Last-minute Halloween costumes

Need a costume tonight? Every idea here builds in 25 minutes or less, most in 20. Each guide lists what you need, the steps, and the real time and cost. Free, no signup.

• AstronautWhite sweats, a paper-bag helmet, and a flag patch.
• Aussie Dog FamilyDog-ear headbands and blue-or-orange shirts: mama, dad, and the pups.
• Baby DinosaurGreen hoodie, felt spikes down the back, stuffed tail.
• Backyard SuperheroShort cape plus a first initial on the chest, mask optional.
• Bacon & EggsWavy bacon stripes and a sunny-side-up egg yolk.
• BallerinaA tulle tutu tied onto elastic, a leotard, and a neat ballerina bun.
• Bamboo-Muzzle DemonPink robe, long dark wig, and a cardboard bamboo muzzle tied with ribbon.
• BananaYellow sweatsuit with a green felt stem hat.
• Basketball StarJersey, shorts, eye-black stripes, and a ball that never leaves your hand.
• Beekeeper & BeeOne goes as the beekeeper in white with a mesh veil; the other wears yellow and black stripes with antennae.
• Black Cat BurglarBlack sweatsuit, cat-ear headband, eye mask. Add a toy sack for burglar.
• Bowling PinsWhite outfits with red neck stripes, plus one bowler in black.
• BoxerBathrobe, toy gloves, bruise makeup, and entrance music.
• Breakfast BuffetEveryone picks a breakfast: egg, bacon, toast, pancake, OJ, coffee. Cardboard signs over normal clothes.
• Bumble BeeBlack sweats with yellow tape stripes and soft felt antennae.
• Burger Joint CoupleWhite apron plus fake mustache, curly red wig plus glasses. Burger shop owners.
• Cat & MouseCat ears versus mouse ears. Spend the night chasing each other.
• Cereal CrewSolid-color clothes plus a cereal-box front you decorate.
• CheerleaderTeam colors and pom-poms made from cut plastic bags.
• Chipmunk TrioLetter sweaters, felt ears, and whiskers for a singing trio of chipmunks.
• Classic GhostA white sheet with cut-out eyes.
• Classic VampireBlack cape, fangs, slicked hair.
• Classic WizardTall black pointy hat, flowing plain black robe, tall straight wooden staff, gray beard optional.
• Coffee CupWhite trash bag over a cardboard tube, brown lid hat.
• Crowd CamouflageGray hoodie, dark pants, blank expression. Vanish into any crowd.
• CupcakeBrown tunic for the wrapper, white pillowcase for frosting, cherry on top.
• Deadpan DivaBlack dress, two braids, pale makeup, and a stare that ends conversations.
• Decades CrewEach person picks a decade and dresses from their own closet.
• Deviled EggWhite shirt with a felt yolk, devil horns, and a red tail. Half egg, half devil.
• Dino RangersKhaki outfits for the grown-ups, dino hoods for the kids. Leash a toy raptor.
• Dino TouristHawaiian shirt, dino tail, camera around your neck, and a fanny pack. The meteor missed this one.
• Dinosaur FamilyMatching dino-hoodie sweatsuits for the whole crew, spikes down every back.
• Emoji CrewEveryone picks an emoji: a yellow tee plus a big printed face.
• Emotion CrewOne loud color per person: each of you is a different emotion.
• Emotional Support DinosaurDino-spike vest over normal clothes with a badge that says Emotional Support Dinosaur. Do not pet.
• Error 404Wear all black with 'Page Not Found' printed on your chest; carry a phone with a cracked-screen prop or broken GPS.
• Extinct Party AnimalFelt dino spikes on a normal jacket, plus a party hat and a badge that reads Last seen 66 million years ago.
• Fairy Tale PrincessesA dress or a crown from the closet. Every princess works.
• Fossil HunterKhaki vest, toy brush, magnifying glass, and cardboard fossil bones in a belt pouch.
• Fruit Salad CrewEach person picks a fruit color, wears it head to toe with a leaf hat.
• Fuzzy MonsterA pastel fuzzy sweatsuit with giant googly eyes and an oversized stitched smile.
• Galaxy KnightsRobes, belts, and toy energy blades for knights of a far-off galaxy.
• Garden FairyTulle wings, a flower crown, and a wand: the backyard turns into a fairy tale.
• Gloom & BloomBraids and black for Gloom, color-pop and smiles for Bloom.
• Glow SkeletonBlack sweats with glow-in-the-dark bone tape, plus glow bracelets.
• Goggle CrewYellow tees, denim overalls, goggles, black gloves.
• Good Witch, Bad WitchGreen face paint and black for one, pink gown and crown for the other.
• Haunted PortraitsGray makeup, old-timey clothes, hold a gilt frame.
• Headless HorsemenBlack capes, jack-o-lanterns held at shoulder height, group gallop.
• Hot DogTan foam pool noodle bun, red shirt for the dog, mustard squiggle.
• Ice Cream ConeA tan paper cone hat and a sprinkle-dotted scoop shirt.
• Ice SkaterA white dress, tights, and a perfect bun: gold-medal energy, no ice required.
• Ketchup & MustardRed bottle tunic and cap for one, yellow for the other.
• LadybugRed sweats, black felt dots, and little spotted wings.
• Little ArtistA beret, a cardboard paint palette, and a splatter-painted smock.
• Little BakerA paper chef hat, an apron, and a toy whisk.
• Little LifeguardRed tee, whistle, and a rescue buoy made from a pool noodle ring: an everyday hero costume.
• Little LionTan sweatsuit plus a fuzzy mane hood.
• Little Pig FamilyPink clothes and a snout headband; little brother brings the dinosaur.
• Little PrinceCrown, cape, and a royal sash from the dress-up box or the craft drawer.
• Little SharkGray hoodie with a felt fin glued on the back.
• Little WitchBlack cape, pointy hat, striped tights, green face paint.
• Lost TouristWear wrinkled clothes, carry a crumpled map, add one luggage tag backwards on your shoulder.
• Mermaid CrewThe mermaid, the prince, the sea king, the sea witch, or the crab: pick your role.
• Mystery CrewAssign the leader, the style icon, the brains, the goofball, and one very good dog.
• Neon Demon HunterStreetwear with glowing sigils, a toy sword, and pop-idol hair and makeup.
• NinjaAll black with a belt sash and a slit headband.
• Office CoupleWhite shirts, name tags, and a teapot. The office's finest.
• Peanut Butter & JellyOne in brown with a PB label, one in purple with a J label.
• Plastic Dream CrewHead-to-toe pink outfits with plastic accessories for the dream crew.
• Player One & TwoMatching tees with 1 and 2, toy controllers in hand, ready for co-op.
• Plumber BrothersOveralls, red and green caps and shirts, drawn mustaches.
• Pocket Plush MonsterA fuzzy one-piece, giant ears, a stitched smile, and an oversized collector tag.
• Pop StarA sparkly jacket, a toy microphone, and the biggest hair in the room.
• Prince & PrincessA crown and cape, a thrifted gown and tiara.
• Raptor & RangerOne khaki ranger, one green dino hood. The ranger holds the leash.
• Raptor BaristaGreen hoodie with a dino snout hood, tiny T. rex arms strapped on, and a coffee cup you can barely hold.
• RefereeA striped shirt, a whistle, and a yellow penalty flag.
• Safari / Zoo CrewEveryone picks an animal: closet clothes in matching colors plus an ear headband.
• Safari PhotographerKhaki vest, toy camera and binoculars, plus a stuffed lion cub under one arm.
• Salt & PepperWhite and black outfits with shaker tops made from cardboard.
• Soccer SquadJerseys for the players, black for the ref, one red card.
• Space CrewmateColored sweatsuit plus a cardboard backpack.
• Tall Hat CrewA striped stovepipe hat, a bow tie, and two wild blue-haired Things.
• Tennis DuoAll-white outfits, headbands, toy rackets, and a tube of balls.
• The Doctor & the BrideGreen face paint and neck bolts for one; tall streaked wig and torn gown for the other.
• The Tin HeroRed and gold plus a glowing chest circle: the suit does the talking.
• Tiny FirefighterRed sweats, a plastic helmet, and a toy hose.
• Web Hero DuoRed-blue sweatsuit plus web mask; partner gets the black jacket and attitude.
• Web SlingerRed sweatsuit, tape web lines, big white eye lenses.
• Zombie CoworkerTorn button-down, loosened tie, pale makeup, coffee mug.

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