Halloween candy bulk bags compared: Mars and Hershey's from 11 cents a piece

Halloween is this Saturday, October 31, and if you haven't bought candy yet, the bag you pick makes a big difference. Big variety bags of Mars and Hershey's chocolate cost from about 11 cents to 25 cents a piece, and the same bag can cost $10 more at one store than another.

We've compared Halloween candy variety bags at Target, Staples and WebstaurantStore, using the prices on their own websites on October 26, 2026, and worked out the cost per piece and per ounce. Walmart, Sam's Club, CVS, Walgreens, Kroger and Amazon wouldn't show us prices, so they're not included. Prices can change and may differ in store.

At a glance

• Cheapest chocolate per piece: Hershey's Chocolate and Sweets Assorted Miniatures, 330 pieces for $34.99 at Target (about 10.6 cents each).
• Cheapest chocolate per ounce: Mars Assorted Minis and Fun Size Variety Bag, 200 pieces (76.94oz) for $25.99 at Target, about 34 cents an ounce.
• Cheapest overall: Frooties Halloween Mixed Candy Bag, 400 pieces for $8.99 at Target, about 2 cents each.
• Same bag, different price: the Mars 200-piece bag is $25.99 at Target and $35.99 at Staples.
• Full-size bars: Hershey's 30-bar box for $40.99 at WebstaurantStore, about $1.37 a bar.

Variety bags compared

Per-piece and per-ounce figures are our own calculations from the listed price, count and weight.

Target

Target had the widest choice and the lowest prices of the stores we could check. The standout is the Mars 200-piece bag of minis and fun size bars for $25.99, the cheapest chocolate per ounce we found. If you want the most pieces for the money, Hershey's 330-piece bag of chocolate and sweets is $34.99, under 11 cents a piece.

Bigger bags are clearly better value. The Mars minis go from 51.9 cents an ounce in the 110-piece bag to 33.8 cents in the 200-piece bag, and Hershey's miniatures from 52.9 cents an ounce at 110 pieces to 35.5 cents at 330. For non-chocolate, Ferrara's 135-piece gummy mix is $19.99, and the 400-piece Frooties bag is just $8.99.

Staples

Staples, better known for office supplies, also sells Halloween candy, but it's noticeably dearer. The same Mars 200-piece, 76.94oz bag that Target sells for $25.99 is $35.99 at Staples, and it was out of stock when we checked. The 110-piece Mars minis bag is $19.99, against $15.89 at Target. Its 55-piece Mars pack works out at more than 36 cents a piece.

WebstaurantStore

If you want to be the house with full-size bars, WebstaurantStore, a restaurant supply store that also sells to the public, has a box of 30 Hershey's full-size bars for $40.99, or about $1.37 each. Its 18-bar Mars box ($33.49) was out of stock.

How much is everyone spending?

The National Retail Federation expects record Halloween spending of $13.5 billion this year, or $115.14 per person, up from $114.45 last year. Candy accounts for $4.1 billion, and 96% of people celebrating plan to buy some. Handing out candy is the most popular Halloween activity, with 61% planning to do it.

Ways to spend less on candy

1. Compare per piece, not per bag. Bag prices look similar, but at Target a $19.99 bag can hold anything from 105 to 150 pieces.
2. Buy one big bag. At Target, the biggest bags cost about a third less per ounce than the smaller ones.
3. Mix chocolate with cheaper candy. Adding a bag of fruit chews or lollipops at about 2 cents a piece makes chocolate go further.
4. Order for pickup. With Halloween on Saturday, ordering online for store pickup avoids shipping delays.
5. Don't overbuy. Leftover candy is often marked down after Halloween, but the size of the discount varies by store, so it's not a reason to buy extra now.

FAQs

What's the difference between minis and fun size?

Minis are the smallest individually wrapped pieces, while fun size bars are a little bigger. That's why a bag with fewer pieces can weigh more, so compare the weight as well as the count.

Is it cheaper to buy candy at a warehouse club?

Often, for the biggest bags, but you need a membership, and Costco's and Sam's Club's websites didn't show us prices to compare. Check the per-piece price on the shelf label.

Are full-size bars worth it?

They cost about 13 times as much per treat as Target's cheapest chocolate miniatures. If you expect few visitors, they can be a nice touch, but for a busy street the big variety bags are much cheaper.

Something different

If you'd like treats for yourself or a party rather than the door, TaztyCandy sells Swedish candy, including pick and mix and value boxes, with free US shipping on qualifying orders of $100 or more.

Sources: Target: Halloween candy variety packs, Target: Hershey's Halloween candy, Staples: Halloween candy, Staples: Mars 200-piece variety pack, WebstaurantStore: Halloween candy, National Retail Federation: Halloween spending forecast, TaztyCandy

Ad: affiliate links. The codes and deals below link to the stores, and we may earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you. How we make money.