110 Best Last-Minute Halloween Costumes That Are So Easy to DIY
You don't need much time or money for these last-minute Halloween costume ideas.
There's no denying that Halloween is one of the best holidays. Not only do you get to eat candy and put up spooky decorations, you also get to dress up. Whether you go for a store-bought costume or DIY costume is completely up to you. And while some people love an elaborate search for the perfect pieces to their costume, others prefer easy Halloween costumes that don't take months of planning. If you're looking for quick and easy, last-minute Halloween costumes, you've come to the right place. We've got plenty of ideas for DIY kids costumes, couples costume ideas, scary Halloween costumes, punny costumes and more.
It's a safe bet that you already have most of the items you'll need for these easy Halloween costumes. Even if you don't have everything you need, we've highlighted costumes that are easy to put together last-minute (especially if you order with fast shipping on Amazon Prime!). We'd bet you can even find some of the things you need for these costumes at your local drugstore if you're really pressed for time.
From group costumes to work-appropriate costumes to simple DIY Halloween costumes for tweens, here are 110 of the best last-minute Halloween costume ideas for 2023.
Ghost Writer Last-Minute Halloween Costume
Punny, cute, and quick — what more could you want for a boo-tiful last-minute costume idea? All you need is a white skirt, white T-shirt, fabric paint or a marker, and writer props (think: an old composition book and a pencil).
Ms. Pac-Man Last-Minute Halloween Costume
For this easy DIY Pac-Man costume, you’ll only need a black dress (or black oversized T-shirt) and adhesive felt. Game on! We did this in under 30 minutes. Cut 4 ghosts, a yellow Pac-Man and white circles out of the adhesive felt, then stick 'em on.
Rubik's Cube Last-Minute Halloween Costume
Lucky for you, crafting this costume is way easier (and quicker) than solving a Rubik's cube! The key to this DIY is a box. Cut holes in the box for the head and arms, then use craft glue to attach colored construction paper. We cut 40 total 5 1/2" squares using 6 colors.
Cassette Tape Last-Minute Halloween Costume
Old school is cool! To make your very own mixtape, here's what you'll need: A flat, narrow box with a 1-inch thickness (or a piece of flat cardboard); construction paper or cardstock; 2 take-out soup containers; 2 takeout condiment containers; black tape; glue stick.
Then, follow these easy steps:
- Completely cover the box in black paper. Cut out a slightly smaller white rectangle for the label; glue down.
- Cut the bottoms off of the soup containers, so they're about 2-inches thick; paint white, then replicate the rotating inner spools with black tape and secure with glue. Cover the lids and bottoms of the condiment containers in tinfoil; glue in corners.
- Add colorful stripes with painter's tape or draw on. Come up with a name for your mixtape and use ribbons to hang.
Karate Kid Last-Minute Halloween Costume
If your child already has a karate uniform at home, simply add a headband and hi-ya… he's Karate Kid! Throw in a few karate kicks Mr. Miyagi would be proud of to make the costume extra convincing.
Good News Last-Minute Halloween Costume
We could all use a little good news right now! To create this "happy headline" dress, you'll need craft glue, newspaper, and an article of clothing to upcycle. We scoured newspapers for comics, positive words, feel-good stories — local sports wins, kids making honor roll — anything positive! Then, we cut out square and rectangle pieces, covered the front and back with craft glue, and stuck them on an old dress. Pro tip: Look for garments that are stiff, like denim, leather, or polyester, to help the garment keep its shape. And be sure to give yourself enough dry time!
Smart Shopper Last-Minute Halloween Costume
It doesn't take an Einstein to see why this last-minute kids' costume would be a hit! Raid the dress-up bin for a doctor's coat and grab the toy shopping cart from the playroom. You'll also need a fabric pen, a white wig or white hairspray, a mustache and glasses (optional). As a bonus, the shopping cart is perfect for trick-or-treating hauls.
Sports Icons Last-Minute Group Halloween Costume
There's always a lot happening in the world of sports. The great part about this group costume is that you can always make a game time decision and easily add friends and family to your roster under the wire.
Easy Barbie Halloween Costume
Barbie is sure to be a popular costume this year, thanks to the Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie. Any hot pink outfit will do!
Allan From 'Barbie' Halloween Costume
Amid a sea of Barbies and Kens, you'll stand out as Allan, who was hilariously portrayed by Michael Cera in the Barbie movie.
Easy Taylor Swift Halloween Costume
This is also sure to be a popular Halloween costume this year. Grab a sparkly leotard and a pair of boots and throw on some red lipstick for an easy Taylor Swift costume.
Easy Travis Kelce Halloween Costume
Whether as one half of this year's hottest couples' costume, or without a Taylor in tow, dressing up as Travis Kelce is as easy as donning his jersey. (Mustache optional, but encouraged.)
Easy Fairy Halloween Costume
Got an old bridesmaid dress or shimmery cocktail dress in your closet? Add a pair of wings for an easy DIY fairy costume.
Party Animal DIY Halloween Costume
If you've gotten to Halloween night without a costume, here's something you can pull together quickly. You can probably grab both items at a drugstore near you.
Get the DIY Party Animal costume tutorial at Studio DIY.
Pasta DIY Halloween Costume
This creative costume requires a little bit of prep, but it's easy to pull together. Plus, it's sure to be one of the most creative costumes at any party!
Get the DIY Pasta costume tutorial at Studio DIY.
Wreck-It Ralph DIY Halloween Costume
If your kids are fans of Disney's 2012 film Wreck-It Ralph, then they'll go crazy over the fact that one of their parents is going as the one-and-only Ralph for Halloween this year. And you'll love it because the costume comes together quickly and easily.
Get the DIY Wreck-It Ralph Costume tutorial at See Vanessa Craft.
Mother Earth DIY Halloween Costume
Whether you're a mom yourself or consider yourself an eco-friendly plant person, this handmade Mother Earth costume is so breathtaking you'll want to wear it every year (which is sustainable!).
Get the Mother Earth costume tutorial at Lia Griffith.
Juice Box DIY Halloween Costume
If you got excited opening up your lunch box as a kid to find your favorite flavor of juice, then this adorable DIY costume will bring you right back to your school days.
Get the DIY Juice Box Costume tutorial at Studio DIY.
DIY Banana Costume
Whether bananas are your favorite fruit or you're just looking for an easy and cute Halloween costume, this idea is sure to result in peels of laughter.
Get the DIY Banana Costume tutorial at Studio DIY.
'Men in Black' DIY Halloween Costume
It doesn't matter if you go with your significant other, friend, or simply by yourself, this intimidating-looking (but easy to pull off!) costume only requires some sunglasses and a black suit.
Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
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