19 Easy DIY Adult Costumes

If you have no idea what to dress up as for the big Halloween party, I’ve got your covered! I’ve rounded up 19 easy DIY adult costumes that can be thrown together in an afternoon. The best part? Most of these easy costume ideas can be made with simple supplies you likely have on hand or can be bought at the grocery store. Think: poster board, glow sticks, junk mail, clear packing tape, and red bandanas.

19 Easy Halloween Costumes for Adults

1. Village People Group Costume

I know you know the song “YMCA”, right? That’s the Village People. This is an easy DIY group costume idea with 6 choices of characters. Best part? You likely have most of the pieces needed for these costumes on hand. Your quick costume choices are: Construction worker, Police man, Cowboy, Army, Indian or Leather man.

Side note: Mila substituted Army for Navy.

2. Tourist

The essentials for this costume include a location t-shirt, camera, hat, fanny pack, white socks, sneakers and a peace sign for picture taking!

3. Where’s Waldo

Grab a red and white striped t-shirt from a second hand store, black rimmed glasses, jeans, and a red and white beanie. If you’re pregnant, add a tiny felted Waldo head to your belly with a safety pin. Oh and if you can’t find a striped t-shirt last minute, consider using a solid red t-shirt and adding stripes with white Duct tape or vice versa.

4. Owl

This costume looks complicated, but it’s as simple as felt feathers hot glued on a pillow case. Simply cut three holes in the pillow case for your head and arms, then attach feathers! For more pictures and the complete tutorial check out Gold Feathers.

5. Willie Nelson

Plaid shirt, sunglasses, red bandana, and long hair a plus!

6. Grandpa

Plaid pants, belt, large jacket, funky hat, pipe, and a pillow to make the belly extra round. This grandpa costume could not be easier!

7. Captain Recycle

Green pants and t-shirt, recyclables, tape, safety pins are all you need to make Captain Recycle!

8. Bank robbers

Black and white striped t-shirts, black pants, black masks, pillow case, black marker to make money signs on the pillow cases. Bam!

9. Dancing emoji girl

Red dress, red shoes, and you must strike the post as often as possible! The scarecrow is an easy costume idea too!

10. 80’s prom queens

You can find 80’s dresses at any thrift store, and crowns would be an awesome addition!

11. Filter/ No Filter Costume

You definitely need 2 people for this costume, but the costume itself could not be easier. Check out C.R.A.F.T. for 5 versions of the filter/ no filter snapchat costume.

12. Glow stick person costume

This is the ultimate quick costume assuming you have all of the supplies on hand. You need: Black pants, black shirt, glow sticks, and clear packing tape. Assembly takes 10 minutes or less!

13. Chia pet costume

It’s fun to note that Ch, ch, cha chia pets were created in 1977! This adorable, super easy costume is as simple as buying a black shower cap and hot gluing fake greenery to the top of the hat. For more details check out C.R.A.F.T.

Easy Punny Halloween Costumes

14. French Press

Black and white t-shirt, easy button from Staples, red paint, and red neck tie, blonde wig and long cigarette a plus.

15. Mail Stripper

All you need for this quick costume is scissors and junk mail. Best part? This punny costume is sure to get a good laugh.

16. Deviled Egg

Poster board, fishing line, hole punch, yellow t-shirt, and devil horns makes the perfect deviled egg costume!

Easy DIY costumes made out of office supplies

The following easy Halloween costumes are made from cardboard. Grab your XACTO knife and get ready to cut out a costume. Poster board can be substituted for cardboard. It’s easier to cut, comes in lots of colors to avoid painting, and can be purchased at most grocery stores!