How to Make a Ghost Costume Out of a Fitted Sheet
To make a ghost costume out of a fitted sheet, put the elasticated corner of the sheet on top of your head so the elastic grips like a hood, mark your eyes while wearing it, cut small eye holes, then trim the bottom so it clears your shoes. The elastic is the secret: it stops the sheet sliding around, which is the number one problem with flat-sheet ghosts.
If you have a spare fitted sheet but are not sure what else would finish the look, The Costume Rack builds your ghost from what is already in your closet: Start my costume.
Fitted vs flat sheet: what changes
Most guides on how to make a ghost costume out of a sheet assume a flat sheet. A fitted sheet is different in three ways, and each one changes the method.
| Flat sheet | Fitted sheet | |
|---|---|---|
| Grip on the head | None, slides constantly | Elastic corner holds like a hood |
| Shape | Big rectangle | Boxy with deep pocket corners |
| Hem | Straight, usually hemmed | Elastic all the way round |
| Best for | Big dramatic drape | A ghost that stays put all night |
| Main fix needed | Something to hold it on | Cutting off the lower elastic |
The short version: a fitted sheet ghost costume is easier to wear, but you have to deal with the elastic at the bottom, or the hem pulls in around your ankles like a sack.
Which size fitted sheet?
- Twin: most kids and shorter teens.
- Full or queen: most teens and adults.
- King: tall adults, or anyone who wants a big floaty ghost.
A white sheet is classic, but a cream, grey or pale pastel fitted sheet makes an aesthetic ghost costume that looks great in photos.
What you need
- One fitted sheet (old is perfect; see sizes above).
- Fabric scissors.
- Washable marker, chalk or a safety pin to mark the eyes.
- A friend to help you mark (much easier than a mirror).
- Optional: a baseball cap or beanie, black felt, safety pins, fabric glue, sunglasses.
That is everything for a no-sew ghost costume. If you do not have a spare fitted sheet, the pillowcase ghost method works for kids and pets.
Using the elastic as a hood
This is the step that makes a bed sheet ghost costume out of a fitted sheet better than the usual version.
- Find one corner pocket. Each corner of a fitted sheet is a little cup of fabric edged with elastic.
- Put that corner on your head like a shower cap, with the rest of the sheet hanging down all around you. The corner seam should sit on the crown of your head.
- Check the grip. The elastic should hold without squeezing. If it is too loose, wear a baseball cap underneath; the brim also keeps the fabric off your face and gives a nice rounded ghost head shape.
- Let the sheet fall evenly. Pull it so the hem is roughly level front and back.
The cap trick
A cap under the sheet does three jobs: it gives the head a clean dome, it stops the fabric sitting against your eyes, and it stops the eye holes shifting when you turn your head. A beanie works too if you prefer a softer shape.
Cutting eye holes in the right place
Getting the eye holes wrong is the main reason homemade sheet ghosts look sad. Here is where to cut eye holes in a ghost costume so they line up every time.
- Put the whole thing on exactly how you will wear it, cap included.
- Have a friend gently mark the center of each eye with chalk or a washable marker through the fabric. Close your eyes while they do it.
- Take it off and check the marks are level. Fix them with a ruler if needed.
- Cut small. Start with holes about 1 inch across. You can always go bigger.
- Try it on again and look left, right and down. You should see your feet and the ground in front of you.
- Enlarge if needed. If you cannot see steps, go bigger. Seeing clearly matters far more than a tiny neat hole.
Eye hole tips
- Oval holes look more ghostly than circles.
- A black felt ring glued around each hole makes it look like a drawn-on face and hides wobbly cuts.
- For better vision, cut the holes large and cover them with a scrap of black mesh or thin tights. People cannot see your eyes, but you can see out.
- The ghost costume with sunglasses look (think the classic "cool ghost" photo) works by cutting holes large enough for the sunglasses to sit on your face under the sheet.
Trimming the hem
Now deal with the elastic on the bottom edge.
- Stand in the shoes you will wear.
- Have your friend mark a line about 2 to 3 inches above the floor all the way round.
- Take it off and cut along the line, cutting away the lower elastic completely. If the sheet is much too long, cut higher; nobody needs a train on a trick-or-treat route.
- Leave the edge raw or cut shallow waves. Cotton fraying slightly reads as old and spooky.
Arm slits (optional)
If you want to carry a bag or hold a drink, cut two vertical slits at hand height on each side. Keep them to about 5 inches so they disappear in the drape.
Finishing touches
Once the base is done, how to make a halloween costume out of a sheet stand out is all about small details.
- Mouth: a black felt oval under the eyes.
- Blush: pink felt circles for a cute ghost.
- Tulle hem: glue a strip of white tulle around the bottom for a floaty edge.
- Props: a lantern, a chain, a tote bag with a face on it, or a flower crown for a cottagecore ghost.
- Shoes: white trainers or plain dark shoes; bright sneakers break the effect.
- Warmth: a sheet is thin. See what to wear under a ghost costume for a layering plan by weather.
Ghost costume ideas that use the same sheet
- Classic boo ghost with black felt eyes.
- Cool ghost with sunglasses and a cap.
- Bride ghost with a thrifted veil on top.
- Picnic ghost in a gingham sheet with a basket.
- Group ghosts where everyone brings a different pastel sheet.
Standing in front of the mirror wondering if it looks finished, or whether you need shoes, props or a warmer base? The Costume Rack matches you to the ghost from your vibe and your closet, lists every piece with where to find it, and gives a no-makeup build. Start my costume
Your fitted sheet ghost, finished and planned
You now know how to make a ghost costume out of a fitted sheet that grips, lets you see, and does not drag. For the rest of the outfit, The Costume Rack builds the costume piece by piece in about two minutes, shows a version from things you own, and if your friends are joining, a shared group rail lets everyone claim their costume from one link so nobody clashes.
FAQ
Is a fitted sheet or flat sheet better for a ghost costume?
A fitted sheet is easier to wear because the elastic corner grips your head like a hood and stops the fabric sliding. A flat sheet gives a bigger drape but needs a cap or pins to stay in place. Either works; the fitted sheet just needs its bottom elastic cut off.
How do you make a ghost costume out of a sheet without it falling off?
Wear a baseball cap or beanie underneath and, if you use a fitted sheet, place a corner pocket over the cap so the elastic grips. A couple of safety pins on the inside, pinned to your top at the shoulders, also help.
Where do you cut eye holes in a ghost costume?
Put the sheet on exactly how you will wear it, have a friend mark the center of each eye, then cut small and enlarge until you can see your feet. A cap underneath keeps the holes from shifting when you move.
How do you make a ghost costume for adults that looks good?
Use a full or queen fitted sheet, cut the hem 2 to 3 inches above the floor, add oval eye holes with black felt rings, and pick one prop like sunglasses or a lantern. Clean shoes and a warm base layer make it feel finished.
What size sheet do you need for a ghost costume?
A twin sheet fits most kids, a full or queen fits most teens and adults, and a king suits tall people or a big floaty look. Always trim to length after you try it on.