What to Buy for a Halloween Party

A Halloween party needs more than pumpkins and sweets. Plan drinks, serving ware, lighting and decorations around your guest count, venue and programme. Reusable cups, coolers and extra extension cords are easy to overlook, especially when food is served outdoors. Buy shelf-stable items early, chill drinks on the day, and leave fresh food until the final shopping trip. Use the quantities below as a starting point, then adjust for the length of your party and your guests’ dietary requirements.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Tablesqty 8
Folding chairsqty 60
Buffet tablesqty 3
Coat racksqty 2
Stoolsqty 12

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 100
Platesqty 80
Bowlsqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 80
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving spoonsqty 8

Decorations

Halloween balloonsqty 100
Buntingqty 12
Artificial spider websqty 8
Plastic spidersqty 40
Halloween postersqty 15
Pumpkinsqty 25
LED candlesqty 40
Tombstone propsqty 6
Witch hatsqty 10
Black tableclothsqty 8

Lighting

LED string lightsqty 8
Outdoor lightsqty 6
Flashlightsqty 8

Equipment

Speakersqty 2
Wireless microphone
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 6
Coolersqty 4
Food warmersqty 3

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 6
Mixing bowlsqty 4
Measuring cupsqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coffee machinesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Ice cube traysqty 4

Sports equipment

Ring toss game
Tin can toss
Blindfoldsqty 8
Plastic cups for gamesqty 40
Scavenger hunt signsqty 12
Scavenger hunt stampsqty 12
Prizesqty 30

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 8
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Broomqty 2
Mop setsqty 2
Bucketsqty 3

Catering

Groceries
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Lemonade - 12 liters
- Spa Blauw - 10 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Beer - 4 crates
- Alcohol-free beer - 2 crates
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Cocoa powder - 2 packs
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Whipped cream - 8 cans
- Ice cubes - 10 bags
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Popcorn - 5 bags
- Salty pretzels - 5 bags
- Mixed nuts - 5 bags
- Olives - 4 jars
- Pickles - 3 jars
- Cheese puff sticks - 5 boxes
- Mini frikandellen - 5 boxes
- Vegetarian snacks - 4 boxes
- Bitterballen - 5 boxes
- Mini pizzas - 60 pieces
- Mini sandwiches - 80 pieces
- White rolls - 60 pieces
- Whole wheat rolls - 30 pieces
- Herb cheese - 6 tubs
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Ham - 1,5 kilo
- Chicken breast slices - 1.5 kilos
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Carrots - 3 kilos
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Apples - 60 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Mandarins - 40 pieces
- Mini donuts - 100 pieces
- Halloween cookies - 100 pieces
- Brownies - 80 pieces
- Chocolate bars - 100 pieces
- Candy mix - 8 kilos
- Lollipops - 100 pieces
- Marshmallows - 4 bags
- Icing - 6 tubes
- Chocolate sauce - 4 bottles
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 2 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Garlic powder - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Napkins - 400 pieces
- Paper straws - 150 pieces
- Coffee filters - 2 packs
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 3 bottles
- Toilet cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 10 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 20 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 4 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Hand sanitizer gel - 4 bottles
- Paper towels - 6 packs

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per guest for the first hour, then one drink per person for each additional hour. Add water and non-alcoholic options rather than counting every drink as alcoholic.
Allow one plate, bowl, cutlery set and reusable cup per guest, plus 10% extra. For 40 guests, that means 44 of each item to cover replacements and unexpected arrivals.
Buy or prepare around six to eight snack portions per guest for a two- to three-hour party. Keep dietary alternatives clearly separated and pass the final requirements to the caterer before shopping.
For a dark venue, use at least one light source at each entrance, food area and route section. Pack spare batteries and test LED candles, string lights, outdoor lights and flashlights before guests arrive.
Do not leave power planning until setup. Count every speaker, light and other electrical item, then bring enough extension cords and power strips to reach them safely without creating walkways across cables.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a Halloween party?: For a two- to three-hour Halloween party, plan six to eight snack portions per guest, plus a little extra for late arrivals. If the party overlaps a normal mealtime, add one substantial serving per person.
How many drinks should I buy for a Halloween party?: For the first hour, allow two to three drinks per guest, followed by one drink per person for every additional hour. Include water and non-alcoholic drinks, and keep extra drinks chilled in coolers.
How many Halloween decorations do I need?: Choose one main decorated area and repeat a few elements elsewhere rather than buying one item for every surface. For 40 guests, plan at least four to six visible decoration clusters using pumpkins, webs, balloons, posters or props.
When should I buy supplies for a Halloween party?: Buy decorations, tableware, lighting and shelf-stable snacks one to two weeks before the party. Buy fresh food one to two days ahead, then chill drinks and check the complete shopping list on the day of the event.

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