The 4 Best Places to Buy Halloween Candy

Spooky season is here—and it’s time to accept that you, a fully functioning adult, are no longer in charge of your grocery shopping. Your inner child is in the driver’s seat 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 four best grocery stores to get your spooky sweet treat fix. 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, you’ve gotta stop by 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 like fall gremlins lured by the scent of pumpkin spice. If you want your Halloween to feel more like a cute fall harvest, scarecrow and all, TJ’s is the best place to buy Halloween candy. They’ve got festive treats like TJ’s cult-favorite Halloween Gummies, Spooky Bats & Cats Sour Gummy Candies, decorative confectionaries like Halloween Sprinkles, and even a Haunted House Chocolate Cookie Kit. (Wow, maybe I can finally own a home!) But listen: Don’t disappoint your kids by only buying TJ’s quirky candy brands that look like they came from the cottage witch in Hansel and Gretel. Make sure you grab the name-brand stuff (Hershey’s, Oreos, 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

If you’re wondering where to buy cheap Halloween candy, well, it’s no real mystery. Dollar Tree deals are pretty unmatched. But beware: 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 be in for a treasure trove of the best Halloween candy deals you can find. From Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish Minis Spooky Candy Mix for $3.50 to Mini Snickers for $1.25, you’re in for some cheap treats.  

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

Target 

When it comes to scoring spooky candy, Target is a graveyard smash. It’s like a witch cast a spell over an entire section of the store, transforming it into a spooky sanctuary of ghoulish goodies. 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?) Sorry, Costco, but I actually think Target is the best place to buy Halloween candy in bulk, thanks to its wide selection, various candy bag sizes that you can sort through by bag size online, and frightful Favorite Day candy spin-offs. It’s a good day to be a Targhoul!

Read our ranking of the best Target brand Halloween candy