Most Popular Halloween Decorations of 2024

A new Google Trends analysis by Lombardo Homes shows an uptick in Halloween spirit—and spending—this year, compared to last. 

Based on its research, Lombardo Homes identified the 10 most popular Halloween decorations of 2024, along with the states and U.S. cities where residents are most obsessed with decorating for the spooky season. 

Does your state’s (or city’s) favorite Halloween decoration match your own?

Top 10 Most Popular Halloween Decorations

Among all the decorations that hit the store shelves, these are the 10 most popular across the U.S.:

1. Skeletons
2. Pumpkins
3. Ghosts
4. Witches
5. Spiders
6. Bats
7. Black Cats
8. Tombstones
9. Clowns
10. Vampires

In 2024, skeletons outrank pumpkins, indicating a shift in Halloween decor preferences. Pumpkins still rank high at number two and are the favorite decoration in more than one state. 

While the vampire is no state’s favorite decor element, it did make the list at number 10 nationwide, outranking zombies and the Grim Reaper. 

States Ranked for Halloween Spirit in 2024

We’re listing all 50 states, ranked in order of their obsession with decorating for Halloween, along with the most popular decoration among state residents:

1. Utah (spider)
2. New Hampshire (Grim Reaper)
3. Vermont (scarecrow)
4. West Virginia (zombie)
5. Delaware (scarecrow)
6. Wyoming (witch)
7. Rhode Island (werewolf)
8. Maine (scarecrow)
9. Nebraska (crow)
10. Idaho (black cat)
11. North Dakota (grim reaper)
12. Colorado (pumpkin)
13. Montana (spider)
14. Kentucky (crows)
15. South Dakota (crows)
16. Kansas (ghost)
17. Indiana (ghost)
18. Ohio (tombstone)
19. Oregon (witch)
20. Nevada (clown)
21. Missouri (pumpkin)
22. Iowa (bats)
23. Michigan (ghost)
24. New Mexico (witch)
25. Tennessee (skeleton)
26. Illinois (bats)
27. Pennsylvania (skeleton)
28. Connecticut (black cat)
29. Wisconsin (tombstone)
30. Washington (ghost)
31. South Carolina (scarecrow)
32. Massachusetts (ghost)
33. Oklahoma (zombie)
34. North Carolina (pumpkin)
35. Arkansas (clown)
36. Alaska (Grim Reaper)
37. Minnesota (pumpkin)
38. Arizona (zombie)
39. Virginia (clown)
40. Louisiana (tombstone)
41. New Jersey (clown)
42. Georgia (skeleton)
43. Texas (clown)
44. Maryland (bats)
45. California (tombstone)
46. Mississippi (spider)
47. Florida (zombie)
48. New York (black cat)
49. Hawaii (pumpkin)
50. Alabama (pumpkin)

While most states stayed close to their ranking in 2023, Alabama dropped from last year’s position at 37 to 50, indicating a statewide decline in Halloween spirit. But pumpkins are still the favorite Halloween decoration for Alabama residents.

Other popular decorations this year include bats, black cats, creepy clowns, crows, ghosts, skeletons, witches, and tombstones. Rhode Island, at number 7, is the only state with a werewolf as the favorite Halloween decoration. 

U.S. Cities That Decorate the Most for Halloween

Google Trends data revealed which U.S. cities will be putting up the most Halloween decorations this year, along with the most popular decor element for each city. 

Here are the 30 cities most psyched for Halloween, along with their favorite Halloween decorations: 

1. Denver (pumpkin)
2. Seattle (black cat)
3. Las Vegas (zombie)
4. Nashville (scarecrow)
5. Portland (pumpkin)
6. Baltimore (skeleton)
7. Austin (Grim Reaper)
8. Boston (witch)
9. Oklahoma City (black cat)
10. Charlotte (clown)
11. Dallas (pumpkin)
12. Indianapolis (Grim Reaper)
13. El Paso (clown)
14. Washington, D.C. (ghost)
15. Columbus (skeleton)
16. Detroit (zombie)
17. San Francisco (grim reaper)
18. San Diego (pumpkin)
19. Jacksonville (tombstone)
20. Fort Worth (zombie)
21. Chicago (ghost)
22. San Antonio (skeleton)
23. San Jose (skeleton)
24. Houston (bats)
25. Phoenix (witch)
26. Philadelphia (tombstone)
27. Memphis (witch)
28. Los Angeles (black cat)
29. New York City (ghost)
30. Louisville (clown)

Denver tops the list, holding its spot from last year but swapping out its 2023 fave decoration for pumpkins, which are also the top decorations in Portland, Dallas, and San Diego. 

Next on the list is Seattle, where residents prefer to decorate with black cats—a Halloween favorite shared by citizens of Oklahoma City and Los Angeles. 

Rounding out the top five cities loving the spooky season are Las Vegas, Nashville, and Portland. 

At the bottom of the list for 2024—the city decorating the least (if at all) for Halloween—is Louisville, where creepy clowns are the decor element of choice. Clowns are also preferred in Charlotte and El Paso. 

Other cities with a more ambivalent attitude toward Halloween include New York City, Los Angeles, Memphis, and Philadelphia. 

How much will Americans spend on Halloween in 2024?

Compared to 2023, Americans are even more excited for Halloween in 2024, with eight in ten (82%) saying they’ll decorate for the holiday this year. 

More than half (56%) will be participating in the long-standing Halloween tradition of carving pumpkins. 

As for when Americans will start decorating their homes, that really depends on the homeowner. More than one in five decorate before the first day of October, while the majority (34%) decorate the first week of October. 

That said, Halloween decorations will be going up all month long, with 15% decorating October 8-15, 14% decorating October 16-23, and 15% who will wait until October 24-31. 

Spending on Halloween this year has grown to $131—up from $87 in 2023. The extra spending may result in more decorations to enjoy as you’re driving through neighborhoods this week. 

It could also factor into decorating time. Americans will spend about four hours decorating their homes for Halloween this year, compared to three hours in 2023. 

When it comes to the overall style of Halloween decor, spooky reigns supreme this year:

• 50% of Americans like “spooky” decorations
• 47% lean toward “fun”
• Only 4% go for the “gore”

Whether you go all out with Halloween decorations—indoors and out—or you like to keep it simple, don’t forget to indulge in a little Halloween fun this year. 

Some of us like a more low-key approach when it comes to decorating for Halloween. I just picked up a pair of black cat stoneware plates at Aldi the other day for about $5. Not counting the candy I’ve bought for trick-or-treaters, that’s the most I’ve spent on Halloween in years. 

Could be the tipping point. Could be a fluke. Who can say? 

Read the full article for more information, including methodology.