Americans Buy Nearly 750 Million Pounds Of Halloween Candy Each Year, Survey Finds

Halloween may be the spookiest season of the year, but for most Americans, its also the sweetest.

A new survey finds that U.S. households buy roughly 745.8 million pounds of candy every Halloween — weighing about as much as 33.9 billion bats or 62.1 million jack-o-lanterns.

The poll of 5,000 Halloween celebrants across all 50 states, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of HI-CHEW, ranked North Dakota, Delaware and Idaho as the biggest Halloween fanatics in the country, each scoring 4.2 out of five in their love for the holiday. Alabama, California, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wyoming followed, all earning a score of 4.1.

Californians seem particularly eager to celebrate — more than a quarter (26%) start thinking about next Halloween before Thanksgiving or Christmas arrive. In Tennessee, 17% of residents begin preparing before the new year by buying decorations, stocking up on candy or making plans, followed by 15% of Californians and 13% of New Mexicans.

Across the nation, the average American purchases 4.5 bags of candy per season, and nearly half of those surveyed said they opt for the large or party-size variety. With about 132.6 million households participating, that adds up to 745.8 million pounds of Halloween treats each year. Utahns are the most likely to indulge in sweets (85%), followed closely by those in Idaho and Maine (84%). Nearly one in five Americans (18%) start buying candy as soon as it appears on store shelves.

“Its clear that Halloween holds a special place in the hearts of Americans, no matter how they choose to celebrate,” said Teruhiro Kawabe (Terry), Chief Representative for the USA & President, CEO of Morinaga America, Inc. “With mystery toys, collectibles, flavors, and more trending on social media, Halloween is the perfect time to explore spooky and surprising candy flavors — embrace the thrill of the unknown and make your celebrations even more exciting with delicious, mysterious treats.”

The seasons thrills dont stop at candy. Residents of Arkansas watch an average of 6.4 scary movies per year, more than any other state, while New Yorkers come in close behind with six. Nearly half of those in Wyoming (49%) make a point of visiting haunted houses. Respondents in Arkansas and New Jersey spend nearly a month creating the perfect Halloween costume. In Wisconsin, more than eight in 10 residents decorate their homes for Halloween, but New Yorkers carve the most pumpkins, averaging 3.5 per person.

Ohioans (68%) are the most dedicated trick-or-treaters, followed by Indiana (64%) and North Dakota (63%), but trick-or-treaters in New York may take it most seriously: on average, they visit 4.4 neighborhoods, stay out for more than four (4.1) hours and bring along at least three bags or buckets (3.6) for their haul.

New Yorkers also take door duty giving out candy most seriously, with 37% admitting they try to give out the best candy on the block. When selecting candy, 46% of New Yorkers say they’d pick their favorite candy every time, and 32% prefer an even mix of different types of candy. But they’re equally likely (23%) to reach into a bucket for a surprise as they are to pick the candy with the coolest or spookiest wrapper.

When it comes to candy choices overall, chocolate reigns supreme — 86% of respondents said its their favorite, followed by chewy candy at 53% and fruity flavors at 43%. Utahns lead the country in their love of chewy treats (70%), while Mississippians favor fruity candy (60%). For many, the temptation doesnt last long: one in three Americans said their candy stash is gone within the first week.

“Its no secret that candy is a staple of Halloween,” Kawabe said. “Whether youre on a mission to hand out the best candy on the block, or seeking new favorites to enjoy on your own, there are always new and exciting flavors waiting to be discovered.”