The post Pumpkins and Hot Dogs: The Halloween Costumes Americans Pick Most for Their Pets first appeared on Crafting Your Home.
Halloween is not just for people anymore. Pet costumes have become part of the holiday celebration, and some classic looks continue to stand out among the choices owners make.
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), Americans were expected to spend $860 million on pet Halloween costumes in 2025. The organization’s survey found that pumpkins remained the most popular choice, followed by hot dogs, with bumblebees, ghosts, and superheroes also appearing among the top selections.
The rankings come from an NRF consumer survey conducted from September 2–9, 2025. The percentages represent the share of surveyed consumers who planned pet costumes and selected each costume choice, not the percentage of all pets wearing those costumes.
Pumpkin: The Classic Halloween Favorite
The pumpkin costume took the top spot in NRF’s 2025 ranking, with 9.8% of respondents who planned pet costumes choosing the seasonal favorite.
It is easy to see why pumpkins remain a familiar Halloween choice. The look immediately connects with the holiday and offers a recognizable theme without relying on a frightening design.
For many owners, a pumpkin costume also fits the simple fun of Halloween photos and seasonal celebrations. Among the options included in the NRF ranking, the pumpkin stood out as the most selected choice in the survey.
Hot Dog: A Food-Themed Favorite
Coming in second was the hot dog costume, selected by 5.4% of surveyed consumers planning pet costumes.
The hot dog’s appeal comes from its playful idea: dressing a pet in a costume inspired by a familiar food. It has remained one of the most recognizable novelty costume choices in the NRF ranking.
While food-themed costumes can take many forms, the hot dog ranked highest in the 2025 survey results.
Bumblebee: A Cheerful Seasonal Look
The bumblebee costume ranked third, with 4.0% of respondents selecting it.
This choice offers a different style from the top two options, moving away from food themes while keeping a familiar, seasonal look. The bumblebee look provides a recognizable costume option for owners who want something connected to Halloween without choosing a traditional spooky theme.
In the NRF survey, the bumblebee placed ahead of other classic Halloween and character-inspired options.
Ghost: A Halloween Staple
Ghost costumes tied for fourth place in the NRF ranking, with 3.1% of surveyed consumers choosing them.
Few images are as closely associated with Halloween as the classic ghost. The costume remains a familiar choice for owners looking for a traditional holiday theme.
Ghosts shared the fourth spot with superheroes, showing that both classic Halloween imagery and character-inspired costumes appeared among the most selected options in the survey.
Related: 10 Easy Halloween Costumes for Couples on a Budget
Superhero: A Character-Inspired Choice
Superhero costumes also received 3.1% of responses, tying with ghosts for fourth place.
Unlike some single-theme costumes, superhero looks can represent a broad range of styles. The NRF ranking identifies the category but doesn’t name a specific superhero character as the leading choice.
The result shows that some pet owners are drawn to character-inspired Halloween outfits alongside more traditional seasonal costumes.
Why Pet Costumes Continue to Be Part of Halloween
The NRF survey shows that pet costumes remain part of a wider Halloween spending trend. In addition to the estimated $860 million expected to be spent on pet costumes in 2025, the survey found that 23% of consumers planned to dress up their pets, up from the prior year, according to the NRF release.
A separate PetSmart survey also highlighted the role pets play in Halloween activities. Its July 2025 survey found that 60% of pet parents included pets in activities such as trick-or-treating, photo shoots, or parties. The survey also reported that nearly half dress pets in costumes and 18% choose coordinated couple or family costumes.
For anyone planning a pet costume, the most popular choices show that Halloween favorites do not always need to be complicated. Pumpkins, hot dogs, bumblebees, ghosts, and superheroes continue to represent some of the themes owners choose when including pets in the holiday.
What the Rankings Show
The NRF’s 2025 survey highlights a mix of seasonal classics, playful food ideas, and character-inspired designs. The pumpkin led the list, while hot dogs, bumblebees, ghosts, and superheroes rounded out the named categories.
These results reflect what surveyed consumers planned to choose rather than a record of every pet costume worn across the country. Still, the list offers a snapshot of the Halloween styles that captured the most attention among pet owners planning costumes.
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