56 Last-Minute Halloween Costume Ideas for Kids in 2026

All you need for this adorable costume are overalls, a yellow shirt and hat, some black gloves and goggles (or you can just get a ready-to-ship set).

Shop similar styles: Kids’ Minion Costume ($28)

“If your kid takes ballet, there’s a good chance you spent a ton of money on a recital tutu for one day’s use,” says PureWow Vice President of Editorial Candace Davison. “This is an excellent excuse to get another wear out of it, and the leotard can be a great base for other last-minute costumes on this list, like transforming into a bunny, a fairy (just add wings) or a princess (there’s got to be a tiara in the bottom of your toy box, right?).”

Shop similar styles: Tulle Tutu with Hair Bow ($15); Capezio Short-Sleeve Leotard ($18; $16)

A classic for adults and kids alike, all you need is a monochromatic onesie and a pair of bunny ears.

Shop similar styles: Baby Bunny Onesie Pajamas ($30); Easter Bunny Ears Headband ($10)

Got any cotton lying around the house? Glue some together and add some strings with paper raindrops hanging from it, and you've got yourself a cloud!

Shop similar styles: Rainbow Cloud costume ($32)

A Halloween classic. All you need is an all-black ensemble and a witch’s hat.

Shop similar styles: Witch Hat with Sequins ($10); Witch Costume Set and Broom ($33)

Or go in the opposite direction with an all-white get-up topped off with a halo.

Shop similar styles: LED Angel Feather Wings and Halo ($17); Guardian Angel Costume ($40; $30)

No sewing involved. Get the tutorial here.

Shop similar styles: Kids’ Full Bodysuit ($30; $20)

A pair of flashy leggings and a plain tank top and your work is done. Add a headband and yoga mat to really drive the look home.

Shop similar styles: Lilax Crop Tank ($35); Stelle Leggings ($17; $15)

“Chances are you have at least one superhero PJ set lying around the house (or Paw Patrol or Minecraft or Pokémon....). Not only is this a great way to use what you already own, but your kid will be supremely comfortable throughout the night,” says PureWow contributing editor Alexia Dellner.

Shop similar styles: Superman T-Shirt ($20); Short-Sleeve Oxford Shirt ($12)

White clothes, electrical tape, face makeup and a wig are all you need to pull off Michael Keaton’s decidedly creepy look and pay homage to the cult classic (and the wildly popular sequel).

Shop similar styles: Black Vinyl Electrical Tape ($9); Boys’ Five Piece Formal Suit Set ($42)

The only time it’s OK for your kid to dig around your makeup bag. Red lipstick, brown eyeshadow, face powder and hair mousse should do the trick.

Shop similar styles: NYX Butter Gloss in Rocky Road ($6); Revlon ColorStay Day to Night Eyeshadow ($8); Mehron Makeup Setting Powder ($13); Kérastase Mousse Bouffante ($42)

Grab some rainbow clothes, face paint of all colors and top the outfit off with a sparkly paper party hat for a quick DIY.

Shop similar styles: Unicorn Onesie ($24; $20); Inflatable Unicorn Costume ($30); Face Paint Palette ($9; $8)

Time to bring out the Little League gear. Make it spooky by adding some scary scars and zombie makeup.

Shop similar styles: Zombie Baseball Player Costume ($20)

Tear an old sheet into strips, wrap them around your kid and there you have it: a mummy made by mommy. Not bad for a last-minute Halloween costume.

Shop similar styles: Kids’ Mummy Costume ($50)

Oh, go on and let your kid wear her prettiest dress for Halloween. Top it off with a tiara and some glitter makeup for a happily ever after.

Shop similar styles: Fairy Wings and Wand ($13)

“The classic bedsheet ghost can involve a lot of fussing and adjusting as you walk from house to house, so if you’re planning on doing a lot of trick-or-treating, I recommend grabbing an oversized white tee and taking scissors to the bottom to fray it a bit, then painting your kid’s face white to provide a ghostly pallor,” Davison says.

Shop similar styles: Kids’ Ghost Costume ($15)

A black tee and hat for Wayne; a blonde wig, drumsticks and checkered shirt for Garth. “Party time, excellent!”

Shop similar styles: Child’s Blonde Wig ($17); Plaid Flannel Shirt ($28); Youth Baseball Cap ($12)

Tinfoil to the rescue yet again for this last-minute Halloween costume for kids. Cover a box in foil, add some construction paper dials and your costume is complete. Or grab some green makeup from the drugstore and a thick black eyeliner from your makeup bag to create a spooky monster.

Shop similar styles: Reynolds Aluminum Foil Wrap($16); Bulk Construction Paper ($39); Green Face Paint Body Stick ($10)

Draw on an eye patch, grab a striped shirt and you’re good to go.

Shop similar styles: Kids’ Long-Sleeve Striped Shirt ($17); Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner Pencil ($12; $11)

If you can rummage up a gray onesie or monochrome ensemble, just add construction-paper ears and a pool noodle nose.

Shop similar styles: Kids’ Elephant Costume ($27)

Have your kid throw on an orange T-shirt and pants, then add black construction paper cutouts for the jack-o-lantern eyes and mouth.

Shop similar styles: Pumpkin Costume ($26)

Turns out you’ll want to pull out that electrical tape again. This last-minute Halloween costume for kids is cute and simple. Dress them in yellow and use the tape to add stripes. Strap on a foil stinger and they’re good to go.

Shop similar styles: Black Vinyl Electrical Tape ($9); Reynolds Aluminum Foil Wrap ($16); Bumble Bee Costume ($32)

With a little eyeliner to draw on the whiskers, blush for the nose and a cat ears headband, you’ll have a last-minute Halloween costume for kids faster than they can scream “trick or treat!”

Shop similar styles: Black Cat Costume ($25); Cat Ears Headband ($6); Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner Pencil ($12; $11); NYX Buttermelt Powder Blush ($11; $10)

Red Mary Janes, a blue dress and white blouse are all she needs to become this iconic heroine. Cute pup optional, but highly encouraged.

Shop similar styles: Dorothy Costume ($27)

Whether they want to channel their inner Daniel Tiger, Tony the Tiger or Tigger, this last-minute Halloween costume idea for kids comes together lighting quick. Orange shirt, your handy electrical tape and a generous swipe of orange face paint will do the trick. On to the treats!

Shop similar styles: Baby Tiger Costume ($23); Black Vinyl Electrical Tape ($9); Orange Face Paint Stick ($9)

Because honestly, sometimes they are one.

Shop similar styles: Kids’ Devil Costume ($65); Devil Horns Headband and Glasses ($10); Devil Tail and Pitchfork ($10)

Bringing Marcel Marceau back from the dead.

Shop similar styles: White Face Paint Stick ($10); Kids’ Long-Sleeve Striped Shirt ($17); Kids’ Suspenders and Bow Tie ($10); Kids’ Beret ($10)

If it’s truly a last-minute Halloween costume, a tan T-shirt and black construction paper will do the job.

Shop similar styles: Kids Leopard Costume ($24)

Pull out that suit they wore last year to your cousin’s wedding, rub on some white face paint and give them some eyeliner stitches.

Shop similar styles: Kids’ Jack Skellington Costume ($31); White Face Paint Stick ($10); Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner Pencil ($12; $11)

All you need for this last-minute Halloween costume for kids is a green T-shirt and a mask made out of cardboard or construction paper.

Shop similar styles: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Hoodie ($23)

Honestly, you could even repurpose those slightly bent fairy wings sitting forgotten in the toy box. Pair with an antenna headband made from pipe cleaners.

Shop similar styles: Butterfly Wings, Headband and Mask ($13)

Toddlers dressed as grannies? Surest way to anyone’s heart. You’ll need suspenders, a button-down shirt, a floral print dress, pastel sweater, fake mustache and a couple walkers.

Shop similar styles: Little Old Lady Costume ($25); Old Man Costume ($15)

Fresh from the garden. Technically, you don’t have to buy anything. Dress them up in an orange T-shirt and hot glue some green yarn on a headband.

Shop similar styles: Carrot Costume ($20)

To make this last-minute Halloween costume for kids, cut up some black pool noodles to make the additional “legs” and use white spray paint to create a web on the back of a black T-shirt.

Shop similar styles: Kids’ Spider Costume ($30; $28); Black Pool Noodles ($33); White Spray Paint ($11)

Listen up, class. Today, we’ll be dissecting the text of a beloved classic, Baby Shark.

Shop similar styles: V-Neck Sweater Vest ($17); Long-Sleeve Button-Down Shirt ($15; $13); Oxford Dress Shoes ($37)

Must be chilly with no clothes on. You can ad-hoc this last-minute Halloween costume for kids with a monochrome black outfit and white electrical tape.

Shop similar styles: Kids’ Skeleton Costume ($30; $20); White Electrical Tape ($9)

I made this DIY costume for my daughter when she was three and it was a huge hit. And all it took was a green leotard, white yarn, a glue gun and a flower headband. The end result? The prickliest thing ever, duh.

Shop similar styles: Cactus Bodysuit ($60); Green Fleece Hoodie ($30); Flower Headband ($13)

Got milk? If you don't have a cow costume lying around, you could easily DIY this one with a white T-shirt and attaching some felt or paper black spots. Finish the costume with some face paint and cardboard ears and you’re good to go.

Shop similar styles: Cow Onesie ($20)

Can be assembled with a black hoodie, bathrobe and some skeletal face paint.

Shop similar styles: Grim Reaper Costume ($32)

To DIY this little lovebug, use black construction paper as “dots” and stick them onto a red shirt or dress with tape.

Shop similar styles: Girls' Light Up Ladybug Costume ($25)

Royally undead. Feel free to shred up last year’s too-small fancy dress and go ham with some black paint. Top off the look with a bloody lip and she’s ready to go.

Shop similar styles: Kids’ Zombie Princess Costume ($47; $30)

Green T-shirt, green face paint, cardboard cutout spikes and you’re in business.

Shop similar styles: Green Face Paint Stick ($5); Green Cotton T-Shirt ($11; $9); Dinosaur Costume ($28; $25)

Keep it simple with a couple of red bandanas and Western hats. If your kids keep up with the fashion trends (and are obsessed with Toy Story 5), they’ll already have the boots in their closet.

Shop similar styles: Cowboy Costume ($27); Cowgirl Costume ($40)

Here's another chance to repurpose you makeup bag. With a little eye liner and bright red lipstick, you’ll transform your little one into Batman’s nemesis in no time.

Shop similar styles: Joker Costume ($47); White Face Paint Stick ($10); Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner Pencil ($12; $11); NYX Butter Gloss in Rocky Road ($6)

This last-minute Halloween costume idea for kids is almost as easy as a wave of the wand. You can improvise with a bed sheet for a cape and a chopstick spray-painted black.

Shop similar styles: Melissa & Doug Magician Costume ($42; $30)

With some heavy-duty construction paper, you can make the scissor hands at home by rolling sheets into cones. (And of all the last-minute Halloween costume ideas for kids, I think this one just might be the coolest.)

Shop similar styles: Edward Scissorhands Costume ($50)

Have them throw on a turtleneck and an old corduroy jacket, then paint their faces with a cute scarecrow smile.

Shop similar styles: Scarecrow Costume ($37); Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner Pencil ($12; $11); NYX Butter Gloss in Rocky Road ($6)

Cut some airplane wings out of a cardboard box, embellish them with duct tape and use a hole punch and string to make straps. Then, add a pair of goggles and an aviator hat…and ta-da! Your little Amelia Earhart is ready for take off.

Shop Similar Styles: Aviator Fleece Cap and Goggles ($15)

PureWow editors are big fans of cardboard box costumes—namely because they’re incredibly easy and very budget-friendly. Cut a hole in an appropriately sized one for your kid’s head, remove the side flaps from the bottom and wrap the whole thing in aluminum foil if you wish. Then, set your trick-or-treater up with a simple craft project that requires nothing more than cutting and pasting construction paper buttons onto the box.

Shop Similar Styles: Bulk Construction Paper ($39); Disguise Toddler Retro Robot Costume ($50)

Dress your kid from head-to-toe in orange, scribble on a prison number with a black fabric marker and top it off with a pair of toy handcuffs for one of the easiest last-minute Halloween costume ideas for kids on the list.

Shop Similar Styles: Fun World Busted Prisoner Costume ($24); Metal Play Handcuffs for Kids ($15)

Calling all Mario Kart fans: Princess Peach has entered the race. Parents, you can consider this a prime opportunity to reuse any flouncy pink dress in your kid's closet. Add a crown and a steering wheel to complete the look. All that's left is to choose your race course. (My vote is Rainbow Road.)

Shop similar styles: Princess Peach Costume ($33); Gold Tiara ($10)

Hands down one of the most fascinating creatures in the aquarium. (At least, it was for me.) Seahorses sport a variety of colors, from orange and yellow to gray and black. Throw together a monochrome outfit and add a tail and snout, courtesy of some construction paper or aluminum foil.

Shop similar styles: Inflatable Seahorse Costume ($30)

Not all clowns should be nightmare inducing. Classic getup promises a nostalgic evocation of a night under the big top. If you're in a real pinch, a big red nose, white face paint and a paper party hat should do the trick.

Shop similar styles: Clown Costume ($26); Clown Nose ($12); White Face Paint ($9)