16 DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids That Cost $10 or Less

With inflation and a shaky economy, nobody wants to spend a lot of money on an expensive costume that your kid will probably only wear once. That’s why we’re rounding up DIY Halloween costumes under $10. Did you know that you can save money on Halloween candy, too?

Yes, it’s possible to create a Halloween costume that’s less than the cost of a couple of gallons of gas. A little planning is needed, and you might need some supplies, but we have everything laid out for you. There are breakdowns of materials, instructions, and prices to make the process easier.

Other than finding items around your house, thrift stores and discount stores like Dollar Tree are going to be your best bets for a $10 budget (without tax and shipping). Keep in mind that not every store will carry the same inventory, so you may have to find alternative materials. Prices of course, are subject to change.

Feeling in the Halloween spirit? These KCL pages will be your lifeline during the season:

• Halloween coupons and deals
• Candy coupons
• Walmart deals

Check out some of my favorite, totally doable DIY Halloween costumes for kids that cost less than $10. Download the Krazy Coupon Lady app or text HACKS to 57299 for more savings hacks and smart shopping tips. Also, check out our favorite cheap Halloween hair color sprays and creams.

 

DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids

 

1. Crazy Cat Lady: $3.75 (or free with your own items)

Head straight to your closet to make this adorable DIY Halloween costume for pretty much nothing. Even if you need a few items, head to Dollar Tree to make this a low-cost project.

You’ll need:

• Hair curlers: $1.25
• Loungewear, robe, leggings and a sweater, pajamas — whatever you own!
• Stuffed animals or dolls: $1.25 each
• Safety pins: $1.25

Since you clearly love The Krazy Coupon Lady, remix this crazy cat lady idea and attach coupons to your robe. Nothing beats a Sunday morning with a pair of scissors and a newspaper to clip coupons.

 

2. Miguel Rivera From Coco : $7.69

You won’t believe how easy it is for you to become the main character from Coco. Start with black pants and a long-sleeve hoodie, preferably red.

You’ll need:

• Face paint: $2.97 at Walmart
• Skeleton gloves: $4.72 at Walmart
• Toy guitar (optional but suggested): $1.25 at Dollar Tree
• Hoodie

Apply the kids’ safe white face paint with a sponge — or your fingers — evenly, and leave a large space around the eyes. Paint dark circles around the eyes and at the tip of the nose. It helps to have Miguel’s photo near you when applying the makeup.

 

3. DIY Halloween Costume Idea: Crocheted Dinosaurs: $5.99 – $8

Celebrate Halloween with a true DIY craft-turned-costume. If you love to crochet, plan to start about a month before the big day, depending on your level of expertise and the number of costumes needed.

This costume idea works best for current crocheters because the yarn and needles will set you back more than $10. On Etsy, fully constructed dinosaur hats range from $8 – $50!

You’ll need:

• Crocheted dinosaur hat pattern: $5.99 on Etsy OR
• Crocheted Triceratops dinosaur hat: $7 on Etsy OR
• Crocheted dinosaur hat and diaper cover: $7.87 on Etsy
• Yarn in your desired shades

 

4. Audrey From Descendants: $8.98

If there’s one day of the year to get into character as a real mean villain, it’s Halloween. Audrey from Descendants is a classic mean girl with fierce style. Buying a ready made costume can be $20 – $70, so making it is crucial to staying on budget.

You’ll need:

• Pink spray paint: $4.99 at Michaels
• Black spray paint: $4.99 at Michaels
• Scepter
• Old pants and a long sleeve top that can be ruined

The most challenging aspect of this project is finding cheap spray paint. One alternative is to lightly thin out acrylic paint ($0.54) with water and funnel it into a spray bottle to spray your clothes. You could also pay a little more than your $10 budget to buy the instant fabric color spray for $4.97 a bottle.

Look in your garage and ask a friend so you can save that money for a nice Pumpkin Spice Latte. Stop by Goodwill for accessories or rummage through your old toy bin for a scepter-like gadget.

 

5. Avocado Costume: $5.49

There’s nothing like avocados for breakfast … or as a DIY Halloween costume. Attach pieces of bread to pose as avocado toast.

You’ll need:

• 1 corrugated presentation board: $2.99 at Hobby Lobby
• 2 bottles of green paint (you’ll need a lighter and darker shade): $2.50 at Dollar Tree
• Green or brown shirt

Cut the presentation board into the shape of an avocado and color it. Then make a hole in the middle of the shape (or cover it with a cute design), and use some string to tie it around your waist (although you could just hold it up). This is also great for a pregnant belly (in a brown shirt) as the avocado pit.

 

 

6. Baker Costume: $9.85

Create a kitchen pro with a few gadgets and kitchen accessories you’ll find in most Dollar Tree home goods aisles.

You’ll need:

• Kids’ chef’s hat and apron set: $9.85 on Amazon
• Chef-themed dishcloths (optional) – $1.25 at Dollar Tree

More than likely, you’ll only need the apron and hat because I’m sure you have some kitchen utensils to make this DIY Halloween costume idea come to life. Sprinkle flour on your apron or nose for an authentic look. Grab a personalized chef’s hat on Etsy for just about $10. We think this idea is perfect paired with the salt and pepper costumes below.

 

7. Salt and Pepper Costume: $7.71

DIY Halloween costumes for two? Comin’ right up! And this one set of costumes is under $10. Add this duo with the chef costume from above and you’ve got matching, cheap Halloween costumes for the whole family.

You’ll need:

• Black and white felt or paper: $0.49 (2 – 9″x12″ squares) at Michaels
• Glitter or glitter paint: $0.97 at Walmart
• Black paint and white paint: $2.50 at Dollar Tree
• 2 mini colanders: $2.50 at Dollar Tree
• Black and white gloves
• String
• Safety pins or hot glue gun and glue: $1.25 at Dollar Tree (for safety pins)
• Black and white outfits from your existing wardrobe

What to do:

1. Dress your child in their favorite black and white outfits.
2. Cut out an “S” and “P” from felt or paper and glue them onto contrasting black and white sheets. Pin or glue each salt and pepper label onto matching outfits.
3. Then, using glitter paint or plain paint with glitter mixed in, dab each colander with paint for texture and fun “shaker” hats. Use string to make a proper shaker hat that stays put.

Complete the look with black and white gloves, which can also be found at Dollar Tree.

 

8. Car Wash Attendant Costume: $7.50

This one might run you close to $10 at Dollar Tree — plus, your own wagon and toys. But imagine all the fun your kids will have running their stuffies and toy cars through their very own car wash!

You’ll need (all items are $1.25 each at Dollar Tree):

• Mop heads
• Sponges
• Crepe paper streamers
• Apron
• Poster board
• Duct tape
• Rubber gloves
• Towels
• Favorite toy cars
• Wagon

Strategically attach mop heads, sponges, streamers, towels, and gloves with tape to a wagon to create your mobile car wash. Use your own cars or snag some from the toy section to complete the look. Then wear a work shirt with an apron and gloves for a homemade car attendant costume.

 

 

9. Bee Costume: $6.23

My local Dollar Tree always has dress-up items like headbands and fairy wings. If yours doesn’t, you can easily make one with a plain headband and pipe cleaners.

You’ll need:

• Black duct tape: $1.25 at Dollar Tree
• Headband with “insect antennae”: $1.99 on Costumes.com
• Costume bee wings: $2.99 at Costume Super Center
• Yellow shirt

Tape horizontal black stripes onto a yellow shirt, add wings and antennae. Boom — your kid is a bee!

 

10. DIY Halloween Costume Idea — Unicorn: $3.75

This is one of the easiest DIY Halloween costumes. Browse your local Dollar Tree for rainbow items (HINT: check the party section).

You’ll need:

• Colorful boas for your mane and tail: $1.25 at Dollar Tree
• Rainbow balloons: $1.25 at Dollar Tree
• Unicorn party hat or headband: $1.25 at Dollar Tree

 

11. Ghost Costume: $3.48

If you can only find orange shirts, you can make a cute jack-o’-lantern costume instead.

You’ll need:

• Black felt: $0.49 (9″x12″) at Michaels
• White T-shirt: $2.99 at Hobby Lobby
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun and glue

Cut the bottom of your white T-shirt into strips and add knots. Glue on black felt pieces to make the face. Your dollar store might even have gloves and beanies, which are not only great accessories, but will keep little ones warm on chilly Halloween nights.

 

12. Giant Spider Costume: $6.25

DIY Halloween costumes look professional with this kind of creativity. And what’s Halloween without a spider? Here’s your chance to turn those old pool noodles into an affordable and creative costume.

You’ll need:

• 1 orange pool noodle: $1.25 at Dollar Tree
• 3 black pool noodles: $3.75 at Dollar Tree
• 1 metal wreath ring form: $1.25 at Dollar Tree
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Black shirt and pants

What to do:

Cut (on a 45-degree angle) each black pool noodle into 14-inch pieces so that you have four pieces. Make a 4-inch cut into the top of the 14-inch piece and slide it over the metal wreath ring to create a “leg.” Glue the passed-through end to secure.

Repeat for all four pool noodle pieces, alternating angles for the spider look. For the spider’s feet, cut the orange pool noodle into four 4-inch pieces.

 

13. DIY Halloween Costume Idea — Cat: $6.25

This cheap DIY Halloween costume is perfect for preteens. Since every Dollar Tree store’s inventory varies, you’ll want to look around for leopard/cheetah print items that can easily be transformed into cat ears and a tail. For the costume above, use the material from a $1.25 cheetah-print eye mask to create easy DIY cat ears.

You’ll need (all items are $1.25 at Dollar Tree):

• Black headband
• Eye mask (Cheetah/Leopard-Print)
• Long black socks
• Animal print cat toy
• Scarf
• Black shirt
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun and glue

What to do:

1. To make the ears, cut the eye mask in half from top to bottom. Cut off the band that would normally go around your head too.
2. Using hot glue, attach the cut side of each half to the black headband.
3. Add about a half-inch line of hot glue to the center-top of each “ear.” Then, pinch the ends together to create a more natural cat-ear shape.
4. Next, make the gloves out of the socks. Cut a hole for each thumb and then a separate hole for the rest of your fingers in the closed part of each sock. Turn socks inside out before wearing them.
5. Glue the cat toy to the lower-back of a black shirt.
6. Finally, accessorize with a scarf and any other cheetah/leopard-print items you find.

 

 

14. Ice Cream Cone Costume: $3.75

In the baby supplies aisle of some Dollar Tree stores, you can often find an assortment of children’s and adults’ T-shirts in multiple colors. With that in mind, these items are perfect for making your own easy DIY Halloween costumes. Also, make sprinkles from felt pieces or construction paper.

I found a party banner in the party section with already cut, tiny, multicolor felt pieces. Look around your Dollar Tree for easy ice cream topping ideas!

You’ll need:

• Construction paper – $1.25 at Dollar Tree
• Large brown or gold poster board
• Glitter party hat – $1.25 at Dollar Tree
• Gray or black marker – $1.25 at Dollar Tree
• Hot glue gun and glue
• Solid-colored shirt

What to do:

1. Cut the construction paper or felt into confetti-shaped pieces to make “sprinkles.”
2. Using hot glue, attach sprinkles to a solid-colored shirt.
3. Depending on the size of your party hat, cut the poster board into the shape shown above, making sure it’ll be big enough to cover the party hat completely.
4. With a waffle cone in mind, draw intersecting lines on the poster board to create diamond shapes like you’d find on a cone.
5. Glue the poster board onto the party hat, overlapping the bottom corners to create a cone shape.

My Dollar Tree had funky ice cream sunglasses to complete the look. You never know what great add-ons your store will have, so look around every corner.

 

15. Chicken Costume: $7.96

You’ll need:

• 6 white feather boas – $5.78 (2 yards) on Amazon
• 1 pair of yellow rubber gloves – $2.18 at Walmart
• Red beanie or Santa hat

With a white shirt and any color pants (although yellow pants best match chickens’ legs), put on the beanie, wrap two feather boas around each arm for wings and two around your waist. The gloves go over your feet (or shoes).

 

16. DIY Halloween Costume Idea: Scuba Diver Costume: $10

Plan ahead for this DIY Halloween costume so you can use the 2-liter bottles as oxygen “tanks.” It’s about $0.18 over budget, but it’s bound to be a memorable costume on a budget.

You’ll need:

• Snorkel swim mask – $5 at Five Below
• Duct tape – $1.25 at Dollar Tree
• Kids’ swimming fins – $3.93 at Walmart
• Black shirt/pants (a swimsuit works, too)
• Pair of empty 2-liter bottles

Paint or color the bottles, tape them together, and then use the tape to wrap around both the bottles and your waist. The flippers are optional, but black shoes work.