Affordable and Simple DIY Halloween Costumes for Grown-ups: 13 Suggestions to Consider
Halloween is just around the corner, and if you're looking for budget-friendly and easy-to-make costume ideas, you're in luck! Here are some creative DIY Halloween costumes that you can create using items from your closet, thrift store finds, and simple household materials.
Classic Costumes with a Twist
Ghost
Transform a plain white sheet or fabric into a classic ghost costume by simply cutting out eye holes.
Bat
Create a pair of cardboard wings and attach them to a black outfit. You can use black clothing you already own or find at a thrift store.
Mummy
Wrap yourself in toilet paper or streamers and face paint for an eerie mummy look.
Tetris
Create block patterns on your torso using sticky notes or paint markers. Wear an all-black outfit for this iconic video game-inspired costume.
Bubble Tea
Dress in a light-colored dress and decorate with craft-store black pom poms at the bottom. Add a painted paper towel roll as a straw clipped to a headband.
Mime
Combine a striped shirt from your closet, white face paint, and black pants for a classic mime costume.
Surgeon
Wear scrubs and add a stethoscope—both can be thrifted or borrowed.
Lifeguard
A red pair of shorts and a whistle provide an easy, casual lifeguard costume.
Unique and Inspired Costumes
For more inspiration, check out compilation lists and videos presenting 15+ easy DIY options under $10 that utilize common items. Here are some unique and inspired costumes to consider:
She doesn't even go here (Mean Girls)
Create a Mean Girls costume using a blue hoodie, sunglasses, and a sign that reads, "She doesn't even go here."
Witch's Hat, Pumpkin Stem Headband, or Cat Ears (Halloween Headband DIY)
Craft a versatile Halloween headband that can be transformed into a witch's hat, pumpkin stem headband, or cat ears.
Ice Cream Sundae
Create an ice cream sundae costume using construction paper "sprinkles" and a paper headband to resemble an ice cream cone or cherry.
Colorful Artist
Recreate the colorful artist costume shared by @upstyledaily on TikTok, using a white apron, cardboard, a pool noodle, black pipe cleaners, aluminum foil, colorful felt, and hot glue.
Beekeeper (for pets or partners)
Create a beekeeper costume for pets or partners using simple netting sewn to a white hat and a few felt bees.
Eddie Munson, Kate Sharma, or Wednesday Addams (from Stranger Things, Bridgerton, or Wednesday)
Channel your favourite characters from Stranger Things, Bridgerton, or Wednesday by creating DIY costumes for Eddie Munson, Kate Sharma, or Wednesday Addams.
Jurassic Park Couples Costume
Dress as Dr. Ellie Sattler and Dr. Alan Grant from Jurassic Park. Use light-colored shorts, simple button-downs, belts, and accessories to match the movie characters, as demonstrated by Instagrammer @modernjunecleaver.
Gumball Machine
Glue rainbow pompoms to a white T-shirt or garment of your choice and add a red beanie for a gumball machine costume.
Gnome
Create a gnome costume using a denim dress and hat, an apron, and a picnic basket.
Mix Tape
Craft a mix tape costume using poster board (or a large broken-down cardboard box), markers, and a bit of ribbon.
Last-minute Grapes
Transform into a bunch of grapes using purple balloons, a black long-sleeve top, black leggings, and safety pins, as demonstrated by TikToker @gwizzle_.
Additional Ideas
DIY Felt Halloween Bags
Find a tutorial for easy DIY felt Halloween bags to carry your treats.
Strawberry
Create a strawberry costume using painted poster board, felt or construction paper seeds, cut-out green leaves, and string.
Aperol Spritz
Dress as an Aperol spritz using dried orange slices, an orange tutu, red leggings, an orange sweater, and orange-themed earrings, as demonstrated by TikToker @kuchenkeitel.
These costumes are effective, affordable, and mostly use already owned or thrifty-acquired components. Happy Halloween!
- For a unique twist on a classic Halloween costume, consider crafting a gumball machine costume by gluing rainbow pompoms to a white T-shirt and adding a red beanie.
- If you're a fan of the show Stranger Things, recreate Eddie Munson's iconic costume by thrifting or borrowing a denim jacket, black band tees, and biker boots, and accessorize with a cross necklace and studded wristbands.
