"Sparks" experienced only moderate success on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at 93.
"Sparks" is a dance-pop and synth pop song with an approximate length of three minutes and five seconds.
Carolyn Menyes of Music Times likened the song to the musical style of Australian singer Kylie Minogue.
Madeline Boardman of Us Weekly noted that the song's "steamy lyrics" are a "change of tone" for Duff.
'Sparks' debuted at number 47 on the Dance Club songs chart, and has reached a peak of number 6, becoming Duff's fourth top ten hit on the US dance chart following three consecutive number ones from 2007 to 2008.