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Home » DIY Costumes » 39 Best DIY Adult Halloween Costumes

39 Best DIY Adult Halloween Costumes

October 19, 2022 By Jamie Dorobek

Halloween is the best! I mean free candy and homemade halloween costumes? What more could you want? Adults need costumes too, so get your brain in creative costume gear with 39 DIY adult Halloween costumes! Oh and if you’re pregnant, don’t miss DIY pregnant Halloween costumes or if you have a kids, check out 33 DIY kid costumes!

Genius DIY Adult Halloween Costumes

*This post contains affiliate links. That just means that if you buy anything through a link in this post, I earn a small commission on the sale with no price difference to you.

80’s Halloween DIY costumes

If you’re a child of the 80’s, these DIY costumes are sure to make you smile!

1. Bob Ross costume

This Bob Ross costume is hiding in your closet now! All you likely need to buy is the curly, brown wig. Check out this post for the step by step DIY happy little tree tutorial.

DIY bob ross costume

2. DIY Casette tape costume

Here is an easy costume idea! Whip up this diy cassette tape costume with a peice of cardboard and a little paint! What will you call your mix tape?

Cassette tape costume

3. Where’s Waldo costume DIY

Did you know the first Where’s Waldo book came out in 1987? All you need to throw these costumes together are red and white striped t-shirts and Waldo beanies! Here’s the complete set on Amazon if you can’t find red and white striped t-shirts. If you know how to sew, you can easily make your own hats. Also, do you spy the baby Waldo in this picture?
DIY Halloween costumes

4. Game Boy costume

If you were born in the 80’s, you had a Game Boy! The game boy dress costume was originally made by Here and There Vintage shop on Etsy. For a super easy version, grab this Game Boy t-shirt. And here is a baby DIY version, check out this DIY Game Boy baby costume.

5. Tetris costumes

Tetris came out in June of 1984 and it brings back all the 80s nostalgia. This 80’s costume is perfect for a group!

DIY Tetris costume

6. 80’s Prom Queens

Any thrift store will have a few lacy 80’s prom dresses on the racks. Just grab a few friends, a little neon bling and be the Queens of the (Halloween) Prom!

DIY Halloween costumes for adults

7. Village People Costumes

The song “Y.M.C.A.” debuted in 1978! The Village People is pure 80’s. This easy DIY group costume idea has 6 character choices. Best part? You likely have most of the pieces needed for these costumes on hand or can find them at a thrift store. Your quick costume choices are:

  1. Construction worker
  2. Police officer
  3. Cowboy
  4. Solider
  5. Native American
  6. Biker

Village people family Halloween costume

8. E.T. and Elliot Costumes

All you need for this retro costumes is a red hoodie, a pair of bike handlebars, and some form of E.T.! My friend, Rachelle, used her sweet pup in place of the cute alien. A stuffed animal works too!

80's costume ideas

Couples Costumes for Adults

9. Operation Costume

This costume is adorable and best of all, comfortable! All you need is a grey sweat suit and red and white felt. A pair of pliers is also an essential! The surgeon needs scrubs and a stethoscope. Find the full tutorial here.

DIY operation costume for couples

10. Doug and Patty Mayonnaise

If you are a child of the 90’s, you remember Quail Man and Patty Mayonnaise from the TV show, Doug! Here’s an inexpensive red cape to complete your Quail Man costume.
DIY Halloween costumes

11. Fred and Wilma costume

Wilma needs a white dress, extra large pearl necklace, and orange hair. Check out this post for the DIY Fred and Wilma costumes.

DIY Flintstones costumes

12. Mary Poppins and Bert costumes

These amazing Bert and Mary Poppins costume DIY were put together with thrift store finds and pieces on hand. Check out this post to find out how Rachel made the DIY chimney sweep.

Mary Poppins costume DIY

13. Cyclists on a tandem bike

Here’s a couples costume you don’t see every year– tandem bike riders– complete with a cardboard bike!

DIY adult Halloween costume

14. Indiana Jones

My favorite accessory of this costume is the arc of the covenant, filled with candy of course!

DIY adult Halloween costume

15. The Birds

If you’re looking for a creepy couples costume, The Birds came out in 1996 and was loosely based on a true story!

DIY adult costume

16. Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers

If you love country music, this Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers costume is perfect! Dolly and Kenny have been friends and collaborated on songs for decades.

DIY Halloween couples costumes

17. Wayne and Garth

Wayne’s World was all the rage when it came out in 1992. Raid you closet to find all the pieces you need for Wayne and Garth. All you’re missing is this hat!
DIY Halloween costumes

18. Princess Bride costumes

If you prefer romantic comedies, how about Princess Bride Buttercup and Westley costumes?!

DIY Halloween couples costumes

Funny Adult Halloween Costumes

19. Clean and Dirty

The “Dirty” costume is as easy as it gets! For “Clean” hot glue this wide mesh ribbon to any strapless dress. And then add the white rope as a hanger. Voila!
DIY couple costume ideas

20. Snapchat filter costumes

You can go all out for this costume or keep it simple with solid color t-shirts, jeans, and Converse like we did!

Funny DIY couple costumes

21. Glow in the dark stick person

I actually bought a black unitard, which has proven to be very useful for loads of other DIY costumes! But, you could easily just wear a long sleeve black shirt and black pants or leggings. Clear packing tape is the real winner of this costume.
DIY Stick figure costume

22. Mail Stripper

This punny costume also happens to be super simple to make. Get it? Male stripper, ha! Cut some junk mail into strips and tape it to your t-shirt, voila!

DIY Halloween costumes

23. VSCO girl costume

According to Dictionary.com, a VSCO girl typically wears scrunchies, the color yellow, friendship bracelets, high-waisted jean shorts, baggy tie-dye tops, and Birkenstock sandals. A VSCO girl is also a lifestyle and includes health fads, using eco-friendly products, drinking out of Hydro Flask water canisters, and using disposable cameras.

Vsco Girl Costume

24. Tourist

If you’re looking for an easy last minute Halloween costume idea, tourist is it! Cargo shorts, location t-shirt, straw hat, passport necklace, and a fanny pack are the tourist must haves.
DIY Halloween costumes

25. Piñata and a piñata hitter

This is a fun couples costume idea! Best part? This piñata costumes was made with Post It notes. (Here’s the best deal on Post- It notes!)
DIY Halloween costumes

26. Grandpa costume

This grandpa costume is one the easiest thrift store costumes to throw together! Don’t forget to adda  pillow for the beer belly.

DIY adult Halloween costumes

DIY Food costumes

27. Crown and Coke

This is a fun couples costume or a bottle of coke complete with coke tab headband makes for a great costume on it’s own! The tutorial is pretty simple assuming you have a red dress on hand. Turn this into a group costume idea with friends and all be different bottles of pop! If you don’t have time to DIY, I found a cute option on Amazon: Coca Cola Dress and Diet Coke Dress. A Coke T-shirt might be more comfortable. Jack Daniels T-shirt and black pants would be a super easy non DIY version too: Jack Daniel’s T-Shirt.
DIY Crown and Coke Couples Costumes

28. Oreo costume

No double stuffed Oreo costume is complete without a milk headband!

Double stuffed Oreo Halloween costume

29. Pizza and Pizza delivery boy

Crepe paper and cardboard can turn anyone into a peice of pizza! If you’re looking for a couples costume, a simple t-shirt, jeans, and a of course a pizza box makes the perfect delivery boy! Find the tutorial at Studio DIY.
DIY adult Halloween costumes

30. Jolly Green Giant

Green skin, green hair, and a green toga covered in fake vines makes the perfect Jolly Green Giant costume! Oh and don’t forget to carry around a can of corn! Image via blog stretch.

Jolly green giant costume

31. Cheeseburger

I love that this cheeseburger is a no sew costume! But, if you have no time to DIY, consider buying this fun hamburger costume! Also, if you’re in the market for baby cheeseburger costume, my beefy Maxwell is pretty adorable. Check out this post for the DIY baby hamburger costume tutorial. If you have the time to make your own, all of the step by step burger costume is at Please Note.
 Homemade Halloween costumes for adults

32. Bunch of Grapes

Grab a bag or 2 of burgundy balloons and safety pin them to a t-shirt. Don’t forget your vine head piece! Image via Oregon Live.
how to make a bunch of grape costume

33. Sriracha bottle and a rooster

This is as easy as a Siracha t-shirt, green beanie, rooster hat, and a red dress!
DIY Halloween costumes

34. French Press

All you need for this punny costume is a black and white striped t-shirt, black pants, a blonde wig, red lipstick, and a red bandana to complete the French look. For the DIY, light up “PRESS” grab this round light from Amazon and use red spray paint and sticker letters.
DIY Halloween costumes

DIY Celebrity costumes

35. American Idol contestant

This almost famous DIY celebrity costume is sure to get a laugh. Best part? All you have to do is print out the golden ticket and pin the number to your shirt.

Homemade Halloween costumes

36. Kim and Kanye Halloween costumes

Who knows if Kim and Kanye are back together or not, but this celebrity couples costume is fun either way!

Pop culture Halloween costumes

37. Post Malone costume

Post Malone costume necessities are a grill, temporary tattoos, cigarette behind her ear, and a Bud Light in hand. Simple and genius!

DIY Post Malone Costume

38. Mr. and Mrs. Smith costume

This DIY costume works especially well if your last name happens to be Smith!

Mr and Mrs Smith Costume

39. Rosie the Riveter

All you really need is a red polka dotted bandana and a blue dress. A yellow “We can do it” backdrop really seals the deal! Image via jeana.d.
Rosie the riveter costume diy

40. Donald Trump

My favorite costume from last year was my neighbor dressed as Donald Trump. He had the facial expressions and hand movements down!

Donald Trump costume

What’s the best costume you’ve ever seen? What is your costume this year? What is your favorite costume on this list? I’d love to hear…

If you want more DIY costume ideas, don’t miss these posts:

  • 19 homemade costume ideas for a group
  • 37 homemade animal costumes for kids and adults
  • 29 DIY kid costumes

Filed Under: DIY Costumes Tagged With: halloween costumes

« Easy Book Character Costumes
DIY Baby Game Boy Costume »

Comments

  1. enuff says

    October 22, 2012 at 1:40 pm

    one of the easiest costumes of YEARS of loving Halloween and dressing up, is the BLACK EYED PEA … it is simple, green clothes, sweats … green all over and a black eye with the letter p ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF SHIRT~!!! ONE YEAR a cereal killer ,…. yep … white t shirt, with small cereal boxes attached, with a plastic knife stuck into the boxes and paint or blood dripping from ea box down the t shirt …. no one will ever guess this one !!! one year I dressed up like a hunter, wanting to look more like a man I needed a beard, so I spread a thin layer of corn syrup on face and took coffee grounds and patted on syrup for a scruffy beard, the smell of the coffee all day at work gave me indigestion, but no one knew it was me, because of the real looking beard, just washed off with warm water …

  2. Marjie says

    October 4, 2012 at 7:31 pm

    Hi, my daughter linked me here, love all the ideas for costumes. Our enlarged family has been doing Halloween for many, many years, and all the costumes have been handmade! My husband and I went as Sonny & Cher, he was Cher & I was Sonny, everyone loved it. Also, Hunchback & Gypsy girl, salt & pepper shakers, referee & football player, so many I can’t remember them all. Now once a month my sisters, our older girls, & our mom meet for a card night but we theme dress up: Harry Potter Night, Jersey Shore, Roman Toga, Nerd, and so on, we have so much fun doing it, take pictures, then we relax for the night. My neice made my mom a scrapbook of all our nights we’ve done, it’s great! Enjoy all.

    • Jamie D. says

      October 5, 2012 at 11:51 am

      Love those ideas! Thank you for sharing 🙂

  3. Carrie says

    September 29, 2012 at 2:05 am

    My husband is a big Halloween lover so we’re always trying to do something unique. Before we met, he did that “God’s gift to Women one”. Last year, he was a giant mudflap and held me up through armholes… I was the chrome girl (body paint). It was amazing with great reactions. Still trying to figure out how to top it this year. 🙂

  4. Christina says

    September 26, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    I met my fiancee on Halloween, and he had to hand make his costume. He got a big box, wrapped it in Pink Wrapping paper, Put a Bow and A Tag that said “To: Women From: God” =] He was God’s Gift to women… Guess it worked.

  5. Michelle says

    September 20, 2012 at 1:13 am

    My husband and I went last year as Publishers Clearing House! I wore a robe and sweatpants with my hair all messy and makeup smudged, and he wore a suit. I made a giant check, and we bought balloons and red carnations. It was really fun, and I was psyched to be able to wear sweatpants in public because I was pregnant and uncomfortable at the time!

    • Jamie D. says

      September 20, 2012 at 8:24 am

      That is AWESOME!

  6. Summer says

    September 15, 2012 at 8:52 am

    Me and my two friends are going as the powerpuff girls this year. I will be bubbles. We are going to sew the costumes. So excited

  7. Taylor Wagner says

    September 4, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    Without a doubt being Rosie The Riveter!

  8. Erin says

    August 28, 2012 at 10:14 am

    Last year, my son wanted to be Woody from Toy Story. And then he wanted friends. So I was Jessie, my husband was Buzz and my sister was Rex the dinosaur. All homemade. I loved that group. And I love the Carmen Sandiego costume from this list!

    My personal favorites from the last few years: Proper Young Lady, complete with leather bound “books” balanced my head and penny loafers; Mother Nature with butterflies, birds, leaves, and glitter all over and in my hair (inspired from Martha Stewart’s “Grey Lady” costume); and Medusa, a sheer black toga over leggings and a men’s long-sleeve black tee where i split the sleeves on the outside and cut the neckline to match the toga and decorated everything with gold and bronze paints, rope belts, decorated gladiator sandals, and snakes glued to hair clips that slithered through and stood up in my hair.

    My dream costumes are the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Rosie the Riveter, and a Domestic Goddess (which is already made, just haven’t worn it.)

  9. C says

    August 25, 2012 at 9:08 am

    I love how people have an issue with the “bun in the oven” costume but not with the “Indian” costume. How about I dress up as a Caucasian or an African American this year. Now that’s tacky, dressing up as an ethnicity haha.

    • annelizly says

      September 10, 2012 at 9:55 pm

      i’m a real native american…honestly we don’t mind if people dress up like indians…actually i do it myself. really, most of us just don’t want people to get all racially guilty about such a little thing. it insults our intelligence.

      • Mary says

        September 14, 2012 at 12:57 am

        I’m from a Native American family too. Never mind things like that either. We even have a football team 🙂 Just wish the skins would play a little better. People get to uptight about stuff in general.

    • Kay says

      October 11, 2012 at 2:37 am

      I think it’s okay too. A Geisha girl is popular. Caucasian stereotypes include little Dutch girls and drunken Irish men. Also hearkening from my background, I wouldn’t be offended if someone dressed as a Scot in full kilt etc. (especially if he has nice legs! lol), or the French stereotype: a beret, a baguette and a bottle of wine. I appreciate though that you don’t want to needlessly offend anyone.

  10. Erica says

    August 23, 2012 at 10:57 am

    I really like the Bert and Mary Poppins and the “bun in the oven” 🙂 Last year my boyfriend and I dressed as Fry and Leela from Futurama and it was epic! This year I think we are going to be Dia De Los Muertos figures…

  11. meredith says

    August 7, 2012 at 9:50 am

    I like the mary poppins and bert and the Jolly Green Giant! I had some friends and they dressed up as “Moonshiners” with overalls that had the “seat” area cut out like a flap, so when ever the occasion presented itself they could “moon ” you! It was funny, mason jars with their drinks and a blacked out tooth here and there.

  12. Suzanne says

    July 23, 2012 at 10:47 pm

    My husband and I were the couple from the American Gothic picture. It’s super easy. Get a pitch fork and dress like an old farmer couple.

  13. Jessica says

    July 23, 2012 at 7:52 pm

    zomg. I know people from these photos! Did you live in the honors quad?

    • Jamie D. says

      July 23, 2012 at 8:35 pm

      nope, I never lived in the honors quad. who do you know?! the first 3 pictures are of my friends!

  14. Kelli says

    July 20, 2012 at 9:16 pm

    I was a One Night Stand once. I wore a box that I turned it into a nightstand by drawing on drawers and gluing on drawer knobs. I glued an ashtray with a cigarette in it, condoms, and an old cell phone on the nightstand and wore a lamp shade on my head.

    • Harlow says

      August 29, 2012 at 2:00 am

      Classy.

    • jennifer kelsey says

      October 8, 2012 at 5:13 pm

      Last year I was the school girl Brittany Spears with two baby dolls on a leash dressed as thing one and thing two, I would drop them and sing “Opps I did it again, I had everyone rolling,

  15. Chelsea says

    July 14, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    As an etsy seller, I personally don’t think it’s unethical to list an item in any blog post (even a DIY one,) as long as the link takes you back to the item listing, and/or the creator is given credit. This one just happens to have been deactivated, maybe because the seller did it, or it’s possible etsy did. Either way, even if the item was copyrighted, someone crafty could make something similar for personal use (but, from what I’ve seen, not of the same quality unless they’re experienced with printing on fabrics!) Most sellers are up on their SEO and google stats, and it appears this one’s sales haven’t been hurt by their item being posted all over the web. 😉

    Anywho, I have loved that jellyfish costume idea for a while now! I have to give it to Martha, she and her team get pretty freaky for Halloween.

    I’m a sucker for Halloween and costumes in general. My hubby and I have been participating in our church’s “trunk or treat” for the past couple of years, and it’s been a blast. The first year we went as Dorothy and the scarecrow, and our trunk was Oz: http://buymelovestore.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/tuesdays-treasure-3/

    I made the hub’s costume from sweats, raffia and elastic, sewed the hat with fleece scraps, and painted his face.
    I bought my dress and added a layer of lace to the hem and a slip for length. My mom mercifully glitter-ified my shoes, and I made the backdrop from a mishmash of different papers, glitter glues, fake poppies, paint, and a plastic tablecloth.

    Last year, we were a mermaid and a pirate, and our trunk was my giant shell: http://buymelovestore.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/make-it-monday-a-very-belated-reveal/

    I made my ear “fins” from floral wire and tulle, and meticulously hand sewed sequins. I wore a nude tank top and pinned my hand sewn shells on. Then I sewed a fin, using a skirt as a pattern, and added tulle fins (again, meticulously hand sequined.) I was covered in glitter and blue and green makeup, and found that delightfully tacky wig at Goodwill. Don’t worry – it was new and unused!
    My husband’s costume was a combo of thrift finds, torn, tattered and stained. We added some eyeliner and a scar, a tattoo sleeve found at the dollar store, some fake jewelry, and, believe it or not, that scarf on his head and wooden sword at his waist are both his.
    I made the shell from 6 pieces of foam board, acrylic paint, glitter, and fishing line. (I cut a stool-sized hole in the bottom half so I could sit in my shell.) The “water” is an iridescent door curtain.

    Even though these aren’t from Halloween, I thought I’d share our last Comic Con costumes. We went as Tank Girl and Clark Kent: http://chelsealikeengland.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/dallas-comic-con-2012/

    The only thing I made for Kent was the tie, and that was just wire sewn into the tie and formed, bent, and sneakily safety-pinned around his collar. The rest came from my hubby’s closet.
    Tank Girl breakdown: shirt – mine, target painted on w/acrylics; shorts – mine, vintage; vest – thrifted, and I added patches and doodads; socks – hub’s and thrifted rainbow toe socks (one cut off as an arm warmer); goggles – dollar store; belt & holsters – my husband’s; weapons – dollar stores (I painted the bright orange gun); boots – mine; bat – thrifted kid’s plastic bat that I covered in contact paper and athletic tape. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to add wounds and bruises, but I did add some bandages. 🙂

    Anyway, now that it’s completely clear I’m a nut, I hope someone out there enjoys and can even use some of the ideas!

  16. Carol says

    July 14, 2012 at 3:14 pm

    My 86 yr old Dad’s KISS COSTUME last year – he won the contest! All homemade, including the cardboard guitar. His walker was decorated with KISS CDs and posters.

  17. coley says

    July 10, 2012 at 6:45 pm

    Cute, but I’m not sure it’s ethical to include costumes from Etsy shops in a DIY blog post.

  18. Amber says

    July 8, 2012 at 8:25 pm

    The picture for the Waldo costume won’t load on my pc. Oh, the irony.

  19. Sarah says

    July 7, 2012 at 10:41 am

    I loved the Where’s Waldo costume! The bun in the oven was a little tacky though… especially the “bun baker”, oh brother!

  20. Sara says

    July 3, 2012 at 1:38 am

    How was the sock monkey costume made???

    • Jamie D. says

      July 3, 2012 at 8:26 am

      I didn’t make it… click on the link for more deets 🙂

    • Rose says

      July 18, 2012 at 11:32 pm

      how did you make the sock monkey head

  21. Taylor says

    July 3, 2012 at 12:29 am

    I was a paper doll last year. It was pretty awesome, although some people didn’t get it.

    • Jamie D. says

      July 3, 2012 at 8:26 am

      That is awesome!!!

  22. Amber says

    June 30, 2012 at 7:57 pm

    I will being the most epic rainbow dash ever.

    • Alice says

      July 10, 2012 at 8:41 pm

      No way!! that’s who i was this year!

  23. Cynthia says

    November 3, 2011 at 5:16 pm

    Very cute!

  24. Pheon says

    November 11, 2010 at 5:27 pm

    I made fake blood for Halloween through this game http://www.pheon.org. Its a Facebook app game where you climb levels as you do crafts! All of you would be great at it!

  25. Miss Adri says

    October 23, 2010 at 1:30 am

    Hi! I'm a new follower! This is my very first blog hop. I just recently got back into blogging :o)

    Loving Waldo by the way 🙂

    Feel free to visit my blog at http://www.macheriecreations.com

    See you around!
    -Adri

  26. Lei says

    October 22, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    Only handmaking 2 costumes this year, and I can't wait to get them on my blog. My little Sasha is going to be a peacock and her next oldest brtoher is going to be a lego man. My husband and I are going as an angel and a devil. Which one do you think I will be??? 😉

Hi, I'm Jamie!
I Create Really Awesome Free Things for your home, wardrobe, kitchen, and kids in Austin, TX with the sometimes help of Andy!
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