Love Them or Hate Them? 8 Classic Halloween Candies Ranked
Americans are expected to spend a whopping $4.1 billion on Halloween candy in 2026, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). With 96% of Halloween shoppers planning to buy sweets, one question remains: Which classic candies deserve a permanent spot in the trick-or-treat bowl, and which ones are better left on the shelf?
NRF retail expert Allison Zeller says consumers are approaching Halloween with affordability in mind, but the classics still have plenty of appeal. From controversial candy corn to chocolate-covered favorites, we’re ranking eight familiar treats using recent Instacart sales trends, YouGov preference surveys, and a little Halloween candy nostalgia. The ranking is an editorial judgment, not an official nationwide popularity poll.
Black Licorice
Black licorice might be one of the most recognizable old-fashioned candies, but its bold, unmistakable flavor can turn a Halloween treat into an instant disappointment. A 2021 YouGov Halloween candy survey found that black licorice finished last among both adults and children ages 8 to 14, winning just 25% and 16% of their respective candy matchups.
That’s a rough showing for something that’s been part of American candy traditions for generations. Still, if you’re a devoted fan, finding a piece in the candy bowl probably feels like discovering an overlooked treasure.
Candy Corn
Few candies scream Halloween louder than those tiny orange, yellow, and white triangles, yet candy corn remains one of the holiday’s biggest troublemakers. A YouGov survey found that candy corn won only about 40% of head-to-head matchups among adults and children, suggesting its festive appearance doesn’t guarantee widespread affection.
Interestingly, Instacart’s September 2026 report identified Colorado and Wyoming as states with particularly strong candy corn purchasing patterns.
Love its sugary, chewy texture or find it completely overrated, it’s hard to imagine Halloween without at least one bowl of the stuff.
Related: 6 Top Halloween Candy Picks for Trick-or-Treaters
Skittles
Skittles bring a welcome burst of fruity flavor to Halloween bags overflowing with chocolate, making them an easy pick for anyone craving something different. Their chewy texture, colorful shells, and assorted fruit flavors have made them a familiar candy-aisle favorite. In YouGov’s survey of children ages 8 to 14, Skittles won 62.2% of their head-to-head matchups, while Instacart’s 2026 report placed them among its ten best-selling Halloween candies by ounces.
They’re especially fun when you’re sorting through a trick-or-treat haul and suddenly realize you’ve collected enough little packages to build a rainbow.
Sour Patch Kids
Sour Patch Kids aren’t subtle, and that’s exactly why they deserve a place in this countdown. These soft, sugar-coated candies deliver an unmistakably tangy opening followed by fruity sweetness, offering a completely different experience from the usual chocolate bars. Instacart’s latest Halloween report ranked Sour Patch Kids seventh nationally by ounces sold, with Rhode Island the only state where they outsold both Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Peanut M&M’s.
That’s impressive territory for a candy competing against some of America’s biggest chocolate favorites, particularly when Halloween shopping baskets tend to lean heavily toward chocolate.
Kit Kat
There’s something satisfying about breaking apart a Kit Kat before enjoying its chocolate-covered wafer layers, especially after you’ve spent the evening collecting Halloween treats. The combination of crispy wafers and smooth chocolate gives it a distinct texture that sets it apart from softer candy bars. Kit Kat ranked sixth in Instacart’s 2026 national Halloween sales analysis, while an earlier YouGov survey found it won 72.8% of matchups among American adults.
Whether you carefully separate the wafer fingers or simply bite straight through them, Kit Kat remains a strong contender for one of the most satisfying finds in a Halloween candy bag.
Snickers
Snickers packs chocolate, caramel, nougat, and peanuts into one bar, offering a chewy, crunchy, and smooth texture combination that’s hard to mistake for anything else. It’s the kind of candy that feels especially rewarding when you discover a miniature version hidden beneath a pile of smaller treats. In Instacart’s latest Halloween report, Snickers ranked fifth nationally by ounces sold, placing it firmly among the country’s leading chocolate choices.
While it doesn’t take our top spot, its distinctive flavor combination makes it easy to see why so many shoppers keep adding it to their Halloween candy selections year after year.
M&M’s
M&M’s prove that a Halloween favorite doesn’t need a complicated formula, just colorful candy shells surrounding familiar milk chocolate. Their small, individually wrapped Halloween packages are convenient to hand out, share, or collect alongside other treats. YouGov research ranked Original M&M’s first among American adults, winning 76.1% of matchups, while Instacart’s 2026 sales report ranked Peanut M&M’s second and regular M&M’s fourth nationally by ounces sold.
That’s serious popularity for such tiny candies, and whether you prefer the original chocolate version or the peanut variety, Americans keep coming back for more.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups take our top spot, and the latest shopping data makes a compelling case for giving them the crown. Their familiar milk chocolate and peanut butter combination has been around since 1928, according to Hershey’s official brand history, making them a genuine American candy classic. Instacart trends analyst Alex Orellana reported that Reese’s ranked first nationally by ounces sold in October 2025 orders, leading sales in 40 states, and described the margin with the words “it wasn’t even close.”
Add YouGov’s finding that Reese’s won 75.9% of matchups among children ages 8 to 14, and note that this chocolate-and-peanut-butter favorite deserves its Halloween superstar status.
The final verdict: Whether you’re Team Reese’s or a proud candy corn defender, Halloween wouldn’t be nearly as much fun if everyone reached for the same treat.
