47 Last-Minute Halloween Costume Ideas for Kids
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Didn’t have time to pick up a Halloween costume for your kid this year? Don’t panic. First of all, it’s a scientific fact that anyone under the age of 12 is probably too distracted by giant mounds of candy to care about what they’re wearing. Secondly, there’s a simple solution—last minute Halloween costume ideas for kids that require minimal effort. (Honestly, you probably have most of what you need lying around the house.) That includes the usual suspects like ghosts and movie villains, cute fall décor like pumpkins and scarecrows, plus ballerinas, magicians and adorable animals. Here are 47 last-minute Halloween costume ideas for kids that are so ridiculously easy to pull off, you’ll be procrastinating next year, too.
50 Halloween Activities for Kids, Ranging from Cutesy to Spooky
1. Minions
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All you need for this adorable costume are overalls, a yellow shirt and hat, some black gloves and goggles (or you can just get a ready-to-ship set).
Shop similar styles: Kids’ Minion Costume (from $29)
2. Ballerina
Twenty20
You’ll be so glad you didn’t throw out their bedazzled tutu from last year’s Nutcracker recital.
Shop similar styles: Tulle Tutu with Hair Bow ($15); Capezio Short-Sleeve Leotard ($20)
3. Bunny
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A classic for adults and kids alike, all you need is a monochromatic onesie and a pair of bunny ears.
Shop similar styles: Baby Bunny Onesie Pajamas (from $29); Easter Bunny Ears Headband ($12)
4. Cloud
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Got any cotton lying around the house? Glue some together and add some strings with paper raindrops hanging from it, and you've got yourself a cloud!
Shop similar styles: Rainbow Cloud costume (from $26)
5. Witch
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A Halloween classic. All you need is an all-black ensemble and a witch’s hat.
Shop similar styles: Witch Hat with Sequins ($10; $8); Witch Costume Set and Broom ($28)
6. Angel
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Or go in the opposite direction with an all-white get-up topped off with a halo.
Shop similar styles: LED Angel Feather Wings and Halo ($14); Guardian Angel Costume (from $30)
7. Peter Pan’s Shadow
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No sewing involved. Get the tutorial here.
Shop similar styles: Kids’ Full Bodysuit ($30); Kids’ Peter Pan Hat ($14)
8. Yoga Instructor
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A pair of flashy leggings and a plain tank top and your work is done. Add a headband and yoga mat to really drive the look home.
Shop similar styles: Athleta Crop Tank ($35); Athleta High-Rise Leggings ($55)
9. Superman
Twenty20
Does your little guy own a pair of superhero pajamas? Put ’em on underneath his Sunday best and there you have it—a superhero in disguise.
Shop similar styles: Superman T-Shirt ($23); Short-Sleeve Oxford Shirt ($12)
10. Stick Figure
Twenty20
White clothes + electrical tape + a paper plate + marker = hilarious (and super easy) DIY Halloween costume.
Shop similar styles: Black Vinyl Electrical Tape ($13; $9); Compostable Paper Plates ($30)
11. Dracula
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The only time it’s OK for your kid to dig around your makeup bag. Red lipstick, brown eye shadow, face powder and hair mousse should do the trick.
Shop similar styles: MOB Beauty Hydrating Cream Lipstick ($24); MOB Beauty Matte Eye Shadow ($16); Mehron Makeup Setting Powder ($10); Kérastase Mousse Bouffante ($32)
12. Hershey’s Kiss
Twenty20
Grab all the tinfoil you have to fashion a hat, add some string to make a strap and stick a big Hershey’s sign on top. Done.
Shop similar styles: Reynolds Aluminum Foil Wrap ($15; $12); Cooking Twine ($13; $5)
13. Zombie Baseball Player
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Time to bring out the Little League gear. Make it spooky by adding some scary scars and zombie makeup.
Shop similar styles: Zombie Baseball Player Costume ($30; $20)
14. Mummy
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Tear an old sheet into strips, wrap them around your kid and there you have it: a mummy made by mommy. Not bad for a last-minute Halloween costume.
Shop similar styles: Kids’ Mummy Costume ($45)
15. Fairy Princess
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Oh, go on and let your kid wear her prettiest dress for Halloween. Top it off with a tiara and some glitter makeup for a happily ever after.
Shop similar styles: Butterfly Fairy Wings with Elf Ears and Floral Headband ($17)
16. Ghost
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It’s a classic for a reason. Grab a white bed sheet, cut out two holes for eyes and you’re ready for a night of trick-or-treating.
Shop similar styles: Kids’ Ghost Costume ($19)
17. Wayne and Garth
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A black tee and hat for Wayne; a blonde wig, drumsticks and checkered shirt for Garth. “Party time, excellent!”
Shop similar styles: Child’s Blonde Wig ($22); Plaid Flannel Shirt (from $19); Youth Baseball Cap ($12)
18. Time Machine and Frankenstein
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Tinfoil to the rescue yet again for this last-minute Halloween costume for kids. Cover a box in foil, add some construction paper dials and your costume is complete. Or grab some green makeup from the drugstore to create a spooky monster.
Shop similar styles: Reynolds Aluminum Foil Wrap ($15; $12); Bulk Construction Paper ($45; $35); Green Face Paint Body Stick ($10)
19. Pirate
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Draw on an eye patch, grab a striped shirt and you’re good to go.
Shop similar styles: Kids’ Long-Sleeve Striped Shirt ($18); MOB Beauty Cake Liner ($18)
20. Elephant
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If you can rummage up a gray onesie or monochrome ensemble, just add construction-paper ears and a pool noodle nose.
Shop similar styles: Kids’ Elephant Costume (from $28)
21. Jack-o-Lantern
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Have your kid throw on an orange T-shirt and pants, then add black construction paper cutouts for the jack-o-lantern eyes and mouth.
Shop similar styles: Pumpkin Costume (from $18)
22. Bumble Bee
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Turns out you’ll want to pull out that electrical tape again. This last-minute Halloween costume for kids is cute and simple. Dress them in yellow and use the tape to add stripes. Strap on a foil stinger and they’re good to go.
Shop similar styles: Black Vinyl Electrical Tape ($13; $9); Reynolds Aluminum Foil Wrap ($15; $12); Bumble Bee Costume (from $29)
23. Black Cat
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With a little eyeliner to draw on the whiskers, blush for the nose and a cat ears headband, you’ll have a last-minute Halloween costume for kids faster than they can scream “trick or treat!”
Shop similar styles: Black Cat Costume ($30); Cat Ears Headband ($8); MOB Beauty Cake Liner ($18); MOB Beauty Cream Clay Blush ($28)
24. Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz
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Red Mary Janes, a blue dress and white blouse are all she needs to become this iconic heroine. Cute pup optional, but highly encouraged.
Shop similar styles: Dorothy Costume (from $33)
25. Tiger
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Whether they want to channel their inner Daniel Tiger, Tony the Tiger or Tigger, this last-minute Halloween costume idea for kids comes together lighting quick. Orange shirt, your handy electrical tape and a generous swipe of orange face paint will do the trick. On to the treats!
Shop similar styles: Baby Tiger Costume (from $22); Black Vinyl Electrical Tape ($13; $9); Orange Face Paint Stick ($9)
26. Little Devil
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Because honestly, sometimes they are one.
Shop similar styles: Kids’ Devil Costume ($60); Devil Horns Headband and Glasses ($8); Devil Tail and Pitchfork ($13)
27. Mime
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Bringing Marcel Marceau back from the dead.
Shop similar styles: White Face Paint Stick ($9); Kids’ Long-Sleeve Striped Shirt ($18); Kids’ Suspenders and Bow Tie (from $10); Kids’ Beret ($10)
28. Leopard
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If it’s truly a last-minute Halloween costume, a tan T-shirt and black construction paper will do the job.
Shop similar styles: Kids Leopard Costume ($24); Leopard Ears Headband ($7)
29. Jack Skellington
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Pull out that suit they wore last year to your cousin’s wedding, rub on some white face paint and give them some eyeliner stitches.
Shop similar styles: Kids’ Jack Skellington Costume ($35; $18); White Face Paint Stick ($9); MOB Beauty Cake Liner ($18)
30. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle
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All you need for this last-minute Halloween costume for kids is a green T-shirt and a mask made out of cardboard or construction paper.
Shop similar styles: Girls’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Costume ($18); Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Hoodie (from $16)
31. Butterfly
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Honestly, you could even repurpose those slightly bent fairy wings sitting forgotten in the toy box. Pair with an antenna headband made from pipe cleaners.
Shop similar styles: Butterfly Wings, Headband and Mask ($12)
32. Grandma or Grandpa
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Toddlers dressed as grannies? Surest way to anyone’s heart. You’ll need suspenders, a button-down shirt, a floral print dress, pastel sweater, fake mustache and a couple walkers.
Shop similar styles: Little Old Lady Costume (from $37); Old Man Costume (from $35)
33. Carrot
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Fresh from the garden. Technically, you don’t have to buy anything. Dress them up in an orange T-shirt and hot glue some green yarn on a headband.
Shop similar styles: Carrot Costume ($27)
34. Spider
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To make this last-minute Halloween costume for kids, cut up some black pool noodles to make the additional “legs” and use white spray paint to create a web on the back of a black T-shirt.
Shop similar styles: Kids’ Spider Costume ($26); Black Pool Noodles ($23); White Spray Paint ($15; $13)
35. Little Professor
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Listen up, class. Today, we’ll be dissecting the text of a beloved classic, Baby Shark.
Shop similar styles: V-Neck Sweater Vest (from $16); Long-Sleeve Button-Down Shirt ($19); Oxford Dress Shoes ($30)
36. Skeleton
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Must be chilly with no clothes on. You can ad-hoc this last-minute Halloween costume for kids with a monochrome black outfit and white electrical tape.
Shop similar styles: Kids’ Skeleton Costume ($20; $19); White Electrical Tape ($7)
37. Cactus
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Green shirt + white yarn + flower headband = the prickliest thing ever.
Shop similar styles: Cactus Bodysuit (from $60); Green Fleece Hoodie ($26); Flower Headband ($19; $14)
38. Cow
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Got milk?
Shop similar styles: Cow Onesie ($22)
39. Grim Reaper
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Can be assembled with a black hoodie, bathrobe and some skeletal face paint.
Shop similar styles: Grim Reaper Costume (from $21)
40. Ladybug
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To DIY this little lovebug, use black construction paper as “dots” and stick them onto a red shirt or dress with tape.
Shop similar styles: Ladybug Costume ($27)
41. Zombie Princess
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Royally undead. Feel free to shred up last year’s too-small fancy dress and go ham with some black paint. Top off the look with a bloody lip and she’s ready to go.
Shop similar styles: Kids’ Zombie Princess Costume (from $19)
42. Dragon
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Green T-shirt, green face paint, cardboard cutout spikes and you’re in business.
Shop similar styles: Green Face Paint Stick ($6); Green Cotton T-Shirt (from $11); Inflatable Dinosaur Costume ($24)
43. Cowgirl or Cowboy
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Keep it simple with a couple of red bandanas and Western hats. If your kids keep up with the fashion trends, they’ll already have the boots in their closet.
Shop similar styles: Cowboy Costume ($33); Cowgirl Costume ($20)
44. The Joker
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Time to raid your makeup bag. With a little eye liner and bright red lipstick, you’ll transform your little one into Batman’s nemesis in no time.
Shop similar styles: Joker Costume ($37; $35); White Face Paint Stick ($9); MOB Beauty Cake Liner ($18); MOB Beauty Hydrating Cream Lipstick ($24)
45. Magician
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This last-minute Halloween costume idea for kids is almost as easy as a wave of the wand. You can improvise with a bed sheet for a cape and a chopstick spray-painted black.
Shop similar styles: Junior Magician Costume ($36; $27)
46. Edward Scissorhands
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With some heavy-duty construction paper, you can make the scissor hands at home by rolling sheets into cones.
Shop similar styles: Edward Scissorhands Costume (from $150); Child’s Black Wig ($24)
47. Scarecrow
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Have them throw on a turtleneck and an old corduroy jacket, then paint their faces with a cute scarecrow smile.
Shop similar styles: Scarecrow Costume (from $27); MOB Beauty Cake Liner ($18); MOB Beauty Hydrating Cream Lipstick ($24)
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