Random Halloween Costume Generator: Solo, Couple and Group Ideas

One press gives you five costumes and exactly what to wear for each, starting with clothes you already own.

Random Halloween Costume Generator: Solo, Couple and Group Ideas

  1. Fried eggWhite clothes with a yellow paper plate pinned to your middle. Done in five minutes.Last minute
  2. Peacock with a full tailThe peacock outfit with a fan of fifty paper feathers on a cardboard frame that stands a yard wide behind you.All out
  3. StrawberryRed top with white paper seeds taped on, and a collar of green paper leaves or a green beanie.Last minute
  4. Chess setHalf in black and half in white, each with a poster board headpiece: crown, castle top, horse ears.Some effort
  5. DragonGreen hoodie with foam triangles down the hood and back, paper wings, and a stuffed tail pinned to the hem.Some effort
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Tip: the space bar makes new ones.

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Random Halloween Costume Generator: Solo, Couple and Group Ideas: how it works

Still asking what should I be for Halloween? This random Halloween costume generator draws five ideas at a time, each with what to wear, written so you can build it from a normal closet. Bedsheet ghost. Salt and pepper shakers. Skeleton crew. All 395 ideas are original to this site, written for adults and teens.

Three rows: who, how much effort, what kind

Who: Solo 224, Couples 83, Groups 88. Effort, a label on each card: Last minute 235 is clothes you own plus paper, tape, a sheet or makeup, ready within half an hour; Some effort 118 is one thrift store trip or an evening of craft; All out 42 is a weekend of cardboard. Kind: Classics 51, Puns and jokes 58. Pick one chip in each row: Couples plus Last minute leaves 51. All 395 are printed below the tool, once each, under Solo, Couples or Groups.

What the list leaves out on purpose

No card is a character from a film, a show, a game or a brand. None dresses up as a culture, a religion, a body type or a disability, and none needs fake blood, so every idea suits a school dance or an office party. No card gives a price, because prices change by store and by year.

Tips

  • Lock the one you like and press again; the other four change.
  • Dressing as a group? Set Who to Groups and send the page address. It keeps the filter, so everyone draws from the same 88.
  • Try it on the night before. Paper ears and tape bones need fixing time you will not have at the door.

Questions and answers

What should I be for Halloween if the party is tonight?

Set Effort to Last minute and press. All 235 use clothes most people own plus paper, tape, a sheet or makeup. Error 404 needs a white tee and a marker. Static cling needs socks and safety pins.

Are these costumes suitable for kids?

The list is written for adults and teens, and sizes, props and jokes assume that. Nothing is gory or rude, so most cards work for a child with an adult doing the cutting. Paper, tissue, tulle, cotton stuffing and trash bags catch fire easily: keep clear of candles and fire pits, and light props with batteries. The FDA advises testing face makeup on a patch of arm a day or two ahead.

Can a couple or a whole group use it?

Yes. The Couples chip holds 83 pairs, from Salt and pepper shakers to Knight and dragon, and each card says who wears what. The Groups chip holds 88 ideas that stretch or shrink, such as Rainbow or Deck of cards.

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All 395 costumes

Show all 395 costumes

Solo 224

  • Aerobics instructor from the 80s Leggings, a swimsuit over them, leg warmers cut from old sweater sleeves, a side ponytail and a sweatband.
  • Alien All silver or all green, a headband with two pipe cleaner antennae tipped with foil balls, dark sunglasses.
  • Arcade cabinet A tall box with your face as the screen, a painted control panel with a joystick knob, a made-up game name.
  • Artist An oversized shirt as a smock with paint smears, a brush behind your ear, and a palette cut from cardboard.
  • Astronaut A white painter's coverall from a hardware store, paper flag and mission patches, boots wrapped in foil.
  • Avocado Two green cardboard ovals worn front and back, a lighter green center, and a brown balloon or ball as the pit.
  • Bag of jelly beans A clear trash bag with leg holes, filled with small balloons in every color and gathered at the shoulders.
  • Barista Black tee, an apron, a marker behind your ear, and paper cups with everyone's name spelled wrong.
  • Bat Black hoodie and leggings. Cut a black trash bag into scalloped wings and tape them from wrist to waist.
  • Bath loofah Six yards of tulle in one color, gathered and pinned to a fitted top, a loop of white rope at one shoulder.
  • Bedsheet ghost An old white sheet. Mark the eye holes while it is on your head, then cut. Sunglasses on top get the laugh.
  • Bird in a cage Gold-painted cardboard bars from a hoop above your head to a hoop at your waist, with you in feathers inside.
  • Birdwatcher Khaki or green layers, a vest with pockets, binoculars, a notebook, and a floppy hat with a feather in it.
  • Black cat All black, ears cut from a cereal box on a headband, eyeliner whiskers, a stuffed sock pinned on as the tail.
  • Black-and-white movie star Only black, white and gray clothes, with gray face powder and lipstick, so you look like old film.
  • Blurry Bigfoot Brown sweats and a brown fuzzy blanket or coat. Walk mid-stride, arms swinging, never still for a photo.
  • Bodyguard Dark suit, sunglasses, an earpiece cord, arms crossed. Pick one friend and clear a path for them all night.
  • Bookworm Green sweats or a green sleeping bag worn to the armpits, glasses, paper antennae and an open book.
  • Box of popcorn A red and white striped box worn at the waist on ribbon straps, and a top covered in yellow tissue puffs.
  • Bread winner Workout clothes, a paper race bib, a medal, and a loaf of bread held over your head like a trophy.
  • Brownie points Brown clothes with paper score cards pinned all over: plus 10, plus 25, plus 100. Award extra to friends.
  • Bubble bath White balloons pinned all over white clothes, a shower cap, a rubber duck and a loofah on your wrist.
  • Bulldozer Paper horns on a headband, a ring drawn under your nose, pajamas and a pillow. You are a bull, dozing.
  • Bumblebee Yellow top with black tape stripes, black leggings, antennae, and wings from a wire hanger and sheer tights.
  • Bunch of grapes Purple or green balloons pinned all over a matching top, a green beanie with a paper leaf. One bag does it.
  • Bunny White or gray sweats, paper ears on a headband, a cotton ball tail, and a carrot from the fridge.
  • Busy bee Yellow top with black tape stripes, antennae, a headset, a planner, and a phone you keep checking.
  • Butterfly Black clothes, and wings cut from a large box, painted, worn with elastic loops at the shoulders and wrists.
  • Cactus Green sweats with short white pipe cleaners poked through as spines, and one pink paper flower on your head.
  • Camper Flannel, hiking boots, a headlamp, a backpack with a rolled blanket on top, and a marshmallow on a stick.
  • Candy corn Yellow pants, orange top, white beanie. Three blocks of color in that order and everyone gets it.
  • Candy rapper Candy wrappers taped all over your clothes and a microphone made from a paper tube. Rhyme when you can.
  • Cardboard race car A box cut and painted as a car, worn at the hips on suspenders, with paper plate wheels and a racing number.
  • Carousel horse A cardboard horse worn at the waist, a painted pole rising through it to a canopy hat, and ribbons.
  • Carrot Orange from neck to ankle, and green paper or tulle leaves sprouting from a headband.
  • Cat burglar Striped or black top, a black beanie with cat ears on it, whiskers, and a pillowcase marked LOOT.
  • Catfish Cat ears and whiskers, plus paper fins on your arms and one on your back.
  • Ceiling fan A tee that says Go ceilings, and two pom-poms or a cardboard foam finger. Cheer whenever someone looks up.
  • Chef White shirt, an apron, a wooden spoon, and a tall hat made from white paper and a strip of card.
  • Chip on your shoulder One large chip cut from yellow card, or an empty chip bag, pinned to your shoulder. Act slightly offended.
  • Classic clown Bright mismatched clothes a size too big, suspenders, a red nose, a tiny hat on elastic. Keep it friendly.
  • Cloud nine White clothes with cotton balls pinned on and a big number 9 on your chest. Look delighted about everything.
  • Constellation Dark clothes, star stickers placed in the shape of a real constellation, and the lines joined in chalk.
  • Construction worker Jeans, boots, a tool belt, and a reflective vest and plastic hard hat from a hardware store.
  • Copycat Cat ears, whiskers and a sign that says Copy. Better still, match a friend's costume exactly and add the ears.
  • Couch potato Brown sweats, a throw pillow tied to your back, a TV remote, and a blanket you refuse to put down.
  • Court jester Two clashing colors split down the middle, a paper collar cut into points, and a small bag of craft bells.
  • Cow White tee and pants with black paper patches taped on, paper ears on a headband, and a bell on a ribbon.
  • Crossword puzzle A white tee with a grid drawn in marker and a few answers filled in. Carry the pen so people can add words.
  • Crow with stolen straw Black clothes, a feather boa, a yellow paper beak on a cap, and a few pieces of straw you clearly stole.
  • Cupcake A laundry basket with the bottom cut out as the wrapper, pillow stuffing frosting on top, and paper sprinkles.
  • Dapper skeleton A thrift store suit, a bow tie, and a full skull in black and white face paint. Patch test the paint first.
  • Deer Brown clothes, white eyeliner spots on the cheeks, a darkened nose tip, twig or paper antlers on a headband.
  • Deer in headlights Paper antlers, brown clothes, a startled look, and a flashlight strapped to each wrist.
  • Detective Trench coat with the collar up, a brimmed hat, a magnifying glass and a notebook. Question people about candy.
  • Dinosaur A green or brown hoodie with cardboard spikes down the spine and a stuffed-sock tail. Keep your elbows in.
  • Disco ball A gray sweatsuit or a big paper lantern covered in hundreds of squares cut from mirror card.
  • Disco dancer from the 70s Anything shiny or flared, a wide collar out over the lapels, your tallest shoes, one finger pointed up.
  • Donut An inflatable swim ring with paper sprinkles taped on, worn at the waist over tan clothes.
  • Dragon Green hoodie with foam triangles down the hood and back, paper wings, and a stuffed tail pinned to the hem.
  • Dust bunny Bunny ears and a cotton tail with gray clothes, a feather duster, and dryer lint or gray pom-poms pinned on.
  • Early bird A paper beak and wings with pajamas, an alarm clock, and a gummy worm you got to first.
  • Error 404 A plain white tee with Error 404: costume not found written in marker. Ten minutes, and it still lands.
  • Fairy A floaty dress or skirt, wings made from two wire hangers and sheer tights, and fake flowers in your hair.
  • Famous portrait in a frame Dark top, hair parted in the middle, a faint smile, and an empty picture frame held up to your face all night.
  • Fantasy football A football jersey with fairy wings and a wand. If you own no wings, cut them from a cereal box.
  • Farmer Overalls or jeans with suspenders, plaid shirt, boots, a straw hat, and a stuffed animal under one arm.
  • Fish tank A box with a plastic window, paper fish on thread, gravel glued to the base, and you as the diver figurine.
  • Flamingo Everything pink you own, a feather boa if you have one, and a paper beak on a headband. Stand on one leg.
  • Flapper from the 20s A drop-waist dress with rows of fringe pinned on, long beads, a headband with a feather, and low heels.
  • Flight attendant A navy or black suit, a scarf knotted at the neck, a name tag, and a tray of pretzels to hand out.
  • Flower child from the 60s Flared jeans, a loose floral top, a headband across the forehead, round sunglasses and a daisy behind one ear.
  • Fork in the road Black clothes with yellow tape dashes down the middle as the road, and one plastic fork taped across it.
  • Formal apology The dressiest outfit you own, and a sash or sign that reads I am sorry.
  • Fox Orange top, a white scarf at the chest, black gloves and socks, paper ears, an eyeliner nose.
  • Frankenstein's monster A dark blazer one size too small, heavy boots, flat hair, and stitches drawn across the forehead in eyeliner.
  • Fried egg White clothes with a yellow paper plate pinned to your middle. Done in five minutes.
  • Frog Green hoodie with two paper cup eyes on the hood, green leggings, and a red party blower as the tongue.
  • Full dragon with wings A sewn or glued scale hood, wings on dowels that open with your arms, and a wired tail that holds its curve.
  • Game show host A loud blazer, a long thin microphone made from a stick and foil, cue cards, and a very wide smile.
  • Garden gnome A pointed red hat from poster board, blue shirt, a belt worn outside it, boots, a beard of cotton or paper.
  • Garden witch A witch hat covered in fake flowers, an apron of seed packets, gloves, and a broom with herbs tied to it.
  • Gardener Overalls or an apron, gloves, a sun hat, a trowel, seed packets in the pocket, brown eyeshadow as dirt.
  • Gargoyle Gray sweats, gray face paint, paper horns, wings cut from a gray-painted box. Crouch on a stool, very still.
  • Ghost of a rock star The rock star outfit in all white and gray, white face powder, gray hairspray, and a guitar painted white.
  • Ghost ship captain A navy blazer with gold tape cuffs, a captain's hat, gray face powder, and fake seaweed on one shoulder.
  • Ghost writer The bedsheet ghost with a pencil tucked by the ear hole, a notebook, and pages of someone else's memoir.
  • Gift A large bow on your head and a tag on a string around your neck. To: the party. From: me.
  • Gingerbread cookie Brown clothes, white tape icing in zigzags at the wrists and ankles, and three big paper buttons.
  • Greaser from the 50s White tee, cuffed jeans, a dark jacket, hair combed back with plenty of gel, and a comb in the back pocket.
  • Green with envy All green, with a tee or sign that says Envy. Compliment every other costume a little bitterly.
  • Grim reaper A black hoodie with the hood up over a long black skirt, and a scythe made from a broom handle and cardboard.
  • Grunge kid from the 90s Flannel tied at the waist, ripped jeans, an old tee, a beanie, scuffed boots. Possibly your Saturday outfit.
  • Gumball machine Red skirt or pants, a white top covered in colored pom-poms, and a gray paper coin slot at the waist.
  • Haunted doll A dress with a collar, knee socks, two braids or a bow, pink circles on the cheeks, drawn-on lower lashes.
  • Haunted portrait An old-fashioned collar, pale powder, an empty picture frame held to your face. Let your eyes follow people.
  • Head in the clouds Pillow stuffing or cotton balls glued to an old hat until your head disappears into a cloud.
  • Heart on your sleeve A red paper heart pinned to one sleeve. That is the whole costume, and it counts.
  • Homemade superhero Leggings with shorts over them, a towel cape, a sleep mask with eye holes, your initial taped to your chest.
  • Hot air balloon A laundry basket worn at the waist on straps, with a cluster of balloons rising from a frame above it.
  • Hot cocoa Brown clothes, a white paper cup sleeve at your middle, pillow stuffing cream on a hat, pom-pom marshmallows.
  • House painter White tee and old jeans dabbed with craft paint, a brush in the back pocket, a stir stick and a paper cap.
  • Houseplant Green clothes, paper leaves pinned to a headband and shoulders, a brown paper bag at the waist as the pot.
  • Ice cream cone Tan skirt or pants with criss-cross lines in tape, a pastel top, and a red beanie as the cherry.
  • Identity thief Any outfit covered in Hello my name is stickers, each with a different name. One pack of stickers does it.
  • Instant photo A white poster board frame with a wide bottom edge, worn at your shoulders, with a caption written below.
  • Invisible person A trench coat, gloves, a hat, dark glasses, and white gauze around your head. Leave nose and mouth clear.
  • Jack Frost White and pale blue layers, silver glitter on the cheekbones and hair, and paper snowflakes pinned to a scarf.
  • Jack-in-the-box A painted box worn from the waist down with a crank on one side, a jester collar, a lid hinged behind you.
  • Jack-o'-lantern Orange tee with a face cut from black tape or paper, black pants, and a green beanie as the stem.
  • Jellyfish A clear or white umbrella with ribbons, bubble packing and streamers hung from the rim, over white clothes.
  • Jukebox A box with an arched top, colored cellophane panels lit from inside, and a list of songs you sing on request.
  • King or queen A robe or blanket as a cape, a crown cut from gold poster board, a scepter from a wrapping paper tube.
  • Knight Gray sweats, a tunic cut from a pillowcase, and a shield and helmet of cardboard covered in foil.
  • Knight in cardboard plate armor Breastplate, shoulder pieces, greaves and a visored helmet, cut from boxes, hinged with tape, sprayed silver.
  • Ladybug Red top with black paper dots taped on, black leggings, and a headband with two pipe cleaner antennae.
  • Lamp A lampshade worn as a hat, plain clothes in one color, and a pull cord of string hanging by your ear.
  • Librarian Cardigan, glasses on a chain, a stack of books, and a Quiet please sign. Shush people fairly.
  • Lifeguard Red shorts over a white tee with GUARD in tape letters, a whistle, sunscreen on the nose, a towel.
  • Light-up robot The box robot with battery string lights behind cut-out panels and a colander helmet. Pack spare batteries.
  • Lighthouse A white and red striped tube from shoulders to knees, and a hat with a battery lantern that really turns on.
  • Lighthouse keeper Yellow raincoat, rubber boots, a knit cap, a cotton beard if you like, a lantern with a battery candle.
  • Living statue One color from hair to shoes, gray or bronze, with matching face paint. Stand on a box and hold the pose.
  • Low battery All black, a battery outline in tape on your chest with one thin red bar. Yawn and ask where the outlets are.
  • Lumberjack Plaid flannel, jeans, boots, a beanie, suspenders if you own them, and an axe cut from cardboard.
  • Mad scientist A white button-up worn open as a lab coat, rubber gloves, swim goggles, and hair gelled straight up.
  • Magician Black pants and vest, white gloves, a wand made from a stick with white tape tips, and a stuffed rabbit.
  • Mail carrier Light blue button-up, navy shorts or pants, knee socks, a shoulder bag of envelopes to deliver at the party.
  • Marathon finisher Running gear, a paper bib with a number, a sheet of foil as the finisher blanket, a medal from a jar lid.
  • Marionette Lines drawn from mouth corners to chin, and strings from your wrists to a wooden cross tied above your head.
  • Mermaid A long green or blue skirt pinned narrow at the knees, a tulle fin at the hem, eyeshadow scales by the eyes.
  • Mime Black pants, a black or striped top, suspenders, white gloves and white face paint. Commit to never speaking.
  • Moth Brown and cream layers, a fuzzy scarf, feathery paper antennae, wings cut from a painted box. Drift to lamps.
  • Mouse Gray sweats, round paper ears on a headband, a pink nose, whiskers, and a wedge of cardboard cheese.
  • Movie star dodging cameras Sunglasses, a scarf over your hair, a big coat with the collar up, a coffee cup, one hand out to block photos.
  • Mummy White clothes wrapped in strips torn from an old sheet and pinned at the back. Gray eyeshadow under the eyes.
  • Night owl Pajamas and a robe, paper feathers around the eyes, a coffee mug, and eyeshadow circles under them.
  • Night sky Black or navy clothes covered in star stickers, glow-in-the-dark if you have them, a foil moon in your hair.
  • Octopus One color from hood to socks, with six stuffed tights legs pinned around a belt. Your own arms make eight.
  • Ostrich rider Stuffed fake legs sewn to a fabric ostrich body worn at your waist, so your real legs look like the bird's.
  • Owl A brown cardigan with rows of felt or paper feathers pinned on, big round glasses, and your hair in two tufts.
  • Paper doll Any outfit, plus white paper tabs taped at the shoulders, waist and ankles, as if you had been clipped on.
  • Party animal Any animal ears and tail you own, plus a party hat, a noisemaker and paper streamers around your neck.
  • Peacock A blue top and leggings, and a fan of paper feathers with painted eyes fixed to the back of a belt.
  • Peacock with a full tail The peacock outfit with a fan of fifty paper feathers on a cardboard frame that stands a yard wide behind you.
  • Penguin Black hoodie and pants, a white tee showing in front, orange socks over your shoes, a paper beak on the hood.
  • Pig in a blanket Pink clothes, paper ears and a paper cup snout, and a blanket you stay wrapped in all night.
  • Pilot White shirt, dark pants and tie, paper stripes pinned to the shoulders, sunglasses, a rolling carry-on bag.
  • Pineapple Yellow dress or tee with criss-cross lines in brown tape, and a crown of green paper leaves on a headband.
  • Pirate Striped or white shirt, dark pants tucked into boots, a scarf tied over your hair, a belt over the shirt.
  • Pizza delivery A red polo or tee, a cap and an empty pizza box. Ring the bell and announce an order nobody placed.
  • Pizza slice Two cardboard triangles painted with sauce, cheese and paper toppings, worn front and back on string straps.
  • Pop fan from the year 2000 Butterfly clips, a tiny shoulder bag, tinted glasses, a track jacket, flared jeans, glitter on the cheekbones.
  • Popcorn machine A red box with clear windows worn over your shoulders, filled with yellow tissue puffs, a striped awning.
  • Potion maker A long dark coat or robe, a belt hung with small jars of colored water, fingerless gloves and a wooden spoon.
  • Princess and the pea A nightgown, a paper crown, a pillow under one arm, one green ball, and complaints about a terrible night.
  • Professor A tweed or corduroy blazer, elbow patches made from tape, glasses, and a stack of papers marked in red.
  • Prom night in the 80s The brightest thrifted formal dress or pastel suit you can find, teased hair, a corsage.
  • Pumpkin pi Orange tee with a large pi symbol in black tape, and a green beanie for the stem.
  • Raccoon Gray hoodie with ears on the hood, a black felt eye mask, a striped tail of stuffed tights and black tape.
  • Rain cloud Gray clothes, pillow stuffing glued to an old hat and shoulders, blue ribbon raindrops hanging from the brim.
  • Raven Black clothes with overlapping black paper or felt feathers on the arms, and a black paper beak on a cap.
  • Red Riding Hood A red hoodie or a red blanket as a cape, a basket with a cloth over it, and whatever you like underneath.
  • Ringmaster A red thrift store blazer, black pants tucked into boots, a bow tie, and a top hat made from poster board.
  • Robot Two cardboard boxes covered in foil, dryer vent hose arms, bottle cap buttons. Hardware stores sell the hose.
  • Rock star Black jeans, a leather or denim jacket, sunglasses indoors, messy hair, and a cardboard guitar or an air one.
  • Rocket A silver poster board tube with fins, a cone hat, and red and orange tissue paper flames at the hem.
  • Rodeo rider Jeans, boots, a denim or plaid shirt, a bandanna, a wide-brimmed hat, and a belt buckle of foil-covered card.
  • Sailor White pants, a striped or white top, a navy scarf tied in front, and a folded white paper cap.
  • Scarecrow Plaid shirt, jeans, a floppy hat, a patch drawn on each cheek, and yellow paper fringe taped inside the cuffs.
  • Scarecrow that came alive The scarecrow basics with stitched-mouth makeup, craft store burlap patches and real straw at the collar.
  • Scuba diver Black leggings and top, swim fins in your hands, a mask and snorkel, two silver soda bottles on your back.
  • Secret agent Dark suit, sunglasses, and an earpiece made from a coiled hair tie behind your ear. Talk into your sleeve.
  • Shark Gray hoodie with a cardboard fin on the back and paper teeth taped along the edge of the hood.
  • Skeleton Black long sleeves and leggings with bones cut from white tape or paper. Do the ribs first.
  • Skunk Black clothes, a stripe of white fur or tape from forehead to tailbone, and a big tail of stuffed tights.
  • Sleepwalker Pajamas, robe, slippers, a sleep mask pushed up on your forehead, a teddy bear, and both arms out in front.
  • Sloth Brown or gray sweats, dark eyeshadow eye patches, long paper claws, and you move at half speed all night.
  • Smart cookie Brown clothes with paper chocolate chips, glasses, and a graduation cap made from card and a tassel of yarn.
  • Snail Roll brown craft paper into a spiral shell and tie it to a backpack. Add antennae, and take your time.
  • Snow globe A clear plastic dome or umbrella over your top half, cotton snow at the base, a painted box at your waist.
  • Snowman White sweats, three black paper buttons, a scarf, an orange paper cone nose on elastic, and any hat.
  • Somebody's shadow Black clothes, black gloves and a black beanie. Pick one friend, stand behind them and copy every move.
  • Spa day Bathrobe, towel turban, slippers, green eyeshadow patted on as a face mask, and two cucumber slices in a bag.
  • Spider All black, with four pairs of black tights stuffed with newspaper, pinned down your sides, joined by thread.
  • Static cling Any outfit with socks, dryer sheets and one stray washcloth safety-pinned all over it. Brush your hair upward.
  • Strawberry Red top with white paper seeds taped on, and a collar of green paper leaves or a green beanie.
  • Sunday morning Robe, pajamas, slippers, a mug, a newspaper under one arm, and hair you did not brush.
  • Superfan on game day Every piece of team gear you own at once, two stripes of face paint, and a giant cardboard pointing hand.
  • Swamp creature Green sweats with overlapping felt or paper scales glued on, green face paint, webbed gloves of craft foam.
  • Swamp witch The witch basics in green and brown, with craft store moss and plastic vines draped over hat and shoulders.
  • Sweater weather A cozy sweater with paper weather symbols pinned all over it: sun, cloud, lightning bolt, snowflake.
  • Taco A half circle of yellow poster board folded over your shoulders, stuffed with green and red tissue paper.
  • Tennis pro White polo, white shorts or a skirt, sweatbands, a visor and a racket. Grunt when you reach for snacks.
  • Tickled pink Everything pink you own, plus a feather duster you keep using on yourself.
  • Time flies Paper clock faces pinned to your clothes, and a pair of paper wings on your back.
  • Tooth fairy Pale pajamas or a dress, paper wings, a wand topped with a paper tooth, and a pouch of coins.
  • Tornado Gray clothes wound in gray tulle from shoulders to knees, with toy cows and a tiny house tied into the swirl.
  • Tourist Loud shirt, shorts, socks with sandals, a camera on a strap, a folded map, and sunscreen on your nose.
  • Toy claw machine A box with a clear front, stuffed toys piled inside with you, and a foil claw hanging from the top.
  • Toy soldier A red jacket with gold tape across the chest, white pants, circle cheeks, a tall hat of black poster board.
  • Traffic cone An orange poster board cone from chest to knees with two white tape stripes, and an orange beanie.
  • Traffic jam Toy cars taped across a tee, and a jam jar label on your chest. Strawberry is traditional.
  • Traffic light Black clothes with three paper circles down the front: red, yellow, green. Cover two to give orders.
  • Unicorn White or pastel clothes, a paper cone horn wrapped in ribbon on a headband, and a tail of yarn or ribbon.
  • Vampire White shirt, black pants, a dark blazer with the collar up, slick hair. Plastic fangs are the one cheap buy.
  • Vending machine A tall box with a plastic wrap window, real snack bags hung in rows inside, a coin slot and a flap that opens.
  • Vet Scrubs or a white shirt, a toy stethoscope, and a stuffed animal with a bandaged paw under your arm.
  • Victorian ghost A thrifted long dress or old suit, dusted with flour or baby powder, plus pale makeup and a slow walk.
  • Video call Blazer, shirt and tie on top. Pajama pants and slippers below. Carry a mug and say you are on mute.
  • Volcano A brown poncho cut from an old blanket, with red and orange felt lava erupting from the collar and a headband.
  • Wallflower Floral clothes, and a strip of floral wrapping paper to hold up behind you. Spend the night by the wall.
  • Washing machine A large box with arm holes, a clear plastic bowl as the door with socks behind it, painted dials on top.
  • Wearable haunted house A tall box painted as a crooked house, with your face in the attic window and battery candles in the others.
  • Weather reporter in a storm Raincoat, an umbrella turned inside out, hair gelled sideways, and a microphone made from a paper towel tube.
  • Web designer A web drawn in chalk or white tape on a black tee, plus glasses, a lanyard and a laptop bag.
  • Werewolf Torn flannel over a tee, jeans, hair teased up, an eyeliner nose and paper claws taped to your fingertips.
  • When life gives you lemons A tee that says Life, and a bag of lemons to hand out one at a time. The lemons are the only thing to buy.
  • Wind-up toy Overalls or a dress, painted circle cheeks, a big cardboard key taped to your back. Move in jerks until wound.
  • Witch Black dress or black jeans and top, striped socks, the kitchen broom. The hat is one sheet of poster board.
  • Wizard A bathrobe worn open over dark clothes, a paper cone hat with foil stars, and a stick from the yard as a wand.
  • Yard sale Put a price sticker on everything you are wearing. Carry a cash box and be open to haggling.
  • Yeti White sweats covered in strips of white faux fur or cut-up mop heads. The fur is sold by the yard.
  • Zombie office worker Work clothes you meant to donate, shirt half untucked, gray eyeshadow under the eyes. No fake blood needed.

Couples 83

  • A pair of pears Both in green, each with a brown paper stem and a leaf on a beanie. Introduce yourselves as a pair.
  • Alarm clock and snooze button One wears a paper clock face set to 6:00 and rings. The other wears a SNOOZE tee and taps the clock quiet.
  • Angler and the catch Rain boots, a vest and a stick rod for one. Silver or blue with paper scales for the other, holding the line.
  • Apple pi One in red with a paper stem and leaf on a beanie. One in a tee with the pi symbol. Together you are dessert.
  • Astronaut and alien A white painter's coverall with paper patches for one. Green face paint and antennae for the alien.
  • Bacon and eggs One in white with a yellow paper yolk. One in red with wavy tan tape stripes from shoulder to ankle.
  • Baker and cupcake Apron, rolling pin and floury cheeks for one. A laundry basket wrapper and stuffing frosting for the other.
  • Beekeeper and bee White clothes and a hat veiled with a mesh laundry bag. Yellow top, tape stripes and antennae for the bee.
  • Before and after coffee The same pajamas on both. One has wild hair and eyeshadow circles. One is neat, wide-eyed, holding a mug.
  • Birdwatcher and rare bird Khaki, binoculars and a notebook for one. Bright layers and a paper beak for the other, just out of view.
  • Bo Peep and the lost sheep A dress, a bow and a cane as the crook. White sweats covered in cotton balls for the sheep, who wanders off.
  • Bobsled pair One long painted box worn at the hips by both, matching leggings and helmets. Lean into every corner together.
  • Burger and fries Tan cushions front and back with felt lettuce between for one. A red box of pool noodle fries for the other.
  • Burglar and detective Striped top, beanie and LOOT sack for one. Trench coat, hat and magnifying glass for the other, close behind.
  • Campfire and marshmallow Red, orange and yellow tissue paper flames on dark clothes. All white with a pillow tied on and a long stick.
  • Cat and mouse Black with ears and whiskers for the cat. Gray with paper ears and a cardboard cheese wedge for the mouse.
  • Coach and star player Polo, cap, whistle and clipboard for one. Jersey, sweatband and a jar lid medal for the other.
  • Coffee and donut A brown outfit with a paper cup sleeve and a lid hat for one. A swim ring with paper sprinkles for the other.
  • Copy and paste Identical outfits, down to the socks. One tee says Ctrl C, the other says Ctrl V.
  • Day and night One in sky blue with cotton ball clouds. One in black with star stickers. Always stand on the correct sides.
  • Disco duo from the 70s Flares, wide collars, anything with sequins, thrifted platform shoes, and one rehearsed dance move.
  • Dish and spoon A large cardboard circle painted as a plate for one. A silver poster board spoon behind the other's head.
  • Farmer and scarecrow Overalls and a straw hat for one. Plaid, cheek patches and paper straw cuffs for the other, arms held out.
  • Fire and ice Reds and oranges with tissue paper flames at the cuffs for one. Pale blue, silver and glitter for the other.
  • Fish tank and diver A box tank with a plastic window and paper fish for one. Fins, mask, snorkel and bottle tanks for the other.
  • Fork and spoon Gray clothes for both, with a silver poster board fork head on one and a spoon bowl on the other.
  • Gardener and flower Overalls, gloves and a watering can for one. Green clothes and a ring of paper petals for the other.
  • Ketchup and mustard One all in red, one all in yellow, each with a paper cone hat in the same color as the nozzle.
  • King and queen of hearts White poster board sandwich boards with a red K and Q and corner hearts, worn over red and black clothes.
  • Knight and dragon Cardboard plate armor and a shield for one. A scaled hood, wings on dowels and a stuffed tail for the other.
  • Lamp and moth A lampshade hat and a pull cord for one. Brown and cream layers with paper antennae for the other, close by.
  • Lifeguard and shark Red shorts, whistle and a GUARD tee for one. A gray hoodie with a cardboard fin for the other, circling.
  • Lighthouse and ship A striped tube with a working lantern hat for one. A cardboard hull at the waist with a sail on a dowel.
  • Lock and key A large cardboard padlock worn on the chest for one. A gold cardboard key for the other, who never quite fits.
  • Love birds Paper beaks and wings, heart-shaped glasses if you have them, and you hold hands all night.
  • Mad scientist and the creation Lab coat, goggles and wild hair for one. A blazer a size too small and drawn-on stitches for the other.
  • Magician and rabbit Black vest, wand and paper top hat for one. White sweats, ears and a cotton tail for the other, who vanishes.
  • Milk and cookies One in white with a paper carton spout as a hat. One in brown with paper chocolate chips.
  • Mother Nature and Father Time A green dress pinned with leaves and fake flowers. A robe, a cotton beard and a collection of clocks.
  • Movie star and photographer Sunglasses, headscarf and a big coat for one. A camera, a press badge and a relentless flash for the other.
  • Museum guard and statue A navy blazer, a name badge and a flashlight for one. Head-to-toe white or gray with face paint for the other.
  • Owl and the pussycat Feathered cardigan and big glasses for one, cat ears and whiskers for the other, a pea-green cardboard boat.
  • Painter and painting One in a splattered smock with a brush. The other holds a frame around their face and keeps the pose.
  • Pair of dominoes Black clothes, white paper dots and a white tape line across the waist. Pick different numbers top and bottom.
  • Pancakes and syrup Three tan cardboard circles stacked at the waist with a felt butter pat. Brown clothes and a paper cap spout.
  • Partners in crime Matching striped tops and black beanies, with one pillowcase marked LOOT carried between you.
  • Peanut butter and jelly Tan for one and purple for the other, each with a paper bread slice pinned front and back.
  • Pencil and notebook Yellow clothes, a pink beanie eraser and a paper cone point for one. A sandwich board of lined paper.
  • Perfect match One in tan with a red beanie as the match. One in a box-colored tee with a strip of sandpaper down the side.
  • Piggy bank and coin Pink clothes, a snout and a paper slot on the back for one. A gold cardboard circle on the other's chest.
  • Pilot and flight attendant White shirt, tie and paper shoulder stripes for one. A dark suit, neck scarf and snack tray for the other.
  • Pirate and parrot Striped shirt, scarf and boots for one. Bright red, blue and yellow layers and a paper beak for the other.
  • Plug and outlet Two white tees. One has two foil-covered cardboard prongs on the front, the other has the outlet drawn on.
  • Popcorn and soda A striped box and yellow tissue puffs for one. A poster board cup with a lid hat and a pool noodle straw.
  • Prom royalty from the 80s A thrifted pastel suit and a bright ruffled dress, teased hair, sashes, foil crowns.
  • Puppeteer and marionette All black for the puppeteer, holding a wooden cross. Strings run to the wrists of a partner in doll makeup.
  • Rain cloud and rainbow Gray clothes and a hat of pillow stuffing for one. Seven strips of colored ribbon from shoulder to hem.
  • Red Riding Hood and the wolf Red hoodie and a basket for one. Gray clothes, paper ears and a borrowed nightgown and cap for the other.
  • Ringmaster and lion Red thrift store blazer, boots and a paper top hat for one. Tan clothes and a mane of yarn loops for the lion.
  • Roaring twenties pair A fringed drop-waist dress, long beads and a feather headband. A vest, rolled sleeves and a flat cap.
  • Rock and roll One carries a big rock made of crumpled foil or gray paper. The other carries a bag of dinner rolls.
  • Rocket and astronaut A silver tube with fins and tissue flames for one. A white coverall, patches and a plastic dome helmet.
  • Salt and pepper shakers One in all white with a black S, one in all black with a white P. Beanies covered in foil make the caps.
  • Skeleton couple Matching black clothes with white tape bones. One adds a bow tie, the other a flower behind the ear.
  • Snowman and the sun White sweats, paper buttons and a cone nose for one. Yellow with paper rays for the other, avoided all night.
  • Sock hop couple from the 50s White tee, cuffed jeans and slick hair for one. A full skirt, neck scarf and high ponytail for the other.
  • Spaghetti and meatball Loops of cream yarn draped all over a tan outfit for one. Brown sweats stuffed into a ball for the other.
  • Spot the difference Identical outfits with exactly five small differences: a watch, a sock, a button. Make people find all five.
  • Sun and moon Yellow and gold with paper rays on a headband for one. Navy and silver with a foil crescent for the other.
  • Tandem bicycle A cardboard frame with paper plate wheels, carried between you at hip height, plus matching helmets and tees.
  • Tennis rivals All white, headbands, wristbands and rackets. Argue every line call, including the line for food.
  • Thunder and lightning One in gray with cotton clouds and a pot lid to bang. One in black with yellow tape bolts, a second ahead.
  • Tortoise and hare Green clothes and a painted cardboard shell on a backpack. Running gear, bunny ears and a race bib.
  • Trick and treat One is a magician with a wand and cards. The other wraps up in cellophane, twisted at both ends like candy.
  • Two garden gnomes Pointed red and blue poster board hats, cotton beards, belts, boots. One fishing rod, one watering can.
  • Two ghosts on a date A sheet each, with a bow tie over one and a string of beads over the other.
  • Two magnets One in red with a big N, one in blue with a big S. Stay stuck together, and lean away from your own color.
  • Two-person horse One stands in front with a cardboard head, one bends behind under a brown blanket. Agree on who leads.
  • Vampire and bat Blazer with the collar up, slick hair and fangs for one. Black hoodie with trash bag wings for the other.
  • Ventriloquist and dummy A suit for one. The other draws lines from mouth corners to chin, wears a bow tie and sits on a knee.
  • Washer and dryer Two big boxes with clear bowl doors, painted dials and socks behind the glass. One carries the laundry basket.
  • Werewolf and the full moon Torn flannel and an eyeliner nose for one. All white with gray paper craters for the other. Howl on sight.
  • Witch and black cat Black dress and a poster board hat for one. All black with paper ears, whiskers and a sock tail for the other.

Groups 88

  • Aerobics class from the 80s Leggings, swimsuits over them, sweater-sleeve leg warmers, sweatbands, and one instructor with a whistle.
  • Alley cats Black, gray, orange and striped clothes, paper ears, whiskers, sock tails. One of you carries a trash can lid.
  • Aquarium A painted blue sheet with windows cut in it, held by two people, with fish and a diver moving behind it.
  • Baking contest Aprons and floury cheeks for the bakers, each with a cardboard cake at a different stage of collapse. A judge.
  • Barbershop quartet Matching vests and bow ties, party store straw hats, and every greeting sung in harmony, or near it.
  • Barnyard Cow, pig, chicken, sheep and horse from sweats, paper ears and tails, with one farmer keeping count.
  • Birds of a feather Matching paper beaks and one feather boa color for the whole group. You go everywhere as a flock.
  • Birthday party A cake with paper candles on a hat, a wrapped gift, a bunch of balloons and a party hat, one per person.
  • Black-and-white film cast Everyone in black, white and gray only, gray face powder and lipstick included. The room looks edited.
  • Bobsled team One long painted box worn at the hips by four people in matching helmets. Practice the running start.
  • Book club Each person wears a sandwich board book cover with a made-up title. The group carries one cardboard club.
  • Bouquet of flowers Green clothes and a ring of paper petals at each face, in different colors. Wrap the group in brown paper.
  • Bowling league Matching thrifted button-ups with a team name in tape on the back, and one ball bag between you.
  • Bowling pins and a ball White clothes with two red tape stripes at the neck for the pins. One person in black with three paper holes.
  • Box of crayons One solid color each, a matching paper cone hat, and a black paper oval on the chest with the color's name.
  • Breakfast table Fried egg, bacon strip, slice of toast, pancake stack and coffee cup, each from cardboard, felt and clothes.
  • Carousel Each person wears a cardboard horse at the waist with a painted pole, under one canopy of striped sheet.
  • Caterpillar Everyone in green in a single file line, hands on the shoulders in front. The first person wears the antennae.
  • Chess set Half in black and half in white, each with a poster board headpiece: crown, castle top, horse ears.
  • Circus troupe A ringmaster in a red blazer, a friendly clown, an acrobat in stripes, a juggler and a lion with a yarn mane.
  • City bus One long cardboard bus side carried at hip height, a driver in front with a paper plate wheel, riders behind.
  • Condiment shelf Red, yellow, green and white outfits with matching cone hats: ketchup, mustard, relish and mayonnaise.
  • Construction crew Jeans, boots and tool belts, reflective vests and hard hats from a hardware store, one set of plans.
  • Coven of witches Everyone in black with one signature color each: green tights, a purple scarf. Poster board hats for all.
  • Cryptid hunters and the cryptid Khaki, flashlights and a blurry photo on a clipboard. One friend in brown fur stays at the edge of view.
  • Deck of cards White poster board sandwich boards, each with a number and a suit. One suit for all makes painting faster.
  • Dinosaur dig Two or three hoodie dinosaurs with cardboard spikes, and a team in khaki with brushes who keep measuring them.
  • Disco floor from the 70s Flares, sequins, wide collars and thrifted platform shoes, plus one group dance everyone has rehearsed.
  • First contact Astronauts in white painter's coveralls with paper patches, meeting aliens in green paint and antennae.
  • Fleet of race cars A box car for every person on suspenders, each a different color and number, plus one checkered flag.
  • Flock of flamingos Everyone in pink with paper beaks. Stand on one leg in a cluster for photos.
  • Four seasons Paper blossoms on florals, sunglasses and sunscreen, paper leaves on a sweater, a scarf with paper snowflakes.
  • Fruit salad One fruit each, strawberry, pineapple, grapes, orange, banana, from colored clothes and paper. One huge spoon.
  • Gallery of famous paintings Each person holds an empty frame and dresses as one old portrait. One extra is the guard who says no flash.
  • Game show One host in a loud blazer with cue cards. Contestants with big name tags, paper buzzers and game faces.
  • Garden gnome village Pointed poster board hats in different colors, cotton beards, belts and boots. Freeze when looked at.
  • Garden party A gardener in overalls, two or three flowers with petal collars, a bee, a butterfly and a paper-shell snail.
  • Ghost family A sheet each, with one accessory over it: a tie, a string of beads, a baseball cap, a pacifier on a ribbon.
  • Hall of statues Everyone in one color from hair to shoes, white, gray or bronze, holding a pose. One guard does the rounds.
  • Haunted house staff Butler, maid, cook and gardener in thrifted uniforms, dusted with flour, slowly offering to take coats.
  • Hey diddle diddle A cat with a cardboard fiddle, a cow with a paper moon to jump, a laughing dog, and a dish with a spoon.
  • Laundry day A box washer, a box dryer, a static cling victim covered in socks, and one lost sock wandering off alone.
  • Letter tiles Square tan cardboard tiles on string, one letter and a small number each. Rearrange into words all night.
  • Marching toy soldiers Red jackets with gold tape, white pants, tall poster board hats, circle cheeks, a drummer. March in step.
  • Matching family portrait Identical turtlenecks or all denim, stiff poses, a hand on each shoulder, a large frame held up to the group.
  • Mice and the cheese Gray sweats, round paper ears and whiskers for the mice. One person in yellow with paper holes as the cheese.
  • Mixed greens Everyone in a different shade of green from head to toe. One of you carries salad tongs.
  • Monster band One classic each, vampire, mummy, werewolf, witch, and every monster carries a cardboard instrument.
  • One decade each Each person takes a decade from the 20s to the 2000s and you line up in order. Closets and thrift stores.
  • Paint swatches Each person wears one color family, light on top and dark at the bottom, with made-up paint names on cards.
  • Panel of judges Everyday clothes, and paper plate score paddles from 1 to 10. Rate entrances, snacks and other costumes.
  • Park rangers and one bear Khaki shirts, green pants and paper badges for the rangers. Brown sweats and ears for the bear with a basket.
  • Penguin colony Black hoodies, white tees in front, orange socks over shoes. Waddle in single file and huddle when cold.
  • Phases of the moon Black tees, each with a white paper moon at a different phase. Line up from new to full.
  • Picnic and ants One person wrapped in a red checked tablecloth with paper plates of food. The rest in black with antennae.
  • Pirate crew Striped shirts, scarves, boots and belts, one captain in a long coat, one lookout with a paper tube spyglass.
  • Pirate ship and crew A cardboard hull in two halves carried by the outer crew, a sheet sail on a broom handle, a captain inside.
  • Pit crew Matching coveralls or black tees with a paper team logo, headsets, a painted swim ring tire, a stopwatch.
  • Pumpkin patch Orange tees, each with a different face in black tape, green beanies, and one person in overalls as grower.
  • Rainbow Six or seven people, one solid color each. Stand in order for every photo and the costume appears.
  • Robot family A box robot for every person, in sizes from large to small, with matching foil and one remote control.
  • Rock band Black jeans, jackets and sunglasses. Cardboard guitar, cardboard bass, two wooden spoons for the drummer.
  • Rock, paper, scissors One in gray, padded lumpy with pillows. One wearing a sheet of poster board. One with big cardboard blades.
  • Roller coaster Stand in rows of two behind a cardboard lap bar. Lean left, lean right and throw your hands up together.
  • Roller derby team Matching tees with made-up derby names, striped knee socks, and the helmets and pads you own for bikes.
  • Rowing crew Matching tees, cardboard oars, and everyone seated in a line for photos. One cox with a paper megaphone.
  • Royal court King and queen in blanket capes and poster board crowns, a jester in two colors, a knight with a foil shield.
  • S'more Two people in tan cardboard squares, one in white with a pillow tied on, one in brown. Stand in order.
  • Scarecrows and crows Half in plaid with cheek patches and paper straw cuffs. Half in black with paper beaks, stealing the straw.
  • Seagulls and one french fry White and gray clothes with yellow paper beaks for the gulls. One person in yellow in a red paper sleeve.
  • Skeleton crew Black clothes with white tape bones for everyone, plus hard hats, reflective vests or sailor caps. The crew.
  • Skyline and one giant monster Everyone wears a tall cardboard building with lit windows, except one person in a dinosaur hoodie.
  • Sock hop from the 50s Full skirts, neck scarves and ponytails, cuffed jeans, white tees and slick hair. Thrift stores have skirts.
  • Solar system The sun in yellow with paper rays, each planet in its color with a name tag. Saturn wears a hoop as its ring.
  • Spice rack Each person is a jar: a plain tee in a spice color with a paper label. Cinnamon, paprika, sage, thyme.
  • Star and the press pack One person in sunglasses and a big coat. Everyone else has a camera, a press badge and far too many questions.
  • String quartet Formal black, two cardboard violins, a viola, a cello, and sheet music. Tune up for a long time first.
  • Swarm of bees and a beekeeper Yellow tops with black tape stripes and antennae. One keeper in white with a veiled hat and a jar of honey.
  • Synchronized swimmers Swim caps, nose clips, matching robes or swimsuits over leggings. Move in unison, snack table included.
  • Three bears and Goldilocks Brown clothes, paper ears and three sizes of bowl. Goldilocks brings a spoon and looks guilty.
  • Three little pigs and the wolf Pink clothes, paper ears and cup snouts, each pig carrying straw, sticks or a brick. The wolf huffs.
  • Tour group One guide with a flag on a stick and a lanyard. Everyone else in loud shirts and cameras, following in a line.
  • Traffic light trio One in red, one in yellow, one in green, each in a single color from head to toe. Stand in order.
  • Train A cardboard engine with a paper smokestack for the leader, and a painted box car for each person behind.
  • Under the sea An umbrella jellyfish, a hoodie shark, an octopus with stuffed legs, a few bright fish and one diver in fins.
  • Vampire family portrait Black and deep red formal clothes, slick hair, pale powder. Pose stiffly whenever a camera appears.
  • Weather forecast Sun, cloud, rain, lightning and snow in colors and paper shapes, plus one forecaster with a pointer.
  • Whole pizza, one slice each Each person wears one big cardboard slice with their own toppings. Stand in a circle to make the pie.

How this list was compiled: All 395 costume ideas and the what-to-wear lines were written for this page by Random Generator HQ; nothing is copied from a costume shop or another list. Every card has one who chip (Solo, Couples, Groups) and one effort chip. Last minute means clothes most adults and teens already own plus paper, tape, a sheet or makeup, ready in under half an hour. Some effort means one thrift store trip or one evening of craft. All out means a weekend build, mostly from cardboard boxes. No card gives a price, because prices change by store and by year. Safety: homemade costumes of paper, tissue, tulle, cotton stuffing or trash bags can catch fire, so keep them well away from candles, lit jack-o'-lanterns and fire pits, and light a costume with battery lights only. Two points of United States Food and Drug Administration advice were checked on 2026-09-19 at https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/halloween-safety-tips-costumes-candy-and-colored-contact-lenses: make a homemade costume from flame-resistant fabric such as polyester or nylon, and test face paint or makeup on a small patch of the wearer's arm 24 to 48 hours ahead. Left out on purpose: characters from films, shows, games, comics and brands, real people, costumes of a culture, a religion, a body type, an age or a disability, gore and fake blood, anything sexual, and alcohol jokes. The storybook and nursery rhyme figures used are old public-domain ones. Licence: own work