50 Brilliantly Cheap Halloween Costumes (That Don’t Skimp On Fun!)
Halloween is all about creativity and fun, not overspending! With a little imagination (and maybe a quick trip to the thrift store or your own closet), you can pull together a costume that’s clever, festive, and budget-friendly.
Here’s your ultimate guide to 50 cheap Halloween costumes for flying solo, with your partner, as a family, or helping the kids pick their perfect look.
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Cheap Halloween Costumes For Couples And Adults
Pro Tip: Shop your closet first. You’d be surprised what you can create with flannels, old uniforms, black clothing, or anything denim! A costume might be hiding in plain sight.
1. Netflix and Chill
One person wears a shirt with the Netflix logo, while the other wears comfy lounge clothes or adds ice cube accessories to represent “chill.”
2. Cereal Killers
Tape mini cereal boxes to a shirt and stick plastic knives into them. Add fake blood for a spooky twist.
Pro Tip: Punny Halloween costumes are cheap, hilarious, memorable, and often require minimal effort.
3. Bank Robbers
Dress in black clothes with black beanies and add a sack with a dollar sign on it. Use face paint for a simple mask.
4. Salt & Pepper
Use plain white and black T-shirts labeled with big “S” and “P” letters. Simple, cute, and always a hit.
5. Cowboy & Cowgirl
Pair jeans with plaid shirts, bandanas, and cowboy hats. Add boots and a toy horse if you want to go all out.
6. Social Butterflies
Cut out social media logos and pin them to your outfit. Add wings and antennas to become a “social butterfly.”
7. Tourists
Grab a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, sunglasses, and a camera. Add a fanny pack, socks with sandals, and a map to complete the look.
8. Brawny Paper Towel Guy & Rosie The Riveter
For him: plaid shirt, jeans, and flexing confidence. For her: denim shirt, red bandana, and a “We Can Do It” attitude. A classic couple combo using clothes you likely already have.
9. DIY Crazy Cat Lady Costume
Throw on a bathrobe, pop some curlers in your hair, and pin a few stuffed cats (easy finds at the thrift store or your kids toy bin) all over your outfit. Add some fuzzy slippers and you’ve nailed the delightfully over-the-top crazy cat lady look!
10. Smarty Pants
Glue Smarties candies to a pair of pants and wear a nerdy outfit to bring the pun to life.
11. Painter & Masterpiece
One person wears a beret and carries a paintbrush and palette. The other wears a frame around their neck with painted or drawn designs on their shirt. They’re the masterpiece!
12. Static Cling
Wear normal clothes and pin socks, dryer sheets, and random small laundry items to yourself. Carry a dryer sheet box or lint roller for bonus laughs.
13. Ceiling Fan
Wear a shirt that says “Go Ceilings!” and carry pom-poms. You’re a “ceiling fan”!
14. Men In Black
Wear black suits and sunglasses. Add a toy “neuralyzer” (or use a flashlight) and act serious.
15. Lifeguard and Swimmer In Trouble
One person wears red shorts and a whistle for a lifeguard look. The other can wear goggles, a swim cap, and wrap themselves in blue or wave-patterned fabric with floaties for flair.
Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas For The Whole Family
Pro Tip: Thrift shops are goldmines for quirky finds like vintage clothing, oversized glasses, and accessories. Dollar stores often carry costume props, masks, makeup, and themed decor on a budget.
16. Pac-Man Group
Create circular cardboard cutouts for Pac-Man and the ghosts, paint them in bright colors, and attach them to shirts. It’s easy to make and can be customized to fit any family size.
17. Bees & Beekeepers
The kids wear yellow and black stripes with wings and antennae, while the parents wear white and carry nets.
18. Rock, Paper, Scissors
Use cardboard to create large symbols for each item and wear them like sandwich boards.
19. Camping Crew
Everyone dresses like they’re heading into the great outdoors. Think flannel shirts, backpacks, hiking boots, and maybe a few marshmallow props for fun. Bonus points for carrying toy lanterns or roasting pretend s’mores on sticks!
20. Party Animals
Get ready to party the Halloween night away! Each family member can choose to go out as their favorite animal. Keep these costumes simple. Then, add a festive twist with party hats, sunglasses, bow ties, and party blowers.
21. Weather Forecast
One person dresses as a cloud, another as a sun, and others as raindrops or a rainbow. Use felt, cardboard, and glue for easy DIY costumes.
22. Breakfast Foods
Dress as eggs, bacon, toast, or orange juice using felt or poster board to cut and glue onto basic outfits.
23. Superheros (Or Superheroes in Disguise)
Use what you have to transform your family into a superhero squad ready to save the day. Or wear a superhero shirt under regular clothes and reveal your identity with a dramatic shirt pull.
24. Farm Theme
Parents can be farmers with overalls and straw hats, while kids can be pigs, cows, or chickens using onesies or simple masks. These costumes are easy to DIY using face paint and simple clothing.
Add your pets into the farmyard fun too!
25. 80s Rock Band
Turn your family into an 80s rock band, or any band of your choice! Grab some inflatable instruments and microphones. Then mix and match clothes you already own or find at thrift stores.
26. Crayons
Everyone wears a different color T-shirt with the word “Crayon” printed vertically. Top it off with matching cone hats.
27. Sports Theme
Football, soccer, baseball, oh my! Repurpose your sports gear for this versatile, game-winning family costume. It’s fully adjustable, making it easy to tailor to any sport, family size, or budget.
28. Skeleton Family
Black shirts with white bones painted or taped on make for an easy and unified family costume.
29. Alien Invasion
Some family members can be aliens with green face paint and tinfoil hats, while others are humans or scientists.
30. Zoo Keepers & Animals
Parents can wear khaki clothes and carry stuffed animals or clipboards, while kids dress up as cute zoo animals.
Cute & Cheap Halloween Costumes For Kids
Pro Tip: Use cardboard, felt, and household items to make wings, masks, hats, or signs. Pinterest and YouTube have tons of tutorials for easy, homemade costume additions.
31. Black Cat
Dress your child in black clothes, add a headband with cat ears, draw on whiskers, and make a tail from yarn or fabric.
32. lego Brick
Use a cardboard box and paint it one color. Glue or tape six plastic cups (cut to size) to the front for the brick knobs. It’s creative, colorful, and super affordable.
33. Superhero Of Their Own Making
Let kids create their own superhero! Use a towel or old fabric for a cape, paper or felt for a logo, and their own clothes underneath. They get to name their powers.
34. Chef
White shirt, apron, and a paper chef hat. Use a wooden spoon or whisk as a prop.
35. Pirate
Stripe shirt, eye patch, and a DIY sword from cardboard. Add a scarf or bandana as a headpiece.
36. Witch or Wizard
A black outfit with a pointy paper hat or cape and wand made from a stick or rolled paper or a broom is all you need!
37. Bumblebee
Yellow shirt with black stripes, wings made from cardboard or mesh, and pipe cleaner antennae.
38. Race Car Driver
Use a solid-colored tracksuit, add patches or logos, and make a cardboard steering wheel to carry.
39. Mermaid
Use scale-printed leggings or a sparkly skirt and a shell top. Add a headband with sea-themed decorations.
40. Astronaut
Wear white clothes with homemade NASA patches, and a helmet made from a colander or paper mâché.
41. Book Character
Dress up as a favorite book character like Pete the Cat or The Very Hungry Caterpillar with themed accessories.
42. Cupcake
Make a tutu for the base and add felt or pom-poms to a shirt for sprinkles. A cherry headband tops it off.
43. Mad Scientist
Wear a white lab coat, wild hair, and safety goggles. Then finish it off with test tube props to make this fun and educational.
44. Toy Soldier
An all-green outfit, toy rifle, and green face paint create this toybox classic.
45. Sunflower
A yellow petal headband, green shirt and pants, and face paint make a sunny and adorable costume.
46. Mummy Mayhem
Wrap your child in strips of old white sheets, gauze, or toilet paper (for a quick version). Smudge on some gray or black makeup to give a dusty, “just rose from the tomb” effect.
47. Ballerina or Dancer
Pull out a tutu or leotard, pair with tights and ballet flats. Add a sparkly headband or DIY wand to make it feel magical and costume-worthy.
48. Artist Extraordinaire
Use an oversized shirt as a smock, a cardboard or paper palette with painted blobs, and a paintbrush behind the ear. Add a beret (or beanie hat) for a Parisian flair.
49. Bug Catcher
Dress your child in cargo shorts, a safari-style hat, net (from a toy aisle or dollar store), and some plastic bugs clipped onto their shirt. Bonus if you have binoculars or a magnifying glass.
50. (Undead) All-Star Athlete
Let your child shine on Halloween by turning their everyday sports uniform into a winning costume.
Got an old one lying around? Rough up the edges, smudge on some dirt or fake blood, and finish the look with pale face paint and dark under-eye circles to create the ultimate undead athlete.
What’s Next?
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