82 Cute + Easy DIY Halloween Kids' Costumes

It's that time of year again when you have to choose between spending a small fortune on a store-bought Halloween costume for your kiddo (or kiddos) or spend hours of precious free time crafting something they'll actually want to wear. Well, stress no longer! We've pulled together the ultimate list of cute, clever costumes that are easy to make, take minimal time and look like something you bought off the rack.

Grab our step-by-step tutorials for a variety of kid-friendly outfits like this scuba diver costume made from leftover soda bottles. Make this adorable costume in a pinch from items you would normally toss in the trash, like 2-liter soda bottles and a laundry detergent cap.

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 and pipe cleaners.

The Queen of Hearts may be the antagonist in Lewis Carroll's children's book classic Alice in Wonderland, but this sweet costume will make the villainous queen look downright adorable. There is minimal sewing involved and the sewing can even be skipped if needed. Best of all, this costume is easy to customize to fit children of any age or even an adult.

All aboard! Reduce, reuse and recreate this charming choo-choo from discarded cardboard boxes and some craft supplies you likely already have on hand.

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 from items in your child's closet. Just add muscles and a mustache.

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.

Inspired by the fact that the creator's young child was still walking holding her parents' hands, a simple saguaro cactus costume was a hilariously cute choice for his first Halloween. You only need a few materials to make one of your own. Looking for a matching grown-up cactus costume? Check out our easy cactus dress tutorial.

It's Halloween Eve and you are up against a clock! What do you do? Well, you certainly won't waste any time making this easy costume that only requires paper and a marker.

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

It’s nothing but blue skies ahead when you DIY this rainy-day costume. A fluffy rain cloud is made from an umbrella that is covered in cotton with construction paper raindrops attached to the underside. Add a colorful rainbow or a ray of sunshine to complete this creative costume.

Make a standard tutu skirt (very easy) long enough to serve as a dress. Add a halter ribbon, a set of wings, and adorn it with a floral belt and a pretty halo.

They're standing in front of retail stores everywhere, now you can be one for Halloween with this no-sew costume made from a child's nylon tunnel.

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 some laughs.

Ahoy, trick-or-treaters! Save your shipping boxes to craft this sweet, seaworthy costume.

Keep it clean this Halloween with a DIY soap costume that will get the party popping. Follow our step-by-step instructions to learn how to turn a plain white T-shirt into a bubbling bar of soap, plus five more easy DIY t-shirt costume ideas.

Is there anything cuter than kids and dogs trick-or-treating together? We don't think so. This Little Red Riding Hood costume is perfect for any little one and their "Big Bad Wolf" (aka puppy), and is sure to have the whole block smiling.

Has there ever been an easier Halloween costume? We doubt it. A bit of flour is all you need to get a giggle out of anyone when they see this eye-roll-worthy costume.

Turn your tot into an aeronaut with a cardboard box and a helium balloon. As a bonus, the tall balloon will make it easy to keep track of your child on Halloween night.

New Orleans artist Crystal Turner has an enviable sidekick when it comes to costume creation in October. “My son and I love Halloween and I dress up with him every year,” she says. “The inspiration behind our unzipped look was to showcase [that] we are all magical and made of the universe!” To follow in their footsteps, buy a zipper at a craft store (or upcycle one from a worn-out item of clothing), then snip off the excess fabric on either side of the teeth. Experiment with laying the zipper at different angles on your face, trimming it to length, then dusting over it with a bit of loose powder so you’ll know where it will be affixed. Dab spirit gum within the outlines that remain, lay the zipper on your face, then use a combination of sponged, brushed, and stippled water-based makeup to create the effect of your choice on the “unzipped” portion of your face.

Have a T-shirt, craft felt and some construction paper? Then you have everything you need to craft this oh-so-colorful costume.

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.

We love a good pun and this ceiling "fan" costume fits the bill. The beauty of this simple costume is it works with any shirt you’re willing to take stickers or a marker to. Finish off the look with a pair of pompoms, and you have yourself a cheap, last-minute costume that is sure to get some laughs.

Is your little one as cute as a doll? Turn them into a vintage wind-up doll for Halloween using a bit of cardboard and spray paint .

Empower your kids to feel invincible by helping them create their own DIY superhero outfits. Offer them the creative freedom to dream up their own superpowers and help design a personal emblem for their costume. The best part? Most of the items for this DIY can be found in your kid's closet.

The whimsical playing card soldiers from Alice in Wonderland is an easy DIY costume that kids will love.

Old MacDonald has nothing on this fun farm costume. Throw on a pair of overalls for instant barnyard vibes. And for a cluckin’ cute chicken, all you need are a white feather boa, some yellow rubber gloves paired with yellow tights and a felt beak.

Your little one's imagination will take flight in this vintage aviator costume. Embellish everyday clothing with handmade felt patches, then add a custom-made scarf and bomber hat to bring the look together.

Is your little one not quite ready to trick-or-treat on Halloween night, walking the long distances up and down the block? Turn a wagon into a portable, out-of-this-world costume.

Sure, you could cover your kids in dust and call it a day, or you could opt for this adorable alternative that utilizes a fun pair of bunny ears and a feather duster to create a punny dust bunny costume.

"Chim-chiminy, chim-chiminy, chim chim cher-ee," this Halloween costume is as cute as could be; and easy too!

Ewe two are simply delightful. A couple of old sheets and some rope transform you into a shepherd worthy of a cuddly little sheep (or a whole flock).

An easy-to-craft tulle tutu makes this no-sew costume a favorite among skirt-swirling little ones everywhere. Add a few fashion-forward peacock feathers for a Halloween costume they'll never want to take off.

Even the biggest Halloween humbugs will be delighted by this cute, handmade witch costume made from a no-sew tutu and foam hat, and paired with striped tights and a black t-shirt. Throw in a pint-size broom fashioned from a stick and twigs for an authentic witchy look.

Does your child love pizza? Let them proudly wear their favorite meal this Halloween. They can even choose the toppings!

This easy, no-sew costume uses everyday items like a pillowcase, cereal box and flip flops to create a majestic costume fit for Roman royalty. No sheet-wrapping involved, which means there’s no need to worry about the toga falling off during trick-or-treating.

Get your little warrior ready for Halloween with a no-sew costume that's a snap to pull together with faux-leather armor and a cool ninja sword holder.

A shiny silver dress, green tights and basic craft supplies are all you need to turn your little space cadet into an adorable alien. Follow the link below for step-by-step instructions on how to turn the whole family into an out-of-this-world cast of characters.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ... this adorable ice cream costume! 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.

In a pinch for a clever homemade Halloween costume? No worries, you can quickly whip up this sweet costume that mimics the look of the classic Halloween candy.

ARRRRR you ready to have the most sea-worthy costumes on the block without going overboard? A pirate hat and a red sash pair with a plucky parrot to make a big splash.

A handmade tulle tutu, basic red sweatshirt and felt are all you need to craft this cute ladybug costume complete with a personalized leafy trick-or-treat tote bag.

Southern California-based makeup artist and hairstylist Morgan Silva used her expert skills to transform her little brother into a spooky-skeleton for Halloween. To spookify a sibling (or yourself) in a similarly spine-chilling way, find our skeleton makeup tutorial below, then check out our full list of DIY Halloween makeup ideas.

Let your toddler or non-walker ride in style this Halloween by transforming a plain wagon into a big yellow school bus.

This cute costume is a hole in one! If your kiddo loves to play (or pretend play) golf, dress them up in this easy DIY ensemble made from items they probably have hanging in the closet and a golf bag made from an upcycled oatmeal container.

Give a nod to the infamous party decade by dressing the whole crew in 1920s-style clothing — think fun dresses, feather boas, suspenders and fedoras. Shop your kids' closets to pull together the look or craft this cute, easy kid's flapper dress from inexpensive craft materials.

Your little one's imagination will take flight in this bat costume made from an inexpensive hoodie and felt. Pair it with black leggings or sweat pants for a comfy Halloween costume they'll want to wear long after the holiday has passed.

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 our step-by-step instructions, below.

Turn an old expression into a fun Halloween costume that's sure to pack a pun-ch. Grab a white t-shirt and a lot of Ping-Pong balls to make this quick and inexpensive costume.

Transform your favorite kiddo into the king or queen of the savannah with some water-based face paint and a fluffy bodysuit.

Adventure awaits! Outfit your little one for the wilds of trick-or-treating in this easy-to-create vintage explorer costume.

Sewing your kid's Halloween costume is a parent's rite of passage. Not a sewer? This dinosaur costume is simple to make from a comfy green hoodie and requires only very basic sewing skills.

Turn your little hero into a brave knight for Halloween. Our free printable template and step-by-step instructions make this and easy-to-craft, last-minute costume.

Looking for a cottagecore-inspired twist to the typical fairy costume? Make this pretty autumnal skirt paired with a set of wings, a crown and a magic wand.

Need a last-minute Halloween costume? With some black clothing and a pack of glow necklaces, you can whip up this bright outfit in less than 10 minutes.

Your trick-or-treater will be hopping with excitement over this fun frog costume. Grab a hoodie, felt and a few other inexpensive materials to craft a warm, cozy costume for your little tadpole.

This Halloween, keep baby close and portable by taking a cue from our furry friends down under and fashioning your baby-wearing device into a kangaroo pouch.

If you already have a black shirt, pants and shoes you're half way to having this costume made. After that you'll just need a few craft supplies, tulle fabric and some black makeup.

Turn your sweetie into their favorite treat by decorating a laundry basket in brown wrapping paper accordion-folded to look like a cupcake liner. Top with some felt "icing" and your little cupcake is ready for a night of sugary fun.

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.

These beautiful feathers are the perfect addition to any costume that requires wings — think angel, fairy or flying dragon. Plus, they're sturdy enough to be worn long after Halloween for everyday imaginative play.

Take a bite out of Halloween with this simple sewing project that turns an ordinary gray hoodie into a great white shark.

Who knew brown toilet seat covers could look so dashing? Fashion these home decor duds into a mighty costume worthy of Valhalla. The hammer is made out of dense foam so kids can't really injure each other — but they do think it's the coolest thing ever.

Looking for a cute parent & baby costume? Dress up as a matador, then fashion this cute, comfy bull costume for baby. Find our free, downloadable template and step-by-instructions below.

You don't need to know how to sew to create this adorable costume for your own little lamb.

Minnesota hair and makeup artist Carissa Espey created this so-cute-she’s-scary three-eyed monster look with a combination of paint, glitter and well-deployed rainbow pom poms. When using glitter — a material that’s notorious for bedazzling everything in its path — she advises a bit of creative containment. “Apply Vaseline on [the] desired area, then apply glitter with a makeup sponge, whether it be for Halloween or the basic everyday makeup look.”

Using some felt and ribbon, you can easily turn any pair of green jammies into a quick flower costume that your kids will love.

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

Is your tween full of llama drama? Upcycle an old white sweatshirt into this funny farm friend — no sewing required.

These crowns have been made from paper grocery bags and cut out and decorated for queen and princess outfits. This mother and her daughter are seen in the crowns and ordinary black clothing. The easy-to-make, low-budget Halloween costume is a wonderful homemade option.

Help your teen channel their inner Count Dracula this Halloween with our easy-to-follow makeup tutorial.

Easily turn budget-friendly felt and polyester fabric into a dashing costume worthy of everyone's favorite legendary outlaw — complete with a bow made out of a backyard stick.

Your trick-or-treater will have a license to chill in this clever homemade costume that uses craft store supplies and white tights to transform them into a giant soft-serve cone.

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

Drop some sweet beats in this cool-clever costume you can make for less than $10.

Help your child show off their love of reading (and their goofy sense of humor) with this DIY book worm costume.

These bird wings are fun and easy to make, and are the perfect beginning for a fabulous bird Halloween costume. It's easy to craft and requires minimal sewing, so your kids will be flying around the yard in no time.

This little boy is wearing a DIY fisherman Halloween costume made completely out of paper bags. The vest has been cut out of a single large paper grocery bag and had paper fish and pockets glued to it. A fishing pole and fishing hat are added to complete the look.

Sure to be the star of any costume party or trunk-or-treat, this sugary-sweet ensemble is a breeze to make from a laundry basket and multi-colored pool noodles.

Start practicing your ROAR! This fun dinosaur hat and spiky tail costume will have your child stomping with delight.

Double, double, toil and trouble! Conjure up this cute, classic costume (hat included!) with the help of an adult black maxi skirt and some craft felt.