Every October, the same scene plays out in living rooms across the country. A child falls in love with a costume, it goes in the cart, and a few weeks later it is crumpled in a bin or stuffed in the back of a closet. This year, the numbers behind that tradition are bigger than ever.
According to a CPA Practice Advisor report published September 23, 2026, which covers a National Retail Federation survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, Halloween spending is expected to reach $13.5 billion in 2026. Last year’s record was $13.1 billion.
What the survey found
The survey questioned 7,889 consumers from September 1 to 9, 2026, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.1 points. Here are the highlights:
- Total spending is forecast at $13.5 billion, up from the $13.1 billion record set last year.
- The average person plans to spend $115.14, compared with $114.45 in 2025.
- Children’s costumes will take $1.5 billion, adult costumes $2 billion and pet costumes $0.92 billion.
- 96 percent of those surveyed plan to buy candy, adding up to $4.1 billion.
- 74 percent plan to celebrate, compared with 73 percent in 2025.
The per-person average went up by less than a dollar, but it is the total that jumps out. Billions of dollars will go to costumes, and a good share of that is for pieces that will be worn once.
The costume problem
Here is the trouble with a children’s costume. Kids grow, and their tastes change fast. The superhero who was everything in September may be last month’s news by the time next October rolls around. That $1.5 billion in children’s costumes is, for many families, money spent on something that will be outgrown or forgotten almost right away.
Then comes the clutter. Costumes come with masks, wigs, capes, plastic swords and bags of accessories that never quite fit in a drawer. They end up in the closet, in the garage or under the bed, taking up room until someone finally has the energy to sort through them.
Even pets are part of the trend. The survey puts pet costumes at $0.92 billion, which proves that nobody in the house is safe from a dress-up purchase.
How to plan before you buy
You do not have to skip the fun. A little planning keeps the costs and the clutter down.
- Start with what you already own. Look through the dress-up bin, the closet and last year’s costumes before you shop. Many costumes are really just a few pieces you can pull together.
- Set a budget for each child before you walk into the store. A number written down is harder to blow past in the aisle.
- Ask the kids early. Waiting until the last minute leads to impulse buys at full price.
- Trade with friends and neighbors. Costumes are perfect for swapping, since every kid wants something new and every parent wants less to store.
- Check secondhand shops and online resale listings. Costumes that were worn once are often in great shape.
- Pick pieces that can be reused. A plain black cape or a simple set of wings can become part of next year’s idea, or part of everyday play.
Where the money goes, and where it could stay
When you add it up, adult costumes at $2 billion top the list, followed by $1.5 billion for children and $0.92 billion for pets. It is a reminder that the whole household tends to get in on the act. If every person in your home buys a brand new outfit, the cost and the clutter both multiply.
A simple family rule can help: one new item per person, and everything else comes from what you already have. Kids often have just as much fun with a creative homemade outfit as with a store-bought one, and a homemade version rarely costs much.
Plan for the day after, too
The smartest time to decide what happens to a costume is before you buy it. Ask yourself whether it can be handed down to a younger sibling, passed along to a cousin, sold or donated when the season ends. If you can picture where it goes next, it is probably a better buy than one you would have to figure out in a hurry on November 1.
After Halloween, set aside a few minutes to sort the leftovers. Keep the pieces your kids will really play with, and pass along the rest while they are still in good condition. A costume that is cleaned up and handed on quickly has a much better chance of finding a second life than one that sits in a pile until spring.
Candy counts too
The survey says 96 percent of people plan to buy candy, for a total of $4.1 billion. Candy leaves no clutter, but it can leave a budget in tatters. Buy what you will need rather than stocking up on huge bags in case a crowd arrives, and consider what you will do with the extras. Leftover candy tends to hang around until it is stale.
Halloween is about the fun of the night, the laughter at the door and the pictures you will keep. None of that depends on spending the most. With a plan, a budget and a plan for what happens afterward, you can enjoy the holiday and keep your closets and your wallet in better shape.
More Stories You May Like
- Professional Organizer Lists 20 Things You Should Throw Out Today and Guarantees There Is at Least One on the List You Will Absolutely Refuse to Part With
- Professional Organizer Lists the Bathroom Items to Get Rid of as Soon as Possible Before They Cause Problems
- Mom Says Six Small Cleaning Tasks Take Her Less Than Half An Hour And Keep Her Whole Home In Maintenance Mode Starting With Making The Bed Every Day
