Halloween 2026 Deals: Where to Shop and How to Save
Halloween 2026: where to shop and how to save
Halloween 2026 falls on Saturday, October 31, so there are only two shopping days left. If you're still hunting for a costume, extra candy or one more inflatable for the lawn, it helps to know how each retailer usually runs its Halloween season. Some sell out weeks ahead, some restock until the last day, and some start marking things down the moment the holiday is over. (Not sure about dates? See when is Halloween 2026.)
Prices and stock change every year, so treat the notes below as patterns from past seasons, not promises.
Quick comparison: where to shop for Halloween
| Store | Best for | Price level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Halloween | Licensed costumes, animatronics | Mid to high | Seasonal pop-ups, usually open from around August |
| Target | Kids' costumes, Hyde & EEK! decor, candy | Low to mid | Same-day pickup and delivery in most areas |
| Walmart | Budget costumes, bulk candy | Low | Wide store network, easy last-minute stop |
| Amazon | Costumes, accessories, odd sizes | Low to high | Fast shipping in many areas; check delivery dates |
| Home Depot / Lowe's | Giant skeletons, inflatables, animatronics | Mid to high | Headline items often sell out early |
| Michaels | DIY craft supplies, faux pumpkins | Low to mid | Frequent coupons and app offers |
| At Home | Large decor range | Low to mid | Big-box stores with lots of seasonal floor space |
| HomeGoods / TJ Maxx | One-off decor finds | Low to mid | Rarely restocked |
| Costco | Bulk candy, large outdoor decor | Mid | Membership required; items rarely come back |
| Dollar Tree / Five Below / Dollar General | Party supplies, small decor, candy | Very low | Good for filler items and kids' crafts |
| Bath & Body Works / Yankee Candle | Halloween scents, candles | Mid | Collections drop early and often go on sale |
US retailers: how each one usually does Halloween
Spirit Halloween
Spirit is the best-known seasonal Halloween store, with a record 1,575 pop-ups in 2026. Locations open from August in empty retail spaces and close soon after October 31. It's strongest for licensed costumes, props and animatronics. Spirit often offers coupons through email and text sign-ups, so it's worth joining before you buy. For a closer look, see our Spirit Halloween guide.
Target
Target carries a large in-house range, led by its Hyde & EEK! Boutique decor and costume brand, plus pet costumes and themed candy. Its main last-minute advantage is Drive Up and Order Pickup, which can turn an online order into a same-day pickup. Target Circle offers on candy and costumes have shown up in past seasons, so check the app before you check out.
Walmart
Walmart is usually the cheapest place for basic costumes and bulk candy. Online selection is wide, and many stores keep Halloween aisles stocked through the last weekend.
Amazon
Amazon has the widest range of costume sizes, accessories, wigs, makeup and novelty decor. The risk in the final week is shipping: check the delivery date on each listing before ordering, since some third-party sellers ship slowly.
Home Depot and Lowe's
These two have become the go-to stores for giant outdoor decor: oversized skeletons, large inflatables and animatronics. In 2026, Home Depot's collection, including an upgraded version of its 12-foot skeleton, went live online on July 16, with stores following in late August. Lowe's put its new 15-foot Skeleton Watcher animatronic out in July. Headline pieces often sell out early, so for these, plan for next year (see the 2027 timeline below).
Michaels
Michaels is the place for DIY: faux pumpkins, wreath bases, felt, paint and costume crafting supplies. The store often runs weekly coupons and app offers, and Halloween items are usually discounted before the holiday as stores make room for Christmas stock. For project ideas, see our Halloween decorations ideas.
At Home, HomeGoods and TJ Maxx
At Home gives seasonal decor a lot of floor space at moderate prices. HomeGoods and TJ Maxx get one-off pieces, often early, and rarely restock, so buy what you like when you see it.
Costco and budget stores
Costco is good for bulk candy and some large outdoor decor (membership required). Dollar Tree, Five Below and Dollar General are hard to beat for treat bags, small decor and last-minute filler.
Bath & Body Works and Yankee Candle
Both usually release Halloween-themed scent collections, candles and soap holders in late summer. Bath & Body Works' 2026 Halloween lines arrived in mid-August. Bath & Body Works in particular has run regular candle sales in past seasons, so it's often worth waiting for one rather than paying full price.
UK: where to shop for Halloween
Halloween keeps growing in the UK, and the main supermarkets and discount chains usually stock costumes and decor from September.
- Asda: George at Asda usually carries a large, low-cost range of kids' and adult costumes, plus candy and party supplies in store.
- Aldi: Halloween items usually appear in the Specialbuys aisle. Stock is limited and rarely restocked once it's gone.
- The Range: A wide range of decor, lights and craft supplies at low prices.
- Poundland: Good for low-cost decor, treat bags and makeup.
- TK Maxx: Like TJ Maxx in the US, a good place for one-off decor pieces.
For larger outdoor pieces such as gazebos to stage a front-garden display, Aosom UK is worth a look.
Last-minute Halloween shopping (the final days before Oct 31)
With Halloween on Saturday, delivery is no longer reliable for most orders. Here's what still works:
- Order online for same-day pickup. Target, Walmart and many other big stores let you check local stock online and collect within hours.
- Go in store early in the day. Popular costume sizes and candy go first, especially on Friday evening and Saturday morning.
- Check Spirit's local stock. Pop-ups often restock until the end, but popular sizes sell out.
- Use dollar stores for filler. Cobwebs, glow sticks and treat bags are cheap and usually still in stock.
- Go DIY. Clothes you already own plus a few accessories or face paint is often the fastest, cheapest costume.
- Buy candy at the supermarket. Grocery stores often still have stock when big-box seasonal aisles run low.
Clearance starts November 1
Most retailers usually start Halloween clearance the day after the holiday, often with markdowns that grow deeper over the following weeks. If you don't need something this weekend, waiting a few days is usually the cheapest way to buy decor, lights and even costumes for next year. Our after-Halloween sales 2026 guide covers what to expect store by store.
Plan for Halloween 2027 (Sunday, October 31)
Halloween 2027 falls on a Sunday. If you want the best selection next year, here's when collections dropped in 2026:
- Late June: Michaels launched its first Halloween collections, and Costco decor began arriving in warehouses.
- July: Home Depot (online July 16), Lowe's, Target (online) and At Home put out their main Halloween ranges. Sign up for alerts if you want a giant skeleton or a new animatronic.
- August: Spirit's flagship opened August 1, with most pop-ups following mid-to-late August. Bath & Body Works' Halloween collections arrived mid-month.
- September: Costume ranges are usually fully stocked. UK supermarkets and discount chains usually start stocking.
- Early October: Best time for popular costume sizes before they sell out.
- November 1: Clearance starts, the time to buy decor for 2027 at a discount.
Money-saving tips for Halloween
- Sign up for emails and apps at Spirit, Michaels, Target and Bath & Body Works. They often send the best coupons.
- Buy decor after the holiday. Clearance prices on decor that lasts for years are usually much lower than before Halloween.
- Buy candy in bulk at Costco, Walmart or Sam's Club rather than in small bags.
- Mix premium and budget. Spend on one or two statement pieces and fill the rest from dollar stores.
- Reuse and swap costumes. Kids grow out of costumes fast, so swap with friends or check local resale groups.
- Compare online marketplaces. Temu and Amazon often have low prices on accessories and decor, but allow extra time for shipping.
- Check coupon pages. Browse all our stores for current codes, including Best Choice Products for seasonal decor and outdoor items.
FAQ
When does Spirit Halloween open?
Spirit's seasonal pop-ups open from August (the 2026 flagship opened August 1) and close shortly after October 31.
Where can I buy a Halloween costume the day before?
Target, Walmart and Spirit Halloween are usually the best bets, using in-store shopping or same-day pickup. Dollar stores and supermarkets can fill gaps for accessories and makeup.
When do Home Depot and Lowe's release their giant Halloween decor?
In 2026, Home Depot's collection went live online on July 16 and reached stores in late August, and Lowe's giant animatronics started arriving in July. Popular pieces often sell out early.
When do Halloween clearance sales start?
Most retailers usually start Halloween clearance on November 1, with deeper markdowns over the following days. See our after-Halloween sales guide.
Is it cheaper to buy Halloween decor after Halloween?
Usually, yes. Clearance discounts make it the cheapest time to buy decor you'll store and use next year, though selection is more limited.
