Handing out candy on October 31: how much to buy and what to prepare at the door
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
7 min reading time
Halloween in 2026 falls on Saturday, October 31. Here's how to calculate how much candy to buy, what to hand out, and how to decorate your door in ten minutes.
Last year, at a quarter past seven, you were at the door with a half-emptied bowl, and by eight o'clock, the lights went out because there was nothing left. Or the opposite: on November 1st, there was still a mountain of chocolate in the cupboard that no one wanted. This year, Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31st, which is exactly the day most children go trick-or-treating. A Saturday typically means more visitors than a weekday evening, as there's no school the next morning.
Below is a sensible way to determine how much to buy, what to hand out, and how to set up your door so it takes half an hour instead of all evening.
How much do you need? Count in groups, not children
Most people miscount because they think in terms of children. Children come in groups of three to six, and these groups come in waves: the majority between 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM. Therefore, count in groups.
Quiet street, little foot traffic: 5 to 10 groups, or roughly 20 to 50 pieces.
Normal residential area with families: 15 to 25 groups, roughly 60 to 125 pieces.
Street where it's a known event, with decorated houses: 30 groups or more, so 150 pieces and up.
Assume two pieces per child if you're handing out small items, and one piece if it's something larger. A ten-pack of chocolate bars like the TWIX 10-Pack of 500 grams (€ 7.95) or the Mars bars 10-pack of 450 grams (€ 7.95) is intended as one per child: these are full-sized bars, not miniatures. If you want to serve more children for the same money, the Nestlé Bros bars of 10 x 18 grams (€ 6.95) are more practical: smaller pieces, so you can give two per child.
Better to buy a little too much than too little
Chocolate and sealed candy won't spoil after October 31st: they can go to the office or in a lunchbox. Having an empty bowl when more groups are still coming is more annoying. So, round up.
What do you hand out? Three categories that work
At the door, it's about three things: it must be packaged, it must fit in one hand, and it must not melt or stick in a bag that will be carried around for another two hours.
Branded chocolate in small format. The safest option. The Nestlé LION XXL 10-pack of 420 grams (€ 7.95) is popular with older children; younger children are just as happy with a smaller bar.
Something salty or crunchy. Not every child wants the fourth chocolate bar in a row. A bag of Jimmy's Popcorn Sweet of 100 grams (€ 4.95) is a great change of pace, and it's light — handy if you put it in a goodie bag.
A fruity option. For parents who prefer not to see a mountain of chocolate: freeze-dried apple rings (€ 5.99) or freeze-dried peach rings (€ 5.99) are crunchy and sweet without involving chocolate.
Only hand out sealed, industrially packaged products. Homemade and loose candy from a large bag are not accepted by many parents, however well-intentioned. That's not a rule but it's the reality.
Be aware of allergies without making it a project
You don't need to offer an allergy-free assortment. However, it helps if, in addition to nut and dairy-containing chocolate, there is one alternative in the bowl, and if the packaging remains intact so parents can read the label. Hence the sealed packaging.
Setting up the door: light, bowl, and a clear signal
Those going door-to-door look for two things: is there a light on and is there something at the door? That's your whole signaling. A decorated door means: you can ring the bell here. A dark house means: skip it. If you're not participating, leave the outdoor light off — that saves you the doorbell and the children a detour.
If you are participating, you don't have to go all out. A sheet of Halloween spider web with 6 spiders (€ 9.95) over the hedge or porch is enough to be recognizable. If you want light instead of decor: the LED balloons, 5 pieces (€ 2.95) work great outdoors and won't go out in the wind, unlike a tea light in a pumpkin.
Don't place the bowl on the ground but at hip height, just inside or just outside the door. Then you don't have to bend down every time, and the children immediately see what's available. An overturned shipping box with a cloth over it works perfectly for this.
Going trick-or-treating with kids yourself?
Bring a light. It's already dark before seven in late October, and many children wear dark clothing. A mini LED flashlight with hand crank (€ 14.95) doesn't need batteries, so it will work even if it's been in a drawer for a year. Also: agree on a street or route, and a time to be back.
The little things you forget
A few practical matters that only become apparent when things go wrong:
Something for the chaperones. In a street where many parents walk along, a second bowl with something for the adults is a nice touch.
A party favor box if you're assembling something. If you're handing out a mix instead of individual items, don't use a loose bag but something sturdy. A yellow party favor box with handle, 15x8x8 cm (€ 2.99) stands upright and won't get damaged in a full bag.
Something for the child without a costume. There's always one child who shows up without dress-up clothes. A set of cardboard masks in 4 designs, 6 pieces (€ 1.95) is ready for that case and costs almost nothing.
A leftover plan. Think beforehand about where the surplus will go. Without a plan, it will still be in the hallway on November 20th.
For those who go bigger
If you're organizing something for a neighborhood, club, or school, the calculation changes. Then you don't want to constantly refill, but have a setup that distributes itself. A gumball machine (€ 14.95) automatically dispenses one at a time and saves you half an hour of refilling a bowl. For the table, the Halloween skeleton glasses (€ 9.95) are an easy decoration.
Order on time. The week before Halloween is the busiest ordering week in October, and you'll notice it in delivery times. Ordering two to three weeks in advance costs you nothing extra and saves you the risk of the package arriving on November 1st.
Everything for October 31st at a glance
Sweets, decorations, masks, and party favor packaging can be found together in Halloween, Candy and Party Supplies. If you are looking for larger quantities for a school, association, or neighborhood event, or want to know what is in stock before you order? Please email info@verpakkingdeals.nl — then we will help you determine which sizes and quantities are most practical for your situation.
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