More Treats Than Tricks: Brits Splash Out Over £100 Each on Halloween Essentials
As Halloween costs break the £100 barrier, MyVoucherCodes reveals how UK households can save on costumes, decorations, and party essentials this October.
As households across the UK gear up for Halloween 2026, revellers are preparing their budgets after last year’s spending surge established Halloween as one of the nation's favourite times of year.
According to research from leading discount voucher site MyVoucherCodes, British consumers planned on spending a frightening £104.21 per person in 2025, a dramatic 69% (£42.71) jump from £61.50 the year before. As the love for Halloween continues to grow in 2026, party hosts, parents, and trick-or-treaters are once again facing increasing costs.
The data highlights how much Halloween spending has increased over time:
- Food and drink saw the largest overall increase, nearly doubling from £24.60 in 2024 to £43.77 in 2025 (+£19.17).
- Costumes rose substantially, with shoppers spending £31.17 on average, up from £19.00 (+£12.17).
- Decorations surged to £29.26, up from £17.90 (+£11.36) as home displays and haunted houses grew in popularity.
Brits can’t get enough of ghosts and goals as 55% said they participated in Halloween celebrations in 2025, up from 48% the previous year. 58% of Brits welcomed trick-or-treaters. However, 38% of those surveyed said they would rather trick-or-treaters stayed away as they won’t be answering the door.
Shopping and lifestyle expert Sarah-Jane Outten said,
“The last 2 years have shown a growing love for Halloween, and that’s reflected in spending. However, £100 plus per person could signify that spending on Halloween has spiralled out of control. I think it’s great that people are having fun, but I’d recommend getting savvy with money beforehand. Not only for the purse strings, but for the environment. When you browse the shops during this time of year, there are so many single-use plastic items, and they don’t all come cheap”
Sarah-Jane Outten
Sarah-Jane’s Top 5 Money-Saving Tips for Halloween 2026:
Reuse: The shops are packed with Autumn and Halloween items. And it does make you feel like you need one more pumpkin and cushion - but you really don’t! Dig out last year's purchases and reuse. And if this is your first year buying Halloween decor, buy items that will last year after year. Ditch the plastic pumpkins and opt for ceramic, for example. The same goes for last year's costumes; reuse them too and save your cash.
Lean into DIY: Consider making your own costumes and decorations. Huge savings can be made; old clothes make great zombie costumes with some fake blood. You can make simple pumpkin and ghost decorations from paper and string; YouTube is your go-to for easy-to-follow tutorials.
Share the cost: Host Halloween celebrations with friends and family. Everyone can chip in with drinks, snacks and food. It’s surprising how much money this saves.
Check for Vouchers First: Before stocking up on treats, party nibbles, or fancy dress, check sites like MyVoucherCodes for online promo codes, delivery discounts, and high-street savings.
Avoid Brands: If you are welcoming trick-or-treaters this year, avoid branded sweets and chocolate. Supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi have alternatives available that cost less. You can save an average of 30% by ditching the big brands.
Notes to Editors: This online survey of 2000 UK adults was commissioned by Front Door Communications on behalf of MyVoucherCodes and conducted by market research company OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society's code of conduct. Data was collected between 05/9/2024 and 08/9/2024. All participants are double-opted in to take part in research and are paid an amount depending on the length and complexity of the survey. This survey was overseen and edited by the OnePoll research team. OnePoll are company partners of the MRS and has corporate membership to ESOMAR.
