100+ Cheap and Easy DIY Halloween Costumes

Need a costume ASAP but don't want to spend a fortune on a mass-produced piece you'll only wear once? We've got you covered with our list of creative, cute, spooky and funny costumes you can make in minutes. And the best part? Most of these ideas are made from basic craft supplies or upcycled materials you likely already have on-hand.

First up: Create a standard but loveable ghost costume using the things you have in your closet. Throw on an old sheet, cut out eye holes and pair it with a fun hat and sunglasses. Take it to the next level with some vibrant socks and boooots!

This costume will have everyone doing double takes. By covering all skin and hair in grayscale, you create the appearance of a black-and-white film star who has stepped into a techno-colored world.

Every parent, at one time or another has thought their child was like a bull in a china shop. Turn this timeless expression into an adorable Halloween costume.

Pull that sheet off your bed and learn how to transform it into a toga. It is literally the quickest costume you can make — takes about a minute.

Here's a costume for boat lovers of any size. You don't need a lot of money to make this sweet seaworthy costume. It took just a few cardboard boxes, some glue and paint.

PSA: Showing up in your birthday suit to a Halloween event is unacceptable in any other form or circumstance than the one outlined above. Dress up as a confetti-clad cake slice topped with a smokin’ birthday candle. Have your date sport a casual suit and tie and round out their look with a DIY cone hat to bring your costumes together.

Your little one is such a doll, why not make it official for trick-or-treating? Turn your tot into a darling vintage wind-up doll using cardboard, spray paint, elastic and glue. Don’t forget a larger-than-life hairbow to round out the look.

Create a trick-or-treating masterpiece by turning your little artist into a classic watercolor paint tray. Top it off with a handmade French-inspired beret and a jumbo paintbrush made from a pool noodle.

Create a big buzz with this adorable duo. A simple bee costume is made of a striped T-shirt, some wings and antennae. But, adding a beekeeper suit is what really makes this costume un-bee-lievably funny. Everyone will think you're the bee’s knees.

No costume ideas? “Gnome” problem. With a few common craft items and some everyday clothing pieces, you can quickly transform yourself and your plus one into the perfect garden-guarding pair.

Put leftover summer pool noodles to work outside the water as a queen-worthy beehive costume, golden French fries or a radiant rainbow.

Careful not to stray too far off your trick-or-treating path while wearing this adorable Little Red Riding Hood costume. The iconic fairytale ensemble is easy to put together for your little one or yourself using inexpensive items found in your closet or favorite thrift shop. Don't forget to DIY the Big Bad Wolf costume for your four-legged friend using a sweater, granny glasses and a wig.

Expecting moms, this one is for you! Join forces with your partner and show off your sweet bump in style this Halloween with our darling DIY avocado toast costume. All you need to get started are two long-sleeved brown t-shirts, a cardboard box and some craft paint. Click the link below for a full materials list, step-by-step instructions and an easy-to-follow video tutorial.

Raid your wardrobe and grab a flannel shirt, jeans and any other fall looking accessories you can find. Cut some squares of scrap fabric for patches and place them on with double sided tape. Tape raffia to the inside of the sleeves and the top of your boots for that classic scarecrow vibe.

This costume deserves a gold medal. Grab a loaf of bread, suit up in your best running gear and get ready to show everyone what a winner you are.

Wear your crazy plant lady label with pride with this easy — nay, effortless — DIY costume. All you need is a simple t-shirt in the color of your choice, iron-on letters and budget-friendly green garland. Follow the instructions in the iron-on letter package to adorn your tee with a punny phrase, then throw on well-loved denim and use the lush foliage as a boa around your neck to complete the ensemble. Bonus points if you manage to snap a quick pic surrounded by your beloved plant babies before heading out to your Halloween event.

Cat ladies get all the attention, but what about cat daddies? Put those old stuffed animals to good use and add them to your best cool Dad wardrobe. Bonus points if you can DIY a "Daddy" hat with vinyl lettering to complete the look.

Channel your inner clean freak to turn a plain white T-shirt and balloons into a clever bar of soap and bubbles. Get ideas for more last-minute costumes you can create from white T-shirts, below.

With a bit of faux fur secured with leather ties and a hilarious yarn beard, your little one (or any size) will be ready to trick-or-treat in Valhalla.

A patisserie chef and croquembouche walk into a bar and win the best Halloween costume contest by a landslide. Take notes from this Studio DIY costume idea and dress up with your partner as a French Chef and an iconic French menu item like a colorful macaroon, an éclair, a baguette or a classic, buttery croissant.

Last-minute costumes needn’t be lackluster, friend. Dress your tot (or yourself) as the cutest crayons in the box using a solid T-shirt in your favorite color, black cardstock and a handy dandy hot glue gun. Get the full breakdown on how to make these quick-and-colorful costumes in the link below.

Need a sweet costume you can whip up in a flash? Then this clever costume idea is for you. Just hot-glue painted applesauce containers onto a white apron for a sweet disguise based on the classic candy.

Be the belle of the ball — the disco ball! This costume is all about the accessories. Grab anything from your wardrobe that is silver and sparkly like a cocktail dress and pair it with some DIY disco ball accessories. Hot glue disco balls to a headband, add them to earring hooks and a bracelet to ensure you are the shiniest person at the party.

Giving yourself the graphic, comic-inspired Roy Lichtenstein treatment, as Wisconsin salon owner Nicoal Steinmann did here, is all about highlighting features with bold black lines (a liquid liner would work well) and recreating the look of Ben Day dots. Named for the illustrator Benjamin Henry Day, Jr., the process (which Nicole rendered in white here) uses mechanically created spots to create shading and variation with a limited primary-color palette in images printed for newspapers.

This costume is so easy it's scary. A few empty cereal boxes and a fake knife are all you need to kill it this Halloween.

Spook your street with an iconic Hollywood movie monster group costume. Blogger Lori Oberbroeckling’s family provides eerie inspiration with their take on the gruesome group. Mom and dad are dressed to kill as Frankenstein's monster and his bride while the creepy kiddos reprise the roles of Count Dracula, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, a fanged vampire and a mummy. Check out more from Lori on Instagram @gluttonforchaos.

Put your crafting chops to the test this Halloween by turning a discarded cardboard box into a charming train and conductor costume for your little one. It’s much easier to construct than you’d think (trust us!), and your kiddo will have a blast helping you build their train from scratch.

This safari-inspired look is a roaring success when paired with a cute little lion. A neutral outfit, some binoculars and a hat are the perfect pairing for your wild ones.

Take on Halloween in style with this simple costume that begins with a little black dress and an upcylcled umbrella.

Every sweet tooth needs its candy fix, and this costume delivers. Though it looks a little intricate, this outfit and its accessories are surprisingly easy to make and come together to create something cooler than anything money could buy.

Extra, extra – we’re all about it! This cheeky Halloween costume demands attention with a newspaper-adorned mini dress hidden behind a classic trench coat.

Coffee and donuts: Name a better duo, we’ll wait. This delicious couple's costume offers expectant mothers the opportunity to show off their sweet bump and stay comfortable at the same time. Make both the sprinkle-clad donut and cup o’ joe costumes with poster board, scissors and craft paint. Pro tip: Be sure to measure your bump before cutting your donut for the perfect fit.

Take your game to the streets with this quick and easy sports-themed costume made from a laundry basket, deflated ball and a foam board. Get the full instructions, plus more laundry basket costume ideas at the link below.

Trigger everyone's tastebuds with this fun Girl Scout and cookie costume from Unblushing. Unfortunately, you most likely won't be able to dig out your old Girl Scout uniform like she did, but it may be worth a trip to a thrift store.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for this sweet treat of an idea. A milkman hat, suspenders and some construction paper sprinkles are a quick and easy way to deliver up some laughs.

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Turn a basic white T-shirt into a seriously creepy Halloween costume using a pair of scissors, our easy skeleton makeup tutorial and a little imagination. Get the step-by-step instructions, plus more last-minute costumes you can create from white T-shirts, below.

Get ready to school family and friends on Halloween with this sharp-and-scholarly costume idea. Recreate this well-appointed design with a long-sleeve yellow dress, bright-pink shoes and a pointed cone hat painted to resemble a sharpened pencil. Have your partner sport a white notebook-paper T-shirt using blue and red paint pens; Dress your little one or fur baby in a sweet pink top with hand-scribed lettering inspired by Paper Mate’s Pink Pearl eraser.

Remember that year in college that you dressed up as a not-so-innocent angel for Halloween? Put those forgotten feather wings and dusty halo to use for this exponentially more PG costume Halloween. Use black paint pens to create cow spots on a plain white T-shirt, throw on your wings, and combine a store-bought cow headband with your halo overhead to complete this punny holy cow costume.

You and your toddler go together like ... well, milk and cookies! Whip up this cute costume using a cardboard box, felt, round chair cushions and basic craft supplies.

Nicoal created dazzling dimensionality for this graphic look, in turn, with rhinestones. “The gems in this photo were all put on one at a time using Duo eyelash glue as an adhesive and a dual-end rhinestone pickup tool, which makes it easier to pick up each individual gem. Any flat-back rhinestones will work for this look, and you can switch it up with any color gems you like.”

Make this spooky-cute costume in a pinch from items you would normally toss in the trash. A cardboard box, fabric softener bottle caps, empty tissue boxes and some basic craft supplies are all you need to craft this iconic literary monster.

Turn a bunch of inexpensive feather boas into a fun flamingo costume for your little one. Pair it with a pink dress and tights, and you have a unique, handmade Halloween costume that won't break the bank.

All hail the queen! Craft a refined Queen of Hearts costume for yourself or your kiddo using a simple red t-shirt, a DIY tulle skirt and a flashy ruby crown. Get the in-depth how-to for this costume in the link below.

Are you a flower fanatic? Transform yourself into a pretty potted plant this Halloween using faux dollar store blooms and a laundry basket.

Achieve an otherworldly costume this year with punchy, prismatic martian makeup. Known on social media as Villainous Varnishes for her professional makeup artistry and hair styling, Austina calls herself Aura Nova, “the cutest alien babe in the universe,” here. The key to nailing a look like this one is to tell a strong color story — here, a retro pink and green combination that carries into her accessories (find a full list of the makeup she used here). “To make the antennae you’ll need a headband, wooden skewers, air-dry clay, spray paint and hot glue,” she adds.

Snails might be slow moving, but you can whip up this costume in a jiffy with items you probably already have. Roll up your comforter or sleeping bag to use as a shell and use belts to help carry it on your back. Wear all earth tones and make an antenna topper with a headband, wire and brown paper to complete the adorable look.

Abracadabra! This super-simple costume comes together like magic with only some bunny ears and a black wand and hat.

Drag out your box of craft supplies and dig through your athletic-wear drawer to become this classic, competitive duo.

A tiara, tutu and pink leg warmers can make anyone feel like a princess. To make this costume, pink baby socks were cut and embellished with trim and bows. Pink tulle and elastic were used to make the tutu skirt. The neckband was crafted from pink nylon and elastic, but a rhinestone pink collar or harness will work as well. Just remember to top off the costume with an elegant tiara.

For this devilishly handsome look, start with jeans and a white T-shirt. Tape a yellow paper plate (construction paper works well, too) to the middle of your shirt. Top the look with some underworld-inspired accessories like a red cape, horns and pitchfork. Don’t want to spend the cash? Opt for a cape made from a blanket, and a garden pitchfork and horns made from cardstock. Don’t be afraid to get creative with this egg-cellent idea.

If ever there was a decade to break out the flapper gear, the 2020s are it. Give a nod to the infamous party decade by donning your best 1920s-style clothing — think slinky dresses, feather boas, suspenders and fedoras. And don't forget the most important accessory — a glass of sparkling champagne!

Summer might be over, but don't put those pool noodles away just yet. Craft this cute, colorful rainbow costume by bending and gluing the foam floaties together into a pretty piece that wears like a backpack.

Cue the shenanigans with this clever, last-minute costume you can pull together using items in your child's closet. Just add muscles and a mustache.

We give this costume our stamp of approval. A black dress paired with an address and you are good to go!

Why would you ever buy store-bought Halloween costumes when you could follow our easy-breezy tutorial to transform a cardboard box into a hot air balloon instead? Save money and take your costume game to new heights with a hot air balloon of your own.

Let the kiddos dress up as their favorite sweet treat this Halloween by crafting our simple ice cream cone hats. Style your scoops with comfy, solid-color clothing that coordinates with the featured flavor.

Just like iconic movie characters, classic folklore can make for an easily recognizable costume. Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox costumes are surprisingly easy to throw together at the last minute and are sure to save you from a night of explaining what your costume is.

Looking for an outfit that's out-of-this-world cute? Craft this playful pink astronaut suit, perfect for sweets sampling or space exploration, using a recycled cardboard box and fluffy yarn pom antennas. It even comes with a built-in candy meter made from old-school CDs.

Make everyone at the party jealous of your creativity with this funny couple's costume idea. One person wears an "Envy" nametag (that's you, duh), and the other goes green from head to toe (definitely your partner).

This hot and ready costume combo from Studio DIY combines Italian cuisine with some (out-of-the-pizza) box thinking. The DIY pizza slice and delivery boy costume are simple to whip up at home with poster board, craft supplies and everyday wardrobe staples like a simple shift dress, a baseball T-shirt, a backward hat and blue jeans.

Turn items you already have on hand (like a king-size pillowcase, cereal box and flip flops) into this last-minute costume that's fit for Roman royalty.

Meow! This spooky spotted makeup is perfect for anyone looking to have a wild night on the town this Halloween. The best part? All you need are a few drugstore makeup staples to recreate this fierce makeup at home. Pro tip: Draw on your tried-and-true black winged liner as normal, then extend your liquid liner all the way into the inner corner of your eye for extra drama. This technique creates a cat-like gaze purr-fect for the occasion.

Who doesn't love a punny costume? Sport this cheeky spelling bee costume to keep conversations flowing all night. This play on words will earn you compliments aplenty, and all you need to throw it together at home is a simple yellow-and-black T-shirt, pipe cleaner and pom-pom antennas and contrasting cardstock letters. Slide on a pair of oversize sunglasses before flying out the door.

Make a splash in our easy-to-craft, upcycled DIY scuba diver costume. Build your dive gear out of two 2-liter soda bottles painted metallic silver and striped with hot pink and black tape. Create a diving suit with a long-sleeve black T-shirt and black leggings, then slide into pink cardstock flippers to complete the look.

An inexpensive laundry basket and colorful pool noodles make this an easy, affordable DIY kid's cereal bowl costume. It's so cute, everyone will eat it right up!

Bring that nervous feeling to life with this quick, easy costume that'll have you all tied up in knots.

Turn your flashy silver sequin dress or tot’s metallic frock into an out-of-this-world costume with lime green tights and our easy-peasy alien eyeball headband. You can make it at home in a flash using pom poms and pipe cleaners in the color of your choice. Wear your hair in a top knot to allow your all-seeing-alien eyes to shine, or up the fun with a pair of space buns above each ear.

White sheet ghosts? We’ve been there, spooked that. Kick your haunting game into high gear with artist Amy Wetton as your muse and give your ghoulish gang a boo-tiful twist with lively floral bedsheets topped with matching round spectacles. Don the same print for creepy cohesion or mix it up with an array of boo-worthy blooms. See more of Amy's creations on Instagram @wildcanarystudio.

Ready to finally retire your black cat ears? Replace your feisty feline costume with a bit wilder and a much, much taller option this Halloween. Our giraffe makeup tutorial is super easy to do yourself at home, plus it requires minimal products to make an impact on your Halloween look. Follow your go-to glam makeup routine, then use brown liquid liner and white face paint to create the iconic giraffe pattern on one side of your face. Throw on a cozy brown or gold sweater and top off your locks with a store-bought giraffe headband to complete your sweet safari-worthy ensemble.

Level up your Halloween game this year with our cozy-cute llama costume. Not only will you or your little one look cute as a button, but the simple-to-craft vest will keep you warm while trick-or-treating. The best part? You have an easy excuse to wear flashy tassels and pom-poms aplenty.

This super-easy costume is perfect for little ones just learning to walk with their hands in an adult's for assistance — their arms-up position gives their body the shape of a saguaro cactus. Our step-by-step instructions (linked below) show how to turn a comfy infant's onesie into one prickly character.

This shark and lifeguard look is a quick and easy Halloween costume for mom and child.

Dreaming of leaving this world behind and laying down roots on Mars? We relate. This last-minute DIY Astronaut costume isn’t quite space-ready, but it’s certainly fit for your upcoming Halloween festivities here on Earth. Build your jet pack with two recycled 2-liter bottles painted metallic silver, and add blue-and-white stripes for a quintessential rocket appeal. Ready for blast-off? Glue red, yellow and orange felt flames to the base of your jetpack to take off and fly into the night.

Drop some sweet beats in this cool-clever costume you can make for less than $10. Get the step-by-step instructions below.

Kids will love this fun costume that doubles as an imagination-stirring jacket they can wear anytime. Our step-by-step instructions and free printable templates ensure that even a sewing newbie can stitch one up for their little tadpole.

With a few simple items and no more than one hour of your time, your dog can have a perfectly spellbinding Halloween costume. Print the pattern and cut the felt using the black lines as your guide. Be sure to cut the notches on the inside of the brim shape. Overlap the edges of the cone shape as indicated in gray on your pattern and hot glue along the edge. Attach the brim to the pointy hat by gluing the notches to the inside bottom edge of the cone. Cut a strip of green felt 1” x 12-1/2” long and glue it around base of the hat. To create the yarn braids, make a small bundle of yarn about 18” long and tie a knot at the top. Braid the yarn and tie it off with a piece of yarn and then trim the bottom so the end is even. Repeat for the second braid then hot glue the yarn hair to the inside of the hat on either side of the bottom edge. Measure your dog from ear to ear and cut a piece of elastic to that measurement. Glue the elastic strap inside the hat.

Turn a basic white T-shirt into this genius last-minute Halloween costume in just a few steps, using materials you likely already have at home.

You don’t have to have long locks of golden tresses to be this pretty, pretty princess for Halloween. A few skeins of varying yellow yarn should do the trick! Learn how to make this easy Rapunzel wig, plus two more fast-and-fun Halloween wigs at the link below.

Sure, you could cover yourself in dust and call it a day, or you could opt for this adorable alternative that utilizes a fun pair of bunny ears and feather duster. We’ll take the second option any day.

Coffee and a few old T-shirts are all you need to create stained mummy rags. Finish the look with a layer of all-black clothing underneath and ghoulish makeup.

This is one costume your kiddo will want to wear year-round for imaginative play. The fluffy tulle tutu is sure to be a hit and is so easy to craft that you'll want to make them in lots of colors. Learn how to make the no-sew tutu plus a peacock feather headband with our step-by-step instructions below.

An all-black outfit, glow sticks and packing tape are all you need to pull together this last-minute costume that gets 'glowing' reviews.

Ooh la la. We’re tres obsessed with this simple costume idea. Start by tossing on a striped top and colorful beret. Complete the look with a sassy neck scarf and a cardboard cutout of toast. French-girl chic never looked so tasty.

Cute, cozy and warm — this must be the most practical Halloween costume on our list. Dress up with your partner or friends in Jack and Jill costumes using flannel shirts, blue jeans, leather work boots (or booties!) and fur-lined trapper hats. Keep the sharp hatchets at home and celebrate Halloween sipping on warm cocktails around a bonfire with friends.

An old laundry basket, wrapping paper, felt and basic craft supplies are all you need to dress your little sweetie up as their favorite icing-and-sprinkle-topped treat.

Realistically resemble the deceased with this skeleton makeup treatment. Pull off the expert-level look in under an hour with our easy how-to instructions, linked below.

Your little one is sure to cast a spell in this wee witch's costume made up of a no-sew tulle tutu, pointy craft-foam hat, DIY twig broom, black T-shirt and striped tights.

Basic makeup, coffee (yes, coffee!) and spirit gum are all you need to create an undead look only a mummy could love. Our step-by-step instructions below show you how to perfect the sunken eye look.

This little piggy might have the coziest costume of all for a brisk night of trick-or-treating. Start with a pink sweatsuit, then add piggy ears and a sweet snout (or buy/DIY a pig nose face mask). Wrap it all up in a warm blanket and prepare to be the cutest piglet on the block.

Go disguised as a ragdoll this Halloween. Our easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions will show you how to totally transform your look with makeup. Plus: Learn how to add 3-D stitches with yarn and eyelash glue.

Our printable templates make it easy to turn a basic black hoodie into a warm and cozy bat costume that's perfect for trick-or-treating on a chilly night or just a game of pretend in the backyard. Sew up one of your own with our free printable templates and step-by-step instructions, below.

Keep your baby close with a clever costume idea that's comfy for your little one while keeping your hands free. Our downloadable templates and step-by-step instructions (linked below) make crafting the hats quick and easy.

This year, turn your burrito obsession into a spicy-cute costume. A veggie burrito with the works is easy and inexpensive to make, starting with a white blanket for the tortilla and different colored fabric for the lettuce, tomatoes and olives. White and yellow pompoms serve as the sour cream and cheese.

Adventure awaits! Gear up for the wilds of trick-or-treating in this easy-to-create Halloween costume that uses clothes they already have and a few materials from the fabric store.

This inexpensive dino costume is easy to make with just basic sewing skills, and so comfy that kids big and small will want to wear it long after Halloween. Get crafting to turn a basic hoodie into a kid-pleasing costume.

This Halloween, go as the enchanting comic book and feature-film villainess, Poison Ivy. Our easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions show you how to apply the fantasy makeup to give even a basic costume a silver screen-worthy look.

Get your little flying ace ready for a night on the town with our easy-to-follow instructions for transforming everyday clothing into a vintage pilot's uniform complete with a custom-fitted aviator's hat.

These feathered wings are perfect for occasions that require a costume, like Halloween or a Christmas nativity play but are also sturdy enough to be worn for everyday imaginative play. Learn how to make your own at the link below.

Just a few easy do-it-yourself additions will turn clothes they already have into a cute Halloween costume on the fly. Dress your little duffer in traditional golf attire, then finish the look with a DIY pom-pom topped knit hat and golf bag that can also be used to stash their candy haul.

Embrace the 1980s neon nostalgia with fun eye-popping accessories and retro styling to help rock this iconic and colorful look. Remember to bring the upbeat energetic personality to complete the vibe.

Inexpensive felt and basic sewing skills are all you need to turn a plain gray hoodie sweatshirt into a warm-and-cozy great white shark costume.