How Halloween Decorations and Parties Are Spooking Americans’ Energy Bills

As Americans light up their yards with spooky inflatables and host festive parties, Halloween brings more than just candy and costumes. The cost of power also starts to creep up. A new survey of 1,000 Americans reveals just how much extra people are paying this October, the most popular decorations of 2025, and the financial trade-offs they’re making to keep the holiday fun without getting haunted by the costs.

Key Takeaways

• 64% of Americans have put up or plan to put up Halloween decorations this year, but 21% plan to skip decorations due to energy costs.
• On average, those who put up Halloween decorations pay 14% more (about $23) for electricity in October compared to those who don’t put up Halloween decorations.
• 29% of Americans plan to reduce spending to afford Halloween decorations, most often making cuts in dining out (20%), subscriptions (10%), and streaming services (10%).

Decorating Comes With a Price Tag and a Power Surge

• 64% of Americans have put up or plan to put up Halloween decorations this year.
• 30% of Americans plan to tone down decorations due to energy costs this year, compared to past years, with Gen Z being the most likely to say so (40%).
• 29% of Americans plan to reduce spending in other areas in order to afford Halloween decorations. The top cuts will be on dining out (20%), subscriptions (10%), and streaming services (10%).
• 21% of Americans are skipping decorations this year due to energy costs. Gen Z is more likely to say so than any other generation (26%).
• On average, those who put up Halloween decorations pay 14% more, or $23, for electricity in October compared to those who don’t put up Halloween decorations.
• The most popular Halloween decorations this year are LED string lights (48%), inflatable decorations (19%), and smart light bulbs (16%).
• On average, Americans leave their Halloween decor on for 7 hours every day.
  • Gen Z leaves their Halloween decor on for 8 hours every day, the most among any age group.
• 35% of Americans leave their Halloween lights on overnight, including 47% of Gen Z.
• 77% of Halloween decorators believe cold-weather heating has a larger impact on their October electricity bills than their decorations.
• 35% of festive Americans use LED lighting to control Halloween energy consumption and estimate saving $39 as a result.
• 31% of Americans claim a rebate or coupon for LEDs/smart plugs would change their decorating plans. Gen Z is the most likely to say so (43%).
• 28% of Americans say if their utility company provided an “October bill forecast,” they would set a hard cap for decor run-time, and Gen Z is the most likely to say so (41%).
• 17% of Americans feel pressure to decorate to match their street or neighborhood. Gen Z feels this the most (23%).

Parties Bring the Heat and Higher Power Use

• 1 in 10 Americans plan to host a Halloween party at home this year, and more than 1 in 3 (34%) plan to attend one.
• Biggest electricity impacts from Halloween parties: cooking/baking (69%), heating (49%), and outdoor decor left on longer than usual (39%).

Methodology

For this study, we surveyed 1,002 Americans about their Halloween decor and celebration plans this year. Among respondents, 16% were Gen Z, 55% were millennials, 23% were Gen X, and 6% were baby boomers.

About Payless Power

Payless Power helps Texans enjoy reliable electricity without the stress of high deposits, long-term contracts, or credit checks. With affordable prepaid plans and daily usage updates, customers can take control of their energy bills, even during holidays like Halloween when power use can spike. Learn more about our no-deposit electricity plans today.

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