Dollar Store Halloween Costume Ideas Under $10
The best dollar store Halloween costume ideas mix one or two cheap accessories with clothes you already own: dollar store cat ears plus a black outfit makes a black cat, a plastic witch hat plus a black dress makes a witch, and a bag of gauze plus a white tee makes a mummy. Buy only the piece that makes the costume readable. Your closet covers the rest, so most builds stay under $10.
If you're not sure which costume your closet can already pull off, The Costume Rack checks what you own and matches you to a costume with a version made from your own clothes: Start my costume.
What to grab at the dollar store
Discount stores (Dollar Tree and similar shops in the US, Dollarama in Canada, pound shops in the UK) are full of cheap costume pieces in October. The trick is buying pieces, not whole costumes. Prices and stock vary by store and area, so treat this as a shopping list, not a price guarantee.
The costume essentials aisle
- Headbands with ears (cat, devil horns, bat)
- Witch and pirate hats
- Plastic fangs
- Eye patches
- Halos and tinsel
- Small wings (fairy, angel, bat)
- Face gems and glitter
- Gauze or bandages (first aid aisle)
- Black and white duct tape
- Battery tea lights and glow sticks
Dollar store costume hacks
- Check the party aisle, not just Halloween. Tinsel, crowns, feather boas and bandanas live there.
- Check the craft aisle. Felt sheets, foam, pipe cleaners and glue.
- Check the kitchen aisle. Aluminum foil, plastic cups, paper plates. Great for props and cardboard builds.
- Go early in October. The best ears and hats sell out by the last week.
Builds under $10
Here's the core list. Each one pairs a dollar-store buy with things most people have at home.
| Costume | Buy | From your closet |
|---|---|---|
| Black cat | Ears headband | Black top, black leggings or jeans |
| Witch | Witch hat | Black dress or all-black outfit |
| Devil | Horns headband | Red top or all-black outfit |
| Angel | Halo + small wings | White top, light jeans |
| Vampire | Plastic fangs (optional) | Black outfit, a red scarf or blanket as a cape |
| Pirate | Eye patch + bandana | Striped or white loose shirt, dark pants |
| Mummy | Gauze or bandage rolls | White tee and leggings or joggers |
| Skeleton | White duct tape | All-black clothes |
| Ghost | Nothing, or cheap white sheet | White hoodie, white layers |
| Fairy | Wings + face gems | Pastel top, tights or skirt |
| Bat | Wings | Black hoodie, black jeans |
| Pumpkin | Orange tissue paper or felt | Orange top, green beanie |
Three builds explained
Black cat (about the price of one headband). Wear all black. Add the ears. Knot a black sock or old pair of tights into a tail and safety-pin it on. Done in five minutes.
Mummy (a couple of gauze rolls). White tee and white leggings as a base. Wrap gauze loosely in diagonal strips, securing with tape. Tuck ends under so it doesn't unravel. Leave gaps for bending your arms.
Skeleton (one roll of white tape). All-black outfit. Tape a spine down your front, three or four ribs either side, and bone lines down your arms and legs. Lay the clothes flat on the floor while you tape; it's way easier than taping yourself.
The annoying part of cheap costumes is standing in the aisle trying to remember what you actually own at home, then buying a hat you already had. The Costume Rack asks what's in your closet first and gives you each costume split into pieces, with where to find each one and a version built from things you own, so you only buy the gap. Start my costume
Group costumes on a budget
Cheap group Halloween costumes work best when everyone buys one accessory from the same aisle.
Ideas for a group of 3 to 6
- Monster squad: fangs, werewolf ears, gauze and white tape. Four monsters, four cheap buys.
- Heaven vs. hell: halos and horns. Everyone wears their own white or red clothes.
- Witch coven: a hat each, all-black outfits, different colored tinsel on each hat.
- Pirate crew: eye patches and bandanas for everyone. One captain gets a hat.
- Night sky: bat wings, one vampire, one witch. All black clothes.
If a group includes two girls and one guy, our trio Halloween costumes for 2 girls and 1 guy pairs perfectly with this cheap shopping list.
Split the cost
If you're buying for a group, one person buys and everyone sends their share. Cheaper pieces sometimes come in multipacks (glow sticks, face gems, tape), so buying together saves more.
Makeup-free finishing touches
Budget makeup can irritate some people's skin, and plenty of people just don't want face paint. You don't need it.
- Face gems instead of glitter makeup for fairies and angels.
- Glow stick bracelets for skeletons and ghosts at night parties.
- Sunglasses for a "cool" vampire or a pirate.
- A bandana over the lower face for a cowboy or bandit.
- A cheap mask for a werewolf or zombie.
- Hair color spray is cheap but messy; if you use it, test it on a small section first.
Reuse it next year
A $10 costume can become a $0 costume next year if you store it right.
- Keep the base pieces. Black clothes, white tee, striped shirt. These are forever.
- Store accessories flat in a labelled bag or shoebox: ears, horns, halo, eye patch.
- Swap roles. This year's witch hat is next year's pumpkin-patch farmer hat (paint it).
- Trade with friends. A costume swap in early October gives everyone something new for free.
For more budget hunting, check our thrift store Halloween costume ideas and the cardboard box costume ideas that turn packaging into a full build.
Only buy the piece you're actually missing
Dollar store Halloween costume ideas work best when you know what you already own. In about two minutes, The Costume Rack matches you to one of sixteen classic costumes from your vibe and closet, lists every piece with where to find it, and gives you a closet version and a no-makeup version. The countdown gives you one piece to sort each day.
FAQ
What Halloween costumes can I make with dollar store stuff?
Black cat, witch, devil, angel, pirate, mummy, skeleton and bat are all easy. Buy one accessory (ears, hat, horns, halo, eye patch, gauze or tape) and use clothes you already own for the rest.
What are cheap Halloween costume ideas under $10?
A skeleton made with white tape on black clothes, a mummy made with gauze and a white tee, and a black cat with ears and a sock tail. Prices vary by store, but these usually need just one or two cheap items.
Are Dollar Tree Halloween costumes good for teens?
The full packaged costumes are hit or miss, but the accessories are great for teens. Combining a cheap headband, hat or wings with your own clothes usually looks better than a bagged costume.
What are cheap group Halloween costumes for friends?
Heaven vs. hell with halos and horns, a pirate crew with eye patches and bandanas, and a monster squad with fangs and gauze all work on a budget. Everyone wears their own clothes and buys one piece.
What's the cheapest Halloween costume that still looks good?
A skeleton from white tape on black clothes or a black cat from all black clothes plus ears. Both read instantly and cost very little.