halloween Shopping

Where should you shop for Halloween this year online, in stores, or a bit of both? Your choice may come down to what you need, what costume you are willing to wear, and the price comparisons.

If online shopping is your preference, you’re not alone. 27% of consumers plan to buy Halloween items online, while 32% use online searches for costume inspiration. Prefer seeing products in person? 26% turn to retail and costume stores for ideas.

Physical stores remain popular too. 39% intend to shop at a discount store, the most popular option, followed by specialty Halloween or costume stores at 32%. 31% would compare prices before buying an item that was higher than they expected to pay.

Whether you shop from your couch, in the aisles of stores, or both, these Halloween shopping habits reflect how convenience, availability, and price can affect your approach to Halloween shopping.

How AI Is Changing Halloween Shopping in 2026

Not sure what to wear, what to purchase, or where to begin your Halloween shopping? With AI now, it can help with all your concerns. 47% of consumers are set to use AI in 2026, whether to get inspiration for their Halloween shopping or to help them research products.

• Finding products: By telling an AI what you need, how much you're willing to spend, or what kind of Halloween props you're looking for, it can help find and narrow down what you're searching for.

• Finding out ideas for costumes: If you are having trouble deciding what you want to dress up as or wear, you can see some ideas here. An AI can provide ideas for your costume depending on what you like, a theme, what is trending, or even what you already have.

• Making recommendations: Search for products, compare, and find what you like with AI.

• Research before buying: Using AI, you can research and find products to put in your cart.

• For online stores: If you have an online store, make sure that your products are clearly and correctly described so that the shopping assistant can recommend your products accurately.

As a shopper, the AI Halloween shopping offers additional options for finding ideas, exploring, and getting more information to help you make better choices before buying.

Halloween Shopping Trends by Consumer Group

Do you shop for Halloween for yourself, your children, or the whole family? Your shopping list can look very different depending on who you are buying for and how you plan to celebrate.

• Shopping for the family? You may have several purchases to cover, from children's costumes and candy to decorations and party supplies. With more items going into the basket, value and convenience can make a bigger difference to your budget.

• Purchasing as a younger consumer? What you can choose is more likely to be influenced by costumes, current trends, social events and products from social media. It may be one of the specially made or interesting products that you are interested in.

• Shopping as an adult? Halloween spending may be on a costume, home décor, event-related items, or candy. You want to emphasize fun, but make sure to be convenient and inexpensive too.

Ultimately, there is no single way to shop for Halloween. These different priorities help shape the Halloween consumer trends and spending patterns seen in 2026.

Smart Ways to Approach Halloween Shopping

So, what can shoppers take away from these Halloween shopping trends in 2026? A little planning can make it easier to balance seasonal purchases with your budget.

These Halloween shopping habits can help you make informed purchases while keeping your Halloween spending under control.

Key Halloween 2026 Shopping Statistics

Here’s a quick look at the most important Halloween shopping statistics for 2026, including spending, shopping timing, discounts, online purchases, and AI use.

Final Verdict

Planning your Halloween shopping for 2026? You are likely to see lots of costumes, candy, decorations, and other seasonal products vying for your attention, but you need to get the most for your money. To ensure that you purchase the best deals, you can shop early and compare prices, look for coupons or other promotions, and take advantage of technology such as artificial intelligence to help you identify what to buy and where to get it.

The goal isn’t to spend less on everything. It’s to spend wisely on what matters to you. Set your budget, compare your options, and make the most of available savings so you can enjoy Halloween without overspending.

Sources & Methodology

The statistics and trends in this article are based on 2026 consumer and retail research from the following sources:

• National Retail Federation (NRF): Halloween spending, shopping habits, purchase categories, and consumer trends. These figures are based on third-party research, not CouponDopa's own discount data.

• Deloitte: Halloween spending, participation, and consumer behavior based on its consumer research.

• PwC: Consumer and retail insights used to provide additional context around shopping behavior.

• Other authoritative 2026 sources: Additional third-party research used to support relevant Halloween trends and statistics.

Figures may vary between sources because each study can use different survey methods, audiences, and spending measures.