Deep Dive

Halloween Costume Shopping in 2023

Dressing up in a costume is a popular way for consumers of all ages to celebrate Halloween. Here, we take a deep dive into how much consumers plan to spend on Halloween costumes, where they will shop, and what criteria will impact their purchase decisions.

Expected Halloween Costume Budgets

This year, the vast majority of consumers plan to spend on Halloween costumes. But for a significant portion of shoppers, the economy will impact their spending.

of consumers say that, due to the current economic environment, they plan to reuse Halloween costumes from previous years for 2023.
0 %
Anticipated Spending On Halloween Costumes

Where Halloween Costume Shoppers Get Inspired

Halloween costumes range from mundane to whacky. Here’s where consumers find their inspiration. 

Top Sources for Halloween Costume Inspiration
Google
46%
Instagram
43%
Speciality Halloween/costume store
43%
Speciality Halloween/costume website
38%
Facebook
32%
TikTok
31%
YouTube
21%
Etsy
21%
Non-Speciality Halloween/costume store
16%
Non-Speciality Halloween/costume website
16%
Twitter
9%
Reddit
8%

Where Consumers Plan to Shop for Halloween Costumes

Consumers have plentiful options when it comes to shopping for Halloween costumes. Here’s a look at where they plan to do their Halloween costume shopping. 

of consumers are at least somewhat willing to shop with a vendor/brand they’ve never purchased from before when shopping for a Halloween costume.
0 %
Top Destinations for Halloween Costume Shopping
Amazon.com
61%
Speciality Halloween/costume store
48%
Big box store (Target, Walmart)
39%
Speciality Halloween/costume website
37%
Big box store website (Target.com, Walmart.com)
29%
Thrift store
21%
Arts and crafts store
17%
Discount store
14%
Online arts and crafts store
10%
Grocery store/supermarket
9%
Discount store website
9%
Department store (Macy’s, Nordstrom)
9%
Online grocery store/supermarket
8%
Department store website (macys.com, nordstrom.com)
8%
Home decor or hardware store (Home Depot, Lowe’s etc.)
7%
Home decor or hardware website (homedepot.com, lowes,com etc.)
6%

Factors That Influence Shoppers’ Halloween Costume Purchases

Consumers weigh myriad factors when shopping for Halloween costumes. Some stand above the rest. 

What Shoppers Consider Before Making a Halloween Costume Purchase
Price
62%
Sizing charts/information
56%
Customer photos and videos
52%
Customer ratings and reviews
48%
Product photos and videos from the brand selling the product
39%
Search results on retail sites (e.g. Amazon.com or Walmart.com)
34%
Experiencing/seeing the item in person
31%
Results on Google and similar search engines
27%
Recommendations from friends/family
22%

Many Factors Influence Halloween Costume Purchases

Consumers plan to shop for Halloween costumes via myriad brands and retailers. However, Amazon and specialty Halloween stores top the list.

Shoppers consider many factors when making a costume purchase decision. Be sure you make it as easy as possible for shoppers to access key information – including price, sizing, and user-generated content – regardless of the channel they use to shop for your products. 

The 2023 Halloween Spending Trends report is based on a survey of 18,906 US consumers fielded in August 2023.

Check out the survey hub for further insights.