How to Make Bat Wings Out of Cardboard or an Umbrella

6 min read · The Costume Rack

To make bat wings out of cardboard, draw a scalloped wing shape (a straight top edge with three or four curved dips along the bottom) on a large flattened box, cut two, paint them black, and attach them to a center plate with backpack straps. Add a loop at each wingtip for your wrists so the wings open when you raise your arms. For a lighter, fabric version, cut the canopy off an old black umbrella and use its ribs as ready-made bat wing bones.

If you have wings on the way but no plan for the rest of your bat costume, The Costume Rack builds it from your closet: Start my costume.

What you need

An adult should handle the box cutter and wire cutters. Umbrella ribs can have sharp ends once cut.

The cardboard method

Cardboard bat wings are stiff, dramatic and easy to paint. They are the pick for bat costume photos where you want the wings to hold a pose.

Draw the wing

1. Flatten the box and lay it down.
2. Draw a straight or slightly curved top edge about 24 to 30 inches long for adults. This is the "arm bone."
3. At the outer end, draw a small hook or point.
4. Along the bottom, draw three or four scallops curving up between points, like a row of upside-down arches.
5. Keep a flat inner edge about 6 inches long where the wing will meet your back.

Cut and copy

Cut the first wing, flip it and trace for the second so you get a left and a right.

Add bones

Draw or glue thin strips of cardboard from the inner edge out to each point between the scallops. They make it look like a real bat wing and stiffen it.

Join them

Hot glue both wings to a cardboard center plate (about 6 x 8 inches), angled slightly up.

The old umbrella method

Umbrella bat wings are the clever version: the ribs are already bat-wing shaped and the fabric is already black. They are also light and fold a little, which makes them good for crowded parties.

Steps

1. Open the umbrella and look at the ribs. You will use half the canopy for each wing.
2. Detach the canopy from the center shaft. Snip the threads holding the fabric to the tips and top, or cut the ribs close to the center with wire cutters.
3. Cut the frame in half so you have two sets of three or four ribs, each still covered in fabric.
4. Tape the cut ends with duct tape so nothing sharp pokes out.
5. Fix the inner ends of each set to a center plate or directly to the back of a hoodie.
6. Trim the fabric edge between the ribs into curved scallops if it is not already.

Because umbrella fabric stretches between the ribs, the scallops happen naturally. This is one of the best answers to how to make bat wings for adults quickly.

Wrist loops so the wings move

Wrist loops are what make bat wings fun. You lift your arms and the wings spread.

1. Cut two pieces of elastic or ribbon, each about 8 inches.
2. Tie each into a loop that slides over your hand to your wrist.
3. Glue or tape one loop to the outer point (the tip of the top edge) of each wing.
4. Test: arms down, wings fold; arms out, wings open.

For cardboard wings, score a light fold line near the center plate so they can swing forward without cracking.

The wings are the showy part, but a bat also needs ears, the right black base layers and maybe a face detail, and it is hard to judge whether it all reads as "bat" rather than "person in black." The Costume Rack lists every piece of the bat costume, shows which you already own and gives you a no-makeup build. Start my costume

Painting and finishing

For cardboard wings

• Prime with a coat of black paint or cover with black paper or a black bin bag.
• Add texture with a dry brush of gray or dark purple along the bones.
• Seal with a coat of clear glue or matte spray so the paint does not rub off on your clothes.

For both methods

• A dark red or purple tint on the inside gives a vampire-bat feel.
• Silver or glow-in-the-dark paint along the bones stands out at night.
• Keep the back simple; nobody sees it when the wings are on.

For every strap, clip and harness option, see how to attach wings to a costume so they stay up.

Completing the bat look

Wings are the star. The rest of a DIY bat costume is mostly black clothes:

• Base: black hoodie and leggings or joggers, a black dress, or a black jumpsuit.
• Ears: two felt triangles glued to clips or a hood. Bat ears are taller and pointier than cat ears.
• Face: optional small fangs drawn at the lip corners, or nothing at all.
• Accessory: a little red, like a red lip or bow, for a bat costume girls and women love; a black cape for a bat costume men often go for.

Pairings

A bat is the perfect sidekick for a vampire. Send your vampire friend our guide to a vampire costume without fangs and you have a matched duo. A bat also pairs well with a witch or a black cat.

Last minute bat costume

No time for either method? Pin a black blanket or big black scarf from your wrists to the back of your neck, add clip-on ears, and you have a last minute bat costume in ten minutes.

Your bat costume, sorted in two minutes

Your wings are ready to flap. The Costume Rack takes your vibe and your closet, matches you to a bat (or another of its sixteen costumes), and lists every piece with a closet version, a no-makeup build and a "Find it" link for anything missing. The group link lets your vampire friend claim theirs too.

Start my costume

FAQ

How do you make bat wings for adults?

Draw a scalloped wing 24 to 30 inches long on a big flattened box, cut two, paint them black and join them to a center plate with backpack straps. Add wrist loops at the tips. Or cut an old umbrella in half for a lighter version.

How do you make bat wings out of an umbrella?

Detach the black canopy and ribs from the umbrella's center shaft, cut the frame into two halves, tape any sharp ends, and fix each half to a center plate or hoodie. The ribs become the wing bones.

How do you make bat wings that move?

Tie an elastic or ribbon loop to the outer tip of each wing and slip it over your wrist. When you raise your arms, the wings spread open.

What do you wear with bat wings?

All-black clothes like a hoodie and leggings or a black dress, plus pointy bat ears on clips or a hood. A small red detail or a black cape finishes it.

Are bat wings good for cosplay?

Yes. For cosplay, cardboard wings with glued-on bones and dry-brushed texture look the most detailed, and wrist loops let you pose with them spread.