A ghost is the costume I reach for most when a child wants something easy to wear and easy to explain at the door. The list below starts with the plain bedsheet and moves on to ghost princesses, robots, chefs and a rain-ready version, most of them built from white basics, felt, tulle and fabric paint. Each one is planned from head to toe, so you'll find the base clothes, hair, gentle makeup, a prop and shoes that can handle a long walk. The same three rules run through all of them: hems above the ankle, faces left uncovered, and reflective trim on anything worn after sunset. Most can be layered up for a cold night or stripped back for a warm classroom party.
Cutting a Ghost Shape a Child Can Actually Walk In
Almost every ghost on this list starts with the same white shape, a sheet, poncho or tunic, and that shape is where most of the trouble starts. Get it right once and you can decorate it however you like.
- Measure from the shoulder to mid-calf with the child standing in the shoes they'll wear, and cut there, not at the floor. A hem that reaches the ankle gets stepped on going up porch steps.
- Cut a face opening, not eye holes. A loose oval from brow to chin lets the child see sideways and down, which is where the curbs and steps are.
- Try it on over the coat they'll actually wear on the night. A poncho that fits over a T-shirt in September often won't go over a puffy jacket in late October.
- Anchor the shoulders. A safety pin hidden on the inside of each shoulder, pinned through to the clothes underneath, stops the whole thing rotating.
- Choose fabric that doesn't fray. Felt and fleece can be cut raw and left alone; cotton sheets and chiffon need a turned hem or a line of fray-stop along the edge.
Polyester felt is the cheapest option and comes in big pieces, but it pills and doesn't breathe. For a child who runs warm, a cotton sheet or thin white jersey is far more comfortable over a long evening.
1. Classic White Sheet Ghost Costume
The sheet ghost is still the one kids ask for, and it's also the one most likely to trip them. I cut the sheet so it stops at mid-calf at the longest and open a wide hole for the whole face instead of two eye slits, because slits slide sideways the moment a child turns their head. Hidden safety pins or fabric ties at the shoulders stop the sheet twisting as they walk. Black felt eyes and a smile go on the front of the sheet, a white beanie keeps hair tucked away, and pale powder with a little gray at the cheeks does the rest. White leggings, white sneakers, reflective tape at the hem and a small pumpkin bucket finish it.
2. No-Sew Ghost Poncho Costume
If the sheet keeps slipping, a felt poncho fixes it. Cut a big circle of white felt, make the neck hole a little smaller than you think you need, since felt stretches as it's pulled on, and trim the bottom into rounded waves. Glue black felt eyes and an oval mouth onto the chest, then put a white long-sleeve shirt and leggings underneath. A low ponytail or a white knit cap handles hair, and a light dust of silver shimmer is all the makeup it needs. White slip-ons, reflective wristbands and a white treat bag with black felt stars round it out.
3. Cute Ghost Tutu Costume
Tulle gives this ghost its movement, but it scratches bare legs, so I always put it over full-length white leggings and a long-sleeve leotard or fitted tee. The tutu sits at the knee with small black felt ghost faces stitched or glued around it. A short scalloped cape gives the floating shape without reaching the ground. Two high buns wrapped in white ribbon, pale pink cheeks, silver eye shimmer and tiny white face stars keep it sweet. Ballet flats or sneakers both work, and the felt ghost wand on a covered craft stick is the prop kids end up waving all night.
4. Glow-In-The-Dark Ghost Costume
This is the one I steer parents toward when the route is long and dark. Start with a white hoodie and sweatpants and add glow-effect fabric tape in swirls, stars and small ghost faces. Sew-on tape lasts far longer than the peel-and-stick kind, which lifts at the edges after the first sit-down. A short white poncho with reflective trim on its scalloped hem goes over the top. Keep the hood down unless it's cold, slick the hair with washable gel if you like, then add pale powder, silver liner and luminous-style stickers. White sneakers with reflective details and a clear bucket lit with battery fairy lights finish it, as long as the battery pack is closed up and an adult handles it.
5. Rainbow Ghost Costume
Who says a ghost has to stay white? A white sweatshirt, white leggings and a hip-length ghost poncho make the base, and curved rows of pastel tulle or felt across the poncho form the rainbow. Keep those rows light. Stack too many layers of felt and the poncho turns stiff and swings like a board. A smiling black ghost face sits under the arc. Ribbon extensions in a ponytail or a white beanie with short rainbow yarn strands, rosy cheeks, pearly shadow and rainbow decals keep it cheerful, and white high-tops with multicolored laces plus a treat bag painted with pastel clouds keep it bright rather than frightening.
6. Ghost Princess Costume
For a ghost princess I start with a dress the child already loves, a knee-length party dress or a soft jersey gown, because a new scratchy one gets abandoned by the third house. Over it goes a sheer white cape with an uneven hem that is still neatly finished; raw chiffon frays into threads that catch on everything. A silver belt and small felt ghosts on the skirt carry the theme. Loose curls or a low bun under a light silver crown, with pale powder, lavender shadow, pearly shimmer and pink lip balm. Silver ballet flats suit photos and white sneakers suit a longer route. A silver ghost wand and a drawstring bag styled like a royal pouch go in her hands.
7. Ghost Ballerina Costume
Opaque white tights matter more here than people expect, because sheer ones look gray and patchy under porch lights. Put a white leotard or fitted long-sleeve top over them and add a knee-length tutu with strips of pale gray tulle mixed into the white. A cropped scalloped capelet gives the floating ghost shape. I pin the ballet bun with more pins than seem necessary and wrap it in silver ribbon or a tiny white veil, since buns loosen with all the spinning. Shimmery white shadow, pink blush and a few silver stars at the temples. Use nonslip flats indoors and white sneakers with ribbon laces outside, with a ghost wand or ribbon streamer to twirl.
8. Ghost Pirate Costume
Two dress-up favourites in one, and most of it comes out of a closet. A loose white blouse, gray-and-white striped pants and a short white vest with a ragged edge form the base. Fray that vest edge on cotton or felt; polyester won't fray and just looks badly cut. A silver sash and a child-sized white pirate hat with a friendly ghost emblem sit on top, with hair tousled or in a low ponytail. Pale powder and soft gray around the eyes give a weathered face without scaring anyone. Flat ankle boots or dark sneakers, a treasure map and a small silver treat chest instead of a sword, plus ghost-shaped fabric patches to tie the pieces together.
9. Ghost Cowboy Costume
Most families already own half of this one. A white button-down, light gray jeans and a white or silver fringed vest make the cowboy, and a soft white cowboy hat with a black felt ghost face on the front turns him into a ghost. Tie the silver bandana loosely at the neck and leave it there. Kids try to pull it over their nose, where it fogs glasses and muffles every 'trick or treat.' Low braids or short hair under the hat, then pale powder, gray cheek shading and silver freckles. Gray cowboy boots or sturdy ankle boots, a soft yarn rope and a small ghost-rider treat bag finish the look.
10. Ghost Astronaut Costume
I skip the helmet on a child astronaut every time. Even a clear one cuts side vision and hearing at the exact moment a child is crossing a driveway. Instead, a white utility jumpsuit or a white sweatshirt with cargo pants gets silver tape panels, mission patches and small ghost emblems, and a light backpack dressed as a life-support pack gives the space shape without bulk. Hair stays neat or goes under a silver headband, with pearly shimmer and tiny silver stars around the eyes. White sneakers with silver laces, soft silver gloves, a foam moon with a smiling ghost, and reflective trim along the sleeves and legs for the walk home.
11. Ghost Superhero Costume
A cape is the part I measure twice on any superhero. This one is a knee-length white cape fastened at the shoulders with hook-and-loop strips, never tied at the throat, so it pulls away if someone grabs it or steps on it. Under it go a white long-sleeve top, leggings or sweatpants, a silver belt and a big ghost symbol cut from black and silver felt. Hair goes back with silver gel, or use a white eye mask that sits around the eyes rather than over them. Pale makeup, silver brows and a painted star on each cheek, then white high-tops, silver wrist cuffs and a light foam ghost shield. If the cape brushes the heels when the child sits, take it up an inch.
12. Ghost Cat Costume
Ears sewn to the hood beat ears on a headband for younger kids, because a headband pinches behind the ears within an hour and ends up in the treat bucket. A white hoodie, white leggings and a short white tulle overskirt make the body, with a light white tail that ends in a rounded ghost tip. The black felt ghost face across the front tells people what it is. Simple braids or a ponytail, then a gray nose, short whiskers and silver cheek dots in washable face makeup. White sneakers, fuzzy leg warmers, soft paw mittens, a ghost-shaped collar tag and a white bucket with tiny paw prints finish the cat.
13. Ghost Dog Costume
This is a cozy one, and I'd pick it for a child who runs cold. Start with a white sweatshirt and joggers, then a sleeveless white poncho with a big smiling ghost face and floppy felt dog ears at the shoulders. A headband with more soft ears makes the dog obvious while the child's own hair stays visible. Draw a round gray nose, freckles and a soft outlined smile in washable makeup. Light gray sneakers handle the walking and paw-print gloves keep hands warm, with a loose silver collar, a ghost name tag and a felt bone to carry. Leave off anything rigid. A stiff collar or a hard plastic tag starts rubbing as soon as a child starts playing.
14. Ghost Bunny Costume
Tall ears are what turn a plain white ghost into a bunny, and they're also what flops over first. I slide a pipe cleaner up the inside of each felt ear before stitching, with the ends bent back so nothing pokes, and choose a padded headband so the weight doesn't press on the child's head. The body is a white hoodie with leggings or joggers and a hip-length scalloped poncho with black felt eyes and a tiny smile. Low pigtails, a gray nose, short whiskers, pink cheeks and a touch of pearl shimmer. Stitch the fluffy tail on rather than gluing it, add white sneakers with faux-fur ankle cuffs, and swap the carrot for a white basket trimmed with ghost faces and pastel ribbon.
15. Ghost Butterfly Costume
Wings are the risk with this one. Pick lightweight white wings outlined in silver with small black ghost faces, and keep them narrow enough to pass through a doorway; a flexible frame bends when it bumps another costume instead of snapping or snagging. Under them goes a white long-sleeve shirt, white leggings and a short chiffon or tulle tunic. A silver antenna headband sits over loose hair or braids without touching the face. White and lavender shadow, pearly cheeks and tiny wing shapes at the temples, then white sneakers with silver ribbon laces and a small ghost butterfly wand. It shows up best in daylight, so I'd save it for an afternoon parade.
16. Ghost Witch Costume
A ghost witch gives a child the hat and broom without any of the dark, frightening bits. The base can be a white dress, a white tunic with leggings or a soft white robe with a scalloped hem, with a pale gray cape on top and a white pointed hat covered in silver stars and a smiling ghost patch. I add a soft chin elastic to a witch hat for younger kids, because a tall cone tips off with every nod. Curls or a short white yarn wig underneath; pearly powder, lavender shadow, rosy cheeks and silver freckles on the face. Gray-and-white striped tights, flat white ankle boots, a soft yarn broom and a silver pouch of paper stars for scattering ghostly magic.
17. Ghost Magician Costume
This one looks sharp at a classroom party. A white button-down, black or gray pants and a white vest with silver buttons make the base, with a short white cape lined in pale gray and a silver bow tie. The soft white top hat with tiny ghost shapes is the signature piece. Keep it soft, too; a stiff hat presses a red line into a child's forehead within an hour. Comb the hair neatly or tie it in a low ponytail, then add pale powder, gentle gray shading and silver stars near one brow. Dress shoes are fine indoors and cushioned black sneakers outdoors. A foam ghost wand, a hat-shaped treat bucket and a cape short enough not to drag during the pretend tricks.
18. Ghost Robot Costume
A sweatsuit is the right base for a robot because it moves and a box doesn't. Attach silver foam rectangles to the white hoodie and joggers at the chest, arms and knees. Use thin craft foam at the knees and elbows; thick panels there stop the joint bending and pop off the first time the child crouches for dropped candy. A digital-style ghost face goes on the front in black felt or fabric paint, and a silver headband with short flexible antennae keeps ears and face clear. Silver paint at the temples, pale cheeks and small geometric lines handle the makeup. White sneakers with removable silver cuffs, a light cardboard control panel at the waist and a clear bucket with silver circuit lines finish the machine.
19. Ghost Scientist Costume
A lab coat is a gift to a parent with no time, since it covers whatever the child has on underneath. Put the white coat over a light gray shirt and black pants, add felt ghost patches on the pockets and a name badge reading 'Ghost Research Team.' Tousled hair or a practical ponytail, with clear costume goggles pushed up on the head; worn over the eyes outdoors, they fog within minutes. Pale powder and a few silver freckles are plenty. Black sneakers with white laces, a plastic observation case of cotton 'ghost clouds' or a clipboard of ghost drawings, and reflective strips on the sleeves for evening trick-or-treating.
20. Ghost Chef Costume
Funny, cheap and built from white basics: a white T-shirt, white or black pants and a child-sized apron with black felt ghost faces. A soft white chef hat gets a silver ghost patch above the forehead. Pin it at the back if your child has fine hair, or it slowly slides off the back of the head. Keep the makeup to pale powder and rosy cheeks, plus a small curled gray mustache if the child thinks it's funny. Nonslip white sneakers, a light mixing bowl of plush or felt ghost cookies with a white-painted wooden spoon, a silver neckerchief and a tiny cooking-pot treat bag finish the kitchen ghost.
21. Ghost Artist Costume
Do the paint splatters a few days ahead with washable fabric paint and let it cure fully, or it prints onto car seats and sofas. An oversized white artist's smock goes over a white shirt with gray leggings or joggers, with pastel marks and black ghost silhouettes across it. The white beret with a tiny silver ghost pin is what says 'artist' from the sidewalk. Hair loose or in a side ponytail under the beret, then pale powder, multicolored freckles and a tiny painted ghost on one cheek. White sneakers with ribbon 'paint splashes,' a cardboard palette with ghost shapes, a big foam brush and a canvas treat bag covered in the child's own ghost drawings.
22. Ghost Bookworm Costume
For a school parade or a library dress-up day, this is the ghost I'd send, because it passes almost any classroom costume rule. A white sweater, gray corduroy pants or a pleated skirt with leggings, and a short ghost poncho make the outfit. Add round costume glasses with no lenses if the child doesn't normally wear glasses, so nothing blurs, and a soft white headband with small felt ghosts. Tidy braids or a side part, with pale cheeks, silver freckles and softly defined brows. Nonslip loafers look the part and sneakers are kinder outdoors. A blank notebook labeled 'Friendly Ghost Stories' lets the child draw inside, and a small book-shaped treat bag carries the rest.
23. Ghost School Uniform Costume
A ghostly school uniform needs almost no crafting. A white collared shirt, a pale gray cardigan and a gray skirt, shorts or trousers, with white tights or knee socks and a short translucent scalloped cape. Sew the smiling ghost badge onto the cardigan pocket rather than gluing it, since knit cardigans stretch and dried fabric glue cracks off them. Pigtails or a side part with white ribbons. I add a little rosy blush over the pale makeup and soft gray shadow, so the child looks like a ghost and not just tired. Black loafers or cushioned sneakers, a backpack with white felt ghosts and reflective stars, and a notebook with an oversized pencil for photos.
24. Ghost Sports Player Costume
For the child who refuses anything that feels like a costume, dress them in sportswear. A white jersey and shorts go over white leggings and a long-sleeve performance top, with a big black ghost face and a silver number on the jersey. Stitch the felt on. Fabric glue barely grips slippery polyester mesh, and an iron can scorch it. A white sweatband with a high ponytail or short braids keeps hair off the face, and silver cheek stripes replace heavy makeup. White athletic sneakers and good socks, a foam ball with a ghost face, a silver drawstring bag for treats and a spare layer, and reflective trim along the jersey and leggings.
25. Ghost Pajama Costume
Comfort is the whole point here, which makes this one right for a child who melts down in stiff clothes. White or pale gray pajamas with stars, moons or felt ghost patches sit under a short fleece ghost poncho kept above the ankle. Add a white sleeping cap or plush headband, with long hair in loose braids so it doesn't tangle under the cap. Pearly shimmer, pink cheeks and soft gray under-eye lines make the sleepy face. Slippers only for an indoor party; outside, choose white sneakers with fluffy cuffs, because slipper soles soak through on wet grass. A small ghost pillow, a plush moon and a white treat bag with felt 'Z' shapes.
26. Ghost In The Rain Costume
Rain ruins more Halloween costumes than anything else, so this ghost is built from rain gear. A white waterproof jacket goes over a warm white shirt and light gray pants, with black ghost eyes and a smile attached by hook-and-loop dots so they come off before the jacket goes in the wash. A short transparent poncho with white scalloped trim layers over it. Braid the hair or tuck it under a white rain hat with a tiny ghost face. I keep makeup to silver face stickers and a water-resistant shimmer, since anything heavier runs. White or silver rain boots, a clear umbrella edged with hanging felt ghosts, and a covered white bucket so the candy stays dry.
27. Cloud Ghost Costume
Puffy and soft, this ghost is built on a lightweight vest worn over a white sweatshirt and leggings. Clusters of fiberfill go on the vest, and I stitch them through or glue them to felt circles that are then sewn down, because loose fiberfill sheds all over a house. Leave room around the neck and arms. Black felt eyes and a curved smile on the front make the cloud itself the ghost. High buns with white ribbon or a silver star headband, pale blue shadow, pearly cheeks and tiny silver raindrops. White sneakers with light blue laces and a silver star wand or a moon-shaped treat bag. Give every cluster a firm tug before you leave home.
28. Pumpkin Ghost Costume
Two Halloween symbols in one, and the orange makes the child easy to spot. A white long-sleeve shirt and leggings sit under a round white ghost tunic with an orange jack-o'-lantern smile on the front that stays friendly. An orange tulle collar and a soft green stem headband go up top; line the collar with a strip of soft jersey where it touches the neck, because tulle against skin itches. Low pigtails or hair tucked behind the band, with pale powder, peach blush and a few green and orange freckles. Orange sneakers or white shoes with orange laces pull the colors together, plus a white pumpkin bucket wearing ghost eyes. The short green vine cape is there for warmth on a cool October night and comes off without breaking the look.
29. Candy Ghost Costume
Bright and silly, with a clear black ghost face kept near the center so nobody guesses 'candy wrapper.' A white hoodie and leggings or joggers sit under a scalloped white tunic covered in oversized pastel felt candy shapes. Colorful ribbon goes into a ponytail or onto a white headband, with pink cheeks, pearly shadow and pastel dots at the temples, and white high-tops with rainbow laces below. The treat bag is a clear bag tied at both ends like wrapped candy, with one end left easy to open. Don't attach real candy to the clothes. It's heavy, it gets sticky, and the child will have eaten it by the second street.
30. Ice Cream Ghost Costume
A rounded white ghost already looks like a scoop, so this one barely needs convincing. Put a tunic with a gently wavy hem over a white sweatshirt and white leggings, scatter pastel felt sprinkles across the shoulders, and add a big smiling ghost face. The cherry is a lightweight red pom-pom on a headband. Glue it to a small felt base first, or it spins round and droops to one side. A high bun or short ponytail under it, pink blush, pearly white shadow and sprinkle-style freckles. Tan boots or sneakers play the cone, with a quilted tan felt cone treat bag and a cardboard menu of friendly ghost desserts.
31. Disco Ghost Costume
This is the ghost for a kid who wants to dance. A white flared jumpsuit, or a white top with bell-bottoms, gets silver fringe on the sleeves and a black felt ghost face on the chest. A small white cape with mirror-look circles moves well; real mirror pieces are heavy and sharp-edged, so I stick with fabric or vinyl. A high ponytail, soft curls or a short silver tinsel wig trimmed so it stays off the eyes. Sparkly silver shadow, pearly cheeks and a few face stars. Platform-look sneakers with flat soles rather than real platforms, a silver ball-shaped treat bucket, and reflective wrist cuffs for evening events.
32. Vintage Ghost Costume
Ivory and soft gray read as old-fashioned without turning eerie. Start with an ivory dress, a white blouse with loose trousers or a button-front romper, then a lace-trimmed capelet and a wide silver sash. Check every bit of lace; trim held on by a few tacks will snag on a doorframe and tear loose. Neat curls or a low bun with a white ribbon, pale powder, subtle gray shadow, muted pink cheeks and a touch of pearl. Ivory tights and flat lace-up boots, plus a paper fan, an empty silver frame or a fabric-covered storybook to carry. Knee to mid-calf is the right hem here, long enough to look old and short enough to walk in.
33. Flower Garden Ghost Costume
Pastel flowers give the white ghost a garden feel. A white dress or tunic over white leggings gets a lightweight chiffon poncho with a rounded scalloped hem, edged with fabric daisies and pastel leaves at the neckline and lower edge. Sew those flowers on through the center. Glued silk flowers pop off chiffon because the weave is too fine for glue to grab. A simple black ghost face goes in the middle of the tunic, with braids or curls under a soft flower crown and pale makeup, pink blush, green shadow and petal shapes on one cheek. White boots or sneakers with green laces, a miniature watering can for treats and a felt flower wand topped with a tiny ghost.
34. Friendly Scary Ghost Costume
Some kids want a ghost that actually looks spooky, and you can give them that with layers and shading instead of anything graphic. A layered white and pale gray tunic with irregular edges that are still finished, gray leggings, a short hooded cape and gauze strips fastened around the shoulders and arms. The hood stays loose and the face stays fully visible. For hair, use washable white styling color or a short white wig. Washable color rubs onto pillowcases, so put an old towel down that night. Pale makeup with smoky gray at the eyes and temples, kept soft. Gray boots or sturdy sneakers, a battery lantern, and reflective gray strips tucked inside the gauze so drivers can still see the child.
35. Personalized Name Ghost Costume
This is the one I suggest when siblings argue over who gets to be the real ghost. A white hoodie, matching pants and a short felt poncho with a smiling ghost face, then the child's initial or nickname across the chest in colorful felt letters. Stitch the letters on if the hoodie is polyester fleece, since glued felt lifts off fleece within a few wears. Let the child pick a few extra patches for the things they love and match the face decals to them. Hair natural or under a matching beanie, simple pale makeup and rosy cheeks, white sneakers with removable ribbon laces, and a canvas treat bag with the same name. It's still plainly a ghost, but it's theirs.
Making Felt Faces and Patches Stay Put
Black felt eyes and mouths show up on nearly every ghost here, and they're the first thing to fall off. The right fix depends on the fabric underneath.
- Hot glue holds felt to felt on a warm day but turns brittle in cold air, so a poncho glued indoors can lose an eye by the fourth house.
- Fabric glue grips cotton and felt well once it has cured overnight. It grips smooth polyester, fleece and mesh poorly.
- A few hand stitches around the edge, even big uneven ones, outlast any glue. On stretchy knits it's the only method I trust.
- Peel-and-stick hook-and-loop is fine on stiff fabric but peels away from a hoodie that bends all night.
Mud, Rain and Chocolate on a White Costume
White shows everything, and a ghost spends its evening near wet lawns, melting chocolate and face paint. Put the makeup on before the costume goes over the head, and let setting powder sit for a minute so cream paint doesn't print onto the neckline. If the forecast looks grim, pack a clear rain poncho that fits over the whole costume, because cardboard props and glued felt both soften once they're soaked.
Afterward, rinse chocolate and mud out with cold water before washing, since hot water sets both. Then fold the clean base pieces away. A white poncho or tunic can take a new face and new patches next year and become a completely different ghost, which is half the appeal of starting plain.
A Plain White Base, Then Your Child's Own Ghost
Start with the plain white base, then decide how far to take it. Every ghost here can stay simple or get detailed, but the ones children keep on all night are the ones that suit their personality and still let them see, walk and wave. Do a full rehearsal indoors a few days before: watch them climb stairs, sit down and turn their head. Take up any hem that catches, stitch down anything that wobbles, and add reflective trim if you'll be out after dark. Keep makeup washable and away from the eyes and mouth, and test it on the inside of the wrist first.
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