Halloween Costume Ideas for the Whole Family, From Kids to Pets

Late September is the sweet spot for costume planning. The ideas are flowing, nobody is panicking yet, and there's still time to try things on, swap sizes and figure out who in the family is going as what. Whether your crew wants to match, mix or just throw together something fun, here are our favorite Halloween costume ideas for kids, grown-ups and the furry members of the household.

Start With a Family Plan

A little planning up front keeps costume season fun instead of frantic.

• Pick a theme, or don't. A shared theme (a witch's coven, a monster squad, a spooky circus) makes great photos. If everyone wants to do their own thing, that's fine too. A common color, like black and orange, still ties the group together.
• Think about the night. Will you be walking a long trick-or-treat route, going to a party or handing out candy from the porch? Comfort matters more for a two-hour walk than a 20-minute photo.
• Build from accessories. Many of the best costumes start with one great piece, like a hat, claws or ears, layered over clothes you already own.
• Measure before you buy. This goes double for pets. Most pet costumes size by neck-to-tail length, so grab a soft tape measure first.

Witchy Looks for Grown-Ups

A witch costume is a classic for a reason. It's easy to wear, easy to layer and easy to make your own.

The hat does most of the work. The Women's Felt Witch Hat with Wide Wired Brim has wire in the brim, so you can bend it into a classic shape or a crooked, well-traveled look. It fits head sizes of about 22.4 to 23.6 in. For something a little more elegant, the Women's Lace-Trim Witch Hat pairs a ruched cone and a dramatic wide brim with decorative lace trim, and comes in red or white.

Prefer a smaller statement? The Mini Black Sequin Top Hat Headband sits on a non-slip silicone headband and works for a witch, magician or vampire. It's one size for most adults and teens 14 and up.

Finish the look with the 63 in Giant Cane Staff. It twists together from 5 plastic sections, and you can remove sections to make it shorter, which is handy for kids and adults alike.

Bend the Brim, Cast the Spell

Women's Felt Witch Hat with Wide Wired Brim

From $52.99MSRP $90.00

A Witch Hat With a Little Extra Drama

Women's Lace-Trim Witch Hat

From $47.99MSRP $90.00

Tiny Hat, Huge Sparkle, Instant Costume

Mini Black Sequin Top Hat Headband with Satin Bow

$33.99MSRP $90.00

Hook Your Costume Look With a 5-Foot Staff

63 in Giant Cane Staff Costume Prop

$32.99MSRP $90.00

Group idea: The Black Witch Hats, 5 Pack is an easy way to dress a whole coven of grown-ups at once. They're adult size and made of Oxford cloth, and when the party's over, they can do double duty as decor on pumpkins or porch figures.

Monster and Creature Costumes

If your family leans spooky, these pieces bring the drama.

• Full-on monster. The Adult Full-Head Latex Monster Mask has a two-mouthed design with fangs, foam padding inside and a slit at the back for pulling it on. The eye openings sit behind the teeth, so vision is limited. Save it for a party or a stationary scare at the door rather than a long walk.
• Pure nightmare. The Mouthless Melted Face Latex Monster Mask is hand-painted with artificial hair and fits most adults and teens.
• Claws for days. The Long Halloween Claw Gloves are about 17.7 in long with 2.3 in claws, in green, black, red or silver. For a more refined villain, the Adjustable Metal Finger Claw Rings are about 4.5 in long with an open, adjustable cuff, in gold or black.
• Cat, wolf or fox. The Faux Fur Animal Ears, Bendable Tail and Bell Choker Set includes an ear headband, a 27.5 in tail with bendable wire and an adjustable bell choker. It comes in 11 colors, so it's easy to match a whole litter.

Two Mouths, Lots of Fangs, Zero Chill

Adult Full-Head Latex Monster Mask with Double Mouth and Fangs

$88.99

Grow Claws in Seconds, No Manicure Needed

Long Halloween Claw Gloves

From $31.99MSRP $90.00

Wicked Metal Claws for Your Vampire Look

Adjustable Metal Finger Claw Rings for Halloween Costumes

From $38.99MSRP $90.00

Ears, Tail, Jingle: Your Wild Side Is Ready

Faux Fur Animal Ears, Bendable Tail and Bell Choker Costume Set

From $43.99MSRP $90.00

Mix and match: Claws plus animal ears makes a werewolf. A witch hat plus claw rings makes a wicked queen. A sequin top hat plus a dark cape from your closet makes a vampire. One or two accessories can turn everyday black clothes into a full costume.

For the Kids: Trick-or-Treat Extras

For little ones, the best costume is the one they choose themselves. Let them pick the character, then help with the finishing touches that make the night more fun.

• A bag that glows. The 14 in Glow-in-the-Dark Canvas Trick-or-Treat Bag has a design that glows as the sun goes down, and the sturdy canvas is washable and reusable.
• Wearable light. The Light-Up Halloween Party Favors for Kids include 78 pieces of LED spinning necklaces, bracelets and rings. Kids love adding them to a costume, and they're great for goodie bags too.
• Candy-free treats. The 66-Piece Light-Up Rings and Necklaces set is a fun non-candy option to hand out at the door, at school or in party bags.

A Candy Haul That Glows in the Dark

14 in Glow-in-the-Dark Canvas Trick-or-Treat Bag

$68.99MSRP $90.00

Glowing Goodies for Every Trick-or-Treater

Light-Up Halloween Party Favors for Kids, 78 Pieces

$68.99MSRP $90.00

Glow Loot for Every Trick-or-Treater

66-Piece Light-Up Rings and Necklaces Halloween Party Favors

$56.99MSRP $80.00

Comfort check: Have kids do a practice run in their costume. Can they walk, climb steps and see clearly? Is anything dragging on the ground? Something that glows or lights up is a smart addition for walking after dark, and a flashlight for the grown-up in charge never hurts.

Don't Forget the Pets

Pet costumes might be the most photographed outfits of the whole season. Choose something easy to put on, and let your pet get used to it for a few minutes at a time before the big night.

• The crowd favorite. The Pet Pumpkin Carrier Illusion Costume makes it look like your dog or cat is hauling a stuffed pumpkin with a little help from a pretend person. It has hook-and-loop belly closures and is machine washable.
• Creepy crawler. The Dog Spider Costume Hoodie is a black hooded sweatshirt with spider legs spreading from the sides, in sizes S to XL.
• Little bat. The Pet Bat Wings Costume has thick 5 mm felt wings, adjustable straps, a leash ring on the back and 2 jingling pumpkin bells. It's made for small dogs and cats.
• Dashing vampire. The Pet Vampire Cloak is soft satin with a neck strap that adjusts from 6.3 to 37.8 in, sized for medium and large cats and dogs.

Wait, Who's Carrying That Giant Pumpkin?

Pet Pumpkin Carrier Illusion Halloween Costume

From $50.99MSRP $64.99

Eight Legs, Four Paws, One Very Creepy Pup

Dog Spider Costume Hoodie with Spooky Spider Legs

From $29.99MSRP $34.99

Your Dog Is Now a Bat, and It Jingles

Pet Bat Wings Costume with Pumpkin Bells

From $39.99MSRP $90.00

Count Barkula Has Entered the Party

Pet Vampire Cloak Costume for Medium and Large Cats and Dogs

$39.99MSRP $90.00

More pet picks to consider: the Striped Prisoner Dog Costume with Hat and the Denim Cowboy Dog Costume with Hat come in sizes XS to XL. The Light-Up LED Halloween Dress for Dogs has battery-operated flashing lights (batteries included) with the switch tucked in an inner pouch. For small pets around 7.7 lb, the Pet Wizard Cape Costume comes with a bow tie and glasses. And if your pet won't tolerate a full costume, the 10-Pack Halloween Pet Bandanas give you ten prints to rotate all month.

Pet tip: Watch your pet's body language. If they freeze, scratch at the costume or try to back out of it, switch to a bandana. A happy pet makes a better photo anyway.

Costume Day Checklist

1. Try everything on at least once before Halloween, including shoes.
2. Pack a small bag with extra batteries for anything that lights up.
3. Charge phones for photos, and snap the group shot before anyone gets tired.
4. Keep a spare layer handy for chilly evenings.
5. Bring a crossbody bag for the grown-ups. The Ghost-Shaped Novelty Crossbody Bag has a zippered pocket that fits a phone, wallet or a stash of candy.

Ready to Suit Up?

Browse all of our Halloween costumes and accessories, or pick up party goodies in our Halloween party supplies. Hosting after trick-or-treating? Our Halloween party decorations checklist has you covered.

Orders ship from US warehouses and usually arrive in 5-10 business days, with free shipping on orders over $99 in the lower 48 and 30-day returns. Order now and you'll have plenty of time for fittings. Happy haunting!