Halloween 2026 in Numbers: How to Plan a Display That Stays Put
Americans will drop a record 13.5 billion dollars on Halloween in 2026. The NRF survey attributes 4.3 billion dollars to decorations alone. Many homeowners hire professional Halloween decorating services for a sharp look all season. Others spend their weekend on a ladder with a cup of tea. Our tips help both groups plan smarter this autumn.
Where the Halloween money goes
The NRF surveyed 7889 consumers between September 1 and 9. Around 74 percent plan to celebrate this year. That marks a big jump from 68 percent back in 2019. Average spending will hit 115 dollars and 14 cents per person. Last year brought a nearly identical figure of 114 dollars and 45 cents.
Category | 2025 spending | 2026 forecast | Shoppers buying |
Costumes | $4.3bn | $4.4bn | 71% |
Decorations | $4.2bn | $4.3bn | 78% |
Sweets | $3.9bn | $4.1bn | 96% |
Greeting cards | $0.7bn | $0.8bn | 42% |
Decorations now attract more buyers than costumes do. Discount stores remain the most popular place to shop, with 39% of shoppers heading there first.
Timing your setup
Last year, 45% of decorators put their displays up in the first half of October. Early shoppers moved even sooner. Almost half of them decorated in September. A simple calendar keeps the job calm.
Buy large props in September before the best ones sell out.
Test every light set and blower a week before setup.
Finish the main setup by mid-October.
Check the wind forecast every evening once the display is up.
Plan takedown for Sunday 1 November.
Popular props vanish fast. Home Depot's 12-foot Skelly has sold out within hours of release in past seasons. The classic model still costs $299. The upgraded 2026 version costs $379. He weighs more than 85 pounds and needs two adults for about an hour of assembly. Skelly is the tallest member of most households and easily the least helpful one.
Chicago wind and your props
The Windy City) nickname owes as much to boastful 19th-century politicians as it does to the weather. Chicago's average annual wind speed is 10.3 mph. Boston actually beats it with 12.4 mph. Gusts off Lake Michigan still knock over loosely anchored props every October. A 12-foot inflatable reaper costs around $150, so good anchoring protects real money. Your ghost has one job, and a surprise visit to the neighbour's garden is outside its job description.
Use every tether loop on each inflatable.
Choose metal stakes at least 12 inches long.
Add sandbags on patios and driveways.
Deflate inflatables before a stormy night.
Tie tall frame props like Skelly to a fence post or tree.
Fire and ladder safety
The National Fire Protection Association reports an average of 832 home fires a year that started with decorations between 2019 and 2023. Each year they caused 28 injuries and $17 million in damage. Nearly half began because a decoration sat too close to a heat source. Candles started about a third of them. That makes the classic jack-o'-lantern worth a second look before you light it.
Light pumpkins with battery candles or glow sticks.
Keep hay bales and cornstalks well away from bulbs and heaters.
Throw out any light set with cracked sockets or bare wires.
Choose outdoor-rated lights tested by a recognised laboratory.
Hang cords with plastic clips so nails never pierce the insulation.
Falls are the other big risk. The Consumer Product Safety Commission counts about 160 decorating injuries a day during the winter holiday season. Nearly half of them involve falls. In one CPSC study, a quarter of Halloween injuries came from falls, including slips while putting up or taking down decorations.
Stand the ladder on firm and level ground.
Ask a second person to hold the base.
Stay off the top step of any stepladder.
Keep porch steps clear for trick-or-treaters.
Cover any cord that crosses a footpath.
DIY or a crew
A few pumpkins and a wreath make an easy DIY afternoon. Rooflines and giant props take far longer and mean more hours up a ladder. That is where trained installers with proper stakes and cable covers earn their fee. Whichever route you choose, start early and anchor everything well. Your ghosts will reward you by staying on your own lawn until November.
