Halloween costume ideas for kids

100+ Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas For Kids, Men & Women

Halloween Costume Ideas For Kids

I have two girls ages 9 and 6, and they usually go for the costumes with some special little accessory. After some serious research, I compiled a list of Halloween costume ideas and I wanted to share with you.

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Halloween costume ideas for kids

Last year my older one was a police officer because of the cute aviator sunglasses, and my younger one was a devil, with a little-horned headband. Next year my 9-year-old is going to be a Grecian goddess, with one of those gold braided bands you wear on your head. My little one wants to be “a scary witch, not a cute witch”, so I have to figure out some pretty face painting to make that happen.

We typically decide on 3-4 costumes because she gets invited to multiple Halloween parties, I only purchase one and the rest we DIY with items we already have or using pieces from costumes we’ve had in years past.



What costumes will be trendy for next Halloween?

For girls, Zootopia will obviously be huge. We’ve found that Officer Judy Hopps is more popular than others, but we anticipate character costumes to sell out more. Peppa Pig, My Little Pony will be popular for years to come. So you can always reuse these costumes, or you can swap with other parents.

For boys, Kung Fu Panda’s Po, The Little Prince, Star Wars will likely be very popular given the movie’s success this year. Superheroes like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Captain America, Spiderman, and Batman, are also always popular.

Popular Halloween costumes are typically character driven, so think of the big movies (Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, Transformers, etc.) and those are where you’ll find Halloween gold.

What can parents shop for hard-to-find items?

Get creative! If you can’t find the ready-made costume, your child wants, be resourceful and try to make the costume using things you already own. For example, all you need for an Elsa costume is a glittery blue dress, blonde wig, tiara, and wand. Chances are you can DIY a sparkly dress pretty easily, and it will probably be less expensive than buy a pre-packaged costume.

Besides the biggies, we’ve found great items here. It can also help to ask for ideas on mom message boards like Baby Center. Moms are pretty resourceful! Pinterest searches with varied phrasing (i.e. “Greek goddess costume for girls,” “Grecian goddess kid costume,”) can turn up a ton of options too, including DIY versions to try.

Corpse Bride Halloween Costume for tweens
Corpse Bride Halloween Costume for tween girls

How early should parents start shopping / looking for costume additions for their kids? How late can they wait?

It depends whether or not your kids are diehard Halloween fans or have their hearts set on a particular costume. If your child wants to be one of the favorite characters, better to get those costumes as early as possible. If your child doesn’t care what his/her costume is, you can wait pretty late in the season and find something. Of course, there will be slim pickings, but I got my daughter a fairly decent police officer costume the day before Halloween last year.

Also, there are some brand’s whose Halloween costumes are a cult. Costume Supercenter is a perfect example because their costumes are very high quality. They recently released their Halloween collection, but they sell out super fast, so it’s best to shop those earlier in the season as well.

Alice Through the Looking Glass - Girls Red Queen Deluxe Costume

Alice Through the Looking Glass Girls Red Queen Deluxe Costume – $27.99

How to save money on Halloween costumes?

Swap with friends. Most of the time they’re keeping costumes their kids have worn just once so they’re in great condition. And check your closets—you might be able to put together a costume without buying anything.

Always save your costumes. Not only are they great for kids to play with during the year, but you can repurpose the items subsequent years to avoid having to buy a whole new costume every year.

Also, never underestimate the power of face paint. There isn’t a child out there that doesn’t love having his/her face painted and face paint is a heck of a lot cheaper than a name brand costume.
Halloween party ideas trick or treat

Tips for parents who have the very young trick or treaters

Don’t pick a costume that relies on a big accessory like a witch’s broom or an uncomfortable mask—your kid will abandon it in the first 10 minutes of trick or treating, and then it’s disheartening for them to keep getting the question, “Oh and what are you?” Try to DIY costumes for toddlers. Remember, some kids may get scared of creepy costumes and decorations. Unless you have a chance to go to Disney’s famous Mickey’s Not-so-scary Halloween Party, you will have to find means to DIY. We have some ideas for them too. Just keep reading.

Bring an extra bag, a Ziploc or shopping bag, so that you can siphon out some of the collected candy as you’re trick- or-treating—those pumpkin buckets can get hefty for kids!

Also, before Halloween, it’s a good idea to recap how it works: You’ll ring the door, say “Trick or Treat?” and someone will open the door and hand you candy or offer you a bowl of it. This way, you get a chance to remind them not to grab fistfuls of candy and to remember to thank! Another good tip: know your kids and how long they’ll last walking around the neighborhood. That way you can plan accordingly to avoid meltdowns. But no matter how late you get home, let your kids have a chance to spread out their candy, count it, categorize it, trade—it’s often more fun and memorable than eating it.

Incorporating Strollers and Wagons Into Trick-or-Treating

Trick-or-treating with babies and toddlers often requires strollers and wagons because children get tired of walking. Get creative and incorporate your child’s stroller, wagon, or other transporting vehicles as a prop for their Halloween costume. Here are some ideas on how you can incorporate stuff for toddlers.

Incorporating Strollers and Wagons Into Trick-or-Treating

Mousetrap Wagon:

You can construct a mousetrap wagon with a variety of materials. The photo above uses plywood, but you can also substitute it for cardboard, which is a lighter alternative. Replicate the trap’s coil with any metal tubing material or even make your tube with scraps and spray-paint it silver. Dress your child up as a little mouse and you’re ready to go!

Doll Box Stroller:

Transform your baby’s stroller into a doll display box with cardboard and paint. The picture above shows a baby girl as a Cabbage Patch Kid. From Barbie to American Girl, there are so many dolls to choose from. If the doll figure isn’t what you are aiming for, try dressing your kid as a toy train or car in a display box.

Ice Cream Truck Wheelchair:

For children who may be disabled, utilize their devices for creative props. The image above shows a kid in a wheelchair that was transformed into an ice cream truck. The wheelchair’s wheels function as the truck’s tires and adds to his costume. This idea of incorporation can be applied to other tools like walking sticks, crutches, etc. With some imagination and brainstorming, you can convert any transportation tool into a prop for your child’s costume.

Tools for Making Kid-Friendly Halloween Treats

Halloween-Cooking-Tools

An excellent way to bond with your kids this Halloween is to spend a little time in the kitchen. Conjuring up some tasty treats can be a fun activity for the whole family. Looking for some appetizing inspiration? Here is a list of 24 exciting, but simple recipes that will be perfect to make with your chef-in-training. To make these recipes you might need a few of these basic tools:

Halloween Cookie Cutters – $5.95 Halloween Cookie Cutters

Fall brings a lot of fun flavors to the kitchen, especially when it comes to baked goods, but why not take it up another notch? Turn your cookies into spooky creatures with Halloween Cookie Cutters. There are tons of shapes to choose from; we’re talking ghosts, bats, witches and all the rest of your favorite Halloween icons.

 

Popcorn Maker – $149.99 Popcorn Maker

Another yummy snack that you can tailor to fit the Halloween spirit is a witch’s blend of spiced popcorn. To make this, you’ll need to pop your fresh batch of popcorn. There is a large assortment of Popcorn Makers to choose from, simple stove-top poppers to elaborate machines that simulate an old timey popcorn stand. Splurge on one of those and it can also become a hit at your Halloween party.

 

Molded Cake PanMolded Cake Pan – $49.99

If baking a cake is your treat of choice, you might want to consider a Halloween-themed Cake Pan. A circular or rectangular cake just won’t cut it for those in the spooky spirit, but a Jack-o-lantern will certainly do the trick. And you don’t have to stop at full-sized cakes; there are plenty of cupcake molds to choose from as well.

 

DIY Halloween crafts you can create with your kids

It’s easy to “mummify” juice boxes or big candy bars by wrapping with white crepe paper and adding googly eyes. I also love a twist on the traditional carved pumpkin. A rainbow pumpkin made by sticking in colorful map pins, in evenly spaced rows, and a “bloody” pumpkin made by melting unwrapped red crayons over the top of a white pumpkin. And your kids can even make their trick-or-treating bags. Here are lots of cute, super-easy ideas on crafts you can make with your kids..

halloween-costume-DIY-ideas

DIY Halloween Costumes for Children

Halloween costumes can be pretty expensive to buy for parents, especially if you have multiple children. Many parents have resorted to crafting one-of-a-kind costumes to avoid the financial burden. This is an innovative and affordable way to make sure kids are able to celebrate Halloween to the fullest! Here are some costume ideas that you can make yourself with simple supplies, which you probably already have lying around your home.

DIY Halloween costumes for kids

Jelly Belly Beans:

With a clear trash bag and assorted balloons, you can turn your child into a bag of Jelly Belly beans.  Just cut holes in their head, arms, legs, fill the bag with colored balloons, then tie the bag closed at the top. Last, print out a Jelly Belly logo on regular printer paper and tape it to the front of the bag.

Barbie Doll:

Turn your child into a Barbie doll with a large cardboard box and some paint. Cut out a square in the front of the cardboard box then paint it pink. You can print out a “Barbie” logo and any other images that you would like to glue onto the exterior of the box. Dress your child up in any doll themed outfit they want and then slip the box over them.

Frankenstein:

If your kids want to be Frankenstein, you can use a gallon milk jug container to craft a boxy head. You can find instructions on how to cut the milk jug from Coolest Homemade Costumes. Make sure to paint their faces with green washable paint and then dress them up in torn up clothes.

Jack Skellington:

This one is a little time consuming. If you have the guts to go ahead and do it yourself, there is a nice tutorial here, detailing everything step by step.

Jack Skellington DIY Costume
Image source: Silverlakemom.com

You can also check this link for more DIY costume ideas.

Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is an exciting time for children to dress up in fun costumes with friends and go trick-or-treating but it can be very stressful for parents. With so many people out in public to celebrate the holiday, there is potential for unfortunate accidents and events to occur. Help make your children’s Halloween experience fun and stress-free with these safety tips!

Halloween safety tips

Reflective tapeReflective Tape – $10.29

Neighborhood sidewalks tend to get busy with so many trick-or-treaters walking from door to door. Choosing costumes that are bright and reflective will help keep your children visible to vehicles. A reflective tape is a good option for children who may not be dressed in colorful costumes. Applying a piece to their costume will make them easy to spot from the road.

FlashlightsFlashlights – $16.99

As the night gets darker, it may be difficult to keep a close eye on your kids. Make sure to bring a flashlight to help guide your path. Provide your children with flashlights too so if they get lost, they can still lead themselves. Flashlights will help everyone trick or treat safely.

 

Face Paint - Make-UpFace Paint/Make-Up – $7.91

Substituting a face mask with face paint or make-up is a good option for everyone as masks can block your child’s peripheral vision. Using these products is an excellent alternative to a mask and will not impede their vision.

Halloween Nail Art

Don’t leave any details from your costume out. Here are some fun and creative nail art designs that will add some spunk to your outfit.

Halloween Nail Art

  • Creating bloody nails is much easier than it looks. Apply a base coat of any color you would like. Using neutral colors is a great choice because they look more natural and have a realistic effect. Then take a dark blood-like red color and wipe the brush on the neck of the bottle to remove the majority of the polish. Brush what’s left of the red in varying strokes on top of your base coat. Add a clear top coat to finish it off.
  • Popsugar has over 102 different nail art ideas for Halloween. From Frankenstein to skeletons, to pumpkins and more—there is a design that is suitable for any costume. Make sure to search on Amazon to locate the best last-minute deals on polishes.

Nail Decals Assortment – $4.49

Halloween nail art

Halloween Costumes for Pets

Make sure your furry friends don’t miss out on Halloween trick-or-treating! Dress your pets up in creative costumes, or even incorporate them into your costume. Read on for some easy do-it-yourself pet costume ideas or check out Costume Supercenter for last minute ideas.

Halloween Costumes for Pets

Flower costume for dogsFlower Costume – $17.00

Convert your pets collar into a flower arrangement by just wrapping the collar in green felt—you can even make this easier by purchasing a green collar. Use a glue gun or nontoxic super glue to arrange and secure flower petals all the way around the collar. Or else, you can order this beautiful flower costume.

 

Rockstar costume for dogsRock Star – $14.99

Find an old rock star t-shirt in your closet to transform your pet into a superstar. Cut it smaller and secure it on the torso by tying it under their belly. Add a small bandana to their head and you’re good to go! If you are lazy enough, go order this one.

 

Superhero costume for dogsSuperhero – $5.29

Superhero costumes are especially popular among dogs. There is a huge selection to pick on Amazon. You can also purchase different materials and customize a superhero cape for your furry friend.

 

Candy-Corn-Halloween-Pet-Costume
Kim Byers’ Candy Corn Tutu DIY Costume

Candy Corn Tutu:

One of my favorite DIY costumes so far. All you need is yellow and orange tulle, white cotton fabric, yellow elastic etc.

 

 

 

Stegosaurus Dog Costume

Stegosaurus Dog Costume – $24.46

What Will You be for Halloween?

We don’t know about you, but over here the office is all abuzz with Halloween costume ideas. After all, the biggest dress-up day of the year, it’s time to get serious.

Curious to know what costumes others are looking for? We pulled data based on 15 million monthly shoppers, 500 million products and 550,000 online retailers to put together a list highlighting the top trends for both children/teens and adults.

Top 10 Most Popular Halloween Costumes For Kids & Adults
Top 10 Most Popular Halloween Costumes For Kids & Adults

Check out our unique list (unlike any other we’ve seen this year) and get inspired! Will you be “practically perfect in every way” and spend the day as Mary Poppins? Release your inner Disney villain with an elaborate Maleficient headpiece? Fight evil with your friends as members of Teen Titans?

Easy Halloween Costumes for Adults

Halloween costume ideas for adults

Getting ready for Halloween can be a major inconvenience for adults who are often busy with life’s responsibilities. Between a full-time workweek and taking care of children, some adults just can’t manage to prioritize their costumes. Don’t worry though! Here are some easy costumes that don’t require a ton of time to plan and will help you join in on the fun.

Prison InmatePrison Inmate – $24.99

Orange Is The New Black is an extremely popular television show that has inspired many fans. Dress up as Piper Chapman and her crew of prison inmates with a simple orange jumpsuit. Purchase an already made costume or a pair of orange hospital scrubs and black sneakers and you’re ready to go! It’s also an awesome costume for couples too.

 

mormon costumeBroadway Character:

Broadway sounds like a sophisticated look to achieve with so much stage makeup and intricate costumes, but with a huge variety of Broadway show to pick from, there is bound to be a simple character to the mirror. Time has a great tutorial for a Mormon costume. All that is necessary are black pants, a white short-sleeve button-up and a black tie—items you most likely already have in your closet.

walking dead costumeThe Walking Dead – Prices vary

Television shows seem to be a popular Halloween inspiration for adults. Couple up and disguise yourselves as “walkers”. There is room for costume exploration when it comes to these two characters. Dress up in shabby suits with dirt and mud or in casual everyday clothes that a teacher and a mischievous teenage boy would wear.

blues brothers costumeBlues Brothers – $19.99

This one is relatively simple. All you need is a black suit, a black tie, al black sunglasses  and a black hat with stripes. But if you still don’t have them, don’t waste your time an order a cheap one. You can always use it for years to come.

Work-Appropriate Halloween Costumes

Many people like to go all-out when it comes to Halloween costumes. From crazy hair and makeup to oversized props and equipment, accessorizing can sometimes be too much for certain environments. It’s totally ok to be festive, but different surroundings often require you to tone it down a little. Here are some tips to consider for work-appropriate Halloween costumes that will allow you to have fun while still maintaining productivity in the office. You can look cool and original with a casual costume too, but don’t overdo it to avoid looking weird and funny. Here are some clever costume ideas for you.

workplace-halloween-costume

Comfort:

A typical workday is usually 8 hours, which means you will have to remain in costume for the extended period. Choose a costume that is comfortable and will not inhibit your ability to do complete your tasks. If you are working outdoors or with heavy machinery, consider avoiding costumes that require props or other pieces that will get in the way of your tools/equipment. For example, substitute masks that may block your peripheral vision with makeup instead.

Keep it Professional:

For women, Halloween costumes are often designed to be sexy and revealing. But the workplace is NOT the place to show off some skin. Keep it appropriate and don’t offend your co-workers with costumes that will make them uncomfortable. Instead of purchasing risqué outfits, try finding individual pieces of skirts, pants, and shirts in similar colors that could substitute for costumes.

How to be The Best Version of Your Halloween Character

Halloween costumes are never complete with the only wardrobe. Fully embrace your character or costume in every aspect of disguise. From changing eye colors to distorting facial features, makeup details can help enhance your ensemble and make you stand out from others who may be dressed up in similar character. Be the best version of your character with these costumes and accessories.

Halloween Character

Halloween Character

Mystique in X-Men:

You can achieve the look of Jennifer Lawrence and Rebecca Romijn as Mystique in X-Men without having to use the airbrush kit that is demonstrated in the video on Bustle. Use a cosmetic sponge and blue body paint to coat your skin. Small art brushes will allow you to paint intricate details with precision. Finish your look with yellow contact lenses and pull your hair back in a sleek style.

Halloween Cat Girl makeup
Halloween Cat Girl makeup

Pop Art Comic Book:

If you want a look that is quick and simple, this is not the right one for you. Transforming into a Lichtenstein woman takes a long time and attention to detail. Create red dots on your face with reinforcement labels and red eye shadow. Black eyeliner or lipstick will help add definition to your features, and yellow hair paint spray will complete your look. The attention you’ll receive from others will make the time spent well worth it!

For even more makeup ideas take a look at here. And a few more themed costumes:

Alice Through The Looking Glass Adult Mad Hatter Deluxe Costume

Alice Through The Looking Glass Adult Mad Hatter Deluxe Costume – $29.99

Adult Renaissance Maiden Costume

Adult Renaissance Maiden Costume – $51.99

Women's Queen of the Nile Costume

Women’s Queen of the Nile Costume – $35.99

Sexy Curvy Nile Queen Costume

Sexy Curvy Nile Queen Costume – $59.99

Men's Roman Gladiator

Men’s Roman Gladiator – $49.59

What are must-have Halloween decor items?

You don’t have to go all out and decorate the whole house. You can also search online on how to make a big impact by decorating just the foyer since that’s where you’re handing out candy. Hang a colorful garland above your console, fill a big glass jar with a bunch of fake bones, put creepy eyeball chocolates in a bowl, or scatter plastic spiders across the table—just a little something to set a spooky vibe.

Halloween pumpkins

Last Minute Halloween Decor Tips

Between work and taking care of kids, getting costumes together is a heavy load on some adults. Having to decorate your home can sometimes be out of the question. Fortunately, these ideas are super easy, quick to do and perfect for last minute sprucing up of the home.

Pumpkin Party Cooler:

By this time, it is likely that every home has made their visit to the pumpkin patch. Grab one of your larger pumpkins and transform it into an ice cooler. Cut the top off and hollow out the center so it appears like a bowl. Add some ice and pop in a few drinks. This will serve as a creative way to chill your beverages while also decorating your party table.

Petrifying Potion:

Concoct some petrifying potions made of simple home materials. Gather basic glass jars and add water and food coloring to create an illuminated potion. Submerge lotus pods, coneflower heads, and other random plants you may find in your backyard into the colored water. This will make for a spooky elixir that will keep ghosts away.

Glittered Pumpkins:

Incorporate those mini orange pumpkins that can’t be carved into your home décor by adding some color and glitter to them. Despite Halloween’s orange and black theme, it is still appropriate to use other fall colors to add some character to your party decorations. Get creative and paint some pumpkins maroon, and then sprinkle glitter on top. You can even keep the orange and black theme, but for different effects, add some matte black or shimmery orange.

Get Started on Your Spooky Halloween Decorations

Halloween is around the corner, which means it is time to get the fun, weird, scary, and terrifying decorations out! These Halloween gadgets will help make your home the spookiest house in the neighborhood.

Serial Killer Shower CurtainSerial Killer Shower Curtain – $56.99

A Psycho shower curtain will make your guests jump when they need to use the restroom. Because really, what’s more, frightening than the visual of a murder occurring while guests are trying to do their business?

 

Halloween cut off headBody Parts – $19.74

What’s more frightening than life-like limbs? These light up body parts will make trick-or-treaters’ skin crawl. You can disperse them on your front lawn, hide them in food containers and even dangle them in cobwebs or entryways.

 

 

Skull hub USBSkull – $18.93

Halloween is not complete without skulls. The Skullhub USB makes an excellent, spooky decoration for your office table at home or work. It includes four USB ports so you can charge your devices and upload/download files. This item is a perfect decorative piece that simultaneously serves as a useful electronic.

Innovative Speaker Systems for Your Halloween Party

A Halloween party isn’t complete without music. Make sure your guests aren’t standing in awkward silence and invest in these innovative and trendy speaker systems to blast some tunes!

Aiwa Exos-9 Bluetooth SpeakerAiwa Exos-9 Bluetooth Speaker – $299.99

There’s nothing more annoying than when an unfavorable song comes on at your Halloween party, and you have to leave a good conversation or fun game to walk over and hit the next button. Avoid this problem and have the best time with friends by purchasing Aiwa Exos that provides wireless Bluetooth ability. By connecting Aiwa Exos to any ordinary speaker with a basic audio jack/speaker cable, the device allows you the freedom to walk around and play tunes from your smartphone at a distance.

Marshall Stanmore – $299.00Marshall Stanmore Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

For great bass and treble control and quality, make sure to purchase the Marshall Stanmore Bluetooth speaker.  It can project your tunes “loud as hell” and without any distortion! Resembling Marshall’s iconic guitar amps, its design helps create an edgy look to your home décor. Say goodbye to twisted cords because the Bluetooth ability allows you to play music from different rooms so you can conveniently entertain your guests.

These Halloween costume ideas rock, don’t you think?

Happy trick-or-treating guys!

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