Halloween Costume Contest Categories: 60 Award Ideas
Halloween costume contest categories are the award titles you vote on, like "Scariest," "Funniest," "Best Duo" or "Best Closet Build." Having several categories instead of one "best costume" prize means more people win and nobody feels like their effort got ignored. Below are 60 ideas sorted by type, plus how many to pick for your party size and a printable list at the end.
If you want every costume in the contest to actually be different, The Costume Rack puts the whole group on one rail so nobody turns up as the same thing: Start my costume.
How many categories to have
Too few and the same three people win everything. Too many and the awards take 40 minutes and lose all hype. Use this:
| Party size | Number of categories | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10 guests | 3–4 | Make sure the "big" award isn't the only one |
| 10–25 guests | 5–7 | Mix serious and funny |
| 25–50 guests | 7–10 | Add group and duo categories |
| School or work event | 6–10 | Include effort and team categories |
One rule: one award per person. If someone wins two, give the second to the runner-up. Spreading the wins is the whole point.
For the fairest way to score, see our costume contest judging criteria with a copy-and-paste score sheet.
Classic Halloween costume award categories
The categories every contest should have at least two of.
- Best Overall Costume
- Scariest Costume
- Most Creative Costume
- Best Makeup
- Most Glam Costume
- Most Original Costume
- Best Classic Monster (vampire, mummy, werewolf, zombie)
- Best Witch
- Most Realistic Costume
- Best Accessory or Prop
Best costume award names (with a twist)
Plain names work, but these Halloween award ideas sound better on a certificate:
- Queen/King of the Night (best overall)
- Nightmare Fuel (scariest)
- Main Character Energy (most confident)
- Red Carpet Ghoul (most glam)
- Certified Creature (most committed to the bit)
Funny Halloween costume contest categories
Funny costume awards are where the room gets loud. Keep them kind: you're roasting the costume, not the person.
- Funniest Costume
- Best Pun Costume
- Most Last-Minute (and Still Pulled It Off)
- Best Use of a Bedsheet
- Most Likely to Scare a Toddler
- Most Questionable Costume Choice
- "What Even Are You?" Award
- Best Costume That's Just Cat Ears
- Most Dedicated to Staying in Character
- Best Dance Moves in Costume
- Best Wardrobe Malfunction Recovery
- The "I'm Going as Myself" Award (handed out with love)
Group and duo award categories
Group costume award and best duo costume award categories reward friends who coordinated, which makes the photos so much better.
Duo categories
- Best Duo
- Best Opposites (angel and devil, vampire and bat)
- Best Accidental Duo (didn't plan it, matched anyway)
- Most Iconic Pair
- Best Couple Costume
Group categories
- Best Group Costume
- Best Theme Interpretation
- Most Coordinated Squad
- Best Group Photo Pose
- Biggest Group Costume
- Best Family Costume (for school or community events)
Here's where contests usually fall apart: you can't give "Best Group" if everyone in the group came as the same witch. The best group costumes have different characters that clearly belong together, like a coven with a goth witch, a cottagecore witch and a black cat.
The Costume Rack plans that lineup for you. Each friend takes a two-minute quiz, gets matched to one of sixteen costumes, and claims it on your group's rail through one link, so your squad turns up as a set with no repeats. Start my costume
Effort and DIY categories
DIY costume award categories reward people who made something, not bought it.
- Best DIY Costume
- Best Closet Build (made from clothes they already owned)
- Best Cardboard Creation
- Best No-Makeup Costume
- Most Effort Per Dollar
- Best Upcycled Costume
- Best Handmade Prop
- Best Face Paint
- Most Hours Spent (self-reported, everyone lies)
- Best Recreated Character
"Best No-Makeup Costume" is underrated. It gives people who skip face paint (sensitive skin, glasses, or just can't be bothered) a fair shot.
Halloween costume contest categories for school and work
Halloween costume contest categories for work and for school need to stay appropriate for everyone, including teachers, managers and people who barely dress up.
Categories for school
Works for middle school, high school, sixth form (UK) or a uni society social.
- Best Class or Form Group Costume
- Best Teacher Costume (voted by students)
- Best Book or Film Character
- Most School Spirit
- Best Costume From the Lost and Found (anything goes)
Categories for work
Halloween costume contest categories for work: think team-friendly and low-pressure.
- Best Team Costume
- Best Office-Appropriate Costume
- Best Costume Worn at a Desk All Day
- Best Costume Under Five Dollars / Five Pounds
- Best Effort With Minimal Effort
- Best Pet Costume (photo entries)
- Best Costume on a Video Call
Need prizes to go with these? Our costume contest prize ideas sort them by budget, from free to under twenty.
Printable award list
Copy, print, cut into slips. Pick your number from the table at the top.
Must-haves (pick 2–3)
- Best Overall
- Scariest
- Funniest
Crowd favorites (pick 1–2)
- Best Duo
- Best Group
- Most Creative
Effort awards (pick 1–2)
- Best DIY
- Best Closet Build
- Best No-Makeup Costume
Wildcards (pick 1)
- Most Last-Minute
- "What Even Are You?"
- Best Use of a Bedsheet
How to vote
- Small party: everyone writes their picks on a sticky note, host counts.
- Big party: a voting box with a slip per category, or a quick poll in the group chat.
- Judged contest: two or three judges using a score sheet.
Fill every category with a different costume
These Halloween costume contest categories work best when the lineup is varied. Share one link and in about two minutes each guest gets matched to a costume, split into pieces with closet and no-makeup versions, and claims it on your rail, so there's a real contest instead of five vampires.
FAQ
What are good Halloween costume contest categories?
Best Overall, Scariest, Funniest, Most Creative, Best Duo, Best Group and Best DIY cover most parties. Add one wildcard like "Most Last-Minute" to keep it fun.
What are some funny Halloween costume award categories?
Try "Best Use of a Bedsheet," "What Even Are You?," "Most Last-Minute (and Still Pulled It Off)" and "Best Costume That's Just Cat Ears." Keep them about the costume, never the person.
How many categories should a costume contest have?
Three or four for a small party, five to seven for 10–25 guests, and up to ten for big school or work events. Limit everyone to one award each.
What are good costume contest categories for work?
Best Team Costume, Best Office-Appropriate Costume, Best Costume Worn at a Desk All Day and Best Costume on a Video Call keep it inclusive. Skip anything that could embarrass a coworker.
Is there a printable list of Halloween costume award categories?
Yes, the printable award list above groups categories into must-haves, crowd favorites, effort awards and wildcards. Copy it, print it and cut it into slips.