We've all been there. The Halloween party that you forgot was marked on your calendar sneaks up on you, and all of a sudden, you're a few days away, and you haven't prepared a costume. If this sounds like you, you're in the right place. We've got 25 easy Halloween costume ideas you can whip together in a flash as long as you aren't afraid to get creative. Armed with a glue gun and a little ingenuity, you can create these last-minute Halloween costume ideas without breaking a sweat... or the bank.
Easy Halloween Costumes for Men
Creating a last-minute Halloween costume should be a breeze, and with these easy costume ideas for men, you’ll be dressed and ready for whatever Halloween celebration comes your way. Create your favorite character in an instant with these easy Halloween costumes.
Batman Caped T-Shirt
Whether you prefer to go by the Dark Knight, the Caped Crusader, or just the classic title of Batman, this is one of the easiest heroic looks to throw together. All you need to create the look is our Batman Costume Top paired with black jeans and black shoes or boots, and you'll be ready to clean the streets of Gotham City in no time. The Joker and the rest of the DC Comics baddies will be running for the hills when you and Robin pull up to the Halloween party in these get-ups.
Freddy Kreuger Halloween Costume
The dreamscape will be yours for the taking this year when you choose a Freddy Krueger look for the next Halloween outing. While Freddy's murderous ways are not for the faint of heart, his look is actually super easy to pull off! If you don't have a burgundy and green striped sweater in your closet, you can make it a DIY costume using a red long-sleeve t-shirt with green stripes made from fabric paint or colored duct tape. Top it off with your favorite fedora and pick up a Freddy glove accessory, and you'll be ready to start slashing and thrashing on Elm Street.
DIY Ash Ketchum Halloween Costume
All you need to transform into your favorite video game character and Pokémon trainer from Pallet Town is a blue vest (which you can make from a button-down with the sleeves cut off), a black or white t-shirt, a red trucker hat, and a pair of green fingerless gloves. Slip on your best pair of blue jeans and some well-worn sneakers, and you'll be ready to head out into the world and catch ‘em all!
Easy Gandalf the Grey Halloween Costume
You would think dressing up as the most powerful wizard in all of Middle Earth would be an impossible feat to pull off, but with just a few key components, you can wield your Glamdring and cast spells with the best of them. If a gray cloak is tough to find, a gray bed sheet can work just as well with half the hassle. Then, all you'll need are a fake beard and a wizard hat, and the rest are just magical add-ons. A walking stick from the nearby park or forest can function as your staff, and if you have a pipe lying around, you definitely don't want to forget that.
Lumberjack Halloween Costume
Alright, fellas, we've saved the easiest Halloween costume for last. The lumberjack is the perfect costume choice when you don't even have time to stop by the craft shop or thrift store. You can put together this look in just a few minutes with some normal clothes you're bound to have in your closet. Have a pair of blue jeans or khakis? Great. Got a plaid long-sleeve or flannel shirt? Perfect. What about a beanie or knit hat? Excellent. And, by any chance, did you forget to shave and have a bit of a beard going on? Well... you get bonus points for that. Simple, easy, and rugged, you can't go wrong with the lumberjack look.
Easy Halloween Costumes for Women
Hey, ladies! These easy Halloween costumes are perfect for you. If you want to create a cute, stand-out style for your next Halloween event, you’ve come to the right place. From some of your favorite on-screen female leads to classic costumes that’ll never go out of style, here’s our list of the best easy Halloween costumes for women.
Wonder Woman Caped T-Shirt
Go superhero casual this Halloween with a Wonder Woman Caped T-Shirt. Pair it with a blue skirt or blue shorts, red boots or sneakers, and some gold rope or cord from the craft store to make your Lasso of Truth, and you'll be transformed into everyone's favorite Amazonian princess. Team up with Superman, Batman, Aquaman, The Flash, and the rest of the Justice League to serve justice (and candy) to everyone you meet on Halloween night.
Pink Ladies from Grease Costumes
Join the ranks of Rizzo, Frenchy, Marty, and the rest of the cool kids from Rydell High School and kick it back to the 1950s with a fun and flashy Pink Ladies look. For this low-effort costume, all that's needed is a Pink Ladies jacket, and the rest you can pull together yourself. A black t-shirt or tank top for under the jacket, a black skirt or pants, and a pair of stylish sunglasses are all you need to be singing "Greased Lightnin'" and "Summer Nights" with all of your gals.
Easy Mermaid Halloween Costume
Who knew singing under the sea could be this easy? If you have a long green skirt, a purple top, and a pair of sandals, you'll be swimming with Flounder and taking down Ursula in no time. Accessorize with some flashy mermaid makeup, a pretty flower in your hair, and some clamshell jewelry, and you'll be the envy of Disney princesses everywhere.
DIY Minnie Mouse Halloween Costume
If you're a Disney fanatic and you're short on time, Minnie Mouse is here to save the day. For a cute and simple look, add black leggings and a top together as the base and accessorize with a red tutu skirt and a Minnie Mouse ears headpiece. Finish it off with a pair of yellow or golden shoes, and then go party it up with Mickey, Goofy, Pluto, and the rest of your favorite cartoon characters.
Easy Devil Halloween Costume
Angels and devils are classic Halloween costumes and are one of the easiest looks to throw together when you have limited time. All you need is a red dress or a matching red top and pants paired with a red horned headband, and you'll be emerging from the underworld in style. Accessorize as much or as little as you like for this one. Some red lipstick, jewelry, and a red pitchfork can go a long way in turning up the heat on this fiery look.
Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids
Creating the perfect costume for your kiddo should be easy. You want them to be comfortable and enjoy every second making memories on their favorite holiday. We’ve outlined some of our top picks so you can create the easiest kids’ costume for Halloween night.
Easy Mad Scientist Costume for Kids
Your kid will be conducting all kinds of wacky experiments this year when you get them all decked out as a Mad Scientist. To make your lab coat, just have your kiddo borrow a white button-down from mom or dad's closet, and have fun making a mess of the "coat" by using fabric paint to create stains and hot glue to stick on fake critters. If you're feeling a little extra creative, you can sew or iron on patches made from other scraps of fabric and add a wig to make your little one look even more eccentric.
Mario or Luigi Costumes for Kids
Goombas beware! When your kiddo is all decked out as their favorite Nintendo video game characters this year, they'll be hopping around and throwing fireballs like a pro. If you’ve got two kids, you can create the perfect pair! To create the look of your child's favorite Nintendo plumber, you'll just need red or green T-shirts and a matching color hat. Cut an "M" or "L" from white felt and stick it onto their shirt, then throw on a pair of blue jeans, and they'll be all ready to collect stars, coins, and candy all night long. Take it up a notch by adding white gloves and a fake mustache to your kiddo's costume!
Zombie Baseball Player Kids’ Costume
If a regular baseball player costume is just too boring for your kid, give it an extra twist by turning them into an undead athlete. Grab an old sports outfit and hat and splatter it up with some fake blood. Some zombie face makeup and fake blood will have your kids' competition trembling with fear when they step up to bat this year.
Kids’ Pajama Party Halloween Costume
Halloween is the perfect excuse to wear your comfiest clothes to work or school and feel cozy all day long. Pick out your daughter's favorite comfy pajamas, accessorize with her favorite stuffed animal, and finish with a sleep mask and slippers for good measure. This costume also scores bonus points with parents because you can put your kiddo straight to bed when the sugar crash hits after a night of trick-or-treating.
Witch Halloween Costume for Girls
© Katriel Abbott via Pinterest
If your daughter is a fan of Hocus Pocus, this easy DIY Halloween costume is the perfect choice for her. Everybody knows witches have the most fun. After all, who wouldn't want to brew potions, talk to black cats, and fly through the midnight sky on a broom? Get your child in on the sorceress action with a simple yet elegant look that will stop all the ghouls and spirits right in their tracks. All that's needed for this enchanted garb is a black dress (or a dress in her favorite color), a pair of black shoes, a witch hat, and a broomstick. The witch's hat might require a quick trip to the store or an online purchase, but the rest of the items should be easy to find in your little one's closet. You'll be assembling this witch costume as easy as “Abra Kadabra Alakazam!”
DIY Scuba Diver Costume for Kids
Looking for an easy costume to throw together for your child that is also entirely unique? Dive on down to the bottom of the ocean with this special Scuba Diver look. Piece this aquatic costume together with a black bodysuit and a pair of pool goggles. To get the scuba tanks ready, just take two empty bottles of soda, tape them up with some duct tape, decorate them however you want, and strap them to your child's back. Easy peasy, and your little one will be swimming with the fish, sharks, and coral reefs in no time.
Easy Halloween Costumes for Couples & Groups
Creating the perfect look for you and your partner, you and your besties, or you and your child should be fun and exciting. With these easy Halloween costumes for couples and groups, you’ll have no issue standing out in style at every Halloween party.
Top Gun Couples Costume
With a Top Gun couples Halloween costume, you and your best friend will be soaring to the Halloween party in style. If a matching Halloween costume isn't your thing, one of you can wear the classic green khaki jumpsuit while the other pairs the patch-covered leather jacket with some jeans. Complete the look with a pair of aviators, and you'll be flying up the costume contest rankings faster than the speed of sound.
Ted Lasso Family Costume
Get your little team of athletes together for an AFC Richmond victory dance with a fun and simple Ted Lasso family costume theme. Whether you or your kid decides to be the coach, all you need for this iconic look is a blue jacket, a yellow whistle, a pair of aviators, and of course, the classic Ted Lasso mustache. Your children will love dressing up as an AFC Richmond soccer player, so be sure to get out their soccer uniforms and spruce up the look with the classic blue, red, and yellow color scheme. One thing is for sure, you'll be scoring goals all day long when you're all dressed up as a soccer family together.
Star Trek Group Costume
Hop aboard the USS Enterprise with all of your friends or family this year to make it a cosmic Halloween like no other. Explore new planets, traverse the galaxies, and navigate intergalactic politics like a pro. The only thing you need for this group costume look is the proper colored Star Trek uniform shirt or red, yellow, or blue dress, depending on what division you want to lay claim to. Celebrate your favorite show with all your best buds, and go make this Halloween truly out of this world.
Blue’s Clues Family Costume
If you're looking for an adorable family Halloween costume theme, you can't go wrong with the classic children's cartoon Blue's Clues! The kids can dress up as Blue and Magenta while parents go as Josh or Steve in a blue or green-striped long-sleeve t-shirt and khaki pants. When you and your fam step out to trick-or-treat in these get-ups, you'll be sniffing out the cutest clues on the block.
Easy Ninja Turtles Halloween Costume
Get the gang together to romp around town, eat pizza and kick Shredder's butt! Cowabunga, dude! Whether you're courageous like Leonardo, funny like Michelangelo, smart like Donatello, or fiery like Raphael, these quick TMNT T-shirt costumes are easy to get together with all your best friends. Just pick up a T-shirt that shows off your favorite turtle, and add matching accessories in your turtle's specific color. Tutus, headbands, armbands, and other add-ons will really help bring this look up a notch for a night of sewer-living and crime-fighting like never before.
DIY and Last-Minute Halloween Costumes
Waiting until the last-minute to create your perfect Halloween look may sound stressful, but we promise you… It’s not! One of the best parts about Halloween is that you can be WHATEVER you want to be! Check out some of these last-minute Halloween costumes that’ll make planning your Halloween adventure a total breeze.
One-Piece Pajama Costumes
When the Halloween party is approaching and you have no costume prepared, you know what to do. Kick back and wear some pajamas, of course! Dressing up in an elaborate costume is fun, but you know what's even better? Throwing together a last-minute costume and being comfy! Whether you choose to go as a zoo animal, a superhero, or something in between, a one-piece pajama costume gives you the best of both worlds. You get to tell everyone you're dressing up as a slumber party-goer, and you get to be cozy all night long. Enjoy that comfort. You earned it.
DIY Cowgirl Costume
When it comes to costumes that can be assembled in a flash, a Western look surely tops the list. Your autumn attire should already be in full effect by Halloween night, so all you need to do is pick out your favorite plaid shirt or cardigan and accessorize to the nines. A cowboy hat, a red bandana, a pair of cowboy boots, and a leather belt will have you ready to toss a lasso and ride your horse like a pro. So giddyup, this DIY Halloween costume will have you feeling ready for the Wild Wild West in no time.
DIY Hogwarts Uniform
© robinmd / Fairfield Processing Corporation
Wingardium Leviosa! You'll be casting all kinds of spells and charms this year when you're donning the look of your favorite wizard from Hogwarts. Whether you're a Ravenclaw, a Hufflepuff, a Slytherin, or a Gryffindor, dressing up as a Hogwarts student is easier than Wingardium Leviosa. All you need is a black cloak or robe, a white collared shirt, and a tie matching the colors of your Hogwarts House. Pick up a wand or find a thin stick from outside to act as your magical tool of choice, and you'll be sending Voldemort and his Death Eaters running in fright.
Ghosts Halloween Costume
Nothing says "last-minute Halloween costume" quite like sheet ghosts. If you're in a pinch before the Halloween party and you're not sure what to do, it's time to go with a classic Halloween costume. Grab that white bed sheet you no longer use, cut some holes in it for the eyes, throw it over your head, and then finish the look with a pair of black sunglasses. Simple, spooky, and so much fun. You can never go wrong with a ghostly get-up on Halloween.
Despicable Me Minions Family Costume
Wild, fun, and loved by kids and adults everywhere, how could you not want to dress up as the lovable Minions from Despicable Me? The best part about a Minions costume is that it's one of the easiest costumes to throw together. If you have a pair of blue denim overalls and a long-sleeved yellow shirt, you're almost all the way there. Top it off with a pair of black gloves and a yellow cap and goggles, and you'll be ready to steal the Moon with Gru and the rest of your little yellow cronies.
Quick and Easy Meets Top-of-the-Line!
If you don't have enough time for a complex and elaborate store-bought costume this spooky season, you can rest your mind knowing that homemade Halloween costume ideas are aplenty, and you don't have to sacrifice quality. And if you're worried about money, don't be. Most costumes can be created out of items you already have lying around in the house. Pick one of the numerous costumes we have laid out above, or get creative and assemble a costume idea of your own, and go make this a Halloween night you'll never forget!
