20 DIY Family Halloween Costume Ideas

If you're searching for a family costume everyone will love, you're in the right place. Check out our favorite family costume ideas to DIY this Halloween.

By: Maria Conti

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DIY Family Costumes Everyone Will Love

As parents, you only get so many Halloweens to dress up with your kiddos before they run off to haunt the town with their ghoulish friends. Relish the fun-filled holidays you spend together by making DIY family costumes for your crew. From colorful crayons to scary-chic sheet ghosts — we're covering all the bases with 20 DIY family costume ideas you can make on the cheap and everyone will love.

First up: Haunt the neighborhood this Halloween by reprising the roles of iconic movie monsters à la blogger Lori Oberbroeckling. This creep-tastic crew offers ample inspiration for yours, with mom and dad dressed to kill as Frankenstein's monster and his bride. The kids are fit to fright as Count Dracula, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, a fanged vampire and a mummy.

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Oktoberfest Costume

Oktoberfest may end in early October, but we think the traditional frocks, suspenders and Bavarian flower crowns deserve an encore appearance as your family Halloween costume. Make the iconic ladies’ Dirndl with a patterned midi dress with puff sleeves, white knee-high socks, comfy flats, a waist apron, our DIY flower crown and our gingerbread heart necklaces. And, for the fellows, create a classic Lederhosen costume with a collared button-down shirt, khaki bottoms, cognac leather shoes and brown suspenders. Bonus points if you top off the look with a feathered Alpine hat.

Get the How-To: How to Craft Bavarian Flower Crowns for Oktoberfest

From: H. Camille Smith

Back-to-School Costume

Is there anything better than new school supplies? We think not, friend. Deck out your family as everyone’s favorite things: a big pink eraser, a blank page ready to write on and a sharpened pencil, ready to do the job. Snag plain yellow, white and pink t-shirts from your go-to dollar spot and use fabric markers to embellish with lines and iconic branding.

GET THE HOW-TO: DIY School Supplies Family Costume

Magical Unicorn Costume

Transform your little ones (and yourself!) into matching magical unicorns with our free printable mask. Your kids will love creating their one-of-a-kind unicorn mask with markers, colored pencils and glitter galore. Dress them in matching outfits like the denim tops pictured here, or keep them cozy for trick-or-treating with pale pink, purple or white sweatsuits.

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The Royal Family Costume

Reign supreme this Halloween and head out for trick-or-treating looking oh-so-regal with this cheap and easy DIY family costume. Create royal family crowns with cut paper grocery bags, glitter glue, paints and colored markers. Slide on silky gloves and slip into tulle tutus, sweaters or any other royal-inspired staples you already have in your closet.

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Avocado Toast Costume

Expecting mamas, make your bump the star of the show with this punny family costume: avocado toast. All you need is one 18” x 18” x 16” cardboard box and basic craft supplies to cook up a toast costume for your partner and an avocado for yourself. Follow our step-by-step instructions, below, to get the materials list and instructions.

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Superhero Squad Costume

Procrastinating parents, this DIY family costume idea is made for you. Throw your kiddos into a monochromatic get-up (a sweatsuit or legging set will do the trick) and transform them into superheroes with colorful felt belts, wrist bands and eye masks. Finish off the costume with our DIY kiddie cape project, linked below.

Get the How-To: Kids' Superhero Cape

Flower Power Costume

Pull up this photo and let this hip crew convince your older kiddos or teenagers to dress up as a flower power family for your annual Halloween shindig. This family costume is failproof for free-spirited teens because they get to wear their favorite floral frocks or funky thrifted flares and throw on a DIY flower crown to complete the look.

Pool Noodle Crew Costume

Put summer pool noodles to work and create attention-grabbing costumes for the whole family. Each of these vibrant ensembles is unique but cohesive, as they feature the same star material. Get all our best tips to craft a queen bee, rainbow and French fry costume for your fam in the link below.

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Chic Sheet Ghosts Costume

Sheet ghosts — but make it fashion. Take cues from artist Amy Wetton and dress your ghoulish gang in scary-chic floral bedsheets and quirky spectacles this Halloween. Employ the same punchy print for all your family members to create haunting cohesion or play with different patterns to achieve boo-tiful group contrast.

Galactic Star Wars Costume

Travel back to a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away this Halloween. Transform your family into iconic Star Wars characters, à la blogger Bethann Wagner. Use hair, makeup and clothes already in your closet to create convincing Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader ensembles.

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It's All Up! From Here Costume

Elevate your family costume game this Halloween with kitschy and colorful Up-inspired outfits. Follow blogger Keiko Lynn’s lead and head out for trick-or-treating as Carl Fredrickson, Russell and the prismatic balloon-clad house. And, if you are blessed with a bigger crew to costume, cast them for the roles of Ellie, Dug and Kevin.

GET THE HOW-TO: DIY Up House Costume

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Coffee + Donut Costume

The only thing sweeter than a baby bump is a baby bump dressed up as an iced rainbow sprinkle donut for Halloween. Expecting parents, celebrate the holiday with our easy and adorable cardboard coffee and donut costume. And if you already have a little one running around, continue the breakfast theme with our DIY laundry basket cereal costume.

Get the How-To: 3 DIY Breakfast-Themed Costumes for Baby Bumps

Out-of-the-Box Costumes

Think outside the box when scheming up your family costumes this year. Join forces with your creative kiddos one weekend in October and craft up our three box-constructed costumes: an out-of-this-world astronaut, an adventurer in a hot air balloon and an on-the-move train conductor.

Get the How-To: 3 Out-of-the-Box Halloween Costumes Made From Cardboard

Crayon Crew Costume

This eye-catching family costume is quick, easy and perfect for kids (and adults!) of all ages. Turn your kids, partner and pup into a box of crayons using only colorful t-shirts, craft scissors, black felt, fabric glue, card stock and ribbon. Wear black leggings or denim pants to let your chosen shade shine.

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Milk + Cookie Costume

Name a better duo than milk and cookies — we’ll wait! This mommy-and-me costume idea is sweet and easy to make using just a cardboard box, round chair cushions, some felt and basic craft supplies. Want to get your partner in on this fun family costume? Have them dress as another milk carton or as another iconic cookie.

Get the How-To: Mom and Child Halloween Costume: Milk and Cookies

Little Red Riding Hood + The Big Bad Wolf Costume

Family costumes should include your furbabies, too! Dress your little one and their trusty trick-or-treating sidekick as Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. Check out our step-by-step guide and materials list to make this DIY family costume in the link below.

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Galaxy Family Costume

Reach for the stars with your family Halloween costume this year — literally — by recreating our DIY galaxy-themed costumes for you and the crew. Turn your out-of-this-world kiddos into adorable irridescent aliens with googly eyes galore. Parents, take your pick between an adventurous astronaut and a solar system suit to round out the group ensemble.

Get the How-To: DIY Family Costumes That Are Out of This World

Mama Kangaroo + Joey Costume

Hop from house to house as a mama kangaroo and joey this Halloween. This adorable Aussie-inspired family costume is perfect for moms who want to keep their baby close while having two free hands for their other little kangaroos while trick-or-treating.

Get the How-To: Make a Matching Mom and Baby Kangaroo Costume

Garden Gnome Costume

No family costume ideas? “Gnome” problem. Turn your family into a group of charming garden gnomes with the clothes you already have in your closet and a few basic crafting items. Get our easy step-by-step tutorial and materials list to make it happen in the link below.

Get the How-To: DIY Garden Gnome Halloween Costume