Halloween is right around the corner, and it’s time to stock up on candy for those trick-or-treaters. But no one wants to overspend or be known as “a house that offers sub-par treatment.” We’ve given you tips on how to save money on candy while still offering this year’s most popular options.
Top Halloween Candies for 2025
Before we dig into the data, keep in mind that national trends are shifting: Shoppers are choosing more non-chocolate, fruit and gummies this quarter. Meanwhile, the popularity of classic chocolate remains strong. According to national ordering data, the top picks in 2025 are:
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – still firmly at the top of the list.
- Snickers – also ranked in the top five nationally.
- Fruity/Gummy leaders: Sour Patch Kids, Skittles and HARIBO Goldbears will see strong growth in 2025.
State updates
While national trends are helpful, local preferences are still important if you want your house to be the “go-to” spot on the block. Every state in America has its own favorite candy.
Want to see what’s favorite in your state? Below is a comprehensive list of states based on DoorDash’s 2024/2025 ordering data.
- Alabama: sweet smile
- Alaska: Nerd
- Arkansas: sweet smile
- Arizona: Red Vine
- California: Snickers
- Colorado: Haribo Gummies
- Connecticut: Sour Kids
- Delaware: Reese’s
- Florida: Eat, drink and be merry
- Georgia: Trolli Gummies
- Hawaii: Cadbury
- Idaho: Red Vine
- Illinois: Twizzlers
- Indiana: Reese’s
- Iowa: Laffy Taffy
- Kansas: sweet smile
- Kentucky: Reese’s
- Louisiana: sweet smile
- Maine: Reese’s
- Maryland: Snickers
- Massachusetts: Short
- Michigan: Twizzlers
- Minnesota: Laffy Toffee
- Mississippi: sweet smile
- Missouri: Twizzlers
- Montana: Red Vine
- Nebraska: Laffy Taffy
- New Hampshire: Reese’s
- New Jersey: Reese’s
- New Mexico: Sweet Pie
- New York: Twizzlers
- Nevada: Snickers
- North Carolina: Hershey’s Chocolate Bars
- North Dakota: Reese’s
- Ohio: Twizzlers
- Oklahoma: Sweet Pie
- Oregon: Reese’s
- Pennsylvania: Twizzlers
- Rhode Island: Trolli Gummies
- South Carolina: Hershey’s Chocolate Bars
- South Dakota: Sweet Pie
- Tennessee: sweet smile
- Texas: Trolli Gummies
- Utah: Sweet Pie
- Washington: Tex
- West Virginia: Reese’s
- Wisconsin: Twizzlers
- Wyoming: Reese’s
- Vermont: Reese’s
- Virginia: Reese’s
holiday spending
This year, Halloween spending is expected to hit a new record: approximately $13.1 billion in 2025, with nearly $3.9 billion spent on candy alone. With this in mind, staying on budget is more important than ever.
Save money on candy
Here are some smart ways to strike a balance between being generous to trick-or-treaters and keeping your finances in check:
- Buy in bulk: Purchasing candy bags or bulk packages will usually give you the best price per unit cost.
- Discount stores and later offers: Keep an eye out for discount chain stores or last-minute price drops (just make sure the candy still looks fresh).
- portion control: Instead of handing out full-size gold bars (unless that’s part of your plan), you can give each child one copy – many families do this to balance cost and generosity.
- A mix of trendy and value-for-money picks: Stock up on enough top-quality candies (Reese’s, M&M’s) to satisfy most people’s needs and add your favorite high-quality, affordable candies.
- Know when to buy: Buying early or when seasonal candy is on the shelves may get you a better deal. Waiting too long could result in a higher markup or fewer choices because the best stuff has already been taken away.
make wise choices
By keeping these tips in mind, you can make smart choices when buying Halloween candy. Aiming to mix the best selling chocolates with some fruit/gummy options (as these are increasing). Match your purchases to national trends and what may be popular locally so you’re prepared for the crowds at your door. You don’t have to break the bank to have Halloween fun and stay financially healthy. Happy Halloween – may your candy bowl be the envy of the neighbors!
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