Where To Find The Lowest-Priced Halloween Candy

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Trick-or-treating adds up to some spooky spending. Last year, Americans spent $2.7 billion dollars on Halloween candy alone, according to the National Retail Federation.

When it comes to buying Halloween candy, the money-saving strategies come in bulk.

“I probably buy the 300-piece packs that are the assorted medley,” said Carly Peters about buying Halloween candy. “We will get the really big packs of Tootsie Fruits or something like that because the kids like those but they’re a lot less expensive than the fun-size chocolate bars.”

“I actually wait until Halloween is over and then go the day after,” said Margi Mulder. “It’s all discount, at least half off. I do it kind of backwards.”

“I buy maybe a couple bags of candy,” Margie Isabelle told us. “Whatever Costco has in the multitudinous bags of multi-candies.”

Halloween candy price per ounce

KSL checked Costco and four other stores: Walmart, Target, Smith’s and Walgreens. Since big bag sizes vary from store-to-store, we priced it out to the ounce. The results were a mixed bag.

We found Target has the cheapest bag overall. A 64-ounce bag of Child’s Play candy there sells for $8.54; that’s 13 cents an ounce.

If you are looking to hand out chocolate only, Walmart offers the best deal with 95-piece Nestle candies bag for $9.94, or 17 cents an ounce.

Love Gobstoppers, Nerds, LaffyTaffy and SweeTARTS? Walgreens and Target tied in that department with their Wonka candy bags at 19 cents each.

Smith’s 250 count bag offered up the best Hershey-only deal at 25 cents an ounce.

But, Costco sells a mix of Hershey, Mars and Nestle candy in its Kirkland Signature All Chocolate for 18 cents an ounce.

Looking to be that beloved neighbor handing out full-size candy bars? Try Costco.

Its Mars full-size 30 pack was the least expensive we found at 35 cents an ounce.

Additional candy-buying factors

Not exactly sure how much candy you need to buy? There are other factors to consider besides bag size. Like, is your neighborhood a Halloween destination where parents drop off trick-and-treaters in minivans?

“The kind of neighborhood is what we base our buying on,” explained Carly Peters. “Because, if it is not a trick-or-treat friendly area then we don’t get a lot of candy. But, if we know all our neighbors will be taking their kids out and stuff, then we’ll usually buy a lot more.”

Weather can also have a big impact on the number of trick-or-treaters ringing your door bell.

“I know if there’s going to be good weather I know there’s going to be a lot more kids out,” said Sarah Satterfield. “I’ll buy more.”

The day of the week Halloween falls on is another factor.

“I buy more candy if I know Halloween is going to fall on a Friday or Saturday,” said Peters. “This year, it’s on a Wednesday. So, I’ll buy less because I am not expecting as many kids to go out on a school night.”

Then there is always our ability, or lack thereof, to resist candy’s sweet temptation.

“We typically buy a bag, then I eat it,” said Laura Jensen. “Milk Duds! They’re horrible!”

“I always buy the kind I won’t eat myself,” Satterfield said. “Anything that’s not chocolate.”