Make Your Child’s Halloween Costume at Home—Fun, Easy, and Budget-Friendly

Making your child’s Halloween costume at home is simple, affordable, and fun. With just a few easily available materials—like old bedsheets, cardboard boxes, or worn-out clothes—you can create original costumes for any age group. Ideas range from timeless classics like the ghost or mummy to more creative options like the robot or turtle, and even spooky choices like the zombie or playful ones like the little devil. The secret is to make the most of what you already have at home, adding a personal creative touch to make the costume truly unique. This article offers five fun, easy-to-make ideas using items you likely already have at home. 

Working on a Halloween costume together isn’t just about the final result—it’s also a chance to spark creativity, build teamwork, and make lasting memories. The process itself can be just as fun as wearing the costume. If you’re a babysitter, making a Halloween costume could be a fun project to do with the child and if you’re a parent and short on time, try involving the babysitter in creating the Halloween costume as well. 

1. DIY Mummy Costume with Strips of Fabric

A mummy costume is spooky, classic, and surprisingly simple to make. All you need are old white sheets, a white turtleneck shirt, and white tights. For the best effect, use off-white or greyish fabric to achieve that ancient look. Cut strips from the sheet by tearing long bands along the fabric. For an aged appearance, soak them in tea and add some light paint smudges. Dry them in the dryer to roughen them up a bit.

Let your child wear their shoes and pull the tights over them. Start wrapping the strips from the feet upward—not too tight, not too loose. If you’re using a turtleneck, there’s no need to wrap the neck (safer!). Finish the look with white and grey face paint. Want a step-by-step visual? This YouTube video shows exactly how to wrap the perfect mummy costume.

2. Classic Ghost Costume

The easiest costume ever? A ghost. All you need is an old white bedsheet. Cut holes for the eyes and mouth, toss it over your child’s head—and voilà, instant ghost! Want to level it up? Fold the sheet and cut armholes; then, loosely sew them shut to create sleeves. You can also add black felt eyes and a mouth to the “head” part of the sheet, cutting out the centres so your child can breathe easily.

Decorate it with ripped edges or dangling strips for a wind-blown ghostly effect. If you’d rather keep their face visible, cut a hole for the head and add ghostly face paint and a white beanie.

3. Build a DIY Robot Costume from Boxes

Got cardboard boxes lying around? Perfect! You’ll need one big box (body), one smaller one (head), flexible dryer hose for arms and legs, silver spray paint or aluminum foil, and fun bits to decorate—like plastic cups or bottle caps.

Cut a hole for your child’s head in the small box and spray it with silver paint. In the big box, cut armholes and remove the bottom so it rests on your child’s shoulders. Use duct tape to attach the dryer hose for arms and legs. Wrap your child’s shoes in foil. Want extra flair? Tape two spray-painted plastic bottles on the back as “jet packs!” No silver spray? Use aluminum foil instead for wrapping the entire costume.

4. Easy Zombie Costume for Kids

The ultimate Halloween vibe? A zombie! It’s fun, creepy, and super simple to DIY. Use old light-coloured clothes. Rip or tear them, or even burn small holes for effect (carefully!). Smudge the clothes with dark makeup or charcoal and let them dry in the dryer for a weathered look.

Add fake blood—store-bought or even ketchup—and you’re set. For makeup, opt for a pale foundation, dark under-eye circles, and a few fake wounds or scars. Tease the hair for a messy undead vibe. Zombie transformation complete!

5. DIY Turtle Costume for Babies

This one’s adorable and safe for little ones! It’s soft, lightweight, and perfect for babies or toddlers just starting to walk. You’ll need: a green shirt, green and brown paint, cardboard, and a large piece of green fabric.

Cut a large oval out of cardboard (slightly smaller than your child’s back). Cut a larger oval from the green fabric and glue it around the cardboard edges, stuffing it with cotton to create a dome shell. Add backpack-style straps using fabric or elastic. Decorate the shell with painted patterns or lines. Once dry, secure the underside with more fabric so little hands can’t pull it apart. Your mini turtle is ready to go!

Bonus: Make a Devil Costume from Scratch

This costume works for boys and girls, and you can make all the accessories too! Start with a red shirt or dress and black leggings. If you don’t have red clothes, dye an old shirt red or go with black clothes and red accessories (belt, shoes, or necklaces). Add yellow felt flames or fringe for extra detail.

For the horns, fold red felt around a headband and glue them in place. You can buy a trident—or make one from cardboard, aluminum foil, and a broomstick. Trace and cut out three identical trident shapes from cardboard, glue and tape them together, insert the broomstick, and wrap the whole thing in foil.

Finish the look with red and black face paint. Done!