Pumpkins are on the doorstep, bags and bags of lollies have been stashed, and that can only mean one thing: Halloween is nigh!

Pumpkins and lolly bags, however, are the easy part. The bit that throws most of us is the trick-or-treat or school dress-up costume. Throw in more than one kid and our heads start to spin! What to do?

Last Minute Halloween Costumes For Kids

Never fear - even if you've got no time for the costume shops nor a creative bone in your weary body, we've got some super easy Halloween costumes for kids that you can pull together the night before.

1. Ghost

 

This has got to be the easiest and most effective last-minute Halloween outfit out there! Grab a huge flat sheet and cut out two small goles for eyes.

Items:

• One large white sheet or piece of fabric

2. K-Pop Demon Hunters

 

It's the hottest costume for 2025! If your child loves the mix of K-pop sparkle and demon-slaying action, this easy last-minute costume brings both worlds together. Think stage-ready glamour meets fantasy fighter. With a few wardrobe basics, some bold accessories, and a touch of makeup, your child can transform into a fierce “Demon Hunter Idol” in under an hour.

Items:

• Black top or faux-leather jacket
• High-waisted pants, ripped jeans, or pleated skirt
• Long coat or oversized jacket for drama
• Accessories: chains, belt, choker, fingerless gloves, sunglasses or headset mic
• Toy sword, light stick, or DIY prop wrapped in foil
• Face gems, eyeliner, and glitter for that K-pop shine

3. Skeleton

Perfect for chilly nights, and the kids can basically be ready for bed when they get home!

Items:

• Black hoodie and pants
• White tape to make “bones” or draw the bones with white chalk if you’re in a hurry

4. DIY Superhero

 

Let kids make up their own hero name and power. And they'll be ready in a flash!

Items:

• A colourful T-shirt and leggings
• Towel or blanket cape, and paper logo
• Tin foil cuffs or an eye mask

5. Wednesday Addams

 

If your child prefers spooky over sparkly, Wednesday Addams is the ultimate last-minute Halloween look. It’s simple, stylish, and all about attitude. Just a few wardrobe basics and you’ve got that iconic deadpan charm.

Items:

• Black dress (ideally with a white collar - or layer a white shirt underneath)
• Black tights or knee socks
• Black shoes or boots
• Two neat braids or pigtails
• Pale face powder and dark eyeliner for that gothic glow
• Optional: a plush spider or small stuffed hand (“Thing”) for fun

6. Little Red Riding Hood

 

Let's be honest: all you need is a bright red hood. Anything else is fair game!

The easiest way to go about the costume is to wear a simple dress have a basket ready - the hood does the rest! 

It's extraordinarily easy to grab a metre or so of red fabric and safety-pin it to the collar of the dress, leaving a little loop at the back to represent the hood. Or if you want to go the whole hog, pop it over your child's head, safety pin it under the chin and leave the rest to drape like a riding cape. Easy as!

If you've not got any fabric on hand or no time to go to the shops, grab an old red hoodie, cut the sleeves off, and split it up the front. Simply place the hood on their head and leave the rest as a cape covering their shoulders.

Items:

• Basket
• Simple dress (ruffles are good too!)
• Stockings (optional)
• 1m red fabric or an old hoodie 
• Toy dog as the wolf

7. Witch

 

Witches come in various sizes and fashion sensibilities - really, you could go to town here! But for the classic look, find a black dress and some stockings (colourful and stripey ones are best). Feel free to shred the bottom of the dress if you want to be creative, and a witches hat can easily be made with paper or cardboard. If you’re not keen on making one, then almost every two dollar shop and supermarket in the land is selling witch’s accessories.

To add the final touch, grab a broom and maybe a toy cat!

Items:

• Black Dress
• Stockings
• Witch's Hat
• Broom
• Toy Cat

8. Mummy/Zombie

 

If you don’t mind wasting a ton of toilet paper or bandages then this is an easy one.

Wear white and then let the kids go crazy wrapping each other up. Make sure they don’t wrap their arms and legs together – they still need to be able to walk around! 

For the zombie look, you can rip up a t-shirt  and paint their faces with green face paint or the palest foundation you have, with some brown/purple eye shadow around the eyes and in the hollows of the cheeks for good measure. The bandages can go around their heads.

Items:

• White clothing
• Bandages or toilet paper
• Green face paint or pale foundation
• Brown or purple eye shadow

9. Dracula

 

Dress up as the most famous vampire of all! Find black jeans and a white shirt and vest. If you have red ribbons or an old red shirt that you can cut, then tie it around the waist.

For a special touch, paint your face white and add some vampire teeth which you can find at every cheapie shop.

Items:

• Black Jeans
• White Shirt
• Vest
• Red Ribbons/Shirt 
• Bow tie
• White Face Paint
• Vampire Teeth

Image via heavencostumes.com.au

10. Fairy

 

Have a tutu lying around? Good - then let’s add a little fairy magic. Find a coloured shirt that matches the tutu and voila! Sequins and glitter welcome - the more the merrier when it comes to fairy folk.

To add a special touch, make your own fairy wings and wand out of cardboard, coat hangers or even a wooden spoon for the wand if you've not got any in the dress-up box. A bit of shiny foil and some leftover ribbons never go astray!

Any special, frilly dress will work for this: it's the accessories that do the work. Find some real or fake flowers and weave a simple headpiece, grab a tiara for a fairy princess look, or just add the sparkliest hair clips, bits and bobs you can find.

Items:

• Tutu
• Sparkly top
• Sequins
• Glitter
• Aluminim foil
• Ribbon
• Cardboard, wire coat hanger and/or wooden spoon or dowel
• Real or fake flowers for a headpiece
• Tiara
• Sparkly hair clips and jewellery

BONUS: Two Easy Dress-Up Ideas For Mums and Dads

Now that the kids are dressed and ready to go, here are two bonus costume ideas for parents!

Bank Robbers

 

If you have a stripey black and white shirt then put it on! Match it with black jeans and an eye mask which you can make out of old clothes or cardboard and string. Don’t forget to bring a simple bag with a dollar sign painted on or cut out of cardboard.

Items:

• Striped Shirt
• Black Jeans
• Mask
• Bag of cash!

The Blues Brothers

 

Take out that suit that’s been gathering dust in the cupboard and don a hat with some snazzy glasses. You could even dress your kid to match!

Items:

• Black Pants
• White Shirt
• Black Tie
• Black Hat
• Black Glasses
• Attitude!

Check Out Some More Halloween Stuff On ellaslist

Sydney’s Best Halloween Events For Kids
Best Kids Halloween Movies
The Best Makeup Ideas For Kids on Halloween

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