The day after Halloween, Sunday, November 1, 2026, is when stores start marking Halloween candy, costumes, and decor down. Based on past seasons, Target has cut non-food items 50% on day one and up to 90% within days, with Walmart and Michaels following. Here are the nine best buys and the timing for each.
| KEY TAKEAWAYS• NRF expects a record $13.5 billion in 2026 Halloween spending, or $115.14 per person.• Target’s pattern in past seasons: 50% off non-food on Nov 1, 70% by Nov 3 or 4, and 90% around Nov 5. Candy tops out at 70%.• Walmart’s deepest cuts (75% to 90%) have come later, around Nov 8 to 10.• These dates come from past seasons, not published retailer schedules, so verify in your store.• Buy for next year, and only items you can store. |
Why is Halloween clearance such a big deal in 2026?
Halloween is a $13.5 billion event, with $4.1 billion on candy, $4.3 billion on decorations, and $4.4 billion on costumes. Retailers must clear it fast to make room for Christmas, which means real markdowns. Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so the first clearance day is Sunday, November 1.
The 9 best buys on November 1 and after
1. Which Halloween candy is worth buying after the holiday?
How It Works: Candy is marked down in steps: smaller cuts first, deeper cuts after a few days. Chocolate and hard candy keep well, so you can use it for baking, stockings, and lunchboxes through the holidays.
Real Example: Based on past seasons, Target takes candy 30% off the day after Halloween, then 50% to 70% around November 3 or 4, and never beyond 70%; the Krazy Coupon Lady’s Target guide describes the same 30% then 50% food pattern. One Target shopper reported candy at 70% off in 2025. Orange-wrapped candy such as M&Ms and Reese’s Pieces can be frozen and used in holiday baking.
Estimated Savings: Finder puts the average 100-piece bag at $16.96 in 2026, so 50% to 70% off means $5 to $8.50 (our math).
Best For / Skip If: Best for bakers and families stocking stockings. Skip anything near its best-by date and any candy nobody in your house will eat.
Action Step: Check best-by dates, buy only what you will use by January, and store it sealed.
2. Are next year’s Halloween costumes really 70% to 90% off?
How It Works: Yes, for the leftovers. Costumes drop fast once the holiday passes, but selection is limited and sizes run out, so this is a buy-for-next-year move.
Real Example: The Krazy Coupon Lady has seen Walmart costumes that normally cost $25 to $30 marked down to $4 to $8. Target’s 90% step has been recorded around November 5 in 2024 and 2025. For kids, buy one to two sizes larger so it fits next fall.
Estimated Savings: A $30 costume at 90% off costs $3 (our math).
Best For / Skip If: Best for parents and anyone who plans ahead. Skip if your child changes favorite characters every few months.
Action Step: Pick a classic (witch, pirate, cat), size up, and label the bag with the year.
3. Can you find cheap pet costumes after Halloween?
How It Works: Pet costumes are a growing category, and they get marked down with the rest. Check pet aisles, clothing retailers, and pet chains.
Real Example: NRF expects Americans to spend $0.92 billion on pet costumes in 2026. Cost of Shopping reports that Old Navy pet costumes are usually marked down at least 30% after Halloween, sometimes more.
Estimated Savings: At least 30% off at Old Navy, and more at other chains (varies).
Best For / Skip If: Best for pet owners who plan a photo next year. Skip if your pet hates costumes; a bandana works year-round.
Action Step: Check Old Navy, Petco, PetSmart, and Chewy on November 1 and again on November 4.
4. Which outdoor inflatables and lights drop the most?
How It Works: Big seasonal items stay on the shelf the longest, so they drop in steps. Home improvement stores often discount online first, then in store.
Real Example: One tracker records Home Depot at about 50% off online around October 27 and up to 75% in stores in the first week of November; Lowe’s has started at 50% and climbed to 75% in past seasons. Home Depot’s top animatronics are sometimes excluded from sales.
Estimated Savings: A $60 inflatable at 75% off costs $15 (our math).
Best For / Skip If: Best for people with garage storage. Skip if you have no room; a bulky inflatable you cannot store is not a deal.
Action Step: Measure your storage space first, then check store inventory the first week of November.
5. What Halloween decor should you buy at 50% to 80% off?
How It Works: Stock neutral decor you can reuse: black cats, pumpkins, string lights, and lanterns. Skip anything tied to a trend.
Real Example: Michaels has started at 50% to 70% off decor on November 1, reaching about 80% by month end in observed seasons. Target has 70% off decor pumpkins reported in 2025, and Michaels showed Halloween decor at 50% off in mid-October 2026. NRF finds 73% of shoppers reuse about half or more of their decor, so reusable pieces pay off.
Estimated Savings: A $25 decor set at 70% off costs $7.50 (our math).
Best For / Skip If: Best for decorators who like to refresh each year. Skip if you already own more than you display; the Queen of Free notes decor offers less than a day of use for most households.
Action Step: Set a limit of $20, buy only items that match colors you own, and store them with a label.
6. Should you stock up on paper goods and party supplies?
How It Works: Solid black and orange plates, cups, and napkins work for fall parties, tailgates, and birthdays all year.
Real Example: Queen of Free recommends paper plates, napkins, and paper towels in solid colors because they store well. All Things Target suggests party and paper goods and plastic storage bags on clearance.
Estimated Savings: Typically 50% to 70% off the day after at Target (varies by store).
Best For / Skip If: Best for hosts of recurring gatherings. Skip printed designs that scream Halloween in July.
Action Step: Buy solid colors only and put them in your party bin.
7. Are Halloween beauty, tumblers, and gifts worth grabbing?
How It Works: Themed beauty, tumblers, and glassware often hide in other departments. They make good stocking stuffers.
Real Example: All Things Target found tumblers at 70% off and Tree Hut Halloween scents on clearance. Walmart has marked candles, makeup kits, and glassware at 50% the day after, then about 70% after 3 to 4 days.
Estimated Savings: A $15 gift at 70% off costs $4.50 (our math).
Best For / Skip If: Best for early holiday shoppers. Skip if the recipient does not like novelty items.
Action Step: Scan the price in store (the app does not always show clearance) and check beauty, kitchen, and pet aisles.
8. Does harvest and fall decor get cheaper for Thanksgiving?
How It Works: Fall and harvest decor serves double duty for Thanksgiving, and prices keep falling through November.
Real Example: Hobby Lobby does not sell Halloween items, but its fall decor has been 66% off through early November and 90% off in store the week of Black Friday. One tracker lists Monday, November 23, 2026, as the 90% date.
Estimated Savings: A $20 pumpkin set at 90% off costs $2 (our math).
Best For / Skip If: Best for patient decorators. Skip if you need decor now; popular items will be gone by then.
Action Step: Mark November 23 on your calendar, and buy neutral colors to reuse next year.
9. Which activity kits and pajamas make good gifts?
How It Works: Kids’ craft kits and Halloween pajamas often reach deep clearance and can be wrapped for the holidays.
Real Example: All Things Target recommends activity kits such as Mondo Llama for stocking up on activities, and Cost of Shopping notes Halloween pajamas on clearance at Target.
Estimated Savings: Depends on item; confirm the percent off at the register.
Best For / Skip If: Best for stocking stuffers and birthday gifts. Skip pajamas that do not fit next year’s size.
Action Step: Buy one size up and put them in a gift bin with a note about the occasion.
Where should you shop, and when? Retailer comparison
| Retailer | When markdowns start | Typical depth (past seasons) | Best categories | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target | About Oct 24; Nov 1 big step | 50% Nov 1; 70% Nov 3 to 4; 90% about Nov 5 | Decor, costumes, party goods, candy | Candy never above 70% |
| Walmart | Nov 1 | 50% day one; 70% in 3 to 4 days; up to 90% about Nov 8 to 10 | Costumes, decor, candles, makeup, glassware | Reports vary by store |
| Michaels | Nov 1 | 70%, up to about 80% by end of November | Halloween and harvest decor | Observed pattern |
| Home Depot | About Oct 27 online | 50% online; up to 75% in stores first week of Nov | Inflatables, props, lights | Top animatronics may be excluded |
| Lowe’s | About 2 weeks before | 50% rising to 75% | Inflatables, lights | Older, variable reports |
| Hobby Lobby | No Halloween items | Fall decor 66% early Nov; 90% about Nov 23 | Fall and harvest decor | Different schedule |
| Spirit Halloween | After Oct 31 | 50% to 90% on remaining stock | Costumes and props | Highest regular prices |
| Costco | Not reliable | Little clearance | Skip for clearance | Items sell out |
Notes: Based on tracker observations from past seasons (Rebel Dealz, Krazy Coupon Lady, ShopBack). Retailers do not publish these schedules, and discounts vary by store.
What should you skip?
- Pumpkin carving kits: you likely have tools at home, and free patterns exist (Queen of Free).
- Candy nobody will eat: a deep discount on a bad candy is still waste.
- Decor you cannot store: a 90% discount on something that sits in a corner is not savings.
- Last-minute costumes at Spirit before Oct 31: ShopBack notes Spirit has the highest prices and minimal pre-Halloween discounts.
| LEVEL UP: PICK YOUR CLEARANCE LEVEL• Beginner: Grab discounted candy for baking on Nov 1. Budget: $10.• Pro: Buy next year’s costume and solid-color party goods on Nov 3 to 5. Budget: $25.• Expert: Track inflatables and decor online, then buy at 75% to 90% in the first two weeks of November. Budget: $50. |
| THE NOVEMBER 1 CLEARANCE RUNVisit three stores this weekend and write down the percent off you find. Tag a friend who would never think to shop the day after Halloween, and share your best find with #NMFClearanceRun. |
| QUICK WINS BOX• Total potential: buying next year’s average Halloween spend ($115.14, per NRF) at 70% off would cost about $35 (our math); real results vary by item and store.• Time investment: 1 to 2 hours across two or three stores.• Difficulty: Easy.• Best for: families, hosts, and decorators who can store items for a year. |
FAQ: After-Halloween sales
What day are Halloween items cheapest?
The deepest cuts usually come 4 to 10 days after Halloween. In past seasons Target has reached 90% off non-food around November 5, and Walmart has reached 75% to 90% around November 8 to 10.
Does Target mark down Halloween candy?
Yes. Past seasons show 30% off the day after Halloween and 50% to 70% about three days later. Candy has not gone above 70%.
Is it worth buying Halloween costumes the day after?
Yes, if you buy for next year. Walmart costumes have gone from $25 to $30 down to $4 to $8 in past seasons, but selection is limited.
Which stores have the best after-Halloween sales?
Target, Walmart, and Michaels have the broadest markdowns for decor, costumes, and candy. Home Depot and Lowe’s are best for inflatables and outdoor lights.
Should I wait for 90% off or buy on Nov 1?
Wait if you only want generic items, and buy early if you want a specific costume or decor piece. Popular items sell out before the deepest discount.
Sources
- NRF, Halloween spending expected to reach $13.5 billion, Sept 22, 2026
- Rebel Dealz, Holiday Clearance Schedule, updated Oct 13, 2026
- The Krazy Coupon Lady, Halloween Clearance Sales and When to Shop
- The Krazy Coupon Lady, Complete Guide to Target Clearance
- ShopBack, US Halloween 2026: when candy and costumes are cheapest
- All Things Target, Target Halloween Clearance, Nov 3, 2025
- Cost of Shopping, Best After Halloween Sales, updated Oct 13, 2026
- Leah Ingram, Best After Halloween Sales, 2026
- WTHR, Queen of Free: How to Navigate Halloween Clearance Deals
- Talk Business, NRF: 2026 Halloween spending expected to rise 3.82%
- Finder, Halloween to cost $13.5 billion in 2026
- NRF, Halloween shoppers find ways to stretch their budgets, Sept 29, 2026
