Halloween Spending Hits $13.5 Billion for 2026
Total holiday spending rose this year, often leaving households with higher-than-expected costs for costumes.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Spending
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American Halloween spending reached an estimated $13.5 billion in 2026, marking a rise from the $13.1 billion recorded in 2025. This annual holiday tradition continues to influence household budgets, with individual spending averaging $115 per person.
Why it matters
Higher-than-anticipated costs for seasonal items like costumes and accessories can strain discretionary budgets as shoppers participate in holiday traditions. With total market spending growing, households are often navigating price points that exceed initial plans for celebration-related expenses.
Total Halloween spending reached $13.5 billion in 2026, up from $13.1 billion the prior year. Many households experienced cost variances, such as one shopper spending $75 on children's costumes against a $30 budget, with national average spending hitting $115 per person.
The players
National Retail Federation
The trade association that tracks national retail spending trends and annual consumer holiday data.
Costume Gallery
A retailer offering custom and handmade outfits for holiday events.
The details
Shoppers often accumulate costs by purchasing individual components like makeup, accessories, hats, and sunglasses to assemble custom outfits. When handmade or specialty items from retailers like Costume Gallery are factored in, total outlays can quickly surpass original budget allocations. This process illustrates how small, individual purchases for holiday traditions aggregate into billions of dollars in national economic activity.
Timeline
Total American Halloween spending was $13.1 billion in 2025.
Consumers purchased costumes and accessories on October 31, 2026.
Money Landscape
Halloween spending continues to follow a growth trend relative to previous years, reflecting persistent consumer demand for holiday participation. This development tracks with the long-term rise in total seasonal retail expenditures reported by industry monitors.
Holiday traditions can lead to budget creep when costs for individual costume pieces exceed your planned limit. Reviewing your seasonal spending totals against your initial budget can help you identify where to adjust for future celebrations.
The takeaway
Halloween spending reached a record $13.5 billion in 2026, often fueled by costs that climb higher than expected. When planning for future seasonal events, consider documenting your target spending for each category to maintain better control over discretionary outflows.
Further reading
For more on managing holiday budgets and seasonal costs, see our Spending section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLWT5.
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Do you feel that current holiday costume and accessory prices are getting harder to afford?
