Trader Joe’s unveils Trick-or-Treat mini canvas totes for Halloween
Trader Joe’s is getting ready for Halloween with pumpkins, candy, and yet another test of how badly adults can want an affordable grocery bag. Following the success of the original Mini Canvas Totes in 2024 (and the instantly sold-out pastel versions last spring), Trader Joe’s is bringing back another version of the must-have bag to its website: a Trick-or-Treat Mini Canvas Tote.
Like past versions, the Halloween bags measure about 13 inches long, 11 inches tall and 6 inches deep. But these come dressed for spooky season in black, orange, green and purple, with a few different color combinations and fun, contrasting handles.
Picks to prepare for all things Halloween
Naturally, Trader Joe’s suggests using the Trick-or-Treat Mini Canvas Totes for trick-or-treating, which is pretty genius. They’re definitely big enough for a respectable candy haul, but small enough for young kids to carry on their own (maybe with a little help from their mom and dad).
And of course, they work as reusable shopping bags — though their mini size makes them best suited for quick trips, not weekly grocery hauls.
The Trader Joe’s announcement is missing a few key details, but the company confirmed to USA Today that the Halloween bags will be listed at $2.99 (like the original mini totes and the pastel-colored ones). They also said Trader Joe’s plans to have the Trick-or-Treat Mini Canvas Totes in stores beginning Wednesday, Sept. 30. That’s a date to put in your calendar now, because if we know anything from past Mini Tote launches, if you want to get your hands on one of these, you’ll need to be ready when they hit store shelves.
Trader Joe’s introduced its original $2.99 Mini Canvas Tote in 2024, and demand surprised even the company. Stores sold out quickly, shoppers posted videos of crowded displays and the bags almost immediately appeared on resale sites at steep markups. They were especially popular for resale internationally, which was a fun and interesting quirk.
Unfortunately, the craze also led to counterfeit bags popping up online. Trader Joe’s acknowledged the situation in an email to SavorNation saying, “We are aware that some knockoff totes are being sold online and have recently filed a lawsuit to protect our customers from being misled. At Trader Joe’s, it’s very important to us that our customers are getting what they’ve paid for. That’s one of the reasons we only offer Trader Joe’s products for sale inside Trader Joe’s stores. This enables us to put our customers first, ensuring they’re getting authentic Trader Joe’s products.”
Plan ahead with Halloween candy deals
The phenomenon hasn’t faded. In spring 2025, Pastel Mini Totes caused another frenzy with some stores seeing lines before opening and selling through their inventory in minutes. Again, resellers posted the bags for far more than their $2.99 in-store prices, but buyers were willing to pay steep markups to get their hands on one of these must-have accessories. And Halloween minis made their debut in fall 2025, making this year’s bags a returning treat.
So while Trick-or-Treat Mini Canvas Totes are cute, reusable and affordable, it’s getting to a Trader Joe’s in time to grab one before they’re gone that might be tough. These bags disappear faster than the Reese’s in your kids’ trick-or-treat bags, so if you want one, start planning your strategy now.
