What Time Does Trick-or-Treating Start? - SavvyMom

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Skip to content What Time Does Trick or Treating Start? By Jan Scott Food Editor at SavvyMomJan Scott October 26, 2025 Halloween What Time Does Trick-or-Treating Start? SavvyMom

We’re sure your little ones are bursting at the seams with excitement, anxiously waiting for the time when they can slip on their costumes and collect that coveted candy on the most-beloved event called Halloween.

What time will you be heading out the door with your kids? I was following a thread online earlier this week and, to my surprise, there is quite a lot of confusion over what time trick or treating should actually start. While there are no hard and fast rules, of course, I do think there is a social cue or two parents can look for when it comes to knowing if it’s a good time to knock on a neighbour’s door.

Here are a few tips to let you know when it’s a good time to start trick or treating—and when you should probably call it a night…

What Time Does Trick or Treating Start?

Early is perfectly fine for the wee ones

Little kids like to get out the door early, before the older kids in spooky costumes start strolling the streets. Expect to have your first candy collectors arrive anytime between 5:30-6:00 pm. Feel free to have your young kids start going door to door around the same time.

Look for a (spooky) sign

A good way to know if it’s okay to knock on someone’s door is to look for a lit pumpkin on the porch or patio. This visual clue indicates that the house is ready for Halloween to begin. A well-lit house is also a good indication of one that’s welcoming kids.

Skip the dark doors

When a doorway is darkened it means that that house is not passing out candy. Don’t bother the homeowners by ringing their bell, just move on to the next Halloween-friendly home.

Feel free to close up shop by 9 pm

Blow out the candle in your pumpkin and bring it indoors to prevent an unwanted prank from being played on you. Turn off the porch light and close any curtains or blinds that face the street, if possible.

Have a wonderful, safe, fun night! Are you all set? Don’t miss our Savvy Guide to Halloween and here are some ideas of what to do with all that excess Halloween candy.

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3 Comments

  1. Melissa Bourgoin on October 31, 2017 at 10:05 pm

    Thank you! This was super helpful 👻

    Reply
  2. Shawn l on December 2, 2021 at 12:33 pm

    Thanks for destroying halloweening, for websites like you to tell people when to do trick or treating is just wrong best part of trick of treating is when the sun goes down and it’s dark but that also doesn’t mean don’t be safe about it. Halloween has changed so much it’s gotten to the point where literally no one is going out for trick-or-treating I’m going on my 4th year where nobody came to my door.

    Reply
  3. Sarah on October 31, 2023 at 4:29 pm

    Lol Shawn, take a zanny, eat all your candy and chill the F out. Maybe take up a hobby?? Sounds a lot more productive than leaving rude comments on random peoples pages.

    I found this article to be super helpful. Thank you!

    Reply

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