From the mind-boggling amount spent on candy to the armies of inflatable decorations taking over lawns, these Halloween statistics reveal a holiday that has grown into a multi-billion dollar spectacle of sugar, spookiness, and sheer creative excess.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, U.S. consumers planned to spend a record $11.6 billion on Halloween-related purchases including costumes, decorations, and candy
- Halloween spending per household in the U.S. averaged $108.17 in 2023, marking a 15% increase from 2022
- The global Halloween market was valued at $7.4 billion in 2020 and projected to grow to $12.5 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 7.7%
- Americans eat 36 million pounds of candy corn during Halloween season each year
- Over 20 million pumpkin pies are sold in the U.S. from September to November annually
- U.S. households buy an average of 8.6 bags of candy for trick-or-treating, totaling 245 pieces per home
- 67% of Americans plan to wear costumes for Halloween 2023, highest in five years
- Top costume for adults in 2023 was Barbie, with 13% choosing it
- 48 million women planned costumes in 2023, spending $1,800 on average per household
- U.S. carved 223 million pumpkins for Halloween porches in 2023
- 47% of Americans planned home decorations in 2023, spending $48 average
- Illuminated decorations like jack-o'-lanterns number 145 million annually
- 160 million Americans plan to celebrate Halloween in 2023
- 50% of U.S. households give out candy, reaching 46 million trick-or-treaters
- Pedestrian injuries spike 43% on Halloween vs average day for kids
Halloween spending reached record highs in 2023 across decorations, costumes, and candy.
Candy Consumption
- Americans eat 36 million pounds of candy corn during Halloween season each year
- Over 20 million pumpkin pies are sold in the U.S. from September to November annually
- U.S. households buy an average of 8.6 bags of candy for trick-or-treating, totaling 245 pieces per home
- Chocolate accounts for 75% of Halloween candy sales, with 500 million pounds consumed yearly
- 90% of parents buy their kids' favorite candy for Halloween, spending $25 on average
- Candy corn production peaks at 35 million pounds for Halloween
- Average trick-or-treater collects 92 pieces of candy, consuming about 4,800 calories
- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the top Halloween candy, with 200 million cups distributed annually
- 50% of Halloween candy goes uneaten, leading to 10 billion pieces of leftover sweets yearly
- Pumpkin spice flavored candies saw a 300% sales increase since 2011
- U.S. consumes 600 million pounds of chocolate candy for Halloween
- Snickers bars sell 18 million units during Halloween week alone
- 41% of Americans admit to stealing candy from their kids' Halloween haul
- Sour candies grew 25% in Halloween popularity from 2020-2023
- Average candy bowl has 1,400 pieces, depleted by 500 by end of trick-or-treating night
- Gummy candies represent 15% of Halloween sales, with 100 million bags sold
- 70% of Halloween candy is chocolate-based, per NCA data
- Tootsie Rolls production ramps to 16 million pounds for Halloween
- 25% of households buy vegan or alternative candies for Halloween 2023
- Skittles distributes 250 million packages for Halloween annually
- Candy apples number 5 million made at home yearly for Halloween
- 60% of parents replace chocolate with fruit-flavored treats post-Halloween
- M&M's sells 100 million bags for Halloween, colorful varieties up 40%
- U.S. Halloween caramel apple production hits 30 million units
- 35% of candy corn is thrown away uneaten after Halloween
- Twix bars see 20% sales boost in October, 50 million sold
Candy Consumption Interpretation
America’s Halloween ritual has become a gluttonous, guilt-ridden ballet of industrially-scaled sweetness, where we collectively buy, hide, steal, and discard enough candy to build a monument to our own delightful, wasteful excess.
Costumes
- 67% of Americans plan to wear costumes for Halloween 2023, highest in five years
- Top costume for adults in 2023 was Barbie, with 13% choosing it
- 48 million women planned costumes in 2023, spending $1,800 on average per household
- Pet costumes favored witch outfits for dogs (18%) and pumpkins for cats (12%) in 2023
- 69% of parents buy costumes for kids under 12, average cost $38 per child
- Superhero costumes topped kids' choices at 15% in 2023 NRF survey
- 22% of adults opt for 'sexy' costumes, down from 28% in 2019
- Group costumes rose 10% in popularity, with 25% participating in 2023
- 37 million Americans dressed pets in costumes in 2023
- Princess costumes held 12% of girls' market share for 2023
- 41% make their own costumes, saving $20-50 per outfit on average
- Zombie costumes ranked #3 for adults, chosen by 8% in 2023
- Average time spent planning adult costume is 5.2 hours, per 2022 survey
- 16% chose Spider-Man as top superhero costume in 2023 kids' poll
- Vintage and 80s costumes surged 30% in Etsy sales for 2023 Halloween
- 55% of Gen Z prefer pop culture costumes like Wednesday Addams (10%)
- Men's top costume was vampire at 7%, women favored witch at 11% in 2023
- 28% of costumes bought online via Amazon in 2023
- Baby costumes market grew 18% to $300 million in 2023
- 9% chose animal costumes for adults, highest for family matching
- Couples' costumes like Mario and Luigi up 15% in 2023 searches
- Pirate costumes steady at 6% popularity for kids over decade
- 45% of costumes include makeup or accessories costing extra $15 average
- Inflation raised costume prices 8% in 2023 to $45 average adult outfit
- 12% of adults go costume-free but 80% attend events
- Stranger Things costumes boosted 50% sales in 2022 carryover to 2023
Costumes Interpretation
While Americans are collectively spending more time and money than ever to transform into Barbie, witches, and zombies—with even the family dog getting in on the act as a miniature sorcerer—the true horror of the season might just be the receipt showing how much that five hours of planning and group coordination actually cost.
Decorations and Events
- U.S. carved 223 million pumpkins for Halloween porches in 2023
- 47% of Americans planned home decorations in 2023, spending $48 average
- Illuminated decorations like jack-o'-lanterns number 145 million annually
- Haunted houses visited by 42 million people yearly, with 1,200 professional attractions
- 38% host Halloween parties, decorating with $65 budget average
- Pumpkin patches attract 100 million visitors October annually
- 72 million buy decorations, favoring inflatables (25%) and skeletons (20%)
- Corn mazes number 450 commercial ones, drawing 6 million visitors
- 116 million participate in carving pumpkins, using 26% of U.S. crop
- Outdoor decorations cover 50 million homes, with lights up 20% in 2023
- Trunk-or-treat events grew to 10,000 nationwide in 2023
- 21% decorate offices, spending $20 per workspace average
- Fake spider webs used in 35 million homes, top decor item
- Halloween parades draw 2 million spectators in NYC alone yearly
- 65% of decorations now LED-lit, saving 50% energy vs traditional bulbs
- Pumpkin catapult contests feature 50 events, launching 1,000 pumpkins
- 30 million hay bales used for Halloween displays nationwide
- Virtual haunted houses viewed 15 million times online in 2023 peak
- 44% use fog machines in decor setups, costing $40 average
- Community pumpkin weigh-offs total 100 events, heaviest at 2,700 lbs
- Graveyard scenes set up in 18 million yards, with 40% adding motion sensors
- 75 million jack-o'-lanterns displayed publicly in festivals
- DIY decorations from Dollar Tree saved consumers $500 million in 2023
- 55% of millennials host themed parties with elaborate decor
- Laser light shows replaced 10% of traditional projectors in haunts
- 12 million attend Halloween markets and craft fairs annually
- Inflatable decorations market hit $1 billion, with 30 ft models popular
Decorations and Events Interpretation
Americans clearly believe that if you're going to spend billions collectively turning the nation into a giant, spooky theme park every October, you might as well do it with energy-efficient LEDs and a side of competitive pumpkin agriculture.
Economic Impact
- In 2023, U.S. consumers planned to spend a record $11.6 billion on Halloween-related purchases including costumes, decorations, and candy
- Halloween spending per household in the U.S. averaged $108.17 in 2023, marking a 15% increase from 2022
- The global Halloween market was valued at $7.4 billion in 2020 and projected to grow to $12.5 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 7.7%
- Americans spent $3.9 billion on Halloween candy in 2023, accounting for 31% of total Halloween expenditures
- U.S. Halloween costume sales reached $3.8 billion in 2023, with online sales comprising 40% of purchases
- Decorations accounted for $4.5 billion in U.S. Halloween spending in 2023, up 12% from the previous year
- Pet costumes contributed $530 million to Halloween spending in 2023, a 14% rise year-over-year
- Total U.S. Halloween greeting cards sales hit $235 million in 2023
- 32% of Halloween spending in 2023 occurred after October 20th, driven by last-minute shoppers
- The average American household spent $92 on Halloween candy in 2022
- Halloween retail sales in the U.S. generated $9 billion in 2019 pre-pandemic
- Online Halloween sales surged 37% year-over-year in 2021, reaching $2.1 billion
- Candy manufacturers see 90% of annual candy corn sales in the month leading up to Halloween
- U.S. pumpkin industry generates $264 million annually from fresh pumpkins alone, peaking at Halloween
- Haunted attractions industry earned $330 million in ticket sales in 2022
- Halloween drives 10% of annual U.S. chocolate sales, equating to over $2.5 billion
- Spirit Halloween stores generated $1.2 billion in revenue in 2022 across 1,400 locations
- Average Halloween party budget per U.S. household was $65 in 2023
- 72 million Americans purchased Halloween decorations in 2023, spending an average of $45 each
- U.S. candy sales for Halloween total 600 million pounds annually, valued at $2.7 billion
- International Halloween spending outside U.S. reached $1.5 billion in 2022, led by Europe
- 41% of U.S. consumers bought Halloween merchandise at discount stores in 2023
- Halloween boosts U.S. floral sales by 20%, with $100 million in pumpkin-themed arrangements
- Average spend on kids' costumes was $47 in 2023, up from $38 in 2019
- U.S. Halloween makeup sales hit $350 million in 2023
- Pop-up Halloween stores increased 20% in 2023, contributing to $500 million in seasonal retail
- 28% of Halloween budget goes to food and drinks, averaging $31 per household
- Global costume jewelry sales for Halloween exceed $200 million yearly
- U.S. trick-or-treat candy distribution costs retailers $400 million in logistics annually
- Halloween-themed alcohol sales spike 25% in October, generating $800 million
Economic Impact Interpretation
Americans have collectively decided that the only proper way to confront existential dread is to dress the dog as a hot dog, buy $12 billion worth of synthetic cobwebs, and eat enough candy corn to single-handedly float an entire industry, all while pretending this is a casual holiday and not a massive economic engine.
Participation and Safety
- 160 million Americans plan to celebrate Halloween in 2023
- 50% of U.S. households give out candy, reaching 46 million trick-or-treaters
- Pedestrian injuries spike 43% on Halloween vs average day for kids
- 82% of parents check candy for tampering, though incidents rare at 1 per million
- Drunk driving arrests increase 12% on Halloween night
- 35 million adults attend block parties or events on Halloween
- Flashlight use by 70% of trick-or-treaters reduces accidents by 50%
- Vandalism reports rise 20% on Halloween, with 5,000 incidents in major cities
- 96% of children trick-or-treat in groups with adults, per safety guidelines
- Carbon monoxide poisonings from generators up 15% at Halloween events
- 121 million participate in any Halloween activity in 2023
- Sex offender restrictions limit 10,000 from door-to-door on Halloween in U.S.
- Reflective tape on costumes cuts nighttime visibility risks by 80%
- 27 states have official trick-or-treat times, averaging 5-8 PM
- Hospital visits for falls in costumes increase 25% for adults over 65
- 70% of parents set curfews for teens on Halloween
- Fire incidents from decorations rise 30%, causing $22 million damage yearly
- 83% use glow sticks for visibility, popular safety measure
- Missing children reports peak at 2,500 on Halloween night
- Allergy reactions to candy affect 1 in 13 kids, prompting epi-pen readiness
- 65% of neighborhoods organize safe walks, reducing traffic risks
- Razor blade in candy myths debunked, zero cases since 1960s
- 40 million carve pumpkins safely with adult supervision
- Drunken pedestrian deaths up 37% on Halloween
- 92% of families review safety rules before trick-or-treating
Participation and Safety Interpretation
While 160 million Americans treat Halloween with a spooky enthusiasm equal to 46 million candy-seekers, our collective vigilance—from checking treats and using flashlights to setting curfews—creates a remarkably safe, if statistically perilous, national pageant where the scariest thing is often the drunk driving arrests, not the mythical razor blades.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NRFnrf.comVisit source
- Reference 2GRANDVIEWRESEARCHgrandviewresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 3STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 4DIGITALCOMMERCE360digitalcommerce360.comVisit source
- Reference 5CANDYSTOREcandystore.comVisit source
- Reference 6USDAusda.govVisit source
- Reference 7HAUNTWORLDhauntworld.comVisit source
- Reference 8CHOCOLATEchocolate.orgVisit source
- Reference 9FORBESforbes.comVisit source
- Reference 10FTDftd.comVisit source
- Reference 11RETAILDIVEretaildive.comVisit source
- Reference 12MARKETRESEARCHFUTUREmarketresearchfuture.comVisit source
- Reference 13SUPPLYCHAINDIVEsupplychaindive.comVisit source
- Reference 14DISTILLEDSPIRITSdistilledspirits.orgVisit source
- Reference 15YOUGOVyougov.comVisit source
- Reference 16BRACHSCANDIESbrachscandies.comVisit source
- Reference 17HERSHEYLANDhersheyland.comVisit source
- Reference 18WEBMDwebmd.comVisit source
- Reference 19NIELSENnielsen.comVisit source
- Reference 20NCAUSAncausa.orgVisit source
- Reference 21MARSmars.comVisit source
- Reference 22HALLOWEENCANDYBUYERSCLUBhalloweencandybuyersclub.comVisit source
- Reference 23CONFECTIONERYNEWSconfectionerynews.comVisit source
- Reference 24CANDYUSAcandyusa.comVisit source
- Reference 25TOOTSIEtootsie.comVisit source
- Reference 26PLANTBASEDNEWSplantbasednews.orgVisit source
- Reference 27MARSWRIGLEYmarswrigley.comVisit source
- Reference 28FOODNETWORKfoodnetwork.comVisit source
- Reference 29MMSmms.comVisit source
- Reference 30USAPPLEusapple.orgVisit source
- Reference 31ROVERrover.comVisit source
- Reference 32COSTUMECRAZEcostumecraze.comVisit source
- Reference 33DIYdiy.comVisit source
- Reference 34HALLOWEENCOSTUMEGUIDEhalloweencostumeguide.comVisit source
- Reference 35MARVELmarvel.comVisit source
- Reference 36ETSYetsy.comVisit source
- Reference 37TRENDStrends.google.comVisit source
- Reference 38BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 39NETFLIXnetflix.comVisit source
- Reference 40AGMRCagmrc.orgVisit source
- Reference 41CORNMAZEcornmaze.comVisit source
- Reference 42TRUNKORTREATLIVEtrunkortreatlive.comVisit source
- Reference 43HOMEDEPOThomedepot.comVisit source
- Reference 44TIMEOUTtimeout.comVisit source
- Reference 45ENERGYenergy.govVisit source
- Reference 46PUNKINCHUNKINpunkinchunkin.comVisit source
- Reference 47NASSnass.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 48BIGPUMPKINSbigpumpkins.comVisit source
- Reference 49LOWESlowes.comVisit source
- Reference 50CIRQUEFERMEcirqueferme.comVisit source
- Reference 51CORPORATEcorporate.dollartree.comVisit source
- Reference 52LASEREFFECTSlasereffects.comVisit source
- Reference 53GEMgem.govVisit source
- Reference 54IIHSiihs.orgVisit source
- Reference 55SNOPESsnopes.comVisit source
- Reference 56NHTSAnhtsa.govVisit source
- Reference 57CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 58UCRucr.fbi.govVisit source
- Reference 59SAFEKIDSsafekids.orgVisit source
- Reference 60CPSCcpsc.govVisit source
- Reference 61PROPUBLICApropublica.orgVisit source
- Reference 62NSCnsc.orgVisit source
- Reference 63TIMEANDDATEtimeanddate.comVisit source
- Reference 64NFPAnfpa.orgVisit source
- Reference 65MISSINGKIDSmissingkids.orgVisit source
- Reference 66FOODALLERGYfoodallergy.orgVisit source
- Reference 67PARENTSparents.comVisit source