13+ Creative Halloween Ad Ideas You’ll Wish You Thought of First

Halloween is one of the most exciting seasons for both shoppers and businesses. Costumes, candy, and decorations fill the shelves, but what often gets people talking are the ads that spark curiosity and make them stop scrolling. A clever Halloween ad campaign does more than promote products. It sets the mood, grabs attention, and creates fun moments that shoppers remember long after October ends.

The good news is that Halloween is the perfect time to experiment. People are open to playful, spooky, and even over-the-top ideas that might not work any other time of year. This gives your business a chance to stand out with content that feels fresh and exciting.

In this blog, you will find creative Halloween ad ideas that can inspire your next campaign. Whether you want to boost sales, grow your audience, or simply join the fun, these ideas will help you get noticed.

Halloween trends & spend data 2025

Halloween spending in 2025 is projected to reach a record $13.1 billion (National Retail Federation, 2025), a significant increase from previous years, with the top activities being handing out candy, dressing in costumes, and decorating the home or yard. Key trends include the growing popularity of the "Summerween" shopping phenomenon, the influence of social media and influencer marketing, and specific costume and décor ideas like "KPop Demon Hunters" and classic characters like Pennywise.

Where the Money Goes

The biggest spending categories are clear: costumes ($4.3 billion), decorations ($4.2 billion), and candy ($3.9 billion). Most of the budget, these areas alone take up, giving brands plenty of chances to design ads that connect with buyers’ main priorities.

Who Is Celebrating

Around 73% of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween, with most enjoying activities like handing out candy, dressing up, or decorating their homes. This wide participation means ads can focus on family fun, group experiences, and community spirit.

Shopping Habits

Nearly half of shoppers will start their Halloween shopping early, sometimes as soon as September. A new trend fueling this is “Summerween”, where consumers start shopping for costumes and décor in late summer, giving brands an earlier window to capture attention. Timely promotions, early teaser ads, and influencer partnerships on social media can make a big difference in reaching these shoppers.

Creative Trends

Costume and decoration choices are shifting toward fun, playful, and pop-culture-inspired themes. Specific looks such as “KPop Demon Hunters”, Pennywise, and other classic horror characters are expected to trend. Quirky, unexpected styles are also gaining attention, making space for ads that highlight creativity and self-expression.

In short, Halloween 2025 blends record spending, strong participation, and bold trends. Brands that build ads around these insights can capture attention and make the most of the season’s energy.

As you look into Halloween ad ideas, remember that ad delivers results only if your store's landing page is built to convert. Shopify makes this easier with tools like Sidekick for content and the AI Theme Block for layout customization.

What makes a Halloween Ad work so well to steal from

Great Halloween ads are so effective because they use creativity and emotion to create memorable and shareable content that connects with consumers on a deeper level. Brands can apply these repeatable techniques in their own marketing, regardless of the industry. 

Let’s break it down:

1. Seasonal Relevance: Halloween comes once a year, which creates a sense of urgency. Shoppers know they only have a short window to celebrate, so ads tied to this moment instantly feel more exciting and limited.

2. Emotional Pull: Fear, fun, nostalgia, and humor are all emotions tied to Halloween. When an ad makes people laugh, feel a little scared, or remember their childhood costumes, it becomes more memorable.

3. Visual Impact: From glowing pumpkins to eerie shadows, visuals play a big role. A Halloween ad will stop people mid-scroll that looks eye-catching, and push them to pay attention. 

4. Shareability: People love showing off funny, creepy, or surprising content. Ads that are easy to share with friends on TikTok, Instagram, or even in group chats have a higher chance of going viral.

5. Easy Connection to Products: The best Halloween ads tie the spooky theme directly to what is being sold. Whether it is candy, clothing, or decor, the ad makes the product feel like a natural part of the celebration.

When these elements come together, you get ads that people remember, talk about, and buy from.

8+ Creative Halloween Ad Ideas for Every Industry

Creative Halloween ads can take many forms, from reverse horror plots where the hero outsmarts the monster to parody trailers that turn your brand into the star of a spooky movie. Businesses can also experiment with TikTok-style found footage, ASMR-inspired spooky sounds, or glitch effects for a modern horror feel.

1. Reverse Horror Ads: The Hero That Outsmarts the Monster

Into fear and jump scares, most Halloween ads lean, but flipping the script, there is another clever angle. Instead of making the monster win, show how your product helps people survive or outsmart the scary situation. It turns something terrifying into something funny, clever, and instantly shareable.

• Imagine a vampire about to bite, but the hero pulls out their snack bar for a quick energy boost and escapes. 
• Or a haunted house scene where your app guides someone safely through the maze while others get lost. 
• By positioning your product as the hero, the ad connects usefulness with entertainment in a way that feels fresh.

How to apply this idea: Look for everyday problems your product solves, then exaggerate them into a spooky scene. The bigger the twist, the more surprising and memorable the ad becomes. Done right, it builds laughs, shares, and strong brand recall.

2. First-Person “Found Footage” Commercials for TikTok & Reels

Nothing feels more real or immersive than shaky, handheld “found footage.” That raw style is already familiar to people who watch horror films or viral TikToks, so it instantly grabs attention. Instead of polished ads, imagine showing your product in a creepy, funny, or chaotic first-person scene. The unpolished look actually makes it feel more believable and entertaining.

• Picture a person running through the woods with only a flashlight, whispering nervously into the camera while clutching your energy drink. 
• Or someone exploring a “haunted” kitchen late at night and discovering your snack glowing in the fridge like a lifesaver. 
• This style blends humor, suspense, and authenticity in a way that fits perfectly with TikTok and Reels.

How to apply this idea: Keep the videos short, fast-paced, and playful. Use simple props, jump cuts, and awkward camera angles to mimic a horror vibe. As the unexpected hero, Tie in your product and you will have content while standing out in a sea of ads that feels native to social feeds.

3. ASMR-Style Spooky Sound Ads

Just as powerful as visuals, sound can also be, especially around Halloween. Close-up whispers, crackles, crunches, or eerie background noises to create a spine-tingling effect, ASMR-style ads use people cannot ignore. This style feels intimate, almost like the ad is speaking directly into your ear, which makes it more memorable and shareable.

Imagine a quiet video where you hear the slow crunch of candy being unwrapped, a whisper saying “trick or treat,” and the sudden creak of a door. Or think about the fizz of a soda paired with a ghostly laugh in the background. Even without heavy visuals, the sound alone sets the mood and makes your product unforgettable.

How to apply this idea: Record high-quality sound bites that highlight your product in a spooky way. Pair the audio with simple visuals or even a black screen and text captions. On your Halloween landing page, TikTok, Reels, or YouTube Shorts, creepy ASMR content can stop viewers from scrolling and pull them into the moment.

4. Interactive “Choose Your Scare” Campaigns

People love feeling like they are part of the story, which makes interactive ads a perfect fit for Halloween. Instead of showing a one-way commercial, give your audience the power to decide what happens next. This can be done through Instagram polls, TikTok voting stickers, or even YouTube ads where viewers pick the next scene in a spooky story.

Picture a campaign where users decide if the character should open the haunted door or run away. Each choice leads to a new outcome, with your product cleverly woven into the story. This makes the ad feel more like a game than a sales pitch, which keeps people engaged and talking about it.

How to apply this idea: Create short, branching videos that connect through polls or links. Encourage people to play more than once to see different endings. While keeping the Halloween spirit alive, you increase engagement, brand recall, and shareability by turning ads into mini adventures.

5. Monster POV Ads

During Halloween, one creative way to stand out is by flipping the perspective. Imagine the story told through the eyes of a monster, instead of showing ads from a human’s view. 

• What does a vampire see when craving a late-night snack? 
• How would a zombie shop for skincare? 
• What kind of tech would a ghost use to stay connected?

This angle makes your ad entertaining and instantly memorable. People love fresh storytelling, and seeing the world through a monster’s eyes creates humor, surprise, and curiosity. It also gives you the chance to exaggerate product benefits in a fun way. For example, a werewolf could rave about your strong coffee, keeping them awake through a full moon.

How to apply this idea: Pick a monster that fits your audience’s vibe and build a short ad around their “daily life.” Keep it playful and relatable so viewers enjoy imagining how even creatures of the night could use your product.

6. Glitch Horror-Inspired Ads

A trend online because it feels both unsettling and modern, Glitch-style horror has become. Think of corrupted video effects, jumpy cuts, frozen screens, or eerie, distorted audio. These details make viewers feel like something went wrong with the video, which instantly grabs attention while adding a spooky twist.

This approach works well for digital campaigns because it plays into the scrolling habits of TikTok, Reels, or YouTube viewers. When people see a glitch, they often stop to figure out what happened. That pause is your moment to slip in your product in a creepy but clever way.

How to apply this idea: Use editing tricks to make your ad look like a haunted video feed. Or distorted voices whispering your tagline, before revealing your product, glowing in the dark, maybe the screen flickers. So it feels like a mini horror experience, keep it short, weird, and surprising. Done right, it can easily go viral.

7. Parody Horror Movie Trailers Featuring Your Brand

Everyone knows Halloween means scary movies, which is why parody trailers are such a fun way to advertise. Instead of creating a real horror film, you can make a fake movie preview where your product becomes the “star” of the story. The scarier and sillier, the better. 

Imagine a haunted blender that “won’t stop mixing” or a lipstick that “possesses” whoever wears it. This campy style makes people laugh while staying in the Halloween spirit.

The best part is how easy these trailers are to share. TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube love this type of content because it feels like entertainment first and advertising second.

How to apply this idea: Write a simple horror-style script with dramatic music, spooky text screens, and exaggerated narration. End the “trailer” with your product reveal and a cheeky line like “Coming this Halloween to a kitchen near you.” Your ad feels like a treat by keeping it funny and dramatic, not a pitch.

8. “Haunted Livestream” Product Demos

Live video always feels more real and engaging, and adding a spooky twist can make your Halloween campaign stand out. 

• Imagine going live to show your product as usual, but suddenly the lights flicker, the camera glitches, or a shadow moves in the background. 
• Maybe a “ghost” sneaks in during the demo and tries to use your product in a funny or unexpected way.

This playful setup creates curiosity and keeps viewers watching to see what happens next. It feels like a mix of a product showcase and a mini Halloween performance, which makes it fun to share and talk about.

How to apply this idea: Plan your livestream with small surprises such as creepy sound effects, props, or even a friend dressed as a ghost to “interrupt” your demo. Promote the livestream in advance so people know to tune in. The mix of live interaction and Halloween-style scares makes your demo more memorable than a regular product video.

Others also read:

• Top Halloween Spooky Trends and Ideas to Try
• 11 Best Halloween Marketing Campaign Ideas to make it your own
• Guide to create a Halloween Landing Page for a Shopify store
• Top 20 Must-try Halloween Website Templates

5+ Brands that nailed Halloween Ads

Brands that have effectively captured the Halloween spirit in their ads include Burger King (The Call), Heinz (Tomato Blood Ketchup), IKEA (Monsters Not Included and For Monsters Too), Chipotle (Boorito Campaign), and Fanta (Beetlejuice and Horror Icon Tie-Ins). These brands often use creative concepts like product transformations, viral challenges, and humorous or creepy themes to engage audiences with the holiday. 

1. Burger King: "The Call"

Ghost Pepper Whopper and Chicken Fries were what Burger King’s “The Call” promoted; they leaned into classic horror vibes. Inspired by The Ring, the campaign let fans send creepy, AI-generated phone calls to their friends through a special website. It mixed technology with a fun scare factor and launched perfectly on Friday the 13th, making it feel even more timely.

Idea to learn from: This ad shows how to connect seasonal products with storytelling that fits the mood of Halloween. Adding interactive elements makes people want to share the experience, like an AI or AR tool. With spooky dates on the calendar, remember that excitement and reach, timing your campaign can also boost them.

2. Heinz: "Tomato Blood Ketchup"

Heinz found a clever way to turn its classic ketchup into a Halloween favorite by branding it as “Tomato Blood.” 

• A playful reason to use the product beyond the dinner table, limited-edition bottles, and costume kits was given to fans.
• The idea quickly spread on TikTok and Instagram, with people sharing costume hacks, makeup tutorials, and fun skits featuring the bright red ketchup. 
• In later years, Heinz kept the momentum going by adding pop-up shops and online challenges, proving the concept had staying power.

Idea to learn from: The success without changing the product itself came from taking something ordinary and making it feel spooky. Seasonal packaging or simple add-ons can make a product instantly relevant to Halloween. Encouraging user-generated content helps ads spread organically, while keeping the theme consistent each year builds brand recognition and loyalty through social platforms.

3. IKEA: "Monsters Not Included" and "For Monsters Too"

Tapped into Halloween fun, IKEA with two clever campaigns

• In 2023, showing safe and cozy spaces where monsters had no place to hide, “Monsters Not Included” focused on kids’ bedrooms. Peace of mind while also highlighting affordable furniture through loyalty deals, it gave parents.
• In 2024, IKEA flipped the idea with “For Monsters Too,” showing monsters as customers who used IKEA products themselves, like vampires needing roomy wardrobes. The light humor made everyday items feel fun and part of the holiday.

Idea to learn from: Because they told a story while keeping products at the center, these ads worked. IKEA made the idea stronger and more memorable, built on the first campaign instead of starting over. The key takeaway is to think of your products as part of a playful narrative. A series of ads that evolve each year can be created to build anticipation and loyalty. Brands could even try digital ones, tools like AR filters that let families “monster-proof” their homes, for the future.

4. Chipotle: #Boorito Challenge on TikTok

Chipotle found a winning formula on TikTok with its #Boorito challenge. The brand teamed up with Addison Rae to launch a transformation trend using TikTok’s morph effect, where users showed off creative Halloween looks. 

To make it even more exciting, Chipotle gave away free burritos to the best entries, which sparked huge participation. The campaign racked up billions of views and kept the #Boorito name at the center of Halloween conversations.

Idea to learn from: Fun content with real rewards. The magic here was mixing. Chipotle turned casual scrollers into active participants by leaning on TikTok features and influencer reach. Interactive challenges work best when tied to clear incentives. The lesson is simple. For brands in 2025, this idea could evolve into short-form contests on TikTok or Instagram Reels, encouraging people to show off costumes, DIY hacks, or themed food creations while linking back to the product.

5. Fanta: Beetlejuice and Horror Icon Tie-Ins

Rolling out a special Afterlife Apple flavor, limited-edition cans, and even pop-ups like the Afterlife Train, Fanta brought Halloween fun to life by teaming up with Beetlejuice in 2024. In 2025, the brand went bigger by adding famous horror icons to its packaging and linking them to digital experiences that fans could interact with. These campaigns blended flavor, collectibles, and entertainment, making Fanta part of the holiday excitement.

Idea to learn from: Partnering with pop culture favorites can create buzz and urgency, especially when tied to limited-edition products. Fanta also showed how real-world events and digital tie-ins can extend the campaign’s impact. The takeaway is to build seasonal hype by turning everyday products into memorable experiences.

Strategies to create your own Halloween Creative Ads

To create your own Halloween ads, start by defining your audience and tailoring the tone. Choose a clear theme like haunted houses or classic monsters, then weave your product naturally into the story. Enhance the impact with spooky visuals, eerie sounds, or glitch effects, and boost engagement through interactive elements.

• Know your audience: Think about who you want to reach. Families may enjoy lighthearted and playful ads, while young adults may prefer scarier or more dramatic ideas. Matching your style to your audience makes the ad more relatable.
• Pick a clear theme: Choose one main idea, like haunted houses, classic monsters, or ghost stories, and let it guide the whole ad. A focused theme makes your message stronger and easier to remember.
• Mix entertainment with your product: Halloween is the perfect time to be creative. Find fun ways to show how your product or service could fit into a Halloween story, setting, or joke.
• Use eye-catching visuals and sounds: Spooky music, glitch effects, or glowing colors instantly grab attention. Even small touches like eerie background sounds can make a big difference.
• Add interaction: Polls, quizzes, or interactive videos make your audience part of the fun. The more involved they are, the longer they stay interested.

By combining these strategies, you can run Halloween ads that feel like experiences that people want to share and remember.

Design Elements You Can't Miss In Halloween Advertising

In Halloween advertising, the design elements you can't miss are the signature color palettes, thematic imagery, and carefully chosen typography that set a spooky, whimsical, or eerie tone. The best campaigns effectively blend these traditional elements with their unique brand identity. 

1. Colors that set the tone: The classics are orange, black, and purple. Orange brings the pumpkin and autumn feel, black gives mystery, and purple adds a touch of magic. Your ad looks even more striking when mixing in green or red.

2. Fonts that create atmosphere: Instantly add character, creepy, handwritten, or bold Gothic-style fonts. The key is making them readable while still giving that Halloween edge. Pair one spooky font with a simple font for balance.

3. Icons and symbols: All signal Halloween right away, pumpkins, bats, ghosts, spiders, and haunted houses. Small details like cobwebs in a corner or glowing eyes in the background can make your design more memorable.

4. Lighting and effects: Dark shadows, glowing highlights, or smoky textures give depth to your visuals. A little fog effect or flickering glow can turn a normal ad into something that feels alive.

5. Motion and sound for digital ads: Across the screen or a quick flash of lightning catches the eye, animated bats flying. Creaks, whispers, or eerie music for extra impact, pair it with sound effects.

With these design elements, your Halloween advertising will not only look festive but also stay in people’s minds long after they see it.

Conclusion: Steal the tricks, make the treats yours

Halloween ads work best when they surprise, entertain, and leave a mark. You do not need the biggest budget to make an impact, just smart ideas that connect with your audience in fun and unexpected ways. Every trick you borrow can be turned into a treat, from spooky designs to playful storylines that feel fresh for your brand. Enjoy the creativity, and let your audience feel part of the fun because the key is to experiment with this Halloween, grab the inspiration, and make it your own.

FAQs

1. What channels work best for Halloween ads?

Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook work great, along with email marketing and your website. Short videos, interactive posts, and festive visuals capture attention fast.

2. What makes a Halloween Ad work so well to steal from

A Halloween ad works when it surprises, entertains, or connects emotionally. Look at themes, humor, visuals, or interactive ideas from successful campaigns and adapt them for your brand.

3. How early should I start running Halloween ads?

Start in late August or early September. Early campaigns reach planners, build excitement, and let you test which creative ideas attract the most attention before peak Halloween season.