30 of the Most Creative and Cheap Halloween Costumes For Kids in 2020

It is ALMOST October and we all know what that means… HALLOWEEN! I love Halloween! It is such a fun holiday and my kids LOVE deciding what they want to be each year. I always cringe at how much people are charging now-a-days for halloween costumes! It is ridiculous! I saw a Finding Nemo costume that costs $200! FOR ONE NIGHT OF FUN, $200! And chances are, they will get candy, dirt, or whatever else they find on Halloween, all over it! There is no need to spend that much on a costume!

So, as my kids told me what they wanted to be this year, I started to get online and look up DIY Halloween Costumes. I found SO many great ideas that I wanted to create a post where you can go and find all the best ideas in just one place. These ideas are going to be kids, but with some adjustments to size, you could make it work for anyone.  Just keep your mind open and be creative with it. You don’t have to do it exactly like the picture. Add your own little twists to it and make it fun! I just found the best ideas out there so that you won’t have to spend hours researching and can just pick your top pick right here in this post. Now, just spend all your time creating that perfect costume.

Some of my greatest memories with my kids have been prepping Halloween costumes. It is so much more fun to go out, go shopping for pieces, find things around the house, and throw it all together into a Halloween costume than it is to just buy online and find it in your mailbox. It will not only save you money, but it will also build memories! I am DIY all the way when it comes to costumes!

I don’t want to make you wait any longer, so are you ready?

The Best DIY Halloween Costumes for kids

1. Rain Cloud

Isn’t this awesome? I can guarantee that they would be the only rain cloud in the neighborhood! No need to have the same costume as everyone else! This would be so fun to make and it is so simple! You child will love this! And think of how affordable this one would be!

Supplies Needed:

• One cheap party store hat with a wide brim.
• Polyester batting
• Spray adhesive glue
• A hot glue gun
• Grey spray paint
• Blue yarn
• a sheet of blue felt

INSTRUCTIONS

2. Hot Air Balloon

This is so creative! And honestly, it wouldn’t take too long to make! Just buy some balloons and the rest can just be things you find around the house. Talk about an inexpensive halloween costume! And I am sure EVERYONE will love just how cute this is.

Supplies Needed:

• two wire wreath frames
• sculpture balloons
• a basket
• four 4-foot dowel rods
• string
• brown paper and beans to make sand bags
• felt to make the fire hat
• a buckle to make a harness

INSTRUCTIONS

3. Peter Pan & Mr. Smee

Isn’t this great? Your sweet babes can be their favorite characters USING CLOTHES THEY ALREADY HAVE! This is brilliant and they will love it!

Supplies Needed:

• green fleece
• brown felt
• red fleece
• green pants
• white shirt
• paint
• sewing supplies

INSTRUCTIONS

4. Jellyfish

Although they might not be able to see so well, they will adore this fun little costume! I mean who doesn’t want to be a jelly fish? Just use an umbrella you already have and BOOM, costume finished before you know it! Also, I saw this super cute glowing jelly fish idea on Pinterest, although there aren’t any instructions for making this cute DIY glowing jellyfish costume, you can add some battery-operated lights to the first idea and use a clear umbrella.

Supplies Needed:

• Umbrella hat
• Ribbon
• Hot glue gun
• Tape
• scissors
• white and black construction paper

INSTRUCTIONS

5. Dragon

This costume is so easy, yet so adorable. There is absolutely no sewing involved. It is made out of cheap material and it is so simple, your child could even do it by themselves (with supervision of course!)

Supplies Needed:

• One hoodie and matching colored pants + one additional same colored pants
• Colorful sponges (about 13)
• Polyfill stuffing
• Hot glue gun
• toilet paper tube
• elastic
• hole punch
• red and yellow paper

INSTRUCTIONS

6. Scuba Divers

Aren’t these the cutest! And hey, you’ll be recycling when you make this costume too!! This one is super cost effective and so adorable.

Supplies Needed:

• Black shirt and pants 
• Set of 2 Litter Bottles
• Cotton Rope or yarn
• green and blue spray paint
• Black Electrical Tape
• Sponge Hair Curlers
• Swim Goggles + Snorkels
• Metal Pail
• Silver Washi tape
• hot glue
• chalkboard paint

INSTRUCTIONS

7. Unicorn

Almost every little girl wants to be a unicorn at least once for halloween! This is the perfect, easy, DIY tutorial to follow! You little girl will never forget this halloween costume!

Supplies Needed:

• white hoodie
• white leggings
• hot glue gun
• light pink yarn
• hot pink yarn
• purple yarn
• white felt
• light pink felt
• pink felt
• purple felt
• gold tape
• scissors
• packing paper

INSTRUCTIONS

8. Pac Man

I had to end with this one because isn’t it just hilarious?! Your kids will love this! And think, you could make this a family event. Each member in the family could be a different ghost and one of your kids could be the pac man! It could be epic!

Supplies Needed:

• Cardboard
• Roll of cheap duct tape
• Bag of Glue Sticks
• Spray Paint (black, yellow, pink, blue, orange, red & blue)
• Hot Glue Gun
• Exacto Knife/Box Cutter
• Ruler
• Straight Edge
• Hula Hoop or other large circle to trace
• Projector (if possible for the ghosts)

INSTRUCTIONS

9. Toy Story’s Forky

Forky is such a fun character in Toy Story 4. You can make this costume 4 different ways. Each version are great easy and inexpensive Halloween costume ideas.

Supplies Needed:

• Poster Board
• Red and Blue Paint
• Elastic Mask Cord
• Black Mesh
• Black Sharpie
• Pencil & Eraser
• Scissors
• White pants
• Long sleeve white shirt
• Red garland, red shrug, or a red shirt (depends on which Forky version you choose)
• Rainbow sticker
• Red gloves

INSTRUCTIONS

10. Wings

With these easy homemade Halloween wings, your child can be just about anything this Halloween. Try Batman, Batgirl, or a Vampire Bat.

Supplies Needed:

• Black stretchy fabric (lycra/spandex with 2-way stretch is best for movement and it doesn’t fray)
• Measuring Tape
• Scissors
• needle and black thread for hand sewing
• sewing machine with ball point needle if machine sewing

INSTRUCTIONS

11. Mario and Luigi

If you know two little Boys who love Mario and Luigi, then this is Halloween costume is a must! There is a chance you or someone you know has all the supplies needed for this cheap Halloween costume!

Supplies Needed:

• Overalls
• Red and green t-shirts:
• Stick on mustaches (or eyeliner to draw your own)
• Hats 

INSTRUCTIONS

12. Mummy

This homemade DIY Mummy Halloween costume is a classic and it is super easy to make.

Supplies Needed:

• 4 large white t-shirts – used or old is best!
• 4 rolls of gauze (I used 3 rolls that were two inches wide and 1 roll that was four inches wide.)
• Gray long underwear (or a white sweatsuit would work too)
• White, black or gray knit hat

INSTRUCTIONS

13. Skunk

Here is a super adorable homemade skunk costume that your toddler can wear this Halloween. Now just imagine him crawling across the floor with his bushy tail… SO CUTE!

Supplies Needed:

• A black Zip Hoodie
• A white fur boa
• White felt
• Black felt
• A cut of fuzzy black costume material

INSTRUCTIONS

14. A Penny

This is a super creative and fun Halloween costume idea. If you have multiple kids, each kid could be a different coin. Wouldn’t that be adorable?

Supplies Needed:

• Faux Fur
• Scissors
• old clothes (pants, jacket, button-up, bow-tie)
• Copper Paint
• Sponge Brush
• Foam Board
• X-acto Knife
• Craft Foam
• Glue
• Copper Spray Paint
• Copper Costume Make-up
• Spirit Gum

INSTRUCTIONS

15. Tinker Bell

This easy DIY tinker bell costume would be perfect with the Peter Pan and Mr. Smee costume! All it takes is little bit of crafting and sewing and then an awesome family Halloween costume.

Supplies Needed:

• green knit fabric
• white elastic
• white dress shoes with strap 
• green paint 
• foam paint brush
• large white pom poms 
• fabric shears
• sewing machine
• hot glue gun
• fairy wings 

INSTRUCTIONS

16. Elsa

Frozen might’ve come out a couple of years ago, but what girl still doesn’t want to be Elsa? Instead of buying an expensive costume, try making this simple DIY Elsa costume this Halloween.

Supplies Needed:

• Blue and white glitter tulle
• Silver glitter iron-on
• Cricut
• elastic
• white long sleeve shirt
• blue cami or use Rit Dye and a white cami

INSTRUCTIONS

17. Stick Figure

This Stick figure Halloween costume is so perfect and creative. If you need any last minute costume inspiration, this is it!

Supplies Needed:

• white clothes
• electrical tape
• a paper plate
• markers
• string

INSTRUCTIONS

18. Gumball Machine

What a super cute and fun costume for Halloween! While this gumball costume looks intricite, it is actually easy and you can make it in minutes!

Supplies Needed:

• white tee shirt
• large piece of red felt
• small sheet of black felt
• small sheet of gray felt
• small sheet of white felt
• one or two packages of 1.5″pompoms
• hot glue gun/glue sticks
• large bowl (or other round object) for tracing
• red leggings (or skirt)
• red felt beret

INSTRUCTIONS

18. Cotton Candy

This cotton candy costume is my favorite! You kinda just want to gobble her up it is so cute and fluffy!

Supplies Needed:

• One kids white Long Sleeve Slim Tee
• One kids white Classic Legging
• White beanie
• Polyester fiberfill (About 3-4 bags 20 ounces each)
• Pink or blue silk flower spray paint
• Tight fitted t-shirt
• Old pillow
• Adhesive spray
• Light colored beanie
• Silk ribbon
• Thin cardstock
• Double sided fabric tape
• Hot glue gun and sticks
• Scissors

INSTRUCTIONS

19. Construction Wrecking Ball

What a fun way to go trick-or-treating! Try this construction wrecking ball costume for your kids you love to build and destroy!

Supplies Needed:

• box (I used a 12 bottle wine box which was perfect for fitting for our 3′ tall two-year-old)
• 2 wooden dowels
• cord or rope
• carabiner clip
• yellow duct tape
• 2 wine corks
• black paint
• elastic strap with mitten clips
• screws/bolts
• drill + drill bits
• saw
• pumpkin treat pail
• safety vest
• kids hard hat

INSTRUCTIONS

20. Birthday Candle

Another super creative and simple Halloween costume, perfect for kids! It doesn’t take much to make this Birthday candle. It would also be so adorable and fun to do with a group of friends.

Supplies Needed:

• Poster board
• newspaper
• flour
• water
• bowl
• packing tape
• painter’s tape
• spray paint
• x-acto knife
• yellow and orange cellophane
• headband
• craft foam
• wire

INSTRUCTIONS

Check out these other super cute DIY Halloween costume ideas for 2020.

Most of these ideas we found didn’t have clear instructions on how to make it, but they are pretty simple and can mostly be made with household items.

21. Toilet and Toilet Paper

This DIY toilet paper Halloween costume is great for 2020. Because what doesn’t say 2020 like toilet paper? And if you have another child, you can make a toilet costume to go with it.

22. Easy Mac and Cheese

All I have to say is, brilliant! Why have I never thought of this? This would be the greatest costume! And think of how fun it would be to create! You child would remember the time he was mac and cheese for halloween forever!

23. Baby Things

Thing 1 and Thing 2 is another classic and perfect Halloween costume idea that is so easy to make for best friends or siblings.

24. Lumberjack and Librarian

This Librarian and Lumberjack costume is a perfect last minute Halloween costume idea.

25. Scarecrows

Aren’t these scarecrows the cutest? You can easily sew this Halloween costume together with some old material and clothes.

26. Harry Potter and Hermione

This costume is perfect for your Harry Potter fans. You don’t need to buy a fancy Hogwarts robe to do this one. You can find any black robe and make a wand using chopsticks, hot glue, and paint! And don’t forget the glasses!

27. BB-8

This Star Wars BB-8 costume is so cute. Check out these instructions as the original author gave a little direction for what she did to make this awesome kids Halloween costume.

28. Groot

I think one of my kids will dress up as Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy in our home as we are avid Marvel fans. You can make this costume using old cardboard and a lot of creativity!

29. Stoplight

What a fun idea! This super cute stoplight Halloween costume can be made out of just paper or paint on top of a cardboard box. This will entertain your kids for hours as they make it and then they will feel so proud to wear it on Halloween Night!

30. Old Ladies

This old lady costume is the most adorable thing! Two is better than one here! If you have a little playdate friend or cousin, dress them up alike! Hey, maybe you could get a group together to recreate the golden girls?? Now that’s an idea!

Final Thoughts

I’ve given you 30 awesome options of different DIY costumes that can be used for your babies, your toddlers, your teens, or even yourself! Just remember that you don’t have to make it exactly like the photo. Do it your own way and make the perfect costume for you or your kids! Halloween is supposed to be fun! It shouldn’t drain your wallet though. So get to making your super awesome, super affordable costume!