37 Homemade Animal Costumes

One of the things I love about homemade animal costumes is that my kids use them all year long for pretend play. I’m totally ok spending extra time making DIY costumes when I know my kids will love the costume all year. If you have an animal lover on your hands, this list of 37 DIY animal costumes for kids and adults will cover all of your bases. Oh and I love the idea of a group family zoo costume! Anyone?

Farm Animal Costumes

A farm theme is perfect for a family costume or a trunk or treat idea. Adults can go as farmers with overalls and red bananas and then pick a few of these animal costumes for the kids. Or if you have a tractor lover on your hands, this cardboard box tractor costume is a fun one too!

1. Chicken

Does it get any cuter than a baby chicken? The answer is no! This DIY chicken costume was made with 2 white feather boas and 2 sets of yellow rubber gloves. For more details, check out Living the Swell Life.

2. Cow

What’s a farm without the cows! Here’s an easy, no sew cow costume that anyone can make in 30 minutes. For the complete tutorial check out Make It and Love It.

3. Horse

This adorable, creative diy horse costume is made from a cardboard box! Don’t miss this hot pink cardboard box horse over at Kid Stuff World too.

4. Pig

This pig costume includes a tutu which is always extra cute! Just add ears and a snout to a light pink hoodie for an adorable, easy pic costume. For the complete tutorial check out Spot of Tea Designs.

5. Sheep

This no sew sheep costume is adorable! Just hot glue cotton balls to a white hoodie and cut the sleeves off of the hoodie! For the complete tutorial, check out This Lovely Life.

7. Spider

A spider is not a typical farm animal, but I had to include in this section in honor of Charlotte’s web. How cute would Charlotte and Wilbur be as a sibling costume? For the complete spider tutorial, check out Pretty Providence.

Zoo Animal Costumes

8. Crocodile

Turn a long narrow cardboard box into a crocodile head with this simple tutorial from Evil Mad Scientist.

9. Flamingo

Here are 2 DIY flamingo costume ideas. For the first one, all you need are pink boas, felt and a hot glue gun! For a step by step tutorial, check out this DIY flamingo costume post.

For the second one all you need is a pink tutu, large pink feathers and of course the awesome hat are the key elements to this adorable pink flamingo costume. This flamingo costume was originally made by Tangled and True. Also, how fun would a flamboyance of flamingos be for a group halloween costume?

10. Fox

For a detailed fox costume tutorial, check out Taylor Made Creates.

11. Moose

For the full tutorial, check out the House of Paint.

12. Tiger

For more details about the almost no sew tiger costume, check out Spot of Tea Designs.

13. Skunk

A skunk is not your typical zoo animal, but there are absolutely skunks roaming around the farm! The best part of this skunk costume is that it’s super cozy and warm if it is chilly in your neck of the woods. For more pictures and details, check out Taylor Made Creates.

14. Panda

This panda bear baby costume is super simple to make and involves very little sewing. You can ditch the sewing for hot glue if you’d like! Check out C.R.A.F.T. for the DIY panda bear costume.

Safari Animal Costumes

15. Elephant

This elephant costume was specifically made to look like Gerald from Piggie and Elephant. My family loves that duo so much we made Elephant and Piggie pumpkins last year! This costume does involve sewing with a pattern but it would be fun for imaginative play all year long! For the complete tutorial, hop on over to Larissa Another Day.

16. Lion

This DIY lion costume is adorable and best of all, it’s a no sew costume! Check out the complete tutorial on Night Owl Blog.

17. Giraffe

I love that this mama incorporated her daughter’s fore arm crutches into her giraffe costume! For more pictures and details about the costume check out A Life Less Ordinary.

Under the Sea Costumes

18. Shark

This DIY shark costume is made out of a large piece of cardboard and paint. I attached a reusable grocery bag handle to the back of the shark so my son could easily hold the shark. Click here for more DIY shark costume details.

19. Jellyfish

A clear umbrella with streamers attached is the key to this adorable DIY jellyfish costume made by Mariah from Giggles Galore.

20. Lobster

This lobster costume starts as a red hoodie sweatshirt and felt covered red gloves, so it’s perfect for a chilly night of Trick or Treating. For the complete tutorial, hop on over to Woman’s Day.

21. Octopus

It doesn’t get much cuter than a baby octopus costume and I love that this one is made with knee socks!

Bird costumes

22. Pigeon

You can make the cutest little DIY pigeon costume with a paper plate and a mint colored dress! Best part? It will take you less than 3 minutes to paint and put together.

23. Chicken

This chicken costume for kids is extra special if your kiddo who loves the book, Interrupting Chicken! It’s also super easy to make. All you need is a cardboard box and paint.

24. Peacock

This is the best handmade peacock costume I’ve come across. The onesie and tights are store bought, but the tail feather “belt” is handmade. For more details and pictures, check out Creatively Christy.

DIY Animal Costumes

The following list of cute animal costumes don’t fit into any of the categories above, but they’re too cute not to make the animal costumes for kids list!

25. Bat

These bat capes and hats are perfect for little bat lovers. Find the simple sewing project on Made Everyday.

26. Hedgehog

Alida Makes sewed the cutest toddler hedgehog costume I’ve ever seen. I love that it’s warm and comfortable too. This is one of those costumes that will get used all year long!

27. Lizard

What kid doesn’t love lizards? Turn a green hoodie into a lizard with some eyes, nose, and tail! For the lizard costume tutorial, check out Taylor Made Creates.

Adult animal costumes

28. Dinosaur

This is an epic handmade dinosaur onesie that will absolutely win the office costume party and also win most comfortable. She used McCall’s pattern #8953 and fleece to sew this awesome body suit. For more details, check out My lil’ Pumpkin Patch.

29. Fox

This awesome Fox costume can likely be put together with clothes from your closet or thrift store. You will need to DIY a mask and tail. This costume was originally found What I Wore tumblr which has since been transitioned into Stars + Field.

30. Goldfish

Turn a plain orange hooded sweatshirt into a goldfish costume masterpeice with a little hand sewing! Find the complete tutorial on Jenna Brand.

31. Lobster

All you need to be a lobster for Halloween is 48 plastic red cups, 15 plastic red plates, tons of clear packing tape, and a lot of patience. For more details about the DIY lobster costume, hop on over to Answering Oliver.

32. Jellyfish

33. Lady Bug

This lady bug costume can be put together in less than 15 minutes once you find the right supplies. Click here for details on how to make an adult lady bug costume.

34. Bat

I love how she up-cycles an old umbrella into a pair of epic bat wings! For a step by step tutorial, check out the Evil Mad Scientist

35. Wolf

This no sew wolf hoodie is perfect for a quick, easy Halloween costume. Find the complete tutorial on Lia Griffith.

Have you ever been an animal for Halloween?

If you’re looking for more DIY Halloween costume ideas, don’t miss these:

• 39 DIY adult costumes
• 29 DIY kid costumes
• 19 Group costume ideas