Halloween 2026 lands on a Saturday, October 31, which means two full nights of parties, a Friday costume parade at most schools, and a longer trick-or-treat window than usual. Retailers are already competing for it.
The National Retail Federation put total Halloween spending at a record $13.1 billion last year, and this guide compares real, currently active offers across costumes, candy, and decorations so you can see what each retailer is actually offering before you buy.
Quick Take
- Spirit Halloween has the deepest current markdowns on costumes, up to 75% off sale items.
- Decorations now outsell costumes in participation. More shoppers buy decor than dress up.
- Pet costumes are the fastest-growing category, at nearly $0.9 billion in spending last Halloween.
- Candy is cheapest bought last, not first. Timing beats hunting for a bigger percentage.
When Halloween 2026 Deals Actually Peak
Shoppers start early and buy at different speeds depending on the category. Last year, 49% of Halloween shoppers began before October, and early tracking for 2026 shows the same habit holding. As of early August, a quarter of shoppers had already bought at least one Halloween item, mostly adult costumes and candy, with 42% saying cooler fall weather is what got them moving.
Early shopping buys selection, not price. Costumes and decor typically drop 30% to 60% in the final week before Halloween as retailers clear seasonal stock, but the popular sizes and licensed characters are usually gone by then. Candy runs the opposite way. Grocery and big box stores cut candy prices hardest in the final ten days, once they need the shelf space cleared before November markdowns hit.
The practical split: buy your costume by mid October if you want a specific size or character, buy decor whenever you spot a price you like since most people replace it gradually anyway, and hold off on candy until the last week.
Halloween Costume Deals Worth Comparing
Costume spending hit $4.3 billion last Halloween, split roughly into $1.4 billion for kids, $2 billion for adults, and $0.86 billion for pets. Here's what the major retailers are actually offering right now.
|
Store |
Current best offer |
Good for |
|
Up to 75% off sale items, 20% off sitewide with code |
Licensed characters, the deepest markdowns, and the widest in-season selection |
|
|
20% off sitewide, up to 50% off sale |
Budget family costumes, with half of costumes and accessories under $25 this year |
|
|
Up to 60% off sale |
Lowest baseline prices for basic costumes bought in bulk for a group |
|
|
Up to 60% off sale, up to 50% off clearance |
Pet costumes, the one major retailer discounting this category directly |
|
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15% off any order |
Anime, cosplay, and pop culture costumes outside the mainstream Halloween aisle |
Spirit Halloween wins on depth and selection, not on being the cheapest sticker price in the store. If you just need a basic costume and don't care which character it is, Target or Walmart usually beats it on price before any code.
Pet Costumes Deserve Their Own Line Item Now
One in four Halloween shoppers plans to dress up a pet this year, and pet costume spending has grown into a real category rather than an afterthought. Petco is the only major retailer on this list with a standing sale specifically covering pet gear, so it's worth checking before assuming a human costume retailer stocks anything that fits a dog.
Halloween Decoration Deals Worth Comparing
Decorations passed costumes in popularity last Halloween, with 78% of shoppers planning to buy some, against 71% for costumes, and total decor spending reached $4.2 billion. Target's own 2026 lineup backs this up: the retailer says nearly 70% of its Halloween assortment is new for the year, about 60% is exclusive to Target, and 60% of decor items ring up under $10.
|
Store |
Current offer |
Good for |
|
Up to 35% off interior lighting |
Animatronics, string lights, and yard displays that need real wattage |
|
|
Up to 50% off sale |
Trend-driven indoor decor at low individual price points |
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Up to 60% off sale |
Bulk basics like tableware, cheap fillers, and disposable party supplies |
A heads up if you're picturing a standalone Party City run: most of the chain's roughly 700 remaining stores closed after a 2025 bankruptcy filing, and the brand now operates mainly inside Staples locations. Check whether one still exists near you before planning a trip around it.
Halloween Candy Deals Worth Comparing
Candy is the one category where chasing a coupon code matters less than timing the purchase. Last Halloween, 66% of shoppers planned to hand out candy, and category spending reached $3.9 billion, the highest dollar total of any Halloween category.
Three tactics actually move the needle here.
- First, price per ounce beats brand loyalty. Compare unit price across bags before you compare brands, since the same manufacturer often sells identical candy at different per-ounce prices depending on bag size.
- Second, warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club consistently undercut grocery and drugstore prices on bulk variety bags, worth the trip if you're stocking for a full neighborhood.
- Third, on Amazon specifically, clip any visible manufacturer coupon, add a Subscribe & Save option at checkout for the extra discount, then cancel the subscription once the order ships. This is a well known, entirely legitimate trick that works because the discount applies at order time regardless of what you do afterward.
How to Actually Save on Halloween 2026
No gimmicks, just what consistently works.
- Stack a sitewide code with an existing sale, when the store allows it. Spirit Halloween and Petco both cap you at one code per order and explicitly can't combine offers, so check a store's stacking policy before assuming a code and a clearance tag add together.
- Buy costumes by mid-October, decor whenever, candy last. The category dictates the timing, not the size of the percentage advertised.
- Use price match before assuming a code beats it. Petco price matches Chewy, PetSmart, Walmart, Target, and Amazon by phone request, not automatically at checkout. Target only matches its own price now, not outside competitors, a policy that changed in 2025.
- Check the return window before buying anything you might swap. Spirit Halloween allows returns through October 19 during the season, a shorter window than its usual policy, which matters if you're buying a costume you're not fully sure about.
- Buy bulk for anything reusable. Warehouse club pricing beats individual retailer coupons on candy and basic decor almost every time.
More current codes for these and other Halloween retailers are live on our Halloween Sales hub.
FAQs
When do Halloween deals actually start in 2026?
Early tracking shows a quarter of shoppers had already bought something by early August, mostly adult costumes and candy. But early availability isn't the same as the deepest discount. Costumes and decor cut prices hardest in the final week before Halloween, once retailers start clearing stock.
Which store has the best Halloween costume deals?
Spirit Halloween currently has the deepest markdowns, up to 75% off sale items, plus a 20% sitewide code. Target and Walmart usually beat it on baseline price for a basic, non-licensed costume before any code is applied.
Is Halloween decor really outselling costumes now?
Yes. Last Halloween, 78% of shoppers planned to buy decorations against 71% for costumes, and decor spending reached $4.2 billion versus $4.3 billion for costumes, essentially tied on dollars but ahead on how many people buy it at all.
Can I stack a Halloween coupon code with a store's clearance sale?
Usually not. Spirit Halloween and Petco both limit orders to one discount code, and Petco explicitly excludes combining any offer with a BOGO deal. Target allows a manufacturer coupon on top of a price match, but only for in-store purchases.
Is it cheaper to buy Halloween candy in bulk?
Generally, yes, if you compare price per ounce rather than sticker price. Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club typically beat grocery and drugstore per-unit pricing on variety bags, which matters more than any single coupon code if you're buying enough for a full block of trick-or-treaters.
Do Halloween stores discount further after October 31?
Some do. Spirit Halloween confirms it runs discounts after Halloween ends. Most retailers also mark down unsold costumes and decor sharply once November clearance resets begin, though exact timing and depth vary by store.
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