27 Last Minute Halloween Costumes You Can Make At Home

Everyone, from teenager to adult, loves an excuse to dress up. Even if you’re too old to go trick or treating, dressing up for Halloween never goes out of style. But then, when you’re too busy dealing with school, office, or just housework, one day you realize it’s Halloween Eve and you still haven’t decided what to wear on October 31. Don’t worry; you can still put together a last minute Halloween costume that looks as nice as any outfit planned weeks in advance. 

I’ve put together a list of absolutely perfect last-minute outfits for a less stressful but still thrilling celebration. The best part is that you probably already have most of the necessary items and accessories around your house or in your closet to create these.

1. Jack-o'-lantern

Photo by Gina Michele on Instagram

I’ll start with the most classic and on-theme easy Halloween costume. It’s super easy to make and suits people of all ages. You can make it for yourself or your kid or just become a family of Jack-o'-lantern. You can stick black fabric or use a marker to draw the face on the T-shirt.

What you need: 

• Orange T-shirt or pillowcase
• Black iron-on fabric
• Permanent marker
• Scissors
• Iron

2. Zombie

Photo by Cottonbro studio on Pexels

Another get-up you can make with your everyday clothes is the zombie one. All you need is red color and flour to thicken. Add color with a thick flour mixture and apply to your clothes. Then leave them to dry. You can use wet tissue with glue to substitute flour.

What you need: 

• Casual clothes
• Red food color
• Flour
• Water
• Corn Syrup

3. Men in Black Inspired

Photo by Евгений Горман and Teddy Joseph on Pexels

All you need to recreate this iconic look are black suits, white shirts, and sunglasses. This is a super easy Halloween costume that is perfect for a couple or best friends. A puppy would be perfect to add to the scene.

What you need: 

• All black suits
• White shirts
• Ties
• A pair of sunglasses

4. Cowboy Casual

Photo by Robert Linder on Unsplash

Cowboy Casual is a laid-back costume that costs almost nothing to make. To dress like a cowboy, wearing jeans, chaps, a cowboy hat, and boots is enough. Girls can wear the same bandana as boys, but boys usually tie the bandana in the back and girls in the front.

What you need: 

• A long-sleeved button-down
• Durable jeans
• Leather boots
• A cowboy hat
• Bandana

5. Pac-Man Costume

Photo @dariagadalean via Instagram from Self

This year’s Halloween falls on a Monday. It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate with your coworkers. All you need to do is to dress up in “Pac-Man” group costumes. This last-minute outfit is simple to put together and may be the cutest thing ever. Remember to include all the ghosts as well as the cherry prize.

What you need: 

• Poster board
• Paint

6. Jim from The Office

Photo from Amazon

Become “The three-hole punch” version of Jim from The Office. This is one of the easiest or laziest last minute Halloween costumes ever.

What you need: 

• White Shirt
• A tie
• Black slack or skirt
• Black paper

7. Catwoman

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels

You don’t need a latex bodysuit to recreate Catwoman’s traditional all-black outfit in The Batman; simply put on a black turtleneck sweater and leather pants or leggings. Remember, the cat ear headband and half-face cat mask are crucial. If all these seem too much, only black face paint would do!

What you need: 

• A tight black turtleneck sweater with full sleeves.
• Tight leather pants or leggings
• A waist belt, and accessorize black gloves
• Cat ear headband
• Cat mask half face

8. Barbie

Photo by Criativa Pix Fotografia on Pexels

With all the success surrounding the movie Barbie (2023) starring Margot Robbie, you can definitely use it for this Halloween season as well. Dress up as the blonde-haired, pink-wearing doll. One of the best things about dressing like Barbie is that wearing a lot of pink will be enough.

What you need: 

• Pink leggings and a pink top or the pink one-piece
• Blonde extension

9. Witch

Photo by Daisy Anderson on Pexels

A witch costume for Halloween may not sound ground-breaking, but it is the most classic Halloween outfit. Consider this DIY witch costume if you want a silly or scary look for your Halloween party or something simple and sophisticated to wear to work. It’s easy: simply look through your closet for a full black dress.

What you need: 

• A pretty sleek black dress
• A ruched or pleated witch hat.

10. ‘80s Rock Costume

Photo by Design Improvised

Look through your mother’s closet for some ‘80s-themed outfits. Jackets, dyed jeans, miniskirts, leg warmers, fringed vests, stretch pants, one-piece jumpers, and denim jackets are a few iconic 80s items. Any of these will work for this on-theme outfit. You can also make tape and recorders for your kids out of cardboard boxes lying around the house.

What you need: 

• Pair of black leggings
• Sleeveless T-shirt 
• Leather, fringed vest or jacket over your T-shirt
• Long-haired wig (not necessary if you already have long hair)
• Apply bright, heavy makeup or face paint 

11. Queen of Hearts

Photo by Deavita

This is one of the most gorgeous last minute Halloween costumes. Wear a red satin dress and adore yourself with a collar made of cards. Complete your look with a gold tiara and bold lipstick.

What you need: 

• Red satin dress
• Cards and glue for collar
• Gold Tiara 

12. The Librarian

Photo by @audiohelkuik on Instagram

If you want to give your child a smartypants look, dress them up as a librarian. It’s an easy Halloween costume that can be created with casual clothes.

What you need: 

• A blouse or shirt
• A plaid skirt or pant
• A sweater or cardigan
• A pair of glasses
• A library card canvas

13. Mary Poppins

Photo by Hobby Craft

If you like Disney characters and want to dress up as one, and need a last-minute idea, then “Mary Poppins” is the character for you. You’ll find almost everything in your closet.

What you need: 

• A black color pea coat if you don’t have a Victorian jacket 
• Bow tie or tied ribbon (in red color)
• White button-down blouse
• Black skirts 
• A hat
• The Umbrella

Gather all these before getting ready on Halloween night to be stress free. To make your  life little more peaceful, you can share these wonderful Halloween wishes with your family and friends.  

14. The Powerpuff Girls

Photo by @emmaamiller2006 on Instagram

Sugar, spice, and everything nice! If you’re going to celebrate Halloween with your friends, why not dress up as Bubbles, Blossom, or Buttercup? These are super easy Halloween costumes to recreate with any blue, pink, or green clothes you have in your closet. Don’t forget their hairdo.

What you need: 

• Any dress in blue, pink, and green
• Wig (if needed)

15. The blonde girl from Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me”

Photo from Reddit

If you grew up in the 1990s, “You Belong With Me” was probably your hairbrush song. It was, at least, for me. Take a white T-shirt and plaid pants, write your friends’ names with different colored pens and you have your outfit ready in no time.

What you need: 

• White T-shirt
• B&W plaid wide-leg pants
• Colorful marker pens

16. Skeleton

Photo by Charles Parker on Pexels

Make a skeleton costume out of old black clothes or a black jumpsuit. Miss no bones, use duct tape that glows in the dark. This is one of the coolest DIY Halloween costumes. 

What you need: 

• Black jumpsuit or a black top and black sweatpants
• Duct tape
• A skull mask

17. Ariana Grande costume

Photo from Elle

The “Ariana Grande” costume can be your ultimate last minute Halloween costume. You don’t need more than an oversized hoodie and thigh-high boots for this look. Perfect, the look with a high ponytail and a lollipop.

What you need: 

• An oversized hoodie
• Thigh-high boots
• A high ponytail

18. Cute Emoji

Photo by @maggiemichele on Instagram 

Social media Teens will go gaga over how adorable emoji costumes can be. You can be any emoji and show everyone how you feel. You can even use your yellow T-shirt and replicate an emoji with markers or paint.

What you need: 

• Two plastic platters
• Emoji-colored felt: yellow, red, and black small felt sheets x
• Hot glue gun
• A Popsicle stick

or

• Yellow T-shirt and markers

19. The Rose family from Schitt’s Creek 

Photo by @maddieseguin on Instagram

You, along with your family, can consider dressing up as the Rose Family of the hit series Schitt’s Creek. Each member can be recreated using only two or three items from your closet.

What you need: 

• Moira: wig, blacktop, and white skirts or vice versa
• David: wacky sweater, rings, and his iconic “ew.” 
• Alexis: hat, boots, earrings, and a sundress 
• Johnny: suit and big brows 

20. Cotton Candy Family

Photo by Ambusheed with Boys

This is one of the sweet DIY Halloween costumes you can think of! You can make this costume for yourself or for the whole family with simple ingredients. You can find the detailed instructions here. 

What you need: 

• White shirt/ onsie
• Poly fil
• Spray adhesive and spray paint
• White poster board
• Frayed velvet ribbon
• Old newspaper

21. Britney Spears’s “...Baby One More Time”

Photo by @ecollins1690 on Instagram

If you need a last minute Halloween costume, Britney Spears’s “...Baby One More Time” costumes may be your best option. All you need is a button-down shirt tied around your waist and knee socks.

What you need: 

• Grey cardigan
• White Button-Down Shirt
• Black Pleated Tennis Skirt
• Knee-High Socks

22. Minnie mouse

Photo from Mashed Potatoes and Crafts

Minnie mouse costumes are never out of style, and you are never too old to dress up as Minnie mouse. Only a red polka dot skirt and mouse ears are enough to complete this look.

What you need: 

• A red polka dot skirt
• Mouse ears headband
• Black leggings 
• Black shirt

23. The Mummy

Photo from Do It Yourself Divas

This is one of the most classic Halloween costume ideas that only takes a few minutes to put together. Simply dress in white and wrap yourself in white toilet paper from head to toe. You can also use face paint to fit the theme.

What you need: 

• White clothing
• White toilet tissue paper
• Draw thick goggle frames around your eyes with a black Brush Pen

24. Cassette Tape Costume

Photo by The Craft Patch Blog

Make your Halloween a little more retro with a cassette tape costume. This is one of the most amazing easy Halloween costumes. You can draw on cardboard to make it look like a cassette tape.

What you need:

• Cardboard
• Acrylic paint colors: pink, orange, yellow, green & black
• Black ribbon or bag strap
• Hot glue gun
• Permanent marker

25. Wednesday

Photo by @juliannarosel on Instagram

Dress up like Wednesday. It is one of the easy Halloween costumes to make last minute. You need a black dress with a white collar and some makeup and that is it. You can make long pigtails if you have dark hair or use a wig. Now, if you can master her sarcasm, then you have mastered it!

What you need: 

• Black dress or black t-shirt with white collar 
• Dark pigtail wig (if needed)

26. Alice In Wonderland

Photo from Broke and Chic

When you ask your little girl to choose her Halloween costume, she will most likely consider all the Alice wonderland costume ideas. A simple blue dress with short sleeves will do the trick. If you don’t have a white pinafore, wear a white kitchen apron over it. Also, wear a hair bow.

What you need:

• A simple blue dress
• A bow hairband
• A pinafore or white kitchen apron

27. Fifty Shades of Grey Costume

Photo from Bored Panda

You don’t have to dress up as Christian Grey or Anastasia Steele to pull off this costume. Print the blocks of grey shades and stick them to your shirt in a row, one after the other. Of course, it’s PG.

What you need:

• A T-shirt
• Blocks of printed grey shades

Choose any of these ideas and make it yourself at home. Nobody will guess that you planned it at the last-minute! Now you can plan the party. Did you keep that for last minutes too? No worries, here are some great ideas for your Halloween party.