Reese’s still runs the table, fruity gummies are surging, and the only real mistake is running out. Here are the 2026 crowd-pleasers — plus the Clearly formula for exactly how much candy to buy.
The chocolate that always disappears first
If you buy one thing, buy chocolate. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have topped the national list for over a decade and were the #1 candy in 14 states last year. Right behind: Kit Kat, Snickers, M&M’s, Hershey’s and Twix. Demand jumped hard last season — Snickers orders were up 52%, Hershey’s 41%, M&M’s 37% — so grab these early.
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Fruity & gummy for the no-chocolate crowd
Always keep a fruity option — plenty of kids skip chocolate. The fastest growers last year were Sour Patch Kids, Skittles and Haribo gummies, with Nerds (especially Gummy Clusters), Starburst and SweeTARTS close behind. A bag of fruity mixed in makes sure every bucket leaves happy.
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The safe bet: a giant variety bag
Can’t decide? A big variety/“all-in-one” bag is the least-regret buy — a mix of chocolate and fruity favorites so every kid finds something. Buy name-brand assortments if you can; the bargain mixes are cheaper but the kids notice. Whatever’s left over, you’ll happily finish.
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How much candy do you actually need?
Here’s the Clearly formula (we love a good calculation): count on about 2 pieces per trick-or-treater, and estimate visitors from your busiest recent year. A quiet street might see 50 kids (~100 pieces); a popular block can top 300 (600+ pieces). Then add 20% — running out at 8pm with the porch light on is the one Halloween sin. Leftovers keep for months; disappointed kids don’t come back.
Busiest-year kids × 2 pieces × 1.2 = bags to buy. 150 kids → ~360 pieces → grab 3–4 big variety bags.
The allergy-friendly + teal pumpkin move
Keep a small separate stash of allergy-safe or non-candy treats — stickers, bubbles, glow sticks, pretzels, or clearly-labeled allergen-free candy — and set out a teal pumpkin to signal you’ve got them. It costs almost nothing and makes the night work for the kids who usually get skipped. Glow sticks pull double duty as a safety item, too.
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