It’s October, and you know what that means. Halloween is right around the corner and it’s time to start planning for another fun night of trick-or-treating, starting with what your children are dressing up as.
But before you do what you did last year and spend $50+ on a pre-made costume at your local party store, why not save some money this year and opt for one of these fun DIY kids Halloween costumes.
I mean, come on. You can’t tell me that doesn’t sound like a good time. Instead of buying a costume at the store, you’ll get to turn your Halloween into an arts and crafts activity that the whole family can enjoy.
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And while you might have to buy some of the items, a good majority of them can be found in your home and you’ll get an experience out of it that will have you wondering why you didn’t start doing this sooner!
Give These DIY Kids Halloween Costumes a Try This Year!
With a little creativity and some basic supplies, you can craft unique costumes that stand out from store-bought options. They might not be perfectly stitched and manufactured, but they have character.
For instance, a cloud costume can be created with pillow stuffing and blue clothes, while a cactus costume only requires green clothes and pipe cleaners. Both of these can be made in under 20 minutes.
DIY kids Halloween costumes also give you the opportunity to tailor the costume to better fit your child’s personality, ensuring they feel overly-excited to show off their one-of-a-kind look on Halloween night.
With that said, let’s take a look at 20 of our favorite DIY kids Halloween costumes to try out this year!
20. DIY Lego Block Costume
What You’ll Need: cardboard box, plastic cups, paint, clothes that match the paint color, string or thin rope
Choose a cardboard box of your liking. It could be a cereal box, medium-sized Amazon box, or a shoe box. If using a larger box, cut holes on the top and sides so your child can fit their head and arms through. If using a smaller box, cut smaller holes and feed string through them so it can be worn like a necklace.
@ahofmeister Halloween Costume DIY: 3-Step LEGO Costume
♬ Everything Is AWESOME!!! (feat. The Lonely Island) – Tegan and Sara
Start gluing the plastic cups to the box to mimic a lego block. You can cut them down to whatever size you like, depending on the size of the box. Once glued on, paint the box and cups whatever color your child wants to be and set it off to the side to dry. All they need to do now is wear solid-colored clothes!
19. DIY No. 2 Pencil Costume
What You’ll Need: yellow bottoms, yellow top, green or silver socks, pink shoes, white construction paper, markers
The first part of this costume involves matching up the colors of the clothes to mimic a pencil. For the sake of this article, we’re going to treat the feet as the eraser and the head as the tip of the pencil.
@honestlyandie Paper & Pencil ????✏️ MJ was so happy with his costume, as long as his costume requests don’t start getting too crazy, I will keep making them ???? It’s so satisfying making something yourself and I think its cuter anyways— flaws and all. Do you buy or make your costumes? . . . DIY costume pencil costume Halloween costume ideas Halloween ideas #Halloween
♬ Living In A Haze (Instrumental) – Milky Chance
With that said, the pink shoes mimic the eraser, the green (for Ticonderoga pencils) and silver (for generic pencils) socks represent the silver eraser holder, and the yellow clothes would be the base of the pencil.
For the tip of the pencil, shape your construction paper into a cone and tape it together so your child can wear it like a hat. Color the bottom of it tan, the middle white, and tip black to look like a sharpened pencil.
18. DIY M&M Candy Costume
What You’ll Need: Solid-colored shirt, matching bottoms, iron-on-paper (or regular paper), markers
This is perhaps one of the easiest DIY kids halloween costumes and can easily be completed in under 15 minutes. All you need to do is cut out a couple pieces of iron-on paper in the shape of an “M” and iron them onto some solid-colored shirts. Wear some matching bottoms and matching shoes, and you’re set!
@thatgirllake_ m&m #costumeideas #costume #diycostumes #lastminute #greenscreen
♬ original sound – ThatGirlLake
If you don’t have iron-on paper, you can always draw the “M” directly on the shirt or use regular paper and either glue it or pin it to the shirt. You can also wear the paper like a necklace so it stays in place.
17. DIY Campfire Costume
What You’ll Need: red shirt, brown pants, colored felt (or construction paper), pool noodles (or cardboard tubes), stick, marshmallows, cotton balls, orange hat
If your kids love a good campfire, then this is perfect for you! First off, your kid will need to be wearing brown shoes and pants, a red shirt, and an orange hat. But hold on because we’re going to edit them.
For the shirt, cut the pieces of felt (or paper) into flame-like shapes and color them orange, red, and yellow. Glue the flames onto the shirt and then turn your attention to the pool noodles (or tubes).
@kellycardosafelco I cannot find video of her camp fire costume but i hid a humidifier in the smoke in top of her head so the costume actually “smoked”. She was a winner of the costume contest at rhe campground ???? #fypシ #fyp #halloween #costume #costumeideas #diy #homemade #kidscostume #kidscostumes #halloweencostume
♬ Fire Burning – Sean Kingston
Cut the tubes into 10-inch pieces and wrap them in brown felt or paper for the logs. Glue them to the red shirt in a campfire-like way. You can do this on the front and back for more effect.
For the hat, glue some cotton balls to the top to resemble marshmallows. Give your child a stick with marshmallows on the end and have them tell your neighbors all they’re missing is some chocolate!
16. DIY Rainy Day Costume
What You’ll Need: rain coat (or yellow shirt), rain boots, hat, umbrella, cotton or pillow stuffing, string, blue construction paper
First, let’s get your kid dressed up for a rainy day. That means getting those rain boots on, putting on a raincoat (or a shirt that might resemble one), and a hat for extra effect. If it’s raining out, even better.
@alyssahix ????️ #halloween #diycostumes #rain #kids #jesuslovesyou #october #fall #pumpkin #costume #foryou
♬ home – sped up + reverb – pearl & fast forward >> & Tazzy
If it’s not raining out, you can make it a rainy day by turning your umbrella into a rain cloud. Just glue some pillow stuffing to the top and hang some blue cut-out rain drops from the umbrella to mimic rain.
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15. DIY Tooth Fairy Costume
What You’ll Need: tutu, tiara, pool noodle, pipe cleaners,
First, let’s dress your child up as a fairy. If you don’t have a tutu, try tying long strips of tulle around a length of fabric elastic. And if you don’t already have some wings and a tiara, use construction paper!
@morganstorey10 Tooth fairy costumes aee complete! ????????????♀️✨ Our girls are SO excited to Trick or Treat tonight! ???? #Halloween #HalloweenCostumes #ToddlerCostume #UniqueCostumes #DIYCostume #GirlMom
♬ to the salon shortened – beth colley
For the wand, we’re going to go with a toothbrush theme. For a small wand, use a wooden ruler or anything else you have laying around. For a larger wand, use a pool noodle, pointer, or yard stick.
On the end of the wand, glue tiny bristles to mimic a toothbrush. You can use pipe cleaners or bristles from a broom, but make sure they’re white!
14. DIY Vampire Bat Costume
What You’ll Need: black clothes, umbrella, scissors, black felt or paper
Using scissors, cut the umbrella into two equal halves. If your umbrella has metal ribs, leave them intact to give the wings a structured shape. You can trim or bend the ribs slightly to form pointed bat wing tips.
@denisem4321 #vampirebat #halloween #toddlercostumes
♬ Vampires – Horror Sound Effect – Power Sound Effects
Next, lay the umbrella halves flat against the sides of the black hoodie, aligning the straight edges with the side seams of the jacket or sleeves. Use hot glue, safety pins, or a needle and thread to attach the top corner of each umbrella wing to the back of the hoodie, right under the armpit area.
Using black felt or fabric, cut out two triangular pieces for the bat ears. Use hot glue or fabric glue to attach the ears to the top of the hoodie, placing them near the front to mimic a bat’s pointy ears.
13. DIY Jellyfish Costume
What You’ll Need: clear umbrella, string lights, glow sticks, ribbon, bubble wrap, safety pins or hot glue
Start with a clear or white umbrella to represent the jellyfish’s bell (top). A transparent umbrella works best because it mimics the see-through quality of a real jellyfish. If you want it to glow, weave battery-operated string lights or attach glow sticks inside the umbrella. Secure them with tape or small safety pins.
@stacey.kraft The cutest little jellyfish ???????? Happy Halloween! #halloweencostume #diycostume #toddlercostume #fyp #jellyfishcostume
♬ what happend – Aceismidasf
Use long strips of ribbon, tulle, fabric, or even bubble wrap to create the jellyfish’s tentacles. Then, glue or safety pin the tentacle strips around the inside edge of the umbrella to make it look like a real tentacle.
As for your child, dress them in light or ocean-inspired colors, such as white, silver, light blue, or purple, to match the jellyfish theme. You can also add extra tentacles to your child’s clothes for even more effect.
12. DIY Gumball Machine Costume
What You’ll Need: white shirt, red pants, colorful pom poms, construction paper or felt, glue
Begin with a white T-shirt or tank top as the base for the gumball machine’s upper half. Using colorful pom-poms or foam balls, create the gumballs that will fill the “machine.” Start gluing the pom-poms from the chest area downward, and shape them into a giant circle (as if they’re sitting in a clear globe).
@thefashionclass Looking for a simple DIY Halloween costume?! Check out the gumball machine ????❤️???????????????????????? Supplies you’ll need: White t shirt Pom poms Glue gun Red felt Sharpie Steps: Draw a circle in the center of your t shirt (using anything you have on hand as a stencil ????) Add your Pom Poms and fill the circle Glue a red square at the bottom and add your 25 cent sign with your sharpie! This DIY is so simple and fun to do with kids! #halloween#DIY#halloweencostume#halloweencostumeideas#diyhalloweencostume#gumball#gumballmachine#toddlerlifebelike
♬ original sound – thefashionclass
Pair the white top with red pants, leggings, or a skirt to represent the base of the gumball machine. Use red or silver felt to create the bottom section of the gumball machine, where the dial and coin slot would be located. Create the coin slot and dial with felt or paper, and then you’re good to go!
11. DIY Ice Cream Server Costume
What You’ll Need: shoe box, construction paper, popsicle sticks, long piece of fabric or rope
Pick a shoebox that is wide enough to resemble an old-fashioned ice cream tray. Remove the lid, as you’ll only need the bottom of the box. Using scissors or a box cutter, carefully cut two small holes near the front and back of the shoebox for the straps, and feed the fabric or rope through it so it can be worn.
@brenikky3 Happy Halloween ???? #fyp #foryou #halloween #happyhalloween #icecream #costume #babycostume #icecreamman #icecreamcostume #fy #halloweencostume
♬ Spooky, Scary Skeletons (House VIP Remix) – Crystal Knives & Lex Allen
Use markers, paint, or stickers to decorate the shoebox like an ice cream server’s tray. You can add a brand name, or ice cream-related designs, or simply paint it in bright colors. Then, use craft foam, fabric, paper, or playdough to create fake ice cream and glue them to the inside of your new server’s tray.
Dress your child in a white shirt or a red-and-white striped shirt to resemble an old-fashioned ice cream server. And don’t forget the classic server’s hat, which adds to the nostalgic ice cream parlor theme.
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10. DIY Rosie the Riveter Costume
What You’ll Need: jean jacket (or blue collared shirt), jean bottoms, red bandana, black paper, white paper, wooden stick
Find a plain long-sleeve blue denim or chambray shirt. Roll up the sleeves to the elbow to replicate Rosie’s iconic look. If you don’t have a denim shirt, any blue button-up shirt will work as a substitute.
@hqcrocker ♬ Little Girl Gone – CHINCHILLA
Find a red bandana or scarf with white polka dots. Tie it around your child’s head, leaving a little hair showing in the front, and knot it on top for Rosie’s signature look. Pair it with brown or black work boots.
If your child is old enough to speak, you can have them say “We can do it!” when they walk up to a house. If they can’t speak yet, make a sign that reads “We can do it!” and have them hold it with the outfit.
9. DIY Ace of Spades Costume
What You’ll Need: white poster boards, string or rope, red or black construction paper, scissors, hole punch
Take two large white poster boards (these will represent the front and back of the card). The larger, the better to resemble a life-sized playing card, but ensure the size is comfortable for your child to wear.
Trim the edges into rounded corners to mimic the shape of playing cards, and use red or black construction paper to cut out the card’s suit (hearts, diamonds, spades, or clubs) and number/letter.
@ptya_productions Alice in wonderland fit check!!!! #aliceinwonderland #cards #alice #fitcheck #aceofspades #aceofhearts #cardtricks #brandon #ptya #theaterkid #theatertiktok #fyp
♬ harness your hopes – ????????
For the other poster board, you can either create a pattern similar to a real deck’s back design (use red/blue markers or construction paper to make shapes), or keep it blank if you’re short on time.
Punch two holes at the top of each poster board, cut two lengths of string or ribbon to serve as straps, thread the ribbon through the holes, and tie knots to secure the straps in place. And there you have it!
8. DIY Witch Costume
What You’ll Need: black clothing, black construction paper, ribbon, glue or tape, broomstick
The base of the costume is a simple black dress or a black shirt paired with a black skirt. Any plain black clothing will work, but if the clothes have ruffles, lace, or a flowy design, that adds to the witchy charm!
Cut a large circle out of black construction paper or felt for the brim of the hat. Make sure you cut a small circle in the middle, just large enough to fit around your child’s head. For the cone, cut a triangular shape from another piece of black paper or felt. Roll it into a cone and glue or tape the edges together.
@mommakingstuff DIY: wearable witch hat! #halloween #halloweenmakeup #halloweencrafts #teachersoftiktok #fyp #halloweencostume #halloweenrecipe #kidsactivities #toddlersoftiktok
♬ Halloween ・ cute horror song – PeriTune
Attach the cone to the brim using glue or tape, and decorate the hat with ribbons, glitter, or faux spiders to personalize it.
If you don’t have an old broomstick in the closet, find a stick or wooden dowel for the broom handle. Cut strips of brown paper bags or raffia for the broom bristles, and attach them to one end of the stick using tape or string. You can layer the paper strips to create a fuller broom effect.
7. DIY Robot Costume
What You’ll Need: large and small cardboard box, aluminum foil, duct tape, dryer vent tubing, LED lights, scissors, glue, tin foil plates
Find a cardboard box that’s large enough to fit your child’s torso, and cut holes for the arms on the sides and a hole at the top for the head. Then find one that’s big enough to fit their head and cuta large square or rectangular opening for their face. Wrap both boxes in aluminum foil for a metallic look.
@deshizzlep #diy #halloween #robotcostume #kidshalloweencostumes #onthisday #fyp #spooky #lightupcostume
♬ original sound – DeShizzle
Add buttons, switches, and dials by cutting out shapes from colored paper, tin foil plates, craft foam, or using colored tape. You can also glue on old bottle caps, plastic buttons, or anything that looks tech-y.
Cut flexible dryer vent tubing (available at hardware stores) to the appropriate lengths for your child’s arms and legs. If that’s not an option, use strips of cardboard wrapped in foil to mimic the same effect.
6. DIY Cactus Costume
What You’ll Need: green clothing, white pipe cleaners, glue, scissors, brown shoes, red flowers
Start with a green hoodie or long-sleeve shirt and pair it with green pants or leggings. This will serve as the base for the cactus costume. Keep in mind that baggy clothing will give the outfit a more textured look.
@upstyledaily Upstyled Halloween Day 7: Cactus #halloweencostume #TargetHalloween #halloween #costumeideas
♬ In Love With You – BLVKSHP
Cut white pipe cleaners into small pieces (about 3 inches each). Poke each piece through the fabric of the hoodie and bend the ends inward to create a “V” shape. This will help secure each spine to the clothing.
If you want to make the costume even more realistic, use brown shoes to represent the “pot” of the cactus. You can also add red flowers to reflect a cactus that’s blooming and add color, outside of green.
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5. DIY Ghost Costume
What You’ll Need: white sheet, scissors, black fabric or paper, glue, safety pins
Find a white sheet that’s large enough to drape over your child’s entire body, reaching the floor or just above it. A twin-sized sheet usually works well for young kids, but keep in mind that all kids are different.
@brittabooboo Cute DIY GHOST KIDS out of pool noodles!! #diyhalloweendecor #spookyseason #ghostkidz #halloweendiy #spooktober #cheapDIY #halloweencamping
♬ Halloween ・ cute horror song – PeriTune
Once the sheet is draped over your child, mark where their eyes are located using a pencil or marker. Remove the sheet and carefully cut two small holes where the eyes will be. If you prefer a more spooky and polished look, you can sew or glue black felt around the eye holes so your child can still see through.
To keep the sheet from slipping off during trick-or-treating, use safety pins or small pieces of Velcro to secure the sheet under the arms or around the shoulders. And don’t forget to have them say, “Boo!”
4. DIY Minions Costume
What You’ll Need: yellow long sleeve shirt, denim overalls, yellow beanie, black gloves and shoes, goggles, face paint
Once you have all the different items, the costume pretty much makes itself. If you don’t have goggles, you can make some out of cardboard. Just paint or color the glasses silver and incorporate a black strap.
@officialmartinfam I dont think anyone was impressed! ???????? #minions #reaction #halloweenseason #toddlersoftiktok #twinsoftiktok #costumeideas #parentcomedy #fyp
♬ Minion_lovers – Mat_tzp
For the signature Minion hair, cut black pipe cleaners into 2- to 3-inch pieces and poke them through the top of the beanie, bending the ends inside to secure them. This will create a spiky hair effect.
To add a little more Minion magic, you can apply yellow face paint or makeup to your child’s face for a complete yellow look. Use black eyeliner or face paint to outline the area around the goggles.
3. DIY Scientist Costume
What You’ll Need: white lab coat, safety glasses, clipboard, rubber gloves, name tag
Use a white lab coat if you have one, or create one by using an oversized white button-up shirt or T-shirt. If using a shirt, you can cut it down the middle to mimic a lab coat. If you want to make it extra fun, splash some colored water or food dye on the coat to give the effect of science experiments gone wrong!
@kenniquamona Who do yall think it was? ???????? #adatwistscientist #adatwist #diyhalloweencostumes #diycostumes #blackgirltiktok #momsoftiktok #diyproject
♬ Acoustic guitar chill (no wave sound)(1254171) – KBYS
Give your child a clipboard or notebook to hold as if they’re recording results from experiments. You can also complete the look with test tubes or beakers, and rubber gloves for a more professional look.
For a “mad scientist” look, style your child’s hair with hair gel to make it look wild and messy, as though they’ve just had a crazy experiment go wrong. Or use a wig with wild hair to get that iconic scientist look.
2. DIY Flower Box Costume
What You’ll Need: cardboard box, green leggings, green shirt, flowers, green felt for leaves, brown easter basket stuffing, paint, glue, scissors
Find a cardboard box that’s large enough to fit around your child’s torso like a flower pot. Cut out the top and bottom of the box, the top being for the torso and the bottom for your child’s legs so they can walk.
Paint the outside of the box to look like a flower pot. You can use brown or terra-cotta colors for a realistic flower pot look, or choose a fun color like green, pink, or yellow for a whimsical twist. You can also add brown felt or easter basket stuffing to resemble dirt.
@tiffanie.anne Last minute Halloween costumes! With things you probably already own. ???? any plant lovers? Here is your cactus and flower pots for Halloween! #lastminutecostume #halloweencouplecostumes #halloweenfamilycostumes #easycostumes #cactuscostume #flowercostume #flowerpotcostume #ritdye #upcycledhalloween #upcycledcostume
♬ Halloween ・ cute horror song – PeriTune
To make it easier for your child to wear the box, attach ribbon or fabric straps to the inside of the box so it can rest on their shoulders like suspenders. Next, you just have to dress your child to look like a flower.
For the “stem,” dress your child in green leggings or pants and a matching green shirt. This will make them look like the flower stem emerging from the flower pot. To add a cute touch, create a flower crown using more artificial flowers and attach them to a headband or hair clip. Now let them bloom!
1. DIY Crayon Costume
What You’ll Need: solid-colored clothing, black felt or bandana, black sharpie, colored paper
Decide on a color for the crayon costume. Pick a solid-colored shirt or dress in the chosen color (e.g., red, blue, green, yellow). The top should be the main body of the crayon, and should match the bottoms.
Use black felt or fabric to cut out the crayon details. Cut out long oval shapes for the lines that appear near the top and bottom of a crayon wrapper. You will need two or three black oval shapes for each line.
@talentedpeople.llc DiY Crayon Costume! #TalentedPeopleLLC #Crafty #Colorful #Ohio #Crayon #Orange #Foryou #FYP #ForYouPage
♬ Colors – Blake Rules & Netherfriends
For extra detail, you can create a Crayola label by either printing out the “Crayola” logo and gluing it on the shirt or painting the word “Crayon” with black fabric paint or markers onto the shirt.
To create the pointy crayon tip hat, take a piece of colored paper and roll it into a cone shape, making sure it fits comfortably on your child’s head. Trim the bottom edge so it sits flat on the head. Glue or tape the cone in place, and attach an elastic band to both sides of the cone to secure it under your child’s chin.
Are You Making DIY Kids Halloween Costumes This Year?
Making DIY Halloween costumes for kids can be a rewarding experience for parents and offers several benefits for the children, ensuring everyone gets the most out of their 2024 Halloween experience.
Plus, involving kids in the costume-making process can foster creativity and imagination, and is a perfect opportunity for them to brainstorm ideas, choose colors, make decisions, and even assist in crafting.
Maybe these DIY kids halloween costumes will become a new family tradition that you can bring back year after year. And who knows, maybe it’s something your children will do with their own kids someday!
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With a bit of creativity and some basic crafting skills, you can create one-of-a-kind DIY kids Halloween costumes that are both fun and eco-friendly, making Halloween an enriching experience for all involved.