Halloween is a magical time for kids, filled with candy, spooky fun, and, of course, dressing up! But finding the perfect costume doesn’t have to break the bank. With a little creativity and a few household items, you can create fun, memorable, and affordable Halloween costumes for your little ones. Whether your child wants to be a superhero, a classic Halloween character, or something totally unique, here are some fantastic cheap Halloween costume ideas for children.
1. Ghost
A ghost costume is a timeless Halloween classic. All you need is an old white sheet (preferably one that you don’t mind cutting) and a pair of scissors. Simply cut two eye holes, and you have an instant ghost costume! To make it even more fun, add some chains made from paper or tinfoil for a “haunted” effect. For a modern twist, try painting or drawing a cute face on the sheet instead of just cutting eye holes.
Materials:
- Old white sheet
- Scissors
- Marker (optional)
2. Mummy
Transform your child into an ancient mummy using just some toilet paper or white bandages! Wrap your child in toilet paper, making sure to leave their face and hands free. To keep the toilet paper from unraveling, use safety pins or small pieces of double-sided tape. You can also use strips of white cloth or old t-shirts for a more durable look.
Materials:
- Toilet paper, bandages, or strips of white fabric
- Safety pins or tape
3. Black Cat
This is a simple yet adorable costume that you can easily put together with clothes you already own. Dress your child in black leggings and a black shirt, and create a tail by attaching a long piece of black fabric or a rolled-up sock to the back of their pants. You can make ears from black felt or construction paper and attach them to a headband. Complete the look with face paint to draw on whiskers and a cute nose!
Materials:
- Black clothing (leggings, shirt)
- Black felt or construction paper (for ears)
- Headband
- Face paint
4. Superhero
You don’t need to buy an expensive superhero costume to make your child’s dreams come true. Use a solid-colored t-shirt and shorts as the base. Create a cape by tying a towel or sheet around their neck (secure it loosely for safety), and make a mask out of construction paper or felt. You can personalize the costume by adding a lightning bolt, star, or any other symbol with colored paper or fabric.
Materials:
- T-shirt and shorts
- Towel or sheet (for cape)
- Construction paper or felt (for mask)
- Tape or glue
5. Zombie
Turn your child into a spooky zombie with some old clothes, face paint, and fake blood. Cut small holes and fray the edges of the clothes to make them look worn and tattered. Use face paint to give them a pale, dead-like complexion and draw some dark circles under their eyes. If you want to go all out, add some fake blood using red food coloring or ketchup for a gross (but safe) effect!
Materials:
- Old clothes (ripped and torn)
- Face paint
- Fake blood (ketchup or red food coloring)
6. Animal Costumes
Animal costumes are easy and affordable to make at home. Choose any animal your child loves—dog, cow, bunny, etc. Dress them in the color that matches the animal (e.g., brown for a dog, white for a bunny), then use face paint to draw on whiskers, noses, or spots. You can also make simple ears using construction paper or felt and attach them to a headband. For tails, socks filled with tissue or cotton and pinned to the pants work great!
Materials:
- Clothes in the color of the chosen animal
- Felt or construction paper (for ears)
- Headband
- Face paint
7. Pirate
A pirate costume is easy to assemble with items you might already have at home. Start with black pants and a white shirt, preferably loose-fitting. Create an eye patch out of black paper or fabric and tie a red scarf or bandana around their head. Add a toy sword or homemade cardboard cutlass, and your little one is ready to sail the high seas in search of candy treasure!
Materials:
- Black pants and white shirt
- Bandana or scarf
- Black fabric or paper (for eye patch)
- Toy sword or cardboard cutlass
8. Skeleton
A skeleton costume can be made with black clothes and white tape or fabric paint. Dress your child in black leggings and a long-sleeved shirt. Cut bones out of white construction paper or use white duct tape to create a bone-like design on the clothing. Alternatively, if you’re feeling crafty, use white fabric paint to draw a skeleton on the clothes. Finish the look with face paint to give them a skull-like appearance.
Materials:
- Black clothing (leggings, shirt)
- White tape or construction paper
- Face paint
9. Fairy or Princess
A fairy or princess costume is simple and elegant. Use a fancy dress (perhaps from an old party or thrift store) as the base. Make wings using wire hangers and pantyhose or buy an inexpensive set from a dollar store. Create a wand with a stick, some glitter, and a star cut out of cardboard. Add a tiara made from cardboard or plastic, and your little one will feel like royalty.
Materials:
- Fancy dress
- Wire hangers and pantyhose (for wings)
- Cardboard and glitter (for wand)
- Tiara (optional)
10. Robot
This costume idea is fun and allows you to get creative with boxes and tinfoil. Find a medium-sized cardboard box for the body and a smaller one for the head. Cover both with aluminum foil. Use bottle caps, buttons, and markers to decorate the front of the “robot” with pretend dials and buttons. Cut out armholes and a space for the head, and your child will look like a cute, clunky robot in no time!
Materials:
- Cardboard boxes
- Aluminum foil
- Bottle caps, buttons, and markers (for decoration)
