Pumpkin carving remains a core Halloween tradition in 2026, with 42% of consumers planning to carve a jack-o’-lantern, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual Halloween survey. That level is roughly in line with last year, even as shoppers watch prices and look for ways to stretch their Halloween budgets.
Key Takeaways
- 42% of consumers plan to carve pumpkins this Halloween, according to NRF’s 2026 survey of 7,889 consumers.
- Carving ties with decorating and watching scary movies at 42%, behind handing out candy (61%) and dressing in costume (50%).
- Finder estimates Americans will spend about $771 million on carving pumpkins in 2026.
- Pumpkins are also the leading pet costume, chosen by 11.6% of pet owners planning to dress up their animals.
Carving Remains A Top Halloween Activity In 2026
NRF’s survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics from September 1 to 9 with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.1 percentage points, ranks the ways Americans plan to celebrate. Handing out candy leads at 61%, followed by dressing in costume at 50%. Carving pumpkins sits in a three-way tie at 42% with decorating a home or yard and watching scary movies.
The figure suggests the jack-o’-lantern is holding its ground. Compilations of NRF’s 2025 survey data put pumpkin carving at about 43% last year, making this year’s 42% essentially unchanged. With 74% of consumers planning to celebrate Halloween overall, carving remains one of the holiday’s widely shared traditions.
Pumpkin Spending Estimates Point To Careful Budgets
NRF does not break out pumpkin spending, but personal finance site Finder publishes its own estimate. Finder projects Americans will spend about $771 million on carving pumpkins this year, around 7% less than the $829 million it estimates for last year. Because the figure comes from Finder’s own model rather than retail sales data, it is best read as a rough indicator.
A lower spending estimate alongside steady participation fits the broader trend NRF identified this season. Shoppers are still celebrating, but many are choosing smaller purchases, comparison shopping, and items they can reuse. For families, that may mean one pumpkin per household instead of several, or a trip to a local patch instead of a premium display.
Pumpkins Extend Beyond The Front Porch
The pumpkin’s Halloween role goes beyond carving. In NRF’s pet costume rankings, a pumpkin is the leading choice at 11.6%, ahead of hot dogs at 5.9% and ghosts at 2.8%. With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, families have a full weekend evening for carving, costumes, and trick-or-treating.
FAQs
How Many Americans Carve Pumpkins For Halloween?
42% of consumers plan to carve pumpkins in 2026, according to the National Retail Federation. That is roughly in line with compiled 2025 figures of about 43%.
How Much Do Americans Spend On Pumpkins?
Finder estimates Americans will spend about $771 million on carving pumpkins in 2026. The figure is Finder’s own projection, not official retail data.
What Is The Most Popular Pet Halloween Costume?
A pumpkin is the leading pet costume in 2026, chosen by 11.6% of pet owners, according to NRF. Hot dogs and ghosts follow.
