53 Quick, Cheap, Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

Not all of us had time to run to the store this year, or the money to spend on a fancy costume.  That doesn't mean you have to be left out this year.  Here is a list of a bunch of cheap and quick last minute halloween costumes.  Some costume ideas for adults and children.

1.  Gods Gift to Women

Wrap yourself in wrapping paper, and you can even add a nice bow on top your head.  On your chest have a tag that says, "From: God, To: Women".

2.  Pothead

Nice and simple, put a pot on your head.

3.  Free Mammograms

Get a big cardboard box cut two decent circle holes in the front with a marker write, "free mammogram".

4.  Mime

Dress in all black, throw on some white gloves, paint your face white (if your feeling creative you can add some black facial designs like a tear drop).

5.  50's Guy/Greaser

Have a tight fitting black leather jacket, or just a short black jacket would work.  Slick back your hair with some hair gel. Throw on some straight legged jeans, and your good to go!

6.  Pregnant Woman (or Man, hey make it interesting guys)

Put a pillow on your belly under your shirt and your ready to go.  (Men throw on a bra, grab some toilet paper :-), and start stuffing)

7.  Cowboy

Cowboy hat, boots, jeans, and a white t-shirt.  Bam!  Instant Cowboy.

8.  Attack Dog Trainer

Take a stuffed dog and attach it to a long sleeve shirt. Use safety pins (or if you can, sew it).

9.  Abraham Lincoln

Black suit jacket and black pants. Add a beard and top hat.

10.  Men in Black

Black suit jacket and black pants.  Add dark glasses and slick back your hair and you are "Men in Black." (helps to have a friend to dress with!). 

11.  Blues Brother

Black suit jacket and black pants.  Add a hat and some shades.

12.  Quasimodo

Put a pillow on your back under your shirt, and walk with a hunch.

13.  Muffin Man

Attach a muffin to on old hat, and throw it on. 

14.  Nudist on Strike

Wear normal clothes, make a sign to hang around your neck that says, "Nudist on Strike!"

15.  Construction Worker 

Old shirt, work boots, tool belt, hand tools, work gloves, hard hat, walkie-talkie.  Any combination works.

16.  American Flag

Wear red, white, and blue. 

17.  Black Mail

Wear all black and print out a big picture of a postage stamp (you can find one on google images) on your chest.

18.  Jersey Shore Girl or Guy

Spray on some self- tanner, put plenty of gel or hairspray in your hair (the bigger the hair the better!), thrown on some fake gold jewelry, and some loud clothing.  Bust out the animal print if you got it girls.

19.  Hugh Hefner

Start with black pants and slippers or shoes. Then, just throw on a satin or silky looking red robe and pick up a fake  smoking pipe from a halloween store. 

20. Playboy Bunny

Find a black leotard, black shorts and top, or a black dress. Find or buy a black bow-tie, or simply tie a black ribbon around your neck in the shape of a bow. Pick up some black bunny ears, or you can make them using a black headband and black paper/felt.  Add some Heals, and your all set!

21.  Bunny, Cat, Angel, or Devil

Find a leotard, top and shorts, or a dress in the respective color (black/white/gray for a bunny or cat, white for an angel and red for a devil.) Paint whiskers and a nose on your face with makeup or face paint. If you are a bunny or cat and find ears and tails at a local halloween store, or any store that sell s halloween accessories. You can also make them yourself if you would like.  You can also find halo's and devil accessories very cheap, as well.

22.  Peacock 

Depending on how much work you put in you can make this very cute and simple or classy and sophisticated.  Start out with either a black dress, black top and skirt, or black leotard.   Attach any size, color, and detail of feathers you prefer. You can find craft feathers at any craft stores, most stores with a craft section, or even some halloween stores. Layer on some great eye makeup, false eyelashes and a feathered headpiece.  You could even pick up a feathered mask instead.

23.  Scarecrow

For the scarecrow costume, find an old flannel shirt and either faded, old jeans with patches or a pair of overall's (attach patches for effect.) Use a rope for a belt and to use as ties on the cuffs on the shirt and at the bottom of the jeans. Place some straw sticking out of the shirt and jeans and use some as hair held in place by a hat. Use a little makeup for effect and to put some color on your nose.

24.  Hobo

Find a plain white t-shirt and some old faded jeans or shorts. Cut or rip a few holes in the shirt and in the jeans. Give the jeans and shirt the dirty effect by smearing eye-liner, mascara, or anything else that would give the shirt a used and dirty effect. Rub some baby oil or gel and use the eye-liner or mascara also in the hair to make it look dirty and a bit greasy, while also creating the same effect on the face and skin. Next, find some mismatched socks and put on two different shoes. Make a carrying sack by wrapping an old t-shirt, bandana, or pillowcase around a stick or branch and carrying it on your shoulder.

25. Ghost

Grab an old white sheet and cut out eyes and mouth, and throw it over your head.  You can also cut a wavy or zig zag pattern around the bottom to dress it up a touch.

26.  Old Man or Woman

For this one you will probably need to raid your parents or grandparents closets. For males- find some dark jeans and any dress shirt with a jacket. Cuff the bottom of the jeans and find a flannel or similar hat and a walking cane. For females- you will need to find an older style below the knee dress, with some knee-high stockings and plain shoes. To finish off this look, either buy spray paint for your hair or dust it with a little flour from home and you are ready.

27.  Artist Costume

Throw on some dark pants, and oversized white t-shirt.  Put different color paint smears on the white shirt, and you could even cut out a piece of card board in the shape of a blobby circle.  Use your paints to paint a small blob of each color on your cardboard and grab a paint brush.

28.  Babe Magnet

Throw on whatever clothes you like a either attach a bunch of dolls on you, or tape several pictures of female models on you.

29.  Baby

Pajama's (one-sy if you have one).  grab a teddy bear, and pacifier, and your ready to go.

30.  Barbie Costume

Pink outfit, make-up, and a blonde wig.

31.  Bat

Black pants and a black long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt.  Take a black sheet cut it in half, and design your bat wings.  Attach the wings to the arms or your shirt, and down the back of your shirt.

32.  Begger

Grab some old clothes, dark makeup, and an empty can.  Smear some dark makeup on the clothes and your face.  Carry around the empty can for change donations :-)  You could even make a sign if you want that says, "Will Work For Food".

33.  Biker

Do you have a black jacket, white t-shirt, sunglasses, bandanna, and jeans.  If so put them on and throw the bandanna around your head, and there you go instant biker.

34.  Candy Cane 

Wear an all white outfit, and grab some red or green duct tape.  

35.  Car Crash Victim

Grab some ripped up clothes, dark make-up, and band aids.  Use the make-up to make bruises on your face.  Even throw on an old sling if you got it.

36.  Hit and Run Victim

Grab a white t-shirt, hair gel or hairspray, and a black marker.  Mess up your hair, and draw a tire print across your shirt.

37.  Antarctica

This is normally only works if you are a larger individual.  All you have to do is wrap yourself up in a white sheet.  You can also attach little toy penguins, polar bears, and etc. to the sheet.

38.  Charlie Brown

You will need a yellow t-shirt, black shorts/pants, and a black marker.  Just make a zig-zag pattern around the center of your shirt.  You could even throw in some yellow sock and brown dress shoes if you really want to get into it.


39.  Dalmatian

You need a white out fit, black paper/felt/marker, and some white and black face paint.  Attach or draw black spots all over the white outfit.  Use the face paint to paint your face white with a black spot around one of your eyes.

40.  Gansta

You need oversized pants and shirt.  Large fake gold/diamond jewelry, and you can even use some tin foil to make you a grill.

41.  Zombie

Grab some old torn up clothes, or pick some up at a second hand store.  Then use face paint, or dark makeup to transform your face into a dead one.

42.  Mother Nature

Grab some brown and green clothing.  Attach fake leaves, twigs, birds, small stuffed animals.

43. Mr. or Ms. Potato Head

Dress in all brown and use colored paper or felt to make a Mr. or Ms. looking potato head face on your stomach.  

44.  Movie Star

Wear a fancy looking dress, purse, and some sunglasses.  You can even add a fake fur or feathered boa.

45.  Nerd

Wear some slacks, a button down shirt, and some glasses.  You can even add in some suspenders if you'd like.  For a better effect wear your pants above your belly button, and wrap some white tape around the center of your glasses.

46.  Flasher

Wear regular clothes under a long trench coat. Make a belt out of flashbulbs, old cameras, or just flashlights. Tell people you are a flasher and then flash at will.

47.  Ultimate Superhero 

Gather together many elements of superhero costumes such as Superman’s Cape, Batman’s mask, Green Lantern’s ring, etc. and wear them all together.

48.  Twister Game

Buy a Twister game, or use an old one you have laying around. Staple ribbon to two corners of the spinner and tie the ribbon under your chin so the spinner becomes a “hat.” Cut a hole in the center of the Twister mat and wear it like a poncho. All night long you can tell people to “put left hand on red” and so on.

49.  Tornado

Wear all black or gray clothing. Sew strings of varying lengths all over your outfit. On the ends of the string, tie on tiny houses, people, cars, animals, etc. When people ask what you are, spin around fast and make sounds like a tornado.

50.  Cereal Killer

Wear some old clothes. Carry a bloody knife and have blood on your clothes. Attach labels or actual little cereal boxes all over your clothes.

51.  In the Shower

Wrap a towel around your body (wearing a tube top and shorts under the towel is optional). Wrap a towel around your head turban style or wear a shower cap. Carry a rubber duck and a back scrubber.

52.  Cat Burglar 

Wear black clothes, black stocking cap, ski mask or Lone Ranger-style mask. Carry a bag with some stuffed cats peeking out.

53.  Kissing Booth 

Find a box big enough to fit over your body. Cut the top and bottom off of the box completely so that you can slip into the box. Tie two ropes onto the front and back off the box, the ropes can go over your shoulders (this will hold the box on you).  Make a kiss print on your cheek with some lipstick, and on the box write “Kisses, $1.00.”