7 Last-Minute Halloween Costumes You Can Make with Stuff Around the House

If you’re scrambling for a last-minute costume, don’t panic. There’s a treasure trove of inspiration hiding in your own house. With just a few scraps, cardboard, old clothes, and some creativity, you can whip something together quickly and affordably. Here are seven clever, last-minute Halloween costumes you can create using items you probably already own (or can scavenge in 30 minutes or less).

1. Recycled Robot

One of the most resourceful DIY costumes involves turning a cardboard box into a robot—and it's sustainable! Grab a box from your recycling bin, paint it silver or wrap it in aluminum foil, and cut out holes for your head and arms. Add “buttons” by gluing on bottle caps or paper circles, and use old dryer vent tubing for arms if you've got it lying around. Wear neutral clothes underneath, and use face paint or markers to draw a digital mouth or screen for an instant retro robot.

2. Advice Booth

If you have a large cardboard box and a Sharpie, you can become an advice booth, a playful nod to the Peanuts comic strips. Cut out a window in the box front, write phrases like the classic “Psychiatric Help 5¢” or “Seek Advice Here”, and carry the box in front of you. It’s a simple costume to make and a great conversation starter.

3. S’mores

Channel your sweet side with a homemade s’mores costume. This one went viral last year when a mom painted cardboard to look like chocolate squares and combined it with a tutu to represent marshmallow and graham cracker layers. If you don’t have a tutu, just use neutral clothing for the inner layer, glue or paint cardboard to represent the chocolate, and create marshmallow fluff with white fabric or cotton balls.

4. Spooky Bat

Got an old umbrella and a black hoodie? You're halfway to channeling a classic Halloween bat. Cut your umbrella in half, attach each half to your arms to resemble bat wings, and mount paper bat ears on a headband. Finish it off with black clothes, and you’ve got wings ready to flap. For a spooky twist, paint the umbrella edges to look torn.

5. Piece of Fruit

Dressing up as your favorite fruit is super easy and cute, and you can probably gather all the needed materials around your house. For a pineapple, use a yellow shirt and craft green paper leaves into a crown or headband. A pumpkin works with an orange shirt, some string or yarn glued on to mimic ridges, and a brown paper or felt hat for the stem. And for a strawberry, pick a red outfit, glue on some paper “seeds,” and top it with a green paper leaf headpiece. 

6. Error 404: Costume Not Found

This costume brings a sort of self-aware energy to the function. All you need is a plain shirt and a piece of paper (or cardstock) to write “Error 404: Costume Not Found” on. It’s funny, nerdy, and barely requires any materials.

7. Chance of Rain

For something whimsical, one Redditor on r/Frugal shared a weather-inspired idea: “Glue cotton balls all over a shirt, carry a round spray bottle … you could be ‘Cloudy with a chance of rain.’” Plus, with a few battery-powered lights, you could even glow like a thundercloud.