Halloween statistics 2026: How much will the UK spend this year?

From pumpkins to costumes, how much are we shelling out on spooky season?

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Sophie Barber

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Whether you don a scary outfit or just hand out sweets to trick-or-treaters, there’s no escaping Halloween. We looked into how much money is spent on Halloween from our bank accounts in the UK this year.

Halloween statistics UK: Highlights

  • Halloween spending in the UK is projected to reach £1.16 billion in 2026, with an average planned spend of £21 per person.
  • 58% of Brits plan to make a Halloween purchase in 2026.
  • Gen Z are the most likely to spend on Halloween in 2026, with 81% planning to do so.
  • Millennials plan to spend the most, with an average planned spend of £36 per person.
  • London is the region expected to spend the most, at an average of £33 per person, while Northern Ireland residents are the most likely to spend (68%).

How much do we spend on Halloween in the UK?

Brits are expected to spend £1.16 billion on Halloween in 2026, according to a recent Finder survey. More than half of people (58%) are planning to spend some money on celebrations, decorations or costumes, with an average spend of £21 per person.

However, lots of us are still making sure to cut costs this October. While £21 is the average spend, two-thirds of Brits (66%) plan to spend £20 or less, or nothing at all, on Halloween.

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Which generation spends the most on Halloween?

Generation Z and millennials (aged 18-44) are the most involved generations when it comes to Halloween spending. In 2026, more than 3 in 4 gen Z-ers and millennials (77%) are planning to put at least some money towards the event, whether that’s decorations, costumes or general celebrations. Gen Z are the keenest of all, with 4 in 5 (81%) planning to spend, compared with 74% of millennials.

Millennials are the biggest spenders, with an average planned spend of £36 per person for spooky season! Gen Z are planning to be a bit more thrifty, with an average planned spend of £32 per person.

The enthusiasm for Halloween seems to decrease with age, however, as just under a third (32%) of baby boomers (aged 61-79) and 17% of the silent generation (aged 80+) expect to make a spooky purchase. Gen X (aged 45-60) sit somewhere in the middle, with around half of this group (51%) planning to spend, at an average of £15 per person.

Generation Percentage spending Average spend (£)
Gen Z 81% £32
Millennials 74% £36
Gen X 51% £15
Baby boomers 32% £5
Silent generation 17% £4

Which region spends the most on Halloween?

Those in London are planning to spend big this Halloween, with an average planned spend of £33 per person, the highest of any region. 3 in 5 Londoners (61%) are planning to spend. Residents in Northern Ireland are the most likely to get involved, with more than two-thirds (68%) planning to splash out, at an average of £23 per person. Those in the North East aren’t far behind, with 63% planning to spend an average of £23 per person.

Meanwhile, those in the East Midlands and the South East of England are least likely to engage in Halloween spending. Just 51% of East Midlands residents plan to spend, at an average of £16 per person, while 53% of those in the South East plan to spend, at an average of £19 per person. Wales has the lowest planned spend of all regions, at just £16 per person.

Region Percentage spending on Halloween Average spend
Northern Ireland 68% £23
North East 63% £23
West Midlands 61% £21
Greater London 61% £33
North West 60% £22
South West 58% £20
Yorkshire and The Humber 58% £18
Scotland 57% £16
Wales 57% £16
East of England 54% £20
South East 53% £19
East Midlands 51% £16

Sources

Methodology

Finder commissioned Censuswide to survey 2,001 UK adults (18+) between 14 and 16 October 2026. The nationally representative sample was quota’d by gender, age and region. The online survey has a margin of error of ±2.19% at a 95% confidence level. Censuswide follows the MRS Code of Conduct, ESOMAR principles, and is a member of the British Polling Council.

Total UK spend was calculated by multiplying the average planned spend per adult by the ONS UK adult population.

Read the full Censuswide methodology.

Click here for more research. For all media enquiries, please contact –

Sophie Barber
Communications Manager

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Sophie Barber is a senior content marketing manager for Finder in the UK. She has over 5 years experience in writing and publishing clear, concise and informative articles that help consumers make informed decisions. See full bio

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Sophie has written 99 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Personal finance trends and statistics
  • Cost of living and money saving tips
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