10 Last-Minute Halloween Costumes You Can Assemble from Your Closet

Discover 10 creative last-minute Halloween costumes you can easily assemble using items you probably already have in your closet. With a little imagination, your little ghoul will be ready to trick-or-treat in no time.

We’ve all been there: October 31 sneaks up and all of a sudden you have to come up with a costume with just a couple of days to go. The stores are all picked over and there’s no way Amazon is delivering in time. So, what do you do? Fear not—you no doubt have everything you need at home already. Keep reading for ten fun costumes you can assemble from things you probably already have in your closet (plus maybe a quick trip to the dollar store!).

If your kiddo’s got a pair of blue jeans and a red-and-white striped shirt, you’re in business. Hit the dollar store for a pair of cheap, round glasses frames and a red toque and scarf, and watch the iconic character come to life.

You’ll be surprised what a flowy dress, an old pair of sheer panty hose and a couple of wire clothes hangers can yield. Untwist the hangers and mold them into a pair of wings, then stretch the tights over them. Decorate as you wish—sequins, glitter, stickers, you name it. Hot glue them to some sturdy ribbon so they can be tied in place around your child’s shoulders and underarms. Add glittery makeup and you’re set.

A mad scientist

You’ll be surprised what a little hair gel can do. Tease your kiddo’s hair up (think Einstein!) and gel or spray in place. Pair with a white button-down shirt (or a lab coat, if you have one in the dress-up box) and a pair of goggles. Give your kiddo a lidded jar or two with coloured water as their “experiments.”

Channel the undead with some worn out clothes from your child’s wardrobe. Take scissors to an old pair of pants and coat as if they’ve been disintegrating for some time (you can even fray the cuffs if you have a stitch ripper tool). Use white face paint to get that pale, from-the-grave look, and add dark purplish-black bags under the eyes. Hair gelled in every direction completes the look.

Black pants and a long-sleeved black T-shirt or turtleneck is the base of this simple costume. Add a DIY mask out of black paper or felt, and top the look off with a black bandana or beanie. Fake jewels or gold-painted rocks can be used as “loot”!

Think the old-school stereotype of families on vacation! Pair a loud Hawaiian shirt with khakhi shorts or pants, socks and sandals, a sun hat and oversized sunglasses. An old camera around the neck (you can even use a toy camera!) and a map sticking out of a back pocket complete the look.

Okay, this is clearly a caricature because no one actually looks like Steve Urkel, but this is a fun one that comes together quickly. A plaid shirt, suspenders, high-waisted pants, a DIY pocket protector and oversized glasses deliver this costume seamlessly. Pigtails or a slicked-down hairstyle with a middle part finishes things off.

This fairy tale character is a fun and easy costume to pull together. Any colour dress will work paired with a red cape or cardigan sweater (honestly, you can even use a red coat). Pigtails and a basket complete the look. For a fun twist, add a stuffed wolf to the basket as a nod to the story.

These ideas require a few hours of crafting but all you need is a cardboard box and a neutral base layer (dark pants and a long-sleeved tee). Cut a hole in the top big enough to fit over your child’s head, as well as holes for the arms. Then, turn on a movie or binge a few episodes of a TV show as you transform the box into one of these options. Or, better yet, get your child to help you on a Saturday crafternoon!

If you have a budding musician in your fam, this might be an easy sell. A pair of jeans, a graphic tee, a leather jacket and a bandana pull this look together. Add some cool sunglasses (though they may need to be worn on the top of the head so your child can see at night) and a toy microphone or instrument.

The bottom line is, your child just wants to be a part of the fun. The costume doesn’t need to be perfect. A little creative thinking and a lot of enthusiasm will get your child’s Halloween back on track, and they’ll be none the wiser that their costume came from the back of the closet. You got this!