How to Make a Werewolf Costume From Scratch
To make a werewolf costume from scratch, start with a flannel shirt and jeans you can rip, add faux fur at the wrists and collar, then finish with fur ears on a headband and a tail pinned at the back. That is the whole idea: a regular person halfway through changing into a wolf. You don't need a rubber mask, and most of the pieces are probably in your closet already.
If you have the flannel but can't work out what else you need, The Costume Rack builds your werewolf piece by piece from what you already own. Start my costume
How to make a werewolf costume from scratch: what you need
Here is the full kit for a DIY werewolf costume. The "swap" column is for anyone making a wolf costume at home on a tight budget.
| Piece | Best choice | Swap if you don't have it |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Red or brown flannel shirt | Any plaid shirt or a plain grey tee |
| Bottoms | Old jeans you can rip | Dark cargo pants or black leggings |
| Fur | 1/4 yard of brown or grey faux fur | A fluffy scarf, an old faux fur hood trim |
| Ears | Headband plus felt or fur scraps | Cardboard ears covered in fur |
| Tail | A fur strip or a fluffy scarf | A grey knit scarf, braided |
| Face | Brown eyeshadow, eyeliner | Nothing at all (see the no-mask section) |
| Shoes | Boots or beat-up sneakers | Anything dark and scuffed |
Tools: fabric scissors, safety pins, hot glue or fabric glue, and sandpaper or a cheese grater for distressing denim. It helps to do the fur cutting outside, because faux fur sheds everywhere.
Start with flannel and torn denim
The base is what makes this read as "werewolf" and not "wolf mascot." You want it to look like your clothes are giving up as you change.
Distress the flannel
- Put the shirt on and mark where your shoulders and elbows sit.
- Take it off and make small snips at the shoulder seams and elbows, then pull the threads to make ragged holes.
- Cut the hem into an uneven edge, longer at the back.
- Roll up the sleeves unevenly so the fur cuffs show later.
If it's a shirt you want to keep, skip the cutting. Wear it open over a tee, unbuttoned one button off, and let the fur do the work.
Rip the jeans
- Rub the knees and thighs with sandpaper until the threads show.
- Make two or three horizontal cuts across one knee and pull out the blue threads to leave the white ones.
- Cut one leg a few inches shorter than the other, then fray the edge.
A werewolf costume for men usually goes with jeans and boots. A werewolf costume for women can go the same way, or swap in a ripped denim skirt over tights. Both look good. It's your wolf.
Fur cuffs and collar
Fur at the edges is the most important trick in any homemade werewolf costume. It makes the fur look like it's pushing out from under your clothes.
How to make faux fur cuffs
- Cut two strips of faux fur about 4 inches wide and long enough to wrap your wrist with a little overlap.
- Cut from the back. Flip the fur over and snip only the fabric backing with the tips of your scissors. Cutting through the front chops the fur and makes a mess.
- Wrap each strip around your wrist, inside the rolled sleeve, and close it with a safety pin or a strip of hot glue on the backing.
- Tease the fur out with your fingers so it sticks out past the sleeve.
The collar and chest
- Glue a wider strip inside the shirt collar so it spills out at the neck.
- Add a small patch at the open chest for a werewolf costume for guys, or tuck a strip into the neckline of a tank top.
- Pin a few loose clumps at the torn shoulder holes.
No faux fur? A fluffy grey scarf cut into pieces works. So does trim cut off an old hooded coat.
Ears and tail
This is where your wolf costume starts to look finished.
DIY werewolf ears
- Cut two triangles from felt or cardboard, about 3 inches tall. Round the bottom edge slightly.
- Cover the front with faux fur, and glue a smaller pink or dark grey felt triangle inside if you like.
- Pinch the base of each ear so it curves, then hot glue it onto a headband. Angle them outward a little for a wilder look.
- Glue a strip of fur along the headband so it blends into your hair.
If your hair is close to the fur color, you can skip the headband and bobby pin the ears straight into your hair.
How to make a wolf tail
- Quick version: a 20-inch strip of faux fur, folded lengthwise and glued along the edge, then pinned to your belt loop.
- Scarf version: braid a grey knit scarf loosely, fluff it out, and tuck one end into your waistband.
- Sturdy version: stuff the fur tube with an old sock or some polyester stuffing so it swings.
Pin the tail through the back belt loop, not the fabric of the jeans, or it droops by the second hour.
Keeping track of all these pieces is the hard part: which fur you have, what's still missing, when to glue what. The Costume Rack lists every piece of your werewolf, shows a version made from things you already own, and gives you one piece a day in a countdown to October 31, so the tail doesn't turn into a 10pm panic. Start my costume
Face options without a mask
A werewolf costume without a mask is easier to wear, easier to talk in, and better for photos. Pick a level.
Level 1: no makeup
A werewolf costume with no makeup still works if your fur, ears and ripped clothes are strong. Mess up your hair, add a little texturizing spray, and you are done. Good for school or work.
Level 2: easy werewolf makeup (about 10 minutes)
- Use brown eyeshadow to darken the brow bone and pull the brows toward the nose.
- Shade the sides of the nose and under the cheekbones.
- Draw short, fine hair strokes along the jaw and hairline with a brown or black eyeliner pencil.
- Dot a little dark shadow at the tip of the nose.
Level 3: going further
Plastic fang caps from a costume shop or a small amount of craft fur stuck on with costume adhesive. Always patch test anything that goes on your skin, and skip it if you're unsure.
If you have a beard, you're already halfway there. Our guide to a Halloween costume with a beard shows how to shape it for a werewolf. Tall? The werewolf is one of the best Halloween costume ideas for tall people because the height makes it scarier.
Werewolf pairings
A werewolf is great solo, but it's even better with a pack.
- Werewolf and vampire: the classic rivalry. One in flannel, one in a black cape.
- Werewolf and full moon: a friend in all white or yellow with a paper plate moon. Funny and cheap.
- Werewolf and red riding hood: a red hoodie or cape and a basket.
- The whole pack: everyone does the flannel and fur base, each in a different plaid color.
- Monster group: werewolf, mummy, zombie and bat. Nobody matches, and it still reads as a set.
For outdoor nights, flannel is already one of the warmest bases around. If you need more layers, read how to make a Halloween costume warmer.
Your werewolf, planned in two minutes
Tell The Costume Rack your vibe and what's in your closet, and in about two minutes it can match you to the werewolf, list every piece, and show where to find anything missing with a "Find it" link to an Amazon or Target search. You also get a no-makeup build, and a group link so your pack can claim their costumes without clashing.
FAQ
How do you make a werewolf costume at home cheaply?
Use a flannel shirt and old jeans you already own, and buy only a small piece of faux fur (a quarter yard covers cuffs, collar and ears). A fluffy scarf can stand in for the fur, and a headband with cardboard ears finishes it. The main cost is the fur and some glue.
How do you dress up as a wolf without a mask?
Rely on the edges: fur cuffs, a fur collar, ears on a headband and a tail. Add simple brown eyeshadow shading around the eyes and nose if you want more. The costume reads as a wolf from across a room without covering your face.
What is the difference between a wolf costume and a werewolf costume?
A wolf costume is usually all grey or brown with ears and a tail, like an animal. A werewolf costume is a person mid-change, so it keeps the human clothes (flannel, torn jeans) and adds fur breaking through. If you want to learn how to make a wolf costume instead, drop the flannel and wear head-to-toe grey with the same ears and tail.
What should a woman wear for a werewolf costume?
A werewolf costume for women can use the same flannel and fur base with ripped jeans, or a ripped denim skirt with tights and boots. A cropped flannel tied at the waist, fur cuffs and ears on a headband look great. Add a little brown shading at the eyes if you want some glam.
How long does a DIY werewolf costume take to make?
Around two to three hours in total, and you can split it up: distress the clothes one day, make the cuffs and collar the next, then ears and tail. The Costume Rack's countdown gives you one piece a day, which suits this build nicely.