Halloween by the numbers

$13.5 billion

Total expected spending on Halloween for 2026

$4.4 billion

Costumes

$4.3 billion

Decorations

$4.1 billion

Candy

$0.8 billion

Greeting cards

74%

Percentage of Americans who plan to celebrate

$115

Planned spending per person

Top celebration plans

Percentage of Halloween celebrants participating in each activity

61% - hand out candy

50% - dress in costume

42% - decorate

42% - carve a pumpkin

42% - watch scary movies

36% - browse store displays or themed stores

Source: National Retail Federation's 2026 Halloween Spending Survey

132.7 million

The number of occupied U.S. housing units - potential stops for trick-or-treaters - in 2024

Source: 2024 American Community Survey 1-year estimates

72 million

The estimated number of U.S. children under the age of 18 (read: potential trick-or-treaters) as of July 1, 2025

Source: Vintage 2025 Population Estimates

56.6 million

The number of occupied U.S. housing units with steps that trick-or-treaters had to climb to collect their treats - or tricks - in 2023

Source: 2023 American Housing Survey

About half of consumers (49%) say they began shopping for Halloween in September or earlier.

Spooky-sounding places

Devils Lake, North Dakota (2025 population: 7,333)

Seven Devils Town, North Carolina (2025 population: 314)

Slaughter Beach, Delaware (2025 population: 255)

Spirit, Wisconsin (2025 population: 303)

Spirit Lake, Idaho (2025 population: 2,485)

Slaughters City, Kentucky (2025 population: 191)

Sleepy Hollow, Illinois (2025 population: 3,122)

Dead Lake Township, Minnesota (2025 population: 534)

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (2025 population: 5,949)

Yellville, Arkansas (2025 population: 1,095)

Source: City and Town Population Totals 2020-2025*