‘Tis the season for buying a bunch of candy to hand out to kids dressed up in costumes: AKA Halloween. But which type of candy should you buy, so you don’t wake up on November 1 with rolls of toilet paper in your trees?
That, it turns out, may depend on the state you live in. At least, according to the folks at CandyStore.com, who, as they do almost every year, compiled a list of the most popular Halloween candy in each state and put it all into a handy interactive map.
What is the most popular Halloween candy in each state in 2026?
In 2023, Reese’s Cups were number one on the list of most popular Halloween treats. That was followed by M&M’s, Hot Tamales, Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, Starburst, Hershey Kisses, Candy Corn, Hersey Mini Bars, and Snickers.
In 2024, the last time they released this list, it was headed by M&M’s, followed by Reese’s Cups, Sour Patch Kids, Skittles, Starburst, Hot Tamales, Candy Corn, Hershey Kisses, Hershey’s Mini Bars and Butterfinger.
This year, however, 12 states have a whole new favorite Halloween candy versus 2025, and one of them picked a candy that has never placed anywhere on the list.
Taking the top spot in 2026, again, is M&M’s. The rest of the top ten are Sour Patch Kids, Skittles, Reese’s Cups, NERDS Gummy Clusters, Hot Tamales, Starburst, Candy Corn, Hershey’s Mini Bars and Butterfinger.
Candy Corn is still the most-bought Halloween candy in three states
Yes, Candy Corn is still in the top ten. Somehow, people are still buying it and giving it out to trick-or-treaters. In fact, Candy Corn is the top choice in three states, including North Dakota, which is new this year. This, despite it being the most hated Halloween candy in a survey of the worst Halloween candy.
This year, 12 states switched their favorites. Seven of those twelve are states traded a chocolate favorite for a non-chocolate choice, and not one state went the other way.
Sour Patch Kids took over the top spot in Arizona, Massachusetts and South Carolina, making it one of just two sweets to win in all four regions of the nation.
Before this year, NERDS Gummy Clusters had never been the top choice in any state. This year, it placed in the top three in seven states. It is ranked first in Indiana, second in Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, and Washington, and third in Texas and Oregon.
BUBS makes its first appearance on the map, finishing third in Kentucky and New York, while eight candies won exactly one state: Hershey Kisses in Colorado, NERDS Gummy Clusters in Indiana, Lemonheads in Louisiana, Starburst in Michigan, Three Musketeers in Mississippi, Tootsie Pops in New Jersey, Blow Pops in Ohio and Salt Water Taffy in Wyoming.
How Much Candy Should You Purchase for Halloween?
As CandyStore.com puts it, “nobody in history has woken up on November 1st and said ‘we bought way too much candy’ like it was a bad thing.”
Plus, a 2025 survey of 2,000 adults found that most Americans eat their stash of Halloween treats before Oct. 31 arrives. In fact, most will do it not once, but twice before the holiday.
“The math is simple enough,” CandyStore.com explains. “Figure two or three pieces per trick-or-treater, so a hundred kids at the door means 200 to 300 pieces. Not sure how many kids you get? Guess high. That’s also why individually wrapped bulk candy beats a cart full of grocery-store bags. You get more pieces for your money, and nobody has to do long division in the candy aisle on October 30th.”