• 2025 Halloween Decorations Projected Sales: Americans spent a record $4.68 billion on decorations (part of the $12.2 billion total Halloween spend). This was a notable increase from $2.7 billion in 2019

• 2025 Christmas Decorations Projected Sales 2023: The estimated spend on Christmas decorations (excluding trees) was approximately $7.81 billion.

Halloween decoration spending has experienced a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.6% over the recent past. This surge is driven by the “Home Haunter” movement and the increasing popularity of elaborate, high-ticket items like large props and  animatronics available at retail staores, transforming Halloween into a significant home-decorating event. On the other hand, Christmas decoration spending, while substantial, represents a more mature market. It is projected to grow at a steadier rate of roughly 4.2% annually, largely in line with inflation and housing market trends.

Using these growth rates the expenditure Halloween decorations should be on par with Christmas decorations around November 2035.

Key Factors Influencing This Trajectory

• The “Septoween” Effect: The extended decorating season for Halloween, often beginning in late August or early September, allows for a longer “shelf life” for decorations. This encourages consumers to invest in more expensive, durable outdoor items.

• Community & Competition in Decorating: Unlike the more traditional and static nature of Christmas decorating, Halloween decoration has evolved into a competitive, social-media-driven hobby. The “Home Haunter” community actively “levels up” their displays annually, driving higher year-over-year spending as enthusiasts strive for more elaborate and impressive setups.

At current trajectories, Halloween is poised to reach a spending level comparable to Christmas for decorations by the mid-2030s. While Christmas will likely maintain its dominance in overall holiday retail due to gift-giving, Halloween is rapidly solidifying its position as a premier holiday for home decoration in the American household.

• nrf.com

• prosperinsights.com

• statista.com

• ibisworld.com

• ir.homedepot.com

• spirithalloween.com

• cnbc.com

• retaildive.com

• investopedia.com