Where Is the Cheapest Place to Get Halloween Candy in 2026?
Where to buy Halloween candy for less in the US in 2026: how Sam's Club, Walmart and Target compare on membership costs, delivery and card perks, how to compare unit prices, when post-Halloween markdowns usually start, and why you should check ShopBack before you check out.
Published: October 8, 2026 · Last updated: October 8, 2026 · Author: Aryan Gaekwad, Points and Loyalty Editor, ShopBack
In the US in 2026, the cheapest place to get Halloween candy is usually a warehouse club like Sam's Club for big quantities, if you already have a membership, and Walmart or Target for smaller amounts, especially on store brands and sale weeks. Prices change by item and location, so compare the price per ounce in each store's app. Halloween 2026 is Saturday, October 31, and candy is a big line in the budget: the National Retail Federation expects Americans to spend $4.1 billion on it this year.
New to ShopBack US? ShopBack is a free website, app and browser extension. You start from ShopBack, click through to a store such as Target, Walmart or Sam's Club, and check out on that store's own site as usual. On eligible purchases, part of what you spend comes back to your ShopBack account as cash. Join ShopBack for free, then check ShopBack before you check out.
Halloween 2026 by the numbers, from the NRF's 2026 Halloween survey:
- Total spending: expected to reach $13.5 billion, against $13.1 billion in 2025.
- Per person: $115.14 on average, in line with $114.45 in 2025.
- Candy: 96% of consumers plan to buy it, accounting for $4.1 billion.
- Handing out candy: 61% plan to, the most popular way to celebrate.
- Where people shop: discount stores are the top destination at 39%, then specialty Halloween and costume stores at 32% and online at 27%.
- When people shop: 49% plan to start in September or earlier.
Where is the cheapest place to get Halloween candy?
The cheapest place depends on how much candy you need and which memberships you already pay for. Here is a simple way to decide:
- Handing out a lot, and you already have a warehouse club membership? Start at Sam's Club. Larger packs often bring the price per ounce down, and your membership fee is already paid.
- Handing out a moderate amount? Compare Walmart and Target. Both carry big variety bags and store brands, and both run Halloween pricing through October.
- Buying for a party after Halloween, or stocking up for next year? Wait for post-Halloween markdowns, which usually start on November 1. Check best-by dates before you buy ahead.
Whichever store you pick, check ShopBack before you check out. Some items in a Halloween order may be eligible even when the candy itself is not; each store's ShopBack page shows what qualifies.
Other stores Americans often compare for Halloween candy include Costco, Kroger, Aldi, Dollar General, CVS and Walgreens.
Halloween candy: how to compare prices properly
The fairest way to compare Halloween candy prices is the price per ounce, not the price per bag. Bag sizes vary a lot between fun-size, variety packs and bulk boxes, and a bag that looks cheaper can hold much less.
How to do it in under five minutes:
- Use the unit price. Store apps and shelf tags usually show a price per ounce or per count. Compare that number for the same type of candy.
- Compare like with like. Chocolate variety packs, gummies and hard candy have very different prices per ounce. Compare within a type.
- Try store brands. Walmart, Target and Sam's Club all sell their own brands, which are often priced lower than name brands.
- Count pieces, not just weight. For trick-or-treaters, the number of pieces matters more than the weight. A count-per-bag figure helps you work out cost per kid.
- Use pickup. Ordering online for pickup lets you compare carefully and avoid impulse buys in the seasonal aisle.
Halloween candy 2026: dates that change the price
Halloween 2026 falls on Saturday, October 31, so the busiest buying days are the weekend before and the days just ahead of it. A few timing rules help:
- Early October usually has the widest range on shelves, which makes it easier to find the size and mix you want.
- The last week of October is when popular mixes can sell out. Buy most of your candy before then and top up only if you run short.
- November 1, a Sunday in 2026, is usually when stores start marking down leftover Halloween stock. Good for parties or school events, less useful for trick-or-treaters.
The NRF found that 23% of early shoppers buy ahead to spread out their budgets, and 21% because the prices and promotions were too good to pass up.
Halloween candy best deals in the US for 2026
The best Halloween candy deals in the US in 2026 usually come from combining a low price per ounce with the perks you already have at a store. According to the NRF, if shoppers see higher-than-expected prices, 31% plan to comparison shop and 26% plan to look for coupons or sales.
Where the deals tend to come from:
- Store sale weeks and digital coupons. Target Circle is free to join and gives members access to Target Circle deals. Walmart and Sam's Club both run Halloween pricing in their apps.
- Store cards and memberships. Target says its Circle Card takes 5% off Target purchases, in store and online, with no annual fee. Sam's Club Plus members get 2% back in Sam's Cash, according to Sam's Club.
- Free delivery thresholds. Walmart+ includes free same-day delivery from local stores on qualifying orders of $35 or more. Sam's Club Plus includes free shipping and free delivery from the club on orders over $50.
- Checking ShopBack before you check out. Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the order, on eligible items.
Target vs Walmart: Halloween candy price comparison for 2026
In 2026, neither Target nor Walmart is cheaper on every Halloween candy item, so the smart move is to compare the same bag in both apps the week you buy. Each store has its own strengths:
| Target | Walmart | |
|---|---|---|
| Free membership | Target Circle, free to join | None needed to shop |
| Paid membership | Target Circle 360 | Walmart+, $98 a year or $12.95 a month |
| Rewards perk | Target Circle Card: 5% off at Target, in store and online, according to Target | Walmart+ includes free shipping on items shipped from Walmart.com |
| Delivery perk | Circle Card holders get free 2-day shipping on many items, according to Target | Walmart+ free same-day delivery from stores on orders of $35 or more |
| Best for | Shoppers who already use Target Circle or the Circle Card | Shoppers who already pay for Walmart+ or want same-day delivery |
Sources: Target's Circle and Circle Card pages and public Walmart+ pricing, at the time of writing.
If you already hold a Target Circle Card, that 5% at checkout can make Target the cheaper choice for the same bag. If you already pay for Walmart+, free same-day delivery on a $35 order can save the trip. If you hold neither, compare the shelf price per ounce and pick the lower one.
Target, Walmart and Sam's Club for Halloween candy in the US
Target, Walmart and Sam's Club are three of the most common places Americans buy Halloween candy, and each suits a different shopper. Here is how they line up:
- Sam's Club. A warehouse club with larger packs. According to Sam's Club, Club membership costs $60 a year and Plus costs $120 a year. Both include free curbside pickup and Scan & Go. Plus adds 2% Sam's Cash, free shipping on orders over $50, free delivery from the club on orders over $50 and early shopping hours. Best if you hand out a lot of candy and already shop there for other things.
- Walmart. Large stores, everyday pricing and store brands. Walmart+ costs $98 a year or $12.95 a month and includes free same-day delivery from local stores on qualifying orders of $35 or more. Best for one-stop shopping with groceries.
- Target. Strong seasonal displays and free Target Circle deals. The Target Circle Card gives 5% off Target purchases with no annual fee, according to Target. Best if you already shop at Target for Halloween decor and costumes too.
Membership math. If you would join Sam's Club only for Halloween candy, the $60 fee usually outweighs the saving on a few bags. If you already have a membership, or you will use it all year, bulk candy there is worth comparing.
Paying with a credit card for Halloween shopping
Paying with a rewards credit card usually earns your card's normal rewards, separately from ShopBack. Some cards give higher rewards at grocery stores or wholesale clubs, and how a store codes the purchase decides which rate you get.
Whether a card's rewards, a store card discount and ShopBack's cash all apply to the same order is usually decided by each one's own terms. Check the merchant's terms, your card issuer's terms and the terms section on the store's ShopBack page before you pay.
Check ShopBack before you check out
Check ShopBack before you check out at Target, Walmart or Sam's Club. It is a step that takes seconds, and on eligible items it lowers what you pay.
Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Your effective price is what you pay the store minus the cash ShopBack returns.
What to know for a Halloween order. Candy is a grocery item, and at the time of writing, groceries and food are not eligible on the Target and Sam's Club pages on ShopBack. Other parts of a Halloween order may be: the Target page on ShopBack lists the categories that qualify, the Sam's Club page on ShopBack shows what you get on a new membership, and the Walmart page on ShopBack lists offers such as a Walmart+ subscription and a new user's first order. Read the page before you shop so you know what counts.
How to do it:
- Open ShopBack US in the app, on shopback.com or with the browser extension.
- Go to the store's page and read the live rate and the terms section.
- Click through to the store's website and check out in the same session.
- Once the store confirms the purchase, the cash is added to your ShopBack account.
A worked example, with an illustrative rate. Say your Halloween order at Target includes $150 of eligible decor and costumes, and the illustrative rate is 3%. $4.50 comes back, so the effective price of those items is $145.50. The real rate is shown on the Target page on ShopBack, so check it before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the cheapest place to get Halloween candy?
There is no single cheapest store every year. For large quantities, a warehouse club such as Sam's Club often has the lowest price per ounce if you already pay for a membership. For smaller amounts, Walmart and Target are usually the easiest places to compare, especially on store brands and sale weeks. Compare the unit price per ounce in each store's app the week you buy, and check ShopBack before you check out.
How much do Americans spend on Halloween candy in 2026?
According to the National Retail Federation's 2026 Halloween survey, 96% of consumers plan to buy candy, with candy spending expected to reach $4.1 billion. Total Halloween spending is expected to reach $13.5 billion, or $115.14 per person on average.
When is Halloween 2026?
Halloween 2026 falls on Saturday, October 31, 2026. Stores usually start marking down leftover Halloween candy from November 1, which in 2026 is a Sunday.
Is Target or Walmart cheaper for Halloween candy?
Neither is cheaper on every item, because prices vary by product, size and location. Walmart's strength is everyday pricing and same-day delivery for Walmart+ members on orders of $35 or more. Target's strength is its free Target Circle deals and the Target Circle Card, which Target says takes 5% off purchases in store and online. Compare the price per ounce for the same bag in both apps.
Is Sam's Club good for Halloween candy?
It can be if you need a lot. Sam's Club sells larger packs, and the membership costs $60 a year for Club or $120 a year for Plus, according to Sam's Club. If you already pay for a membership, bulk candy there is often worth comparing. If you would join only for candy, the fee usually outweighs the saving.
How much does Walmart+ cost?
Walmart+ costs $98 per year or $12.95 per month, plus applicable tax. It includes free same-day delivery from local stores on qualifying orders of $35 or more and free shipping on items shipped from Walmart.com.
When should I buy Halloween candy?
Buy shelf-stable candy in the first half of October when stores stock the widest range, and top up in the last week if you run short. The NRF says 49% of consumers plan to start Halloween shopping in September or earlier. For parties after Halloween, or for next year's non-perishable treats, post-Halloween markdowns usually start on November 1.
Can I get cashback on Halloween candy?
It depends on the store. At the time of writing, groceries and food, which include candy, are not eligible on the Target and Sam's Club pages on ShopBack, while other items in a Halloween order, such as decor or costumes, may be. Each store's ShopBack page lists which purchases qualify, so check ShopBack before you check out.
Can I use a credit card and ShopBack on the same order?
Often, since card rewards come from your card issuer and ShopBack cash comes separately. A store card discount, such as the 5% Target says its Circle Card gives, applies at checkout. Check the merchant's terms and the terms section on the store's ShopBack page before you pay.
Does cashback work like points?
No. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.
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Ready to shop for Halloween?
Before you check out, open the store's page on ShopBack US: Target, Walmart or Sam's Club. Read the live rate and the terms, then click through and shop. New to ShopBack? Join for free.
Disclaimer
The views in this article are those of the author. Membership prices and perks are taken from Sam's Club's and Target's own websites and public Walmart+ pricing at the time of writing, and survey figures are from the National Retail Federation's 2026 Halloween survey. Candy prices vary by store, item and location. Promotions, prices and ShopBack rates change often; the live rate and terms are on each store's ShopBack page.
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