What Is the Most Popular Halloween Candy in America? (By State)

According to CandyStore.com, an online candy retailer, 96% of Halloween shoppers would buy candy, with the average purchase costing $31.93. 

Furthermore, Statista reports that during the Halloween season of 2023, American consumers spent around 3.6 billion dollars on sweets, a little rise over 2022 but still greater than pre-pandemic levels. 

For the third year in a row, sales are growing. So what is the most popular Halloween candy in America in each state? Get the answer in this article!

What is the most popular candy for Halloween in America?

Reese’s Cups

For both toddlers and adults, this classic combination of rich milk chocolate and creamy peanut butter is simple yet wonderful. 

It has easily won the candy derby, earning the title of being the most well-liked Halloween treat in several states, including densely populated ones like Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and California. 

In America, Reese's is the most well-known candy brand, with over $2 billion in sales annually.

Reese’s Cups

In 18 states—Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wisconsin—Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the most popular Halloween candy.

Kit Kat

With nine states choosing Kit Kat as their favorite candy, the breakable candy bar managed to secure the second place ranking nationally. 

"Break me off a piece" is the famous motto of this popular chocolate-covered wafer. 

The word "kit-cat" is said to have originated from the 17th-century term "kit-cat," which was used to describe a popular mutton pie at the period.

Kit Kat

Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia are the 9 states where Kit Kats are the most popular Halloween candy.

Skittles

With their assortment of flavors, Skittles are also a year-round favorite. The British company Rowntree's created the small fruit-flavored candies in the 1970s. 

When the bags were first released in America in 1979, they were incredibly successful, even though the original flavors were limited to grape, lemon, lime, orange, and strawberry.

Skittles

Skittles was voted as the best candy in Arizona, Minnesota, North Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, and Minnesota.

M&M’s

It should come as no surprise that M&Ms are included on this list. The product has become legendary due to its button-shaped chocolates and anthropomorphic characters. 

In addition, the brand is particularly popular around Halloween since its fun-size boxes are the perfect size for handouts.

M&M’s

For Halloween, M&Ms are the most popular candy in 5 states: Colorado, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Wyoming.

Snickers

The last candy on the America's list of the top 5 Halloween treats is Snickers, which debuted in 1930.

Its peanut component set it apart from the countless other candy bars on the market and gave them a delightfully crunchy and chewy, salty and sweet candy experience. 

Snickers

It is today one of the best-selling candy bars globally, with 15 million bars made daily and $3.6 billion in sales worldwide!

In Alaska, Idaho, North Carolina, and Rhode Island, Snickers are the most popular Halloween candy.

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Other Popular Halloween Candies in Every State

In addition to the five candies already mentioned, there are other choices that are also quite popular with American consumers. Among them are:

• Starburst: Like Skittles, Starburst comes in small packets that are convenient to give out for trick-or-treating and offers a variety of flavors with different colors. Starbursts have been declared the favorite Halloween candy in three states: Delaware, Michigan, and Texas.

What's the most popular Halloween candy?

• Milky Way: It is one of the most beloved classic candy bars among candy lovers. The most popular Halloween candy in three states is Milky Way bars: Florida, Maryland, and Nebraska.

• Hot Tamales: Their distinct flavor combination of sweetness and spice set them apart from other popular candies of the time, and they have since introduced additional variations and limited-edition flavors. Hot tamales are the most popular Halloween candy in Vermont and Montana.