No need to panic over last-minute Halloween costume ideas for the kids!

Today, I have 31 scary, cute Halloween costume ideas that are budget-friendly, easy to make, and sure to delight.

Bring the perfect mix of scary and cute to your Halloween party when you dress your kids up as clowns, lions, Lego, ghosts, gnomes, mushrooms, or even slices of pizza!

1. Easy No Sew Bat Costume

Source: tikkido.com

If your sewing machine is packed away and you don’t have the time to unpack it, a ‘No Sew’ project is just what you need.

This fabulous bat costume is made using a budget oversized long-sleeved black shirt, a yard of black felt like this, and a square of white felt. Team it up with a black skirt and you have a friendly Halloween bat!

2. DIY Girly Marshmallow Man Costume

Source: artsyfartsymama.com

If your sewing machine is out and ready to stitch, this adorable STAY PUFT marshmallow man costume will delight any little girl.

The blog post teaches you how to make the cap, the collar, the tie, and the tutu. Finish the look with a white shirt and white leggings. Your little girl ain’t afraid of no ghost!

3. Ursula The Sea Witch Costume

Source: @shannonbaronx

While Ursula the Sea Witch is a wicked character, your little girl can just look adorable while still being a witch!

The key to this look is the amazing makeup that complements the purple tones of the dress. A non-toxic face paint kit like this will help you create the character to perfection.

Find more spooky Halloween party ideas.

4. Halloween Clowns Costume

Source: @shanechery10

Dressing up as spooky clowns is such a fun choice for a Halloween party. I found the perfect ready-made clown costume for girls – no need to worry about stitching it yourself!

Instead, you can focus your energy on the face painting, crafting an iconic classic white clown face with striking red lips and teardrops.

5. Lego Costume

Source: @newmomwhodis

Get crafty with cardboard boxes and paint and turn your kids into walking Lego pieces. They are easy to make, super fun, and look awesome!

Let the kids help with the painting. It’s a fantastic family project that doubles as quality bonding time.

6. Nightmare Before Christmas Sally Costume

Source: artsyfartsymama.com

Let the little ones go trick-and-treating as Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Lindsay from Artsy Fartsy Mama provides the instructions on how to sew the dress.

I love the fun hack she used to create the stitches without sewing. This set of Tulip Dimensional Fabric Paints will do the trick (and treat)!

7. Cute Lion Costume

Source: @emilywondree

Transform your little ones into the King of the Jungle with these fluffy, adorable, lion cub outfits.

Don’t forget to hang a playful ‘Roar’ sign around their necks and watch them steal the show with their fierce cuteness!

8. Cup Noodles Costume

Source: @theweebean

If you want a fun and creative Halloween costume idea, this has to be it! I can’t stop smiling at this steaming bowl of cuteness.

And, since my kids are always up for a Cup of Noodles, why not dress them up as one? Get creative with a large round box and loads of string to bring this fun costume to life.

Find more Halloween crafts for adults!

9. The Shining Ghost Twins Costume

Source: @margo_elsie_and_me

Turn Halloween into a chilling adventure with ‘The Shining’ costumes for kids. Classic twin outfits and a touch of spooky makeup will create an eerie ensemble that’s perfect for little ghouls.

Make your own dresses or buy a pair of kids ready-to-wear The Shining dresses like these.

10. Rainbow Costume

Source: @partypinching

Wow! This cool idea uses foam pool noodles like these to create the most adorable, vibrant rainbow costume for Halloween.

Finish the outfit with a rainbow skirt, a white tee, and a whimsical star hat. This is an eye-catching idea that will delight your little girl and make her sparkle in every festive photo.

11. Princess Fiona Costume

Source: @be_yzee

Turn your child into the charming Princess Fiona from Shrek with this delightful Halloween costume idea.

Featuring her signature green gown, braided hair, a glittering crown, and a touch of fairy-tale makeup, it’s perfect for a Halloween party filled with surprises and fun.

12. Milk and Cookies Costume

Source: @michellelpiccolo

While these two don’t look thrilled, I bet their frowns turned upside down once the fun began!

I absolutely adore these cute milk and cookies Halloween costumes – they’re delightfully unique and easy to make. Get crafting with a round wooden board, paper mache, and paints to create the look.

To banish the tears, why not whip up a batch of delicious cookies and milk?

13. Gnome Costume

Source: @lowliftfun

Not all Halloween costume ideas are suitable for cold weather. And, you don’t want the little ones freezing when they set off to trick-and-treat.

These gnome costumes are warm and cozy, easy to make, and require no sewing. You need a puffer jacket, felt, and construction paper and you are all set.

These fun red gnome hats will help you complete the look.

14. Harry Potter Costume

Source: @weesleep

When it comes to costumes, we can’t forget the iconic Harry Potter character. Channel the magic of Hogwarts with a spellbinding outfit that’s sure to enchant all your Halloween guests.

Create the look with a black cropped top, a black tulle tutu skirt, black boots, fun googly eyewear, and an oversized red and yellow striped scarf like this.

15. Barbie Costume

Source: @miabellegirls

Are your girls enchanted by Barbie? Let’s be honest – what little girl isn’t? Barbie dress-up costumes are perfect for a non-scary Halloween event.

How stylish do these two look? Hot pink is the name of the game and I’m obsessed with the sparkly accents on the pants that add a touch of glam.

16. Cardboard Ghosts Costume

Source: @wearedotte

I must admit, I totally ran out of time last Halloween, and I had to scramble for a fast and easy costume idea.

These cute ghosts came to the rescue, and my kids loved them, making it a spookily perfect solution.

Get hold of old packing boxes, flatten them, cut out eyes (in the right place, so the kids can see out!) and you are done. If you have time, paint the boxes white and add black circles around the eyes for a more eerie ghostly look.

17. Sweet Lil’ Pumpkin Costume

Source: @erinphraner

This has to be the cutest lil’ pumpkin in the neighborhood.

Sew your own version or buy a cute pumpkin T-shirt like this. Layer it over a long-sleeve orange shirt, add orange leggings, and a fun orange pumpkin hat.

Don’t forget the pumpkin bucket to hold trick-or-treat candies.

18. Minion Dress Costume

Source: @miabellegirls

If your kids have watched ‘The Rise of the Gru’ a thousand times and are obsessed with Minions, picking a Halloween costume will be a breeze.

These adorable Minion dresses are absolutely charming. Finish the look with a set of Minion accessories like these that includes steampunk goggles, yellow beanies, and black gloves.

19. Cabbage Patch Kids

Source: @jaydenandolivia

Dress your little ones in classic Cabbage Patch Kids outfits for a nostalgic and fun Halloween look.

These charming costumes capture the quirky essence of the beloved dolls and are sure to bring smiles and fond memories. I am going to have fun making string hair that looks like this!

20. Super Mario Bros Costume

Source: @aubreyhearty

Happy Halloween from Mario, Luigi, Bowzer, and Peach! Super Mario costumes are instantly recognizable and great fun for the kids to wear.

It is easy to recreate the iconic look of the kid’s favorite plumber! Dress them up in a pair of denim dungarees and add a Super Mario hat and mustache like this.

21. SpongeBob SquarePants Costume

Source: @ramshackleglam

Are you looking for a DIY project to keep you busy on chilly fall nights?

This SpongeBob Squarepants Halloween costume is a budget-friendly and fun craft that will make your little ones the star of any Halloween party.

Cut holes for two arms and a head in a large square box. Then paint the image of SpongeBob, the fun-loving sea sponge who works as a fry cook at the Krusty Krab.

22. Cute Cactus Costume

Source: @littlebuttondiaries

A green woolly jumper, some fluffy colored pom poms like these, and a fun pot plant skirt turn your little one into a Halloween cactus.

The Instagram post provides a link to make this charming outfit. Or you can let your imagination run wild and design your own prickly cactus.

23. Target Mom Costume

Source: @whatsmitafound

When Target runs are a way of life, your kids will be totally on board to be a Halloween Target Mom.

Let them rock in a stylish red shirt, comfy jeans, and a mini supermarket trolley like this loaded with pretend food, fruits, and veggies.

Don’t forget to cut out a Target red and white sign from construction paper and attach it to the trolley for an authentic finish.

24. Fire Chief Costume

Source: @jaydenandolivia

This cool little girl is all geared up to fight fires! My kids were thrilled to be firefighters last Halloween and I’m planning to do the same this year.

Create the look with an oversized fire chief jacket, black boots, a hard hat, and a striped skirt. For a cute touch, she can even arrive in a mini fire engine to make a blazing impression.

25. Pizza Costume

Source: @hellowonderful_co

When your kids want to dress up as their fave food, pizza is on our menu! Create a fabulous Halloween costume using cardboard, felt, and hot glue.

If you need directions, the Instagram post offers a link to a tutorial. Or, do your own thing and top your pizza with cut-out felt shapes of mushrooms, pepperoni slices, green bell peppers, olives, and a sprinkle of parmesan!

26. Stonyfield Organic Costume

Source: @stonyfield

Known for its organic and healthy-choice dairy products, the Stoneyfield company inspired this adorable costume for a little girl.

Dress her up in a rainbow shirt and a fun Stonyfield Organic yogurt container design. She will be a great ambassador for an eco-friendly and healthy living lifestyle, as well as an adorable guest at any Halloween party.

27. Lobsterman and Lobster Costume

Source: @kellydillonphotography

Make a splash this Halloween with a lobsterman and lobster costume duo! Whether your kids are the catch of the day or the one reeling it in, they’ll be the stars of the party with this quirky and fun combo!

These cute lobster costumes from Amazon are perfect to bring a pinch of fun to your Halloween celebrations. Add a bucket filled with plastic lobsters to set the scene.

28. Mushrooms Costume

Source: @aandjkids

Don’t hide in the dark like a mushroom – step out for Halloween in this awesome mushroom costume and take the dog along too!

An off-white shift dress and a HUGE orange hat create the look. You can even sew a plush, soft mushroom pillow for your little ones to carry, making them the cutest fungi in town.

29. Cookie Monster Costume

Source: @gigimadanipour

The cookie monster is such an integral part of my kid’s lives that I had to include this fab cookie monster costume in my list of Halloween costume ideas.

Grab fluffy blue fabric and sew up a onesie, it is a great choice when the weather gets really cold. Add googly eyes and you are set.

Then pretend you are Wonder Woman and whip a batch of sweet cookies too!

30. Hand Sanitizer Costume

Source: @diyseconds

Thankfully, the dark days of the Pandemic are over, but my kids still insist on sanitizing their hands, which I’m perfectly fine with as it keeps everyone safe and healthy.

My daughter wanted to arrive at the Halloween party as a bottle of hand sanitizer! I took inspiration from this post and also purchased a bottle of Purell Hand Sanitizer so I could reproduce the finer details. 

31. Wednesday Addams Costume

Source: @lady_marleigh

Embrace the eerie elegance of Wednesday Addams with a classic black dress and white collar. This costume captures her iconic gothic look and is perfect for a Halloween that’s both spooky and stylish!

My little ones love practicing the deadpan, unamused, solemn expression in front of the mirror to get it perfectly on point for the celebrations!