25 Last-Minute Halloween Costume Ideas for Kids

Use a box for the body, smaller cardboard pieces for controls, and foil or painted paper for details.

A white sheet can work, but make sure the eye holes are large, the fabric is not dragging, and the child can see and walk safely.

Black clothes plus paper or felt ears, a simple tail and drawn whiskers.

Button-up shirt or lab coat, wild hair, goggles and a clipboard covered in “secret formulas.”

Bright shirt, hat, sunglasses, map, camera and socks with sandals.

White or tan clothes with strips of old fabric loosely tied or sewn on—safer and sturdier than wrapping a child in toilet paper.

Plaid shirt, jeans, hat and paper or fabric patches. Add drawn stitches with face paint.

Dressy clothes, sunglasses and a paper award or homemade “red carpet” badge.

Coat, notebook, paper badge and magnifying glass.

Old shirt or apron, beret or hat, paintbrush and cardboard palette.

Cardigan, glasses and a stack of lightweight books or printed book covers.

Raincoat, umbrella, microphone prop and a cardboard weather map.

Old sports clothes with safe washable dirt makeup and messy hair.

Striped shirt, dark pants, scarf, cardboard sword and homemade eye patch.

Solid-color clothes plus a towel or fabric cape and a paper chest emblem invented by the child.

Cut a large cardboard circle, paint it yellow and add a favorite expression.

Clear recycling bag worn loosely over clothes with colorful balloons inside; keep the head completely outside and avoid this idea for very young children.

Tape white or reflective lines onto black clothing to create a stick-person outline.

Write the phrase on a plain shirt or cardboard sign for a zero-effort joke costume.

Black clothes with white paper, felt or tape bones. Add a friendly skull face with makeup or a mask that does not block vision.

Orange shirt, green hat or headband and a black felt jack-o’-lantern face.

Apron, mixing spoon and paper chef hat.

Striped shirt, black shorts or pants, whistle prop and homemade yellow/red cards.

Pajamas, slippers, messy hair and a handmade monster mask or horn headband.

Give kids five minutes to combine three unrelated dress-up pieces and invent the character’s name and backstory.