54 Best Teen Halloween Costumes, From Cool to Cute
Including a ton of great options you can DIY together!
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Anyone who says that teens are "too old" to dress up for Halloween is painfully misinformed. We know better than anyone that during those tween and teen years is when you're most imaginative and self-expressive. That's why we've gathered a list of the very best tween and teen Halloween costumes that 2023 has to offer.
The first part to selecting a truly iconic costume comes down to deciding on what the event calls for: Is there a school Halloween dance where the easier the costume, the better? Is someone hosting a party and an all-out homemade outfit is a must? Or is the family going out together to trick-or-treat with younger siblings so comfort is priority?
Now move on to the mood of the costume: a punny look that will keep everyone laughing, a scary outfit based on a horror film or something so cool and trendy that only pop-culture costumes inspired by TV show characters will do. Remember, the latter makes it easy to create fun best friend getups.
Luckily, there's no shortage of amazing costume ideas for tweens and teens on our list, whether the situation calls for a major DIY session or it's more of a click-and-buy scenario.
Disco Ball Costume
With Beyoncé's recent Renaissance tour and Taylor Swift's The Eras tour, silver and disco is on-trend for this year. Pull-off this glitzy DIY look using a large cardboard box, spray paint and aluminum foil.
How to make: Once you gather your supplies, cut two large circles from the cardboard box. Spray silver paint on both sides of the circles and let them dry completely. While they dry, cut out 1"x2" foil rectangles. Tear 1/2" wide strips of duct tape and place foil rectangles on the sticky side so the majority of the foil hangs off (so it looks like a banner of flags). Starting at the bottom, stick the tape/foil banner across the silver cardboard circle so the layer above overlaps the layer below. This will create a tiled effect. Trim or fold back the tape around the edge of the circle to maintain the round disco ball shape. Complete two circles for the front and back. To create shoulder and chest straps, measure the length needed before cutting and taping nylon webbing to the cardboard's front and back.
Cassette Tape Costume
Everything that is old is new again, so this cute DIY cassette tape costume is perfect for this year. The leggings and microphone are totally optional.
How to make: Cut two large rectangles from the cardboard box. Spray paint both sides of the circles with teal spray paint. While this dries, print out two copies of the cassette label template provided. Cut out the label and glue it to the center of the cardboard rectangles. Using a black permanent maker, follow the template to add the cassette shapes and outlines. To create shoulder and chest straps, measure the length needed before cutting and taping nylon webbing to the cardboard's front and back.
Too cool for a full-blown costume? This hoodie will do the trick. With the recent release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, it's also very on trend.
Kitty Covey Costume
Laura Jean's little sister sets out on her own adventure in Netflix's new series XO, Kitty, which is a spinoff of To All the Boys I've Loved Before. Anyone can recreate her school uniform with a few pieces that can be worn after Halloween.
Never Have I Ever Devi Costume
Mindy Kaling, who is the co-creator and producer of the show, showed us all how simple it is to channel your inner Devi. If season four vibes is what's desired, make sure there are some floral prints thrown in there.
Emoji Costume
Everything's cool about this DIY emoji costume. Pair it with some shades and leggings to really complete the look.
Stranger Things Costume
Well, since there are literally no cooler teens than Eleven and crew, this is a no-fail option. Not only is it fun, but it's totally appropriate for school, and can turn into a group costume.
Kim Possible Costume
In the spirit of reliving the early 2000s, teens will love dressing as Disney Channel icon, Kim possible. All that's needed for this ridiculously simple costume is a black crop top and cargo pants.
Ariel Costume
You're going to see a lot of Ariels this year after Halle Bailey stunned in the live-action version of The Little Mermaid, but opting for her land outfit offers a more stand-out costume.
Cowboy Barbie Costume
After the release of Greta Gerwig's Barbie film, everyone will want to channel their inner doll for Halloween. A really fun way to get in the trend is going with a western-inspired Barbie look.
Who knew dressing up as a fictional villain could actually turn out to be really cute? This costume includes the entire outfit, gloves, hat and shoe spats.
His legs go in the alien portion, while his head peeps out of the human part. The costume operates on a battery pack that is meant to last all night long.
This costume of the Mockingjay heroine comes in kid and adult sizes too. You know, just in case mom wants to match.
Inflatable Dinosaur Costume
For anyone who loves attention, this classic T-Rex costume will bring all the laughs. There's a zipper closure for easy removal.
The Wizard of Oz is a story that never gets old. Just note that the costume doesn't include the red flats, so make sure to find the most sparkly pair!
Spice Girls Costume
This punny take on Spice Girls is guaranteed to make everyone chuckle. All you need is a few red aprons and print-outs of popular spices, and you're all set.
This costume set comes with a Luigi dress, gloves, character hat, and a mustache in a stick so no one has to worry about it being in the way while snacking on Halloween treats.
Team Gryffindor and proud of it? Note that the skirt and vest are attached, so it's a one-piece set.
Just make sure to add corresponding spooky makeup to make this the most epic (and scariest) costume in the room.
Dionne was as iconic as her fashion choices. Anyone can channel their inner Beverly Hills fashionista with this costume that comes with everything you see here.
Cameron (she/her) is a staff writer for Good Housekeeping, where she covers everything from holidays to food. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she received a B.A. in magazine journalism. In her spare-time she can be found scrolling TikTok for the latest cleaning hacks and restaurant openings, binge-watching seasons of Project Runway or online shopping.
Shanon is a writer and editor who specializes in best-of product roundups and deals. She has over six years of experience, including almost three years as a Good Housekeeping product and reviews editor, covering the best sales and products across home, appliances, health, beauty, parenting and more.
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