Best Halloween Costumes of 2024: 46 Options for Everyone, From Kids to Adults
iStock
Shopping
Advertiser Disclosure
Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created by TIME Stamped, under TIME’s direction and produced in accordance with TIME’s editorial guidelines and overseen by TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.
updated: October 27, 2024
While some of us (like me) were still embracing the last weeks of summer, many shoppers got ahead of Halloween—which seemed to roll out in stores just after the Fourth of July. If bare shelves (or bare minimum selections) are what you’re seeing in-store, you’re in luck: I’ve rounded up a guide to the best Halloween costumes for everyone, even your pets, ranging from scary to silly and cool to creepy…and all available online. Cue up the “Monster Mash,” stock up on sweets, decorate those gourds, and prepare to play dress up all October long.
Best Halloween costumes for kids
Soccer Player (Team USA)
If your kid spends their fall fielding and shooting soccer balls, they can channel their inner Olympian with this soccer set of shorts and a shirt
13% offSave $4
Astronaut Kids’ Halloween Costume Long John Pajama Set
Blast off into Halloween night with this astronaut kids' costume. Plus, it makes a great dress-up set that doubles as comfy, warm PJs. If you’re feeling spendy, add this soft helmet and power pack.
50% offSave $26
Disney, The Rise of Red (Descendants)
This jumpsuit, vest, and belt are easy ways to access your favorite character this Halloween.
51% offSave $21
Hocus Pocus Sanderson Sisters
If your trick-or-treater loves everything witchy, this costume, complete with broom and cloak, won’t disappoint.
Kids' Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Astrid School Uniform Halloween Costume
With this cool school Astrid costume, you won’t blink twice at things that go bump in the night. Includes dress with tie and jacket.
Best Halloween costume for babies
Bluey
This puppy costume will keep your toddler or younger child snug, thanks to its one-piece zippered suit
Baby Pikachu Costume—Pokémon
A one-suiter will capture your kid's imagination and keep them warm so they can go trick-or-treating with the big kids without too much fuss.
36% offSave $18
Pumpkin
This one-piece costume has a zipper and a hood and is easy to get on and off your little pumpkin.
Mullins Square Lobster Baby Costume, Red, 6-18 Months
This lobster costume onesie has wonderful details, such as claws and antennae—and is sure to surprise and delight family and friends.
Best Halloween costumes for teens
Wednesday Addams Dance Costume
The Raven dance gown is perfect for doing the Monster Mash at your next Halloween party.
Taylor Swift, Era Tour (Be a Tortured Poet)
For chilly Halloween nights and under $100. Throw on a black moto jacket and some high heels or boots.
Bridgerton-Inspired Empire Waist Ball Gown
If you’re a Bridgerton fan, this gown won’t disappoint. Go as Penelope Featherington or any other lovely character, toss this on, just add jewels and satin gloves.
Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice is back in theaters—and hitting the streets this Halloween. Comfortable, creepy, and easy to wear, this men’s costume is hauntingly good fun. Just don’t say his name twice!
Underwraps Costumes Hazmat Jumpsuit Costume
Protect yourself against ghosts, ghouls, and radiated zombies with a one-piece jumpsuit.
Best Halloween costumes for men
Ted Lasso
The get-up includes everything (even a whistle) you need to go out and win the game. Grab your kid’s soccer ball and the outfit is complete.
Adult Deadpool Costume
The package includes a jumpsuit, mask, and gloves. In terms of comfort, sizing up is better than sizing down with adult-sized jumpsuits.
Willy Wonka
This costume comes with almost everything you need: a coat, vest, pants, scarf, and hat. We know there will be plenty of chocolate on Halloween night.
Best Halloween costumes for women
Winifred Sanderson Hocus Pocus Costume
Winifred was the scariest of the Sanderson sisters, but you could choose from any of the three.
Glamour Girl
If you're headed to a masquerade ball, add a mask. (I’m partial to these gorgeous peacocks).
Nordic Style Viking Goddess
It’s witchy in the best ways and easy to wear if you’re taking your kids out on Halloween night or out to a party.
1960s Barbie
This red Barbie X unique vintage swing coat in red can be worn all year (which is good due to the price!) but makes a stylish costume, too.
Best Halloween costumes for families
Jurassic Park
My favorites: Blue (for kids), Dr. Grant, and don’t forget your pet (check out our pet costumes) who will make a great T-rex.
Care Bears
The whole family can keep warm and spread kindness as Care Bears. The fleecy costumes come with hoods so everyone can stay warm throughout Halloween night.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
With costumes like these, you can trick or treat together in style.
Rubie's Official Minions Stuart Inflatable Adult Costume
These inflatable options are great for adults, and the younger ones may enjoy being Minions and making mischief, such as Bob the Minion.
Best Halloween costumes for groups and couples
Rock, Paper, Scissors
Cute and clever, if you travel together as a trio while you trick or treat, you’ll definitely get some laughs.
Scooby-Doo and Friends
You can even choose to be the Mystery Machine when you browse this collection of costumes in sizes for toddlers and up.
Game Controller Halloween Costume
Easy to throw on, and you can choose between red and blue colors.
Emojis
With so many to choose from, you can’t go wrong with a group of emojis, and these easy-to-wear aprons let you flaunt your emotions together without fuss.
Deck of Cards
If you want to add a spin on it, you could be a deck of cards playing War, and use fake blood and army helmets, or you could go as a deck of cards playing Go Fish—and carry fishing poles.
See also: Best Dog Halloween Costumes>>>
What to consider when buying a Halloween costume online
When shopping for Halloween costumes, especially for younger kids, think about a few things before you hit “add to cart.” If you can, go to brick-and-mortar stores and try costumes on in person. It is no fun to find the perfect one and only have it not fit when it’s time to trick or treat or the day of the school Halloween parade, which has happened in our house on one or more occasions. Get your costume early, make sure it fits, and have a backup plan to avoid Halloween hysterics when a costume is too big or too small.
Should it be homemade?
My favorite costumes growing up were made by my grandmother or loaned to me by my mother’s friend, who had a killer wardrobe of roaring ‘20s dresses. I am all for hitting up Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and other thrift stores for odds and ends or visiting a costume swap—popular in the Halloween happy village we call home—but sometimes you don’t have the time or talent.
Who’s wearing it? Age and size matter
When choosing a baby or toddler costume, consider purchasing one that doesn’t obstruct their view and makes it easy to maneuver them in and out for a quick change. Onesies are a great choice, and costumes that can double as PJs are even better. As children grow older, check their masks to make sure they can see out of them, and hem or cut costumes that drag on the ground, making it easy to trip while trick-or-treating.
Some costumes are sold as one-size-fits-all, and others may have measurements slightly larger or smaller than clothing sizes. To avoid disappointment, as previously mentioned, check any garment's measurements before purchasing and try it on, if possible. If you are an adult, make sure your costume doesn’t rip easily, is warm enough if you plan on being outdoors for a long time, and definitely (speaking again from experience) don’t skimp on comfort.
Can the wearer see out of it? Visibility matters
As mentioned above, a potential pitfall of costumes that come with masks is that wearers can’t see. Halloween is typically chaotic during trick-or-treating hours, and dusk (and, of course, night) can greatly reduce visibility. Among the tips given by the global nonprofit Safe Kids Worldwide include giving children flashlights and glow sticks or even adding reflective material to the back of their costumes.
Is it comfortable?
Not all Halloween costumes are created equal in terms of comfort. If you or anyone in your family is wearing their costume for long periods, try it on and leave it on for at least an hour to test its comfort. I did this with my then-6-year-old, who wanted to wear a very tight superhero costume. We lasted about 15 minutes and switched to something a little easier on their limbs.
Pro tip for parents with young kids and toddlers: Check that the costume doesn’t fit too tightly anywhere and that they can easily remove it if and when nature calls. Also, some one-piece costumes are made of fleece, making it easy to get overheated.
How to stay safe on Halloween
Trick or treating is a fun way to celebrate Halloween but you want your kids to stay safe. Safe Kids Worldwide suggests the following:
- Choose facepaint over masks because the latter can impede visibility.
- Wear light colors or reflective tape on your costume.
- Drive slowly and carefully (or, better yet, not at all) when traveling in residential areas.
- Use headlights at dusk when younger kids might be out and about trick or treating.
- Make sure costumes fit properly and won’t trip you up as you walk.
- Consider the age and maturity of your child before you let them trick-or-treat alone.
- Tell your tweens and teens to stay with a friend or group of friends and travel to well-lit homes and familiar neighborhoods.
The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page.
Featured Articles
The Best Christmas Gifts For Everyone on Your List
Giving is better than receiving but may not be easier. Here’s a gift guide to help you find the perfect present this holiday season (and beyond).
Meta Quest 3 Black Friday Deals 2024: VR Gaming For Less
The Meta Quest 3 received a price cut earlier this year, but this impressive 4K VR gaming headset may be on sale for Black Friday as well.
Black Friday Toys Deals 2024: Save on Moana 2, LEGO, Marvel, and more
You can quickly put a dent in your Christmas shopping list and save big on popular toy brands with these best Black Friday toy deals in 2024.
The Best Black Friday TV Deals 2024: Amazing Savings on Tons of Great TVs
A roundup of the best Black Friday TV deals for 2024 to help you find the best television for every room in your home and every budget.
1.2213.0+2.11.22