100+ Tips for Homemade Halloween Costumes on a Budget

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Fall is in the air and it's time to start thinking about your kid's Halloween costume! I'm sharing tons of the best and most creative homemade Halloween costume ideas for kids. Check out the additional tips for purchasing store-bought Halloween costumes on a budget.

Halloween Costumes on a Budget

Putting together cheap Halloween costumes is easier than you think! But don't just run out and buy a bunch of supplies. First, I'm going to share the specific steps to follow in the planning, design, purchasing, and construction stages. 

Homemade or Store Bought Costumes on a Budget

Even if you've never made a homemade Halloween costume before, these pro tips will get you prepared. I'm a crafty girl, so of course I almost always make Halloween costumes.

But even if you don't have a crafty bone in your body, I know you can make a costume this year. Or at least vow not to spend an unreasonable amount of money on a crummy costume at the store, okay? 

What's your budget for Halloween?

Whether you have access to full spending, are on a tight budget, or can't spend a dime, there are ways to make great Halloween costumes happen.

I'll explore lots of ways to put together awesome outfits, even by using what you already have in the closet.

Are you ready to make Halloween costumes on a budget? Keep reading and I'll show you all my tested tips, tricks, and ideas to make your own creative homemade Halloween costumes.

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Make Halloween Costume Plans Early

A few months before Halloween, I ask my kids to start thinking about what costume they want. Sometimes it takes kids a few weeks to decide so you want to start this conversation early.

Start early to avoid the cram session

I start the Halloween planning a full 60 days in advance, which will give me plenty of time to make four kid's costumes.

I highly suggest starting early so you have plenty of time for planning and crafting. Ideally, you want to avoid the night-before cram session (been there, done that!).

Settle on a "drop dead" date to decide

Some kids have a hard time deciding on a final costume. Allow about a week of waffling before you tell them they have to nail it down. Once the planning process starts, there is no changing of minds!

Consider family themed outfits

Whether you're making a single costume or outfits for the entire family, having a theme helps create cohesion. Choosing a group theme can also help narrow down the ideas for kids that can't decide.

Everyone in the family chooses a character from the group. Ideas include Harry Potter, Minions, superheroes, The Nightmare Before Christmas, or Disney/Pixar Inside Out.

Alice in Wonderland group outfit - My kids and I attended Disney's Oogie Boogie Bash Halloween party, dressed in an Alice In Wonderland theme.

My daughter was Alice, wearing a blue dress from her closet. I made her white pinafore apron and she already owned the black bow headband.

I wore a red shirt with heart sleeves and a striped skirt from my closet with a paper crown as the Queen of Hearts. My son's card shirt was created with a Cricut Joy and black iron-on vinyl.

Sleeping Beauty group outfit - My kids and I dressed as characters from Sleeping Beauty with my daughter in a store-bought Disney Princess Aurora dress. My son is in a homemade Halloween costume as Prince Phillip, with basics from Primary and a red superhero cape.

I simply DisneyBound as Maleficent in evil horns and coordinated with her color scheme, wearing a skirt and tee from my closet.

Draw Out a Basic Design of the Halloween Costume

I draw a quick and simple design of the costume idea and present it to each child for approval. Make your drawing very simple and direct. Don't forget to show both front and back. Allow input from the kids about the design as they often come up with the most creative ideas!

No surprises!

I stress this...do not make your child a costume as a surprise! This quite often will backfire. Kids want and need to approve what they wear.

I believe that children should be involved in choosing their own theme. After all, it's the child that will be bringing the character to life! You want them to be happy and comfortable with what they are wearing (and not refusing to put it on!).

Creative Homemade Halloween Costumes

Know What You Have & Buy Only What You Need

As a seamstress, I have more than enough fabric and notions in my bins to costume a Broadway production! If you have a lot of supplies like I do, you may not have to purchase much of anything.

Perhaps you're starting from scratch? Before you hit the fabric store, reach out to family and friends about their stash. Make a request for certain items in a Buy Nothing Facebook group. Save fabric and craft store coupons if you do need to pick up items.

Be practical about fabrics and notions

Be practical about what fabrics be easiest to work with and what washes up the best. Yes, those glittery, sequined, and metallic fabrics are cool looking. But fancy fabrics are also very hard to sew with, especially if you're not an experienced sewer. You may also need special needles or threads to work with specialty fabrics.

It's best to stick to machine washable cotton fabrics, especially when making costumes for kids. With the closure of JoAnn fabric stores, I recommend purchasing cotton by the yard online, if you do need to purchase fabrics or supplies.

Recycle and reuse

Dig through your odds and ends including buttons, ribbons and leftovers from previous craft projects. Of course, you can always use recycled items like cardboard boxes in your creations. You might just find a diamond in the rough that will be the inspiration of your design!

One of my favorite Halloween years was when my kids decided together that they wanted to be pirates. My son had a pair of glow-in-the-dark skeleton pajamas that became the base of the design. These costumes look fantastic and I truly only spent about $15 total on the striped and black fabrics!

The costumes had a similar look, but each one was unique with the choice of accessories. My son had a simple sash tied at his waist and a loose vest.

For my daughter I made a tighter top (that laced on the sides) and a sash that laced with ribbon in front. I accented her outfit with inexpensive gold braid trim and the gold buttons had been removed from an old jacket.

Using Regular Clothing for a Homemade Halloween Costume

Take a look at your closets and see what can be tweaked or reworked for a costume. In many cases, I only have to make one main piece or an accessory to complete the look. The rest is straight from my kid's everyday wear!

Hit the closets first

There are a number of outfits in this article that showcase how to use regular clothing from the closet in homemade Halloween costumes.

Take a look at items you have in the donation bin and see if you could rework into a costume. Items like sports and dance outfits, solid basic pieces, leggings, and pajamas are ideal to reuse.

Go thrifting

Another great option for budget Halloween costumes is to visit the thrift store. You can often find thrifted gems that work perfectly in costume designs at a bargain price.

Accessorize regular clothing

Inexpensive accessories can maximize pieces from the closet to great benefit. Take a peek at these two costumes my kids wore for Halloween.

Back to the Future - My son pieced together his look using a red puffer vest from Primary and clothes from our closets. With a simple wristwatch, he looked just like Marty McFly!

Beautiful Butterfly - For less than $15 we were able to put together this lovely look for my daughter. The black items came from her closet. The monarch butterfly wings and headband were purchased online. We added colorful make-up and sparkly facial jewels as a sweet finishing touch.

Muppet costumes - These Kermit the Frog and Rolf costumes could easily use pajamas or hooded sweatshirts instead of sewing the jumpsuits. Even if you're using something store-bought like regular clothing as a base, you can tweak it into a creative homemade Halloween costume.

Reuse a suit as a Halloween costume

My son wanted to incorporate a dressy suit he had in the closet. He'd worn it to a wedding earlier in the year, but wanted his friends at school to see him in it! We added a pair of sunglasses and he became one of the Men in Black.

A budget Halloween costume for sure - and he got another wear out of the suit before it was too small! Other suit ideas could include an FBI agent, Pee Wee Herman, Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Newsie, or Clark Kent (with the Superman shirt underneath!)

Halloween T-Shirt Costumes

Your child probably has quite a bit in the closet already that can be used to create a handmade Halloween costume on a budget. Basic pants or shorts and a t-shirt are the base of many awesome costume ideas. You can likely pull those right out of the closet!

Shop at Primary

If I ever do need a basic to help build the costume, my favorite place to shop for kids is Primary.com, where you can get 20% off your first order with code AFF20PCT. There are great solid leggings, tees, dresses and other pieces to create homemade Halloween costumes.

Snow White T-Shirt - For my daughter's Snow White Disney princess tee DIY, I purchased a blue t-shirt and yellow shorts from Primary. Follow the instruction in the link to create a simple applique and yellow ribbon trim. This adorable t-shirt costume was ready in less than an hour!

Sorcerer Mickey Costume - This DIY Mickey Mouse costume couldn't have been easier! A simple pair of black leggings, a long red tee, and a brown sash - along with a Sorcerer Mickey hat - make for a quick and cheap costume. Click the link for the entire outfit DIY instructions.

Garden Gnome - This gnome costume cost less than $10 to make. It took only a few hours to create and my son looked absolutely precious! Here's how to make a gnome costume.

For the tunic, trim the edges of an oversized blue t-shirt with white bias tape. Sew a red ribbon around the hip area of the tunic. Attach a square gold belt buckle to the center. Wear any color solid colored pants or leggings.

To make the felt boot covers, do a simple search for "boot template" online. Cut out 4 pieces of red felt, then sew together along the curved edge, leaving top and bottom open. Fold over top edge and insert elastic cut to the length of child's calf.

For the gnome hat, use a large piece of paper as a template to wrap around child's head into a cone shape. Cut out stiff red felt using the template. Attach an elastic chin-strap. To the elastic, hot glue a strip of fur for the beard. 

Keep an Open Mind & Creativity Flowing

I haven't purchased a new pattern since 2007 because I use and reuse the classic styles that I already own. No need to get hung up with needing a specific "princess" costume pattern. And you don't have to exactly match the design on the cover. Don't let yourself get distracted by a dull or outdated design on the packaging. Simply changing up the fabrics and adding trims can make that style a true gem!

Even just using recognizable fabrics (like red with white dotted fabric for Minnie Mouse), you can be very creative with the pattern.

Scour the sale pattern bins and look for classics that can be manipulated for your design. A basic tunic pattern, elastic waist pants, and skirts are the basis for countless costume designs.

Let your child's appearance guide you

Let your child serve as inspiration for their Halloween costume. As a curly-headed blonde with brown eyes, my daughter was constantly called "Shirley Temple" for her first two years! This adorable puff sleeve dress pattern from the 1980s was the perfect inspiration for a Shirley Temple dress.

Recycled Halloween Ideas

What do you have around the house that can be recycled for a costume? Cardboard, hot glue, and leftover bits from the garage can be transformed into fun ideas for Halloween!

Spider Costume - My son came up with the idea of "Hollywood Super Star Spider" when he was five. He requested a cane and top hat.

My dad made the cane with leftover PVC piping. I made the top hat from the thin cardboard of a cereal box, hot glue, and leftover fabric strips.

I spent very little on the actual fabric for the costume and batting to fill in the spider arms. Mono-filament (fishing line) strung the arms together. He wore his own black pants with the tunic. My son was over the moon when his design and character came to life!

Cupcake Costume - Wear a simple tank top or t-shirt underneath and a silver pleated skirt with leggings to represent the cupcake wrapper.

Create the cupcake frosting top, by wrapping the child in pink tulle. Use safety pins to loosely secure the tulle from inside the shirt. Remove the shirt from the child for the next step.

Use a hot glue gun to attach large mirrored color sequin "sprinkles" to the upper part of the tulle around the shoulders. 

For the whipped cream and cherry hat, use a white beanie as a base. Cover a ball of batting (or stuffing from an old pillow) with red fabric. Sew the red fabric shut then sew, pin or glue onto the hat. Hot glue a brown felt "cherry stem" on top of the red ball.

Face Paint Can Be a Costume

Keep your outfit simple and go with dramatic face paint. My son was a Marine one year by wearing a camouflage shirt and pants from his own closet (see photo above). I painted his face with black, brown, and green face paint to complete the look. Editor's note: My son grew up and actually became a Marine!

Face paint is an awesome way to dress up as a wild animal, too. I added some colorful make-up and sparkly adhesive gems for my daughter's butterfly costume. Make-up and face paint is super easy and kids love the transformation!

Less is More (ie: Thinking Cheap)

Specialty fabrics can be very expensive, so try to use them minimally instead of in excess. They generally have a greater impact when used strategically, like in the bodice of a dress instead of in the entire skirt. Same goes for fancy trims: Instead of edging the entire hem of a skirt, use a pricey trim only around the neckline or sleeves.

For my son's spider costume (photo shown earlier in this article), I used only a small amount of the priciest fabric (the sheer, sparkly red spiderweb design). I choose to place it only on the front of the tunic.

The stretch velvet I used in this Mickey Mouse hood was $15 a yard but I only needed a little bit. For the cost of a few plastic buttons, red shorts and a black shirt, you can have your own Mickey in the house! Check out my DIY Mickey Mouse costume tutorial.

Fabric Paint Power

When I want to create drama without the expense on a costume, I pull out my fabric paints. A little glittery fabric paint can go a long way to making your costume look more professional!

When my nephew got a hold of this Spiderman costume it had already been through two previous Halloweens over the course of 8 years. The paint pen marker that I'd used to draw the web was still holding up!

For my son's Mickey and Roadster Racers costume, I also used fabric paints and leftover fabrics to create a cheap applique. Using the same pattern as the Spiderman costume, I designed the jumpsuit myself.

I sewed on the white fabric "patches" and then painted on the details with fabric paint. Did my son care that I went too fast and got some of the paint on the fabric? Nope - and I guarantee nobody else noticed or cared either! What's important is that the main idea came across.

If you have a eye for art, try painting something more detailed. I was able to sew a simple Ninja vest for my son's costume, then freehand painted this dragon with white and black fabric paint. He wore the tunic over a hooded shirt and plain black pants and accessorized with a wooden bow he made himself.

Turn That "OOPS" Into "I MEANT TO DO THAT!"

The first time my daughter tried on her fairy butterfly dress it completely fell off her shoulders! I needed a fix and I needed one fast!

I was able to improvise by sewing strips on the dress inside the neckline. This created a unique bejeweled collar that became the signature look of the design. When something doesn't work the first time, pull out all the creative stops and look at it a different way!

Thinking Outside the Box

My eldest son is nothing if not imaginative. He came to me with the idea of being a bush for Halloween when he was 6 years old. His idea was that he wanted to hide in corners and then jump out and scare people who thought he was just part of the landscaping!

After pricing the cost of fake leaves we had a discussion (wow, are they pricey!) I convinced him to be a tree instead. The cost of completely covering his entire body with leaves was going to be prohibitive. But one strand of fake greenery was acceptable. He could still be in disguise and if he squatted down, he'd still look like a bush.

He wore brown pants from his closet for the "trunk" and everyone loved his creative costume. And he got the biggest kick out of jumping out at people along the trick-or-treating trail. Let your kids come up with ideas and see how you can make them come to reality!

Tree Costume

Use an old shirt or find something at the thrift store. Purchase faux greenery (also a good thrifted item or found cheap at the Dollar Store). Remove the leaves from the branch and hot glue the leaves onto the shirt.

To create the hat with a nest, use an old bucket hat. I overlayed it with green fabric, more leaves, hot glued on a tiny nest and bird! 

Give Yourself Enough Time

This Zebra jacket took more time than you'd ever know! Seriously, I worked for hours and hours cutting out strips and sewing them in place. I made the headpiece with a firm piece of latch-hook plastic. I looped the black and white yarn through it and then sewed the plastic in place onto the hood.

But by the time I got to the bottoms I'd run out of time! I'd planned on making black pants and adding the stripes. Instead, I had to resort to tweaking an old pair of soccer shorts with a few stripes sewn on and having him wear a pair of his sister's black leggings. It all worked out in the end. My son loved the costume and wore the jacket to school for a year!

Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

With high school and a busy sports schedule, my teenager didn't have time to plan his Halloween costume last year. However he still wanted to dress up for school and of course, go trick-or-treating!

Water Polo Player - My son dressed in his water polo gear, something that his fellow students weren't used to seeing him wear. He skipped the Speedo and just wore shorts under a towel wrapped around his waist. Wild pool hair, goggles, and pool shoes completed the sporty ensemble!

If teens can't decide on a last minute Halloween costume, suggest they wear something that represents their everyday life.

Know Where to Cut Corners

Judge how long you're taking on a particular project and know whether it's worth your time to keep going. You may need to amend the project to suit your time and needs.

In the case of my daughter's Fairy Butterfly Dress, the skirt fabric was two silky layers and I didn't have the time to hem it in the traditional way. I used a sewing machine serger to finish the edge in a contrasting thread so it wouldn't fray. The pretty threads added a colorful charm to the design.

For the baby's first Halloween, I knew he'd been spending the night in his stroller, probably asleep. I didn't need to make him anything fancy, instead opting for fabrics I already had in a theme he loved from his favorite book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

A simple elastic tube of green fabric trimmed with colorful ribbons up the spine and a quickly appliqued knit cap was enough for his first Halloween. It was an easy DIY homemade Halloween costume that filled the need - without spending any money.

READ for more baby and toddler Halloween costume ideas.

Closet Halloween Costume Ideas

Rather than creating a full out costume, see what you can use from your own closet. If you really don't want to spend much (or any) money, take a look at what you already own that can be finagled into a costume. These are a few homemade Halloween costume ideas that you can create using clothing from the closet.

I made a DIY Vanellope Von Schweetz from the movie Wreck It Ralph using items that were from the closet. We thrifted a few pieces that could be re-worn later as clothing. Hooded sweatshirts are so easily manipulated into a costume with a few inexpensive trims.

My little guy loved the Wizard of Oz a few years ago (and his sister was already dressing as Dorothy). I easily put together his Scarecrow Costume with a plaid shirt, overalls, a bucket hat, and some raffia. Adorable! And it was completely free - a true homemade Halloween costume on a budget!

A Clown is a perfect last-minute costume that you can create from the closet. Just throw on whatever's bright and colorful. The more mismatched the better!

Borrow a Costume from a Friend

Someone else's old costume is now your kid's new costume! Ask friends about hand-me-down costumes before purchasing.

I bet you even have a few costumes that you could pass along to another child. This adorable zebra costume for my toddler was passed down from a friend and it was too cute not to use!

Homemade Halloween Princess Costumes

My preschool aged daughter is all about the princess costumes. Most little girls already have a Disney princess dress-up outfit they could recycle for Halloween. If you don't, just have her wear the fanciest dress in her closet.

You could probably ask around to friends and find a flower girl dress or previous worn holiday dress that would suit this purpose. Use battery operated fairy lights to jazz up a princess outfit!

Use these DIY Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique tips and ideas to decorate hair and nails to create the full princess experience. An inexpensive princess crown and accessories will round out this cheap Halloween costume that she'll love!

READ MORE: 16 Best Places to Buy Disney Princess Dresses

Ways to Save on a Store Bought Halloween Costume

I don't always make my own Halloween costumes. Some years I do purchase them at the store or online. But I'm still very particular about what I buy and what will work in our budget.

One year, I bought my son a Jack Sparrow Pirates of the Caribbean costume. It was a nice quality DisneyStore costume that was on sale. My son made it his own by pairing it with a vintage pirate hat. The next year it was handed down to my nephew. And the following year I sold it on Ebay for the same cost I'd bought it for!

Store Bought Costumes - Quality vs. Price.

Is the fabric so cheaply transparent that kids will have to wear a second layer underneath for modesty?

How many times after Halloween night will the costume be wearable?

Could it be resold either on Ebay or to a friend afterwards? There are some really precious costumes out there. But is it really worth it to you to spend $80 for a one-day outfit?

Shop the Thrift or Resale Shops First

It's what everyone did with last year's costumes: They donated them and they are yours for the picking! If you're looking for cheap Halloween costumes start looking at the thrift stores early.

I found my daughter's Wizard of Oz Dorothy costume at the thrift store last year for a whopping $4! The ruby slippers were inexpensive and she wore them for every Christmas event and school dance that year. I would say that is one bargain Halloween costume!

Start with Accessories Before Buying the Head-to-Toe Costume

Before you purchase a complete, all-out pop culture Halloween costume, start with the accessories. Can you get away with buying a store-bought accessory and using items from your closet for the rest?

I present to you, Indiana Jones! An accessories set included the Indiana Jones Child's Hat and Whip Set. The Indiana Jones Satchel was, of course, his trick-or-treat bag.

It cost me about $25 total. I pulled a khaki shirt and brown pants from his closet to complete the look. He added the smolder on his own! Technically this is a homemade Halloween costume on a budget, rounded out with a few inexpensive store-bought accessories.

Is the Store-Bought Costume Comfortable?

These are a few things to consider before purchasing a Halloween costume from the store.

Itchy fabric? Too tight elastic? So many store-bought costumes are sealed up inside their packages and can't be tried on first.

Some of the retailers have very strict return policies in regards to Halloween costumes. Make sure that you are able to try it on completely before making the purchase.

If your child isn't comfortable wearing the costume in the store, they will be miserable trick-or-treating. Who wants those kind of memories?

Consider layering a store bought costume over regular wear to make it more comfortable. I did this with a long sleeved tee underneath my daughter's Rapunzel dress.

Will This Costume Ever Be Worn Again?

Will your kids wear their costumes to play dress-up through out the year? Invest in nice quality pieces that won't fall apart in the dress-up bin. The hours of entertainment they provide are worth it.

Every item that I've made has either been handed down to another child or has been worn again for dress-up and pretend play. The Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey hat that I made for Halloween became the theme of my son's birthday so he wore the hat for the party too!

Express Yourself!

On a final note, homemade Halloween costumes are a wonderful way of expressing creativity and style. Not only just for the person making the costume. The child who chooses the theme and helps design makes the costume come to life with their own personality!

This article originally published on August 15, 2020 and has been updated and republished with a new date.

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