Best Halloween Costumes of 2024: 46 Options for Everyone, From Kids to Adults

While some of us (like me) were still embracing the last weeks of summer, many shoppers got ahead of Halloween—which seemed to roll out in stores just after the Fourth of July. If bare shelves (or bare minimum selections) are what you’re seeing in-store, you’re in luck: I’ve rounded up a guide to the best Halloween costumes for everyone, even your pets, ranging from scary to silly and cool to creepy…and all available online. Cue up the “Monster Mash,” stock up on sweets, decorate those gourds, and prepare to play dress up all October long.

Best Halloween costumes for kids

Soccer Player (Team USA)

If your kid spends their fall fielding and shooting soccer balls, they can channel their inner Olympian with this soccer set of shorts and a shirt. Throw some long johns underneath to keep them warm and a fleecy sweatshirt if it's chilly.

Disney, The Rise of Red (Descendants)

This musical fantasy from Disney has inspired kids and tweens this holiday season. Will you go blue, like Chloe (daughter of Cinderella), or rise like Red, daughter of the hearts? Either way, this jumpsuit, vest, and belt are easy ways to access your favorite character this Halloween.

Kids' Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Astrid School Uniform Halloween Costume

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice is up to his old tricks, but with this cool school Astrid costume, you won’t blink twice at things that go bump in the night. Includes dress with tie and jacket.

Astronaut Kids’ Halloween Costume Long John Pajama Set

Our kids loved their Hanna Andersson holiday pajamas, and while they are too big for these, I know a few younger cousins who would love them. Blast off into Halloween night with this astronaut kids' costume. Plus, it makes a great dress-up set that doubles as comfy, warm PJs. If you’re feeling spendy, add this soft helmet and power pack.

Hocus Pocus Sanderson Sisters

If your trick-or-treater loves everything witchy, this costume, complete with broom and cloak, won’t disappoint. While the retailer doesn’t specify which witch, you could probably go as any of the three.

Best Halloween costume for babies

Bluey

This puppy costume will keep your toddler or younger child snug, thanks to its one-piece zippered suit. It's complete with an adorable (and useful for warming cold heads) hood that can go up or down, with cuffs around the feet and hands so it doesn’t cause slips or keep them from carrying their treat bag.

Baby Pikachu Costume—Pokémon

If you have a baby and want to dress up without too much fuss, this baby Pikachu hooded jumpsuit is a one-and-done costume. It has easy-to-open Velcro closures. A one-suiter will capture your kid's imagination and keep them warm so they can go trick-or-treating with the big kids without too much fuss.

Pumpkin

This classic Jack-o’-Lantern pumpkin suit has been around (with slight design tweaks) for decades, and it is still one of my favorites for keeping babies looking cute and comfy on Halloween night. This one-piece costume has a zipper and a hood and is easy to get on and off your little pumpkin.

Lobster

It’s New England vibes all around when you dress your baby as a red-hot crustacean for Halloween. This lobster costume onesie has wonderful details, such as claws and antennae—and is sure to surprise and delight family and friends.

Best Halloween costumes for teens

Wednesday Addams Dance Costume

The second season is about to begin, so go as your favorite Goth girl, Wednesday Addams, in a costume from the Netflix hit show. The Raven dance gown is perfect for doing the Monster Mash at your next Halloween party.

Taylor Swift, Era Tour (Be a Tortured Poet)

While not exactly what Taylor wore, it’s close enough to emulate the rock-star goddess. Halloween Etsy designers have a few Era Tour options, but I liked this Taylor-inspired one because it was not only close to the original but warm enough—long sleeves—for chilly Halloween nights and under $100. Throw on a black moto jacket and some high heels or boots.

Bridgerton-Inspired Empire Waist Ball Gown

If you’re a Bridgerton fan, this gown won’t disappoint. Go as Penelope Featherington or any other lovely character, toss this on, just add jewels and satin gloves.

Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice is back in theaters—and hitting the streets this Halloween. Comfortable, creepy, and easy to wear, this men’s costume is hauntingly good fun. Just don’t say his name twice!

Underwraps Costumes Hazmat Jumpsuit Costume

Protect yourself against ghosts, ghouls, and radiated zombies with a one-piece jumpsuit. While the mask is sold separately, you could spatter some red paint across this, arm yourself with a Nerf gun, and be prepared to fight whatever comes out of the sewer, according to some tweens I spoke to, who thought this looked cool.

Best Halloween costumes for men

Ted Lasso

“You say impossible, but all I hear is 'I'm possible.”—Ted Lasso. If you enjoy Ted Lasso, this is a great costume score for Halloween. The get-up includes everything (even a whistle) you need to go out and win the game. Grab your kid’s soccer ball and the outfit is complete.

Adult Deadpool Costume

Get your friend to be Wolverine and pair up to celebrate all things anti-hero, just like in the film. The package includes a jumpsuit, mask, and gloves. In terms of comfort, sizing up is better than sizing down with adult-sized jumpsuits.

Daemon Targaryen Costume

House of the Dragon fans may enjoy being the scheming Daemon Targaryen for a night. It includes a long-sleeve tunic and belt, but you’ll need to add some pants, a sword, and if you want, a dragon.

Willy Wonka

Before Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, there was Willy Wonka. Go as the dreamer (and dreamy) Willy Wonka from the 2023 film. This costume comes with almost everything you need: a coat, vest, pants, scarf, and hat. We know there will be plenty of chocolate on Halloween night.

Best Halloween costumes for women

Winifred Sanderson Hocus Pocus Costume

This trio of sister witches rose again from the grave in Hocus Pocus II in 2022, so your kids can enjoy the same Salem scaries as you did in the ‘90s during the first one. The only downside to this costume is that the wig and cape are sold separately—a trick rather than a treat. Winifred was the scariest of the Sanderson sisters, but you could choose from any of the three.

Glamour Girl

Sometimes, you want to go glam instead of ghoul on Halloween night. This 1920s-inspired dress reminiscent of classic Hollywood—think Grace Kelly—is great on its own. If you're headed to a masquerade ball, add a mask. (I’m partial to these gorgeous peacocks).

Nordic Style Viking Goddess

This could be part of a larger costume or simply thrown over a black dress or shirt, and you’ll still look stunning. A Nordic Viking-inspired hooded cloak will keep you warmish with a gorgeous tree of life and celestial design. It’s witchy in the best ways and easy to wear if you’re taking your kids out on Halloween night or out to a party.

1960s Barbie

Forget the hot pink of Halloween 2023. This red Barbie X unique vintage swing coat in red can be worn all year (which is good due to the price!) but makes a stylish costume, too. Add some white gloves and a pillbox hat, and you could also channel the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, too.

Best Halloween costumes for families

Jurassic Park

Head back to the Jurassic period altogether. Mix and match your dinosaur family and go out together for a roaring good time. My favorites: Blue (for kids), Dr. Grant, and don’t forget your pet (check out our pet costumes) who will make a great T-rex.

Care Bears

Go back to the ‘80s and ‘90s with these classic huggable bears. The whole family can keep warm and spread kindness as Care Bears. The fleecy costumes come with hoods so everyone can stay warm throughout Halloween night.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

We pretty much have this movie on repeat between Halloween and Christmas—it represents so many holidays! With costumes like these, you can trick or treat together in style.

Minions Inflatable Costume

Parents and kids can enjoy being Minions all together. These inflatable options are great for adults, and the younger ones may enjoy being Minions and making mischief, such as Bob the Minion.

Best Halloween costumes for groups and couples

Rock, Paper, Scissors

This is a great three-for-one option for kids or siblings on a budget. Cute and clever, if you travel together as a trio while you trick or treat, you’ll definitely get some laughs.

Scooby-Doo and Friends

Be the original monster mystery hunters: Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Fred, and danger-prone Daphne. You can even choose to be the Mystery Machine when you browse this collection of costumes in sizes for toddlers and up. The list just doesn’t feel complete with this groovy group in the lineup for the best of Halloween.

Game Controller Halloween Costume

You could play alone but it’s more fun with extra controllers—go as a Nintendo Switch, together as a couple this Halloween. Easy to throw on, and you can choose between red and blue colors.

Emojis

Wear your feelings this Halloween with all of your friends. With so many to choose from, you can’t go wrong with a group of emojis, and these easy-to-wear aprons let you flaunt your emotions together without fuss. These emojis may be the world’s easiest group costume.

Stranger Things

Grab your Dungeons and Dragons books and group (don’t forget about Eleven) to battle Vecna (and yes, there is a costume for him, too) and other creatures when you travel together as characters from “Stranger Things.” The last season will be 2025.

Deck of Cards

Simple and easy to assemble, a deck of cards is one idea for groups with plenty of options for costumes. If you want to add a spin on it, you could be a deck of cards playing War, and use fake blood and army helmets, or you could go as a deck of cards playing Go Fish—and carry fishing poles.

See also: Best Dog Halloween Costumes>>>

What to consider when buying a Halloween costume online

When shopping for Halloween costumes, especially for younger kids, think about a few things before you hit “add to cart.” If you can, go to brick-and-mortar stores and try costumes on in person. It is no fun to find the perfect one and only have it not fit when it’s time to trick or treat or the day of the school Halloween parade, which has happened in our house on one or more occasions. Get your costume early, make sure it fits, and have a backup plan to avoid Halloween hysterics when a costume is too big or too small.

Should it be homemade?

My favorite costumes growing up were made by my grandmother or loaned to me by my mother’s friend, who had a killer wardrobe of roaring ‘20s dresses. I am all for hitting up Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and other thrift stores for odds and ends or visiting a costume swap—popular in the Halloween happy village we call home—but sometimes you don’t have the time or talent.

Who’s wearing it? Age and size matter

When choosing a baby or toddler costume, consider purchasing one that doesn’t obstruct their view and makes it easy to maneuver them in and out for a quick change. Onesies are a great choice, and costumes that can double as PJs are even better. As children grow older, check their masks to make sure they can see out of them, and hem or cut costumes that drag on the ground, making it easy to trip while trick-or-treating. Some costumes are sold as one-size-fits-all, and others may have measurements slightly larger or smaller than clothing sizes. To avoid disappointment, as previously mentioned, check any garment's measurements before purchasing and try it on, if possible. If you are an adult, make sure your costume doesn’t rip easily, is warm enough if you plan on being outdoors for a long time, and definitely (speaking again from experience) don’t skimp on comfort.

Can the wearer see out of it? Visibility matters

As mentioned above, a potential pitfall of costumes that come with masks is that wearers can’t see. Halloween is typically chaotic during trick-or-treating hours, and dusk (and, of course, night) can greatly reduce visibility. Among the tips given by the global nonprofit Safe Kids Worldwide include giving children flashlights and glow sticks or even adding reflective material to the back of their costumes.

Is it comfortable?

Not all Halloween costumes are created equal in terms of comfort. If you or anyone in your family is wearing their costume for long periods, try it on and leave it on for at least an hour to test its comfort. I did this with my then-6-year-old, who wanted to wear a very tight superhero costume. We lasted about 15 minutes and switched to something a little easier on their limbs. Pro tip for parents with young kids and toddlers: Check that the costume doesn’t fit too tightly anywhere and that they can easily remove it if and when nature calls. Also, some one-piece costumes are made of fleece, making it easy to get overheated.

How to stay safe on Halloween

Trick or treating is a fun way to celebrate Halloween but you want your kids to stay safe. Safe Kids Worldwide suggests the following:

• Choose facepaint over masks because the latter can impede visibility.
• Wear light colors or reflective tape on your costume.
• Drive slowly and carefully (or, better yet, not at all) when traveling in residential areas.
• Use headlights at dusk when younger kids might be out and about trick or treating.
• Make sure costumes fit properly and won’t trip you up as you walk.
• Consider the age and maturity of your child before you let them trick-or-treat alone.
• Tell your tweens and teens to stay with a friend or group of friends and travel to well-lit homes and familiar neighborhoods.