Wondering what you’re going to be this year for Halloween? Well here are 41 of the best costume ideas to get you inspired and in the Spooktober spirit! Some prefer to keep it simple and buy their costumes ready to go, while others like to use this spooky time of year to explore their creativity and come up with something totally original. Whatever your preference this Halloween, there’s sure to be something that suits your style, budget, and crafting skills.
This list varies from the super simple to the outrageously elaborate. With costume inspiration ranging from monsters, favorite tv show characters, cult classic icons, and even famous brand mascots, there’s something for everyone in this creative collection of Halloween fun! Re-create one of these costume ideas right down to the tail, or simply use it as a jumping-off point to start your creative process. Whatever the case may be, let us help you on your journey to the perfect Halloween costume of 2022!
Be the coolest family on the block and dress up as these fun characters from Disney’s Frozen. Whether it’s just the kiddos or the whole family, these cute Halloween costumes are sure to please. This would also be a great group costume! If you have more people in your group you can always add Sven, Hans, or Queen Iduna and King Agnarr.
Jack and Rose make for a classic couple’s Halloween costume, but why not amp it up a bit and go as frozen Jack and Rose? Something about the greatly anticipated then quickly sunken tale of Titanic speaks to the year 2022. The clothes, life jackets, and floating board make for a great homemade Halloween costume. Add some icy makeup to this look and you’ve got yourself the DIY Halloween costume of the year!
Why overcomplicate things when you can easily DIY these cute and simple fruit Halloween costumes? It’s colorful and fresh, and there’s something for everyone! This would be great as a group Halloween costume or a family Halloween costume. Simply pair some kind of black bottom (i.e. leggings, jeans, skirt, shorts) with a colorful t-shirt decorated to look like the fruit of your choice. Add a cool hat like these lovely ladies to finish off this fruity look!
This year is all about unicorns––they’re everywhere! So throw on some glitter and sport the chiffon to show your unicorn love with this super cute Halloween costume idea. All you need for a homemade version of this costume is a sparkly horn and fluffy tutu. For a traditional unicorn, look keep the colors soft and pastel with lots of sparkles, glitter, and gold accents. However, this costume is so easy you can jazz it up any way you like. You could even try a scary unicorn if you want something more sinister. While this makes for an insanely adorable kids Halloween costume, it really would work for a unicorn fan of any age, including adults!
Flaunt your inner Mean Girl with these fabulous costumes from a cult classic. Go as the plastics and wear heels, sexy short mini skirts, and lots of pink! Or, go as Janis Ian and Damian in a grungy black outfit, large hoodie, and jeans. There are so many ways to mix and match these characters to suit any sized party––a couple, a trio, or a large group! Looking for a super easy DIY Halloween costume? How about Cady Heron on her first day of public high school? All you need are some jeans, a t-shirt, a plaid button-up, and a ponytail to make this look complete. If you’re dressing up with a friend or partner, they can go as Aaron Samuels, Regina George, or Janice Ian. No matter what, you’ll have everyone saying, “That is so fetch!”
If you’re looking for a scary Halloween costume, there’s nothing quite so chilling as Pennywise the clown from IT. This costume requires a bit of makeup to really complete the look, but the payoff is worth it. This is easily one of the best Halloween costumes of 2022. Pennywise makes for a creepy kid's costume or an adult Halloween costume. If you’re looking for a costume that’s sure to wow but doesn’t take much time to throw together, then this is just the look for you this Halloween!
Get creative with this cute Halloween costume. It’s the Morton Salt girl! This is a super simple homemade Halloween costume. All you need are some white tights, a yellow dress, and an umbrella. This makes a good woman’s Halloween costume or an adorable girl’s Halloween costume. A fresh, effortless look that’s totally unique! If you already have a yellow raincoat and hat, then there’s no reason not to give this cool Halloween costume a try.
Going as a brand mascot is a fun and original way to dress up for Halloween, especially when it’s a character as well-known and loved as the Sun-Maid Raisin Girl! This modest look is an excellent woman’s Halloween costume and takes hardly anything to put together. A white shirt, red skirt, and red bonnet make up this outfit. Add a little basket filled with fake or real grapes and raisins to complete the look. Another easy DIY Halloween costume for the win!
These monsters won’t get as many screams as they will “wow”s. Dressing up as characters from Monsters, Inc. makes for an excellent family Halloween costume. You can make these costumes as simple or elaborate as you want. Boo’s costume is especially easy, and only requires some light purple leggings and an oversized pink t-shirt paired with two high pigtails. You can suit these costumes to a whole big group if you need to and go as a big band of different wacky monsters from the film!
Hotel Transylvania is full of every kind of ghost, ghoul, goblin, and monster imaginable! Have your family or friends pick their favorite character and parade the streets as a group. This is a great way to put a twist on dressing up as a traditional Halloween monster. If you’re not feeling Dracula and vampires, then try the Werewolf gang! Or Mavis and Johnathan would make an adorable couple’s costume! You just need to get a few accessories to make these costumes since most of the stuff you probably already have in your closet like a black dress, cargo shorts, or button-up shirt and tie.
If you want a look this Halloween that’s less about the costume and more about the makeup then look no further. These sugar skull makeup designs are all the rage and a super cool Halloween costume. Get creative with the face paint using different colors, and try adding some pearls or rhinestones to really jazz up this look. There are tons of tutorials and pictures out there for help and inspiration on creating these living works of art. You can make them elegant and edgy, or go super spooky and dark. Pair it with a hat or flower crown and you’ve got yourself a Día de los Muertos-inspired costume! For the rest of the outfit, just wear whatever you want that fits your makeup look.
Retro costumes are super fun and are always a popular choice. It’s no wonder these Back to the Future costumes are a huge hit! You can go old school and dress up as Marty McFly, Dr. Emmett Brown, and Jennifer from the first film, or take inspiration from all three movies and have yourself and your friends dress up as Marty in all the different eras. These stylish and funny Halloween costumes will speak to that great 80’s nostalgia.
Take it waaay back to prehistoric times with costumes inspired by this beloved cartoon family. Have the parents dress as Wilma and Fred Flintstone or Barney and Betty Rubble, and let the kids get in on the fun dressed as Pebbles, Bamm-Bamm, or even Dino their pet dinosaur. These are such fast and easy DIY Halloween costumes, it’ll have you saying “yabba-dabba-doo”!
I ain’t afraid of no ghost! You won’t be either once you’re decked out in these killer Ghostbusters costumes. Spray paint some toy guns to use for your proton packs, and add some emblems to tan jumpsuits to DIY this Halloween costume. This is perfect for a group of friends who are wanting to coordinate their costumes this year. You can even have some friends dress up as ghosts or the “Stay Puft” marshmallow man to really bring these costumes into action!
Step through the looking glass with these great kids Halloween costumes inspired by the classic story, Alice in Wonderland. With fun characters to choose from such as the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, and Cheshire cat, there’s certainly something here to please everyone. You can get crazy with the costume designs if you decide to home-make this costume, or you can buy an Alice costume for a more traditional look. Having all the characters together is really what makes these creative costumes shine!
This time of year the stores are packed with some awesome superhero costumes, so why not use that to your advantage and go as a team? Have the whole family dress up as their favorite member of the Avengers and really save the day this Halloween. With costume options available for boys and girls, it’s hard to go wrong with these crime-fighting heroes.
If you’re looking for an easy, last-minute Halloween costume then this might be the perfect look for you! It doesn’t take much to throw together this cops and robbers costume. The clothes are all pretty simple, but the look is all in the accessories. Robbers can wear black hats, masks, and gloves, while cops adorn a badge, utility belt, and handcuffs to complete their look. Toss in some fake money bags and you can re-create your own bank heist!
Lion costumes are easy to make and easy to find. Get a whole bunch in different sizes and styles and create your own lion pride this Halloween inspired by Disney’s The Lion King. The whole family can dress up as lions and go as Mufasa, Sarabi, Simba, Nala, or even Scar. If you have a larger family–or just don’t want to dress up as a lion–you can add a Rafiki, Zazu, or a Timon and Pumbaa.
Get inspired by the beloved children’s books by Dr. Seuss and go as one of the many wacky characters this Halloween. A Cat-in-the-Hat with Thing 1 and Thing 2 makes for a great trio costume, or you can dress up as the Lorax and Onceler for something a little more different. These funny Halloween costumes will have you laughing and rhyming door to door when you go trick-or-treating. All you need are some bold colors and a lot of imagination to make these clever costumes really stand out!
What better way to pay homage to the madness that is 2022 than to dress up as Carole Baskin and Joe Exotic this Halloween? Bring the wild energy of the documentary that shocked the nation to your Halloween party with these hilarious costumes. To DIY these costumes make sure you have an outrageous shiny shirt for Joe and a lot of animal print for Carole with some dangly jewelry, and you’re all set! If you have kids that would like to be in on the fun just grab some tiger costumes and make this a look for the whole family!
What movie better celebrates the glitz and glam of costumes than Rocky Horror Picture Show? Every character in this show is dressed to the nines, from Tim Curry’s lead role of Frank N. Furter to the supporting roles like Columbia and Riff Raff. Not a single sequin is wasted. These iconic looks are perfect if you're wanting a sexy Halloween costume this year, but going as Brad and Janet can serve as more conservative options if you’re not up to showing that much skin.
What’s better than one superhero? How about five superheroes! With these Incredibles costumes your entire family can fight evil doers and look good as a team. These cool Halloween costumes might not be made by Edna Mode herself, but they do look great and are tons of fun!
Kids and adults alike will have a blast showing off these awesome Super Mario costumes this year. You can scale this costume scheme up or down to fit any size group. This costume is an easy one to find or buy online, but it’s also easy to DIY. Some red and green shirts under matching denim overalls make an easy Mario and Luigi duo, and an accessorized pink dress gets the point across for a Princess Peach!
The force is definitely strong with this one–these costumes, I mean. Whether you're adorning the uniform of a Jedi Knight or a dark Sith, these looks are sure to be out of this world. Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia are classic and perfect costumes for a party of three, but there are plenty of Star Wars figures to choose from including Kylo Ren, Rey, or even BB-8.
No one does spooky quite like the Mystery gang. These costumes are iconic but simple, so they’re simple to make at home. Because each character has their own color scheme it’s easy to pick a few pieces that convey their look without having the entire ensemble. It only takes five to make up the whole team: Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, Fred, and of course the infamous Scooby-Doo. These make totally groovy kid's costumes, but they work well as adult Halloween costumes too!
Enter a world of pure imagination with these costumes inspired by Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. To go as the main man himself all it takes is some khakis, a white button-up, vest, purple blazer, colorful bowtie, and his signature brown top hat. If you want something more whimsical you can try for a troupe of Oompa Loompas. Some green hair spray and orange face paint really seals the deal on this golden ticket of a costume.
Nothing hits you in the feels like a Pixar movie, and nothing says Pixar like the family's favorite film Toy Story. That’s why this is a great fit for a family costume scheme! You could be just a cowboy, or you could be the rootinest tootinest cowboy in the wild west. Buzz, Jessie, and Bo Peep makes this nostalgic costume theme fit for a group.
Will The Office ever not be great? These costumes are exactly what you need if you want something easy, comfortable, and affordable this Halloween. In fact, you probably already have everything you need for an Office costume in your closet. A plain pencil skirt with a muted cardigan creates an easy Pam Beesly costume for a woman, and some khakis with a button-up and tie is a quick Jim Halpert costume for a man. Together this makes an adorable Office couple. Dwight Schrute would be another great fan favorite from this classic comedy tv show.
These colorful heroes are another great group costume. If you need a cheap costume on the fly you can easily improvise some Power Rangers using some black leggings and colored tops. Just use some accessories to really help convey the Power Ranger look, and you’ve got a fast costume for the whole gang. You don’t need to go all out to have a good time this year!
Everyone knows Harry Potter. Dress up as your favorite famous witches and wizards this Halloween and show some Hogwarts spirit! If you’re not feeling too elaborate, you can get away with wearing your regular clothes underneath a wizard robe. Just be sure to represent your house with the signature colors: red, blue, yellow, and green! Wanting something more wicked? How about going as “he who must not be named” or a Death Eater?
Lions, tigers, and bears! Oh my! Gather the family and look the part to head off to see the wizard this Halloween. The Dorothy, Glinda, and cowardly lion costumes are easy to find at the store or online, and the tin man and scarecrow are easy to make at home. This way you can challenge yourself to create something spectacular without having the burden of making five whole costumes.
If you and your friends just want something that’s very simple and laid back, but still gives you a little something to dress up with then try this rock, paper, scissors costume. Just what a trio needs to settle any dispute about what to wear this Halloween. You can use iron-ons to get these images in a plain t-shirt.
The only thing as important to Halloween as costumes is CANDY! So why not combine the two with these adorable Candyland costumes? Your family will look as sweet as can be stepping out onto the streets with these DIY costumes. Add embellishments and decor to store-bought garments for an easy homemade Halloween costume this season. All the crew is here: King Candy, Queen Frosting, Princess Lolly, Nana Nut, Lord Licorice, and Mister Mint!
Second star to the right, and straight on ‘til morning! You and your family will fit in just right in Neverland with these costumes inspired by Disney’s beloved animated film, Peter Pan. Since Neverland is all about never growing up, these costumes are great for that adult who’s still a child at heart. If you need a costume idea for a larger group you can always have some “lost boys” in the mix–those just require some comfy animal onesies!
Give in to your inner 90’s kid and sport these celebrity Halloween costumes this year. The Spice Girls are all about friendship, having fun, and girl power! Everyone has their favorite Spice Girl and with 90’s fashion coming back into style these days, it should be pretty easy to find an outfit that exemplifies the spice of your choice. Go as Posh spice and wear a little black dress, or maybe Sporty spice in some athletic wear.
Halloween just wouldn’t be complete without a little Hocus Pocus. You’ll for sure cast some spells with these costumes modeled after the Sanderson sisters. Yes, this is a more involved DIY project if you choose to make this costume set at home, but the effect is totally worth it! All of the fun detail and layers in these costumes make them really impressive, and great for those who will be trick-or-treating somewhere cold. Always account for the weather when making your costume decisions!
Who could resist this insanely cute Rainbow Brite and Twink costume? For those wanting something retro, you can’t get more retro chic than this! A super unique look for this Halloween, and one that’s easy to DIY if you can’t find what you need at the stores. Go crazy on all the rainbow garb for this one and wear your hair in a high curled pony to make this look pop!
At some point, all kids go through a phase where they’re obsessed with dinosaurs. Help fuel your kids' obsession with a scary, spikey, or spotted dinosaur costume this Halloween. Dinosaurs are great for kids of all ages, even toddlers! You don’t need any expensive materials to make this dino dream a reality, just a matching sweatsuit, gloves, and shoes.
Check out these celebs getting back to the roots of their characters on the hit tv series Riverdale. Not only are these costumes quirky and different, but they’re also rich in pop culture. Not to mention, Riverdale has an eerie, murder-mystery tone to it that makes these costumes perfectly in tune with the Spooktober vibe.
Ka-Pow! Ker-Blam! This is what you’ll have everyone saying when they see you painted up as a classic comic book character. This is another costume that’s all about makeup, proving that you don’t need an expensive outfit to have an amazing costume this Halloween. Online tutorials and picture inspiration can help you create your own personalized comic book look!
If you love the sci-fi adventure tv series Stranger Things, then you’ll love these costumes inspired by the show. Grab your bikes and get your friends together for this awesome group costume scheme. The boys are easy and can be made from 80’s style clothes you find at a thrift store, and Eleven just needs a pink dress, blue jacket, and some Eggos to really sell this creative Halloween costume. If someone in your group wants to go as something scary, they can dress up as the Demogorgon and spend their Halloween night lurking in the Upside Down.
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