Buzz
Every Halloween, debates flare over which candy takes the crown. Last year, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups were the top pick. But how does the candy landscape look in 2024? Instacart’s analysis of sales trends and a survey of thousands of people reveal the candy most loved in each state. Here’s what’s flying off the shelves for trick-or-treaters this year.
Check out the Top 10 Halloween Candies of 2024.
A national survey reveals that 50% of Americans plan to enjoy Halloween candy this year, with 45% specifically purchasing it for trick-or-treaters. Candy preferences vary from those who savor chocolate and peanut butter to fans of sweet and sour options.
In the lead-up to Halloween, the day itself (October 31) sees the highest candy sales. Here’s a list of the candies most frequently bought, ranked from the most popular to the least.
- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
- M&Ms
- Snickers
- Peanut M&Ms
- Twix
- Kit Kat
- Hershey's Milk Chocolate
- Milky Way
- Sour Patch Kids
- Skittles
The most popular Halloween candy by state.
Getty ImagesTen candies vied for the top spots, but three stood out across states: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, M&M's, and Peanut M&M's. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups dominated, claiming the number one spot in 40 states!
To add a twist, Instacart delved into the data to highlight the most 'uniquely popular' candies. For instance, in Florida, Milky Way Dark chocolate bars are purchased 248% more frequently than the national average. Meanwhile, New Yorkers have a particular fondness for Ferrero Rocher Hazelnut Chocolates, buying them 141% more than other states. Check out the data below to see which candies are most coveted in your state.
| Most Unique and Most Popular Halloween Candy by State | ||
|---|---|---|
| State | Unique Pick | Most Popular |
| Alabama | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Alaska | Peanut M&M's | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Arizona | Peanut M&M's | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Arkansas | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| California | Crunch | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Colorado | Peanut M&M's | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Connecticut | Sour Patch Kids | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Delaware | Hershey's Milk Chocolate | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Florida | Milky Way | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Georgia | Nerds | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Hawaii | Peanut M&M's | Peanut M&M's |
| Idaho | Peanut M&M's | Peanut M&M's |
| Illinois | M&M's | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Indiana | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Iowa | M&M's | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Kansas | Candy Corn | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Kentucky | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Louisiana | Tootsie Rolls | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Maine | Candy Corn | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Maryland | Sour Patch Kids | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Massachusetts | Sour Patch Kids | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Michigan | M&M's | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Minnesota | Peanut M&M's | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Mississippi | Hershey's Milk Chocolate | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Missouri | Tootsie Rolls | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Montana | Peanut M&Ms | M&M's |
| Nebraska | Peanut M&M's | M&M's |
| Nevada | Peanut M&M's | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| New Hampshire | Candy Corn | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| New Jersey | Sour Patch Kids | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| New Mexico | Peanut M&M's | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| New York | Ferrero Rocher | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| North Carolina | Nerds | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| North Dakota | Peanut M&M's | M&M's |
| Ohio | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Oklahoma | Starburst | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Oregon | Peanut M&M's | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Pennsylvania | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Rhode Island | Sour Patch Kids | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| South Carolina | Candy Corn | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| South Dakota | Peanut M&M's | M&M's |
| Tennessee | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Texas | Skittles | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Utah | Peanut M&M's | Peanut M&M's |
| Vermont | Peanut M&Ms | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Virginia | Hershey's Milk Chocolate | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Washington | Crunch | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| West Virginia | Hershey's Milk Chocolate | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Wisconsin | M&M's | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Wyoming | Hershey's Milk Chocolate | Peanut M&M's |
