Halloween is tomorrow, and if you just realized your little ghost or goblin doesn’t have a costume yet — don’t panic! You don’t need to rush to the store or spend hours crafting something complicated. With a little creativity and a few things around the house, you can pull together an adorable, clever costume that your kiddo will love.
Here are some easy, last-minute Halloween costume ideas that can be ready before tomorrow’s trick-or-treating fun begins:
Make sure you know when your local Trick-or-Treat times are:
Cincinnati Times
Classic & Easy DIY Favorites
1. Mummy
Wrap your child in white toilet paper, gauze, or old white fabric strips. Add some smudged face paint for an ancient effect and—boom—instant mummy!
2. Ghost
All you need is a white sheet and scissors. Cut eye holes (and maybe a mouth hole) for a simple, spooky look that never goes out of style.
3. Cat or Puppy
Draw on whiskers with eyeliner, use black leggings and a T-shirt, and pin on a tail made from an old sock or scarf. Add ears made from cardboard and a headband for a quick transformation.
Pop Culture & Clever Characters
4. Tourist
Grab a Hawaiian shirt, sunglasses, a floppy hat, and a camera or map. Bonus points for sunscreen on the nose!
5. Athlete
Rep your favorite team—jersey, cap, and a foam finger or ball make this one a touchdown of a costume.
6. Artist
All you need is an old beret or beanie, a paintbrush, and a palette (paper plate with painted blobs works perfectly).
Food & Fun Costumes
7. Donut
Cut a large cardboard circle with a hole in the middle, paint it like a frosted donut, and tie string loops to hang it over your child’s shoulders.
8. Cereal Killer (for older kids)
Attach empty mini cereal boxes to a T-shirt and add plastic spoons. Silly, punny, and quick!
9. Bunch of Grapes
Tape or pin purple balloons all over a purple outfit—just make sure they can still walk through doorways!
Last-Minute Heroes
10. Superhero-in-Training
Grab a towel or old pillowcase as a cape, wear bright colors, and tape a big paper “S” or lightning bolt to their chest. Easy and empowering!
11. Robot
Cover a cardboard box with aluminum foil and draw buttons and lights with markers. Add silver pants or leggings, and you’ve got a mini machine ready for candy collection.
12. Detective
Use a trench coat, magnifying glass, and notebook. Add a hat, and your little one’s ready to solve the case of the missing candy.
Quick Tips for Parents
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Raid your closets: Think scarves, hats, sports gear, and old costumes.
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Use makeup creatively: Eyeliner and blush can become cat whiskers or rosy clown cheeks.
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Keep comfort first: Especially for little ones, layers and sneakers make a huge difference on chilly Halloween nights.
Even with just a few hours to spare, you can pull together a costume that’s cute, creative, and totally Halloween-ready. After all, it’s not about how much you spend — it’s about the fun memories (and candy!) your kids will collect tomorrow night.
