Here’s the Best Place to Buy Halloween Candy

Halloween is creeping up on us. It’s time to accept that you, a fully functioning adult, are no longer in charge of your grocery shopping. There’s a little kid under the zipper of your adult meat suit (freaky, I know), and they’re calling the shots now. Screw produce! You want candy. Pronto. So it’s time to ask yourself: Where’s the best place to buy Halloween candy? Is your inner child a Targhoul or a Trader Ghost? Since the shop never stops at Sporked, we made a list of the five best grocery stores to get your spooky sweet treat fix based on your shopping preferences. Here’s where to buy candy for Halloween. 

Costco

Look, I don’t own a home, so I can’t pretend to understand all of the neighborhood politics and party prep that go into becoming the destination spot for trick-or-treaters in the area. But if you’re serious about winning the title of Halloween candy kingpin, go to Costco. One bag of Kirkland’s Funhouse Variety Pack (packed with mini Twizzlers, Laffy Taffy, Haribo Goldbears, Sour Punch Straws, and literally so many other name brand favorites) could fill your entire skull-shaped candy bowl. Obviously, Costco will satisfy your bulk Halloween candy shopping needs, especially if you’re searching for special decor and showstopping fall foods and baked goods. But, believe it or not, I don’t think Costco is the number one best place to buy Halloween candy in bulk. For that, you’ll have to keep reading!

Read our roundup of the best Costco Halloween candy

Trader Joe’s

In L.A.’s endless summer, I’ve watched the seasons change from inside a Trader Joe’s, waiting for those freaky little gourds to appear so I can point at them, call them ugly, and buy, like, at least seven. . If you want your Halloween to feel more like a cute fall harvest, Stardew Valley-style, TJ’s is the best place to buy Halloween candy. They’ve got festive treats like TJ’s cult-favorite Halloween Gummies and Spooky Bats & Cats Sour Gummy Candies, fall-flavored Glazed Pumpkin Pie Donut Holes and Maple Leaf Ice Cream Sandwiches, and even a Haunted House Chocolate Cookie Kit. (Wow, maybe I can finally own a home!) My advice, though: Don’t disappoint your kids by only buying TJ’s quirky candy brands that look like they came from the cottage witch. Make sure you grab the name-brand stuff (Hershey’s, Reese’s, Sour Patch Kids, you know the drill) from any of these stores on this list, too.

Read our roundup of the best Trader Joe’s Halloween candy

Dollar Tree

Knowing where to buy cheap Halloween candy is more important than ever, and Dollar Tree deals are pretty unmatched. But be warned: Shopping for Halloween candy from Dollar Tree is a high-stakes, high-reward competitive sport. That’s because the candy at DT sells out fast. You have to hit those shelves right after the restock—and according to this Reddit thread, those Dollar Tree trucks typically come once a week. Ask an employee at your local DT when the restock hits, and you’re going to have the best Halloween candy deals on lock. From Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish Minis Spooky Candy Mix for $3.50 to Mini Snickers for $1.25—prices that have actually held from last year to this year, unlike other stores—you’re in for some cheap treats.  

Read our roundup of the best cheap Halloween candy at Dollar Tree

Walmart

Our top two best places to buy Halloween candy are pretty unmatched in terms of variety and convenience. As someone who shops every single week for Sporked taste test supplies, I can tell you that Walmart prices can’t be beat by anything other than dollar and discount stores—and if you’re shopping at a Walmart superstore, you will never run out of name-brand candy options. The big reason Walmart isn’t first on this list is, well, the vibe. Half the fun of spooky season is wandering the tacky spiderweb-cloaked aisles and enjoying the hunt. That’s hard to do at Walmart, which is always a zoo and decorated more haphazardly.

Target 

It’s true. I’m a certified Targhoul, and you should be, too.  In fall, Target candy aisles look like a witch cast a spell over an entire section of the store.  You can load up on jumbo bags of classic big-hitters, like this $10 bag of assorted candy bars (Crunch, Butterfingers, etc.), grab the family-sized Boo Oreos to complete any party spread, or even surprise trick-or-treaters with niche, freaky treats from the Target-exclusive brand, Favorite Day. (Dracula’s Dessert Soft & Chewy Trick or Treat Filled Straws, anyone?) That’s the other reason why Target is superior to Walmart and Costco—the Favorite Day candy selection is extensive, actually worth buying, and also sitting right alongside classic candy name brands that  you can sort through by candy category online.   Just, uh, be careful not to spend all afternoon getting overstimulated in a Target. 

Read our ranking of the best Target brand Halloween candy