Halloween Survey 2022 — Results

Here are the results from our Halloween Survey 2022. Thank you to all who participated!

Will you celebrate Halloween this year?

Yes (71 percent)
No (29 percent)

Are you a parent or a non-parent?

Parent (61 percent)
Non-parent (39 percent)

(if “parent”) Do you steal candy from your kid’s Halloween haul?

Yes (65 percent)
No (35 percent)

(if “parent”) Do you limit how much candy your child consumes on Halloween night?

Yes (72 percent)
No (28 percent)

Do you decorate your home for Halloween?

Yes (58 percent)
No (42 percent)

(if "yes") How much do you spend on Halloween decorations?

Less than $100 (63 percent)
$100 to $200 (26 percent)
$201 to $300 (Seven percent)
$301 to $500 (Three percent)
More than $500 (One percent)

How much do you spend on candy for trick-or-treaters?

Less than $25 (54 percent)
$25 to $50 (31 percent)
$51 to $100 (12 percent)
$101 to $200 (Two percent)
More than $200 (One percent)

When trick-or-treaters are out, do you answer the door if someone rings or pretend you’re not home?

I answer it (75 percent)
I pretend that I’m not home (25 percent)

Compared to last year, are you spending more money on Halloween candy?

About the same (47 percent)
No (29 percent)
Yes (24 percent)

(if “no”) Why are you spending less money on candy this year? (select all that apply)

I don’t get a lot of trick-or-treaters (71 percent)
Candy prices have gone up due to inflation (29 percent)
So I’m less tempted to eat the candy myself (22 percent)

This year, what will you spend the most money on during Halloween?

Fall activities [apple picking, etc.] (32 percent)
Sweets for trick-or-treating (25 percent)
Costumes (17 percent)
Pumpkins (10 percent)
Decorations (Nine percent)
Parties/haunted attractions [i.e. ticketed events] (Seven percent)

Favorite Halloween traditions? (select all that apply)

Trick or treating (37 percent)
Watching scary movies (34 percent)
Dressing up (33 percent)
Carving Jack-o-Lanterns (32 percent)
Decorating the house (30 percent)
Going to Halloween parties (20 percent)
Going to haunted houses (14 percent)

Do you give out full-size candy bars?

No (80 percent)
Yes (20 percent)

Do you give out something other than candy to trick-or-treaters?

No (75 percent)
Yes (25 percent)

(if "yes") What do you give trick-or-treaters other than candy? (select all that apply)

Toys — glow sticks, temporary tattoos, stickers, bubbles, etc. (56 percent)
Snacks — potato chips, popcorn, pretzels, etc. (48 percent)
School supplies — pencils, erasers, notepad, etc. (33 percent)
Spooky accessories — vampire teeth, spider rings, etc. (33 percent)
Fruit/healthy snack — raisins, apples, etc. (29 percent)
Drinks — soda, juice, etc. (14 percent)
Coupons — ex: Wendy’s Frosty Coupons (12 percent)
Anything that’s not candy (Seven percent)
Money (Six percent)

At what age did you stop trick-or-treating (not including as a chaperone)?

12 years old or younger (37 percent)
13 years old (21 percent)
16 years old or older (18 percent)
14 years old (14 percent)
15 years old (Ten percent)

How long did/does it take you to finish all of your Halloween candy?

Within a few weeks (29 percent)
Within a week (21 percent)
Within a few months (21 percent)
Within a month (20 percent)
I save(d) it all year long. (Nine percent)

Do you really “take one” or do you take more than one/all of the candy?

I really “take one” (63 percent)
I take more than one (36 percent)
I take all of the candy (One percent)

Do you make or buy your costumes?

Buy (65 percent)
Make it myself (35 percent)

If you had to choose, what type of costume would you go for?

A funny costume (45 percent)
A cutesy/glitzy costume (32 percent)
A spooky/gory costume (23 percent)

How many costumes do you plan to have this year?

I don’t plan on dressing up this year. (45 percent)
One (39 percent)
Two (10 percent)
Three (Four percent)
Four or more (Two percent)

Do you wear the same costume every year/most years?

No (80 percent)
Yes (20 percent)

In your opinion, which of the following are the most overused Halloween costumes? (select up to 2 responses)

Witch (48 percent)
Devil/Angel (30 percent)
Skeleton (23 percent)
Cat (16 percent)
Nurse (16 percent)
Pumpkin (12 percent)
Pirate (11 percent)
Cowboy/Cowgirl (Seven percent)

Favorite Halloween candy? (select all that apply)

Reese’s (58 percent)
Kit Kats (49 percent)
M&M’s (44 percent)
Snickers (42 percent)
Twix (40 percent)
Almond Joy (28 percent)
Milky Way (26 percent)
Skittles (24 percent)
Sour Patch Kids (20 percent)
Three Musketeers (19 percent)
Swedish Fish (14 percent)
Candy Corn (13 percent)

Least favorite Halloween candy? (select all that apply)

Candy Corn (47 percent)
Swedish Fish (36 percent)
Sour Patch Kids (30 percent)
Almond Joy (26 percent)
Three Musketeers (18 percent)
Skittles (18 percent)
Milky Way (14 percent)
Reese’s (Eight percent)
Snickers (Six percent)
Twix (Six percent)
Kit Kats (Six percent)
M&M’s (Five percent)

Favorite Halloween movie? (select all that apply)

‘Hocus Pocus’ (33 percent)
‘It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ (33 percent)
‘Beetlejuice’ (27 percent)
‘The Addams Family’ (24 percent)
‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ (24 percent)
‘Casper the Friendly Ghost’ (19 percent)
‘Friday the 13th’ (19 percent)
‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ (16 percent)
‘Halloweentown’ [Disney Channel Original Movie] (13 percent)

The survey polled a cross-section of 2,208 adults, aged 18 and over.