30+ Best (Easy) Halloween Costumes on a Budget
With just under 6 weeks left until Halloween, it’s time to start getting serious about costumes.
Let’s be honest all you need for a successful Halloween is candy, at least one viewing of Hocus Pocus, and a good costume.
But a good costume doesn’t have to mean an expensive or complicated costume.
In this post I’m breaking down 30+ easy and budget friendly costumes. Many of them you can put together with stuff you already own. So let’s dig in and get our costume on…
1. Witch
Perhaps one of the most iconic Halloween costumes. All you need is to dress in all black, and throw on a witches hat that you can get for cheap online or at a local costume shop
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Need:
- Black clothing
- Witches hat Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
2. Pan Am Stewardess
Got a blue skirt suit? If not you can put one together by hitting up a thrift store, that’s what I did for Halloween 2015. Using some felt, a cheap hat, and a hot glue gun I put together the hat, and had picked up the bag a few years before. But if you don’t have the bag, you could easily make one or pick up one on Amazon (though the Amazon route, will definitely cost more).
Need:
- Blue Suit
- Sheet of Blue felt
- White ribbon
- Hat
- Print out of PanAm Logo
- This tutorial on creating a Pan Am hat
Pan Am Innovator (Vintage White/Pan Am Blue)
Price: $43.39
3. Bob Ross
Who doesn’t love Bob Ross? An afro wig, a white t-shirt, jeans and a cardboard paint pallet with a brush will do the trick.
Need:
- White button up shirt
- Jeans
- Afro wig Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
- Cardboard to make a “paint pallet”
- Paint Brush
4. Athlete
Whether you used to be an athlete or still are one, you can use your gear to play the part on Halloween. Maybe you’re a soccer player, or rugby, whatever the sport dress for the game and carry the ball around, and bam! Halloween costume complete.
Need:
- Sports gear for whatever sport you currently or used to play (shorts, shirt, cleats, ball)
5. Graduate
Put that aging cap and gown in the back of your closet to good use. It’s easily one of the easiest and most comfortable Halloween costumes.
Need:
- Cap
- Gown
6. Rosie the Riveter
Iconic? Check. Easy? Check. Budget friendly? Check. Denim and an updo with a bandana and you’re in business.
Need:
- Denim/blue button up with sleeves rolled up
- Jeans
- Bandana to tie up in your hair Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
7. Audrey Hepburn
There are so many options when dressing up like Audrey Hepburn, but perhaps the most iconic is Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The trickiest part of this costume is getting your hair up right.
Need:
- Black dress
- Pearl necklace
- Cigarette holder Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
8. Flo/Jamie from Progressive
The only downside of this costume is that it’s primarily white, so if you’re going to a rager where you are likely to have a drink spilled on you, you may want to choose another costume. But otherwise, this one is super easy and super comfortable.
Need:
- White polo shirt
- White pants
- Finally, a white apron
- Printer/iron on of Progressive
- Sneakers
9. Mime
A classic Halloween costume. A striped shirt, black pants, and a little face makeup and you’re done.
Need:
- Black pants
- Black and white horizontal striped shirt
- White and red face paint
- Beret
10. Harry Potter
You could make this costume really in depth and complicated, but you don’t need to. Some round glasses, a lightning bolt “scar” and you’re done. If you want to take it up one level, create a wand and maybe a house scarf.
Need:
- Round glasses Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
- Use makeup to create a lightning bolt scar
- Wand
11. Christmas Present
This is throwing it back to my childhood. But all you have to do is take a large box (you can get one from Home Depot for about $2) cut holes for your arms and head. Then tape wrapping paper to the box, add a bow to your head and your done.
Need:
- Box
- Wrapping paper
- Bow
12. Arthur/John Legend
Blue jeans, a yellow sweater, red shoes, and some glasses and you’re good to go.
Need:
- Blue jeans
- Red Chucks
- Yellow sweater
- Glasses Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
13. Minnie/Mickey Mouse
Wear anything black, red, and white along with some mouse ears and gloves and you’re automatically Minnie or Mickey Mouse.
Need:
- Mouse ears
- Mouse gloves
14. Smartie Pants
This is a pun costume. All you do is tape smarties candies to a pair of pants.
Need:
- Pants
- Tape
- Smarties
Bonus: Any smarties you don’t use for your costume you can use as candy to give out.
15. Sheldon Cooper
Bazinga! Could this costume be any easier? Pants, a long sleeve shirt, and a flash t-shirt over it and say, “Bazinga!” a lot.
Need:
- Pants
- Long sleeve T-Shirt
- Flash t-Shirt Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
16. Mary Poppins
This is both a classic costume and modern one since they are remaking Mary Poppins.
Need:
- Umbrella
- Bowler hat
- Black skirt
- Red bowtie
- White button up top
17. Barbie Dolls
Hello Barbie! Put on your best dress, then pop a Barbie box over you and you’re all set. Check out the video below for a tutorial on creating a great Barbie (or Ken) box.
18. Devil
Let your bad side out on Halloween. Dress in all red, throw on some horns and a tail and voila!
Need:
- Red clothes
- Horns
- Tail
19. Forrest Gump
Pick your favorite look from the movie and then make it happen. It could be a blue button up with slacks, or running shorts, a large t-shirt, crazy hair and ball cap, or a messy white tank and pants from the boat. Complete your look by carrying around a box of chocolates.
20. Clue Characters
Was it the maid or the professor? This can also make for a great group costume. Check out this post for inspiration on creating the costumes.
21. Bank robber
Really all you need to do is dress up a burlap bag, by adding a dollar sign to it, or buy one already dressed up.
Need:
- Black clothing
- Money bags
- Mask
Bank Robber Costume
Price: $12.99
22. Hans Solo
AKA fall wear for women. Pants, boots, white shirt, and vest. Done. Complete the look with a blaster and Chewbacca by your side.
Need:
- Dark pants
- Boots
- White long sleeve shirt
- Vest
- Blaster Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
23. Rachel Green
A tank top, some overalls, and a Central Perk apron and you’re one of the gang.
Need:
- Tank top
- Overall shorts
- Central Perk apron Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
24. Gunther
Spray your hair bleach blonde/white and wear a button up with a tie, obsess over Rachel and you can be Gunther for Halloween.
Need:
- White hairspray Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
- Slacks
- Button up shirt
- Tie
25. Regina George
Get yourself a cheap tank top cut some holes in the front and carry a burn book and you’re on your way to being the top mean girl.
- White tank top
- Colored bra
- Black mini skirt
- Burn book Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
26. Damian from Mean Girls
Quite possibly the most perfect costume for an introvert. Wear a blue hoodie and sunglasses and occasionally shout, “she doesn’t even go here!”
27. State Farm
All you need is a red polo shirt and some khakis. Then throw on a name tag that says you’re from State Farm.
Need:
- Red polo shirt
- Khakis
- Name tag
28. Wheres Waldo
Another comfy and easy and budget friendly costume? Yup, what can I say, I love being comfortable. All you need is some blue jeans, a red and white striped shirt and a red beanie.
Need:
- Blue jeans
- Red & White striped shirt
- Red or red and white, hat
- Glasses Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
29. Cowgirl
Yeehaw! If you’re not an actual cow girl, now is your chance to pretend. Put your hair in braids, get a hat and some boots and then you can pretty much wear whatever you want. Jeans and a plaid top, or a dress.
Need:
- Cowgirl/boy boots
- Cowgirl/boy hat
30. Bag of Jelly Beans or Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans – it’s all about the logo
All you have to do for this one is get a large clear plastic bag, cut out holes for your extremities and fill it with balloons. Finally, add your preferred logo.
For a more in depth tutorial, check out this video:
31. Pink Lady
Grease Lightning! Put on your favorite poodle skirt or just all black (pants and shirt) along with a pink jacket. The last thing you’ll need is attitude.
Need:
- Black pants
- Black top
- Dark shoes
- Pink jacket Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
32. Thing One/Thing 2
There are a lot of ways you could go with this costume. But the simplest would be to rock a Thing One or Thing Two t-shirt.
Need:
- Red pants
- Thing One or Thing Two t-shirt Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
What Will Be Your Halloween Costume?
With all these great, easy and budget friendly Halloween costumes, which will you choose? Let me know in the comments!
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