Family Halloween Costumes: 70 Ideas for Every Family Size

The best family Halloween costumes use one simple theme, such as a beekeeper with bees, zookeepers with an animal, a crayon box or the four seasons, and give every person a comfortable role.

Coordinating family Halloween costumes sounds like a big project until you notice how little each person needs: a color, felt ears, one cardboard shape.

Here are 70 family costume ideas sorted by family size and stage, including babies, toddlers, a pregnant parent and the dog, plus a planning timeline, a bedtime plan and costume safety advice from pediatric and consumer safety experts.

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Family Halloween Costumes at a Glance

Family Halloween Costumes With a Baby or Toddler

With a baby (carrier, stroller and wagon ideas). Dress the adult and the ride first. A warm sleeper in the right color is costume enough for a baby.

• Kangaroo and joey: parent in brown with felt ears, the front carrier as the pouch, baby in a brown sleeper.
• Beekeeper and bee: parent in white with a veiled hat, baby in yellow and black stripes.
• Baker and bun: parent in an apron and paper chef hat, baby in a tan sleeper as the roll.
• Gardener and flower: parent in overalls with a watering can, baby in green with a soft petal headband.
• Fire truck stroller: red cardboard panels on the stroller, baby as a spotted puppy, parents as firefighters.
• Pirate ship wagon: cardboard hull and paper sail on the wagon, a little captain inside, parents in striped shirts.

With a toddler. Let your toddler pick the theme, then build the family around it.

• Zookeepers and an animal: toddler picks any animal, parents wear khaki with binoculars.
• Dinosaur dig: toddler in a dinosaur hoodie, parents as fossil hunters with paintbrushes.
• Construction crew: toddler in a play hard hat and vest, one parent as a traffic cone, one as foreman.
• Train ride: toddler as engineer in a striped cap, the wagon as the engine, parents as conductor and passenger.
• Storybook night: toddler as the lead from a favorite picture book, such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, parents in supporting roles.
• Royal court: toddler chooses king, queen, knight or dragon, everyone else fills in.

Family Costume Ideas for a Family of 3, 4, or 5 and More

Family of 3 Halloween costumes.

• Rock, paper, scissors: three plain shirts, each with one big cardboard or felt shape.
• Sun, moon and star: one in yellow, one in gray, and the child with a felt star on navy.
• Traffic light: red, yellow and green shirts with a large felt circle on each.
• Circus act: a ringmaster in red, an acrobat in stripes, and the smallest as a lion.
• The three bears: brown clothes and felt ears, with a small, medium and large bowl.

Family of 4 Halloween costumes.

• The four seasons: winter in white with paper snowflakes, spring in florals, summer in a sun hat, fall in orange with felt leaves.
• Weather report: a sun, a cotton batting cloud, a rainbow shirt and a blue raindrop.
• Barnyard: one farmer in plaid, plus a cow, a pig and a chicken with felt ears.
• Space mission: two astronauts in white, one cardboard rocket and one star.

Family of 5 or more. Pick themes with endless roles.

• Crayon box: one color per person, head to toe, with a matching paper cone hat.
• Rainbow: one color per person, with the baby in white as the cloud.
• Solar system: dark clothes with a paper planet pinned to each chest, plus one sun.
• Under the sea: a diver with a snorkel, plus a fish, a crab, an octopus and a jellyfish.

Pregnant Parent and Family Dog Costume Ideas

Pregnant parent ideas. A bump is a ready-made prop, and it can double as a pregnancy announcement.

• Bun in the oven: a cardboard oven door over the bump, partner as baker.
• Gumball machine: a white shirt covered in bright pom-poms over the bump, kids as gumballs.
• Planet Earth: a blue and green painted shirt on the bump, partner and kids in white as astronauts.
• Avocado and toast: the bump as the avocado pit, partner as a slice of toast.
• Pumpkin patch: an orange shirt with a felt face on the bump, partner as farmer.

With the dog. Many dogs are happiest in a bandana or their own fur.

• Spotted pack: white shirts with black felt spots, inspired by 101 Dalmatians. The dog comes as is.
• Little Red Riding Hood: a child in red, a parent as grandmother in a robe, and the dog as the wolf.
• Hot dog stand: the dog in a soft bun vest, the family as ketchup, mustard and relish.
• Safari: the dog as a lion with a soft mane collar, the family as guides in khaki.

Classic, Movie, TV and Book Themes

Classic themes. Friendly, not frightening, so they suit small children.

• Friendly ghosts: white shirts or ponchos with black felt eyes. Faces stay uncovered.
• Scarecrows: plaid shirts, straw hats, raffia at the cuffs and a painted triangle nose.
• Witches and a black cat: black dresses and soft hats, with the baby in black with felt ears.
• Skeleton crew: black pajamas with bones made from white or glow in the dark tape.
• Friendly monsters: one bright color each, felt horns on a headband and paper spots.

Movies, TV and books. Build each role from plain clothes. Our Halloween movies for kids list has more inspiration.

• The Wizard of Oz: a blue gingham dress, a scarecrow, a tin man, a lion, and the baby as the little dog.
• Star Wars: a brown hooded robe, a white dress with side buns, a dark cape, and the baby in a green-eared hat.
• Toy Story: a cowboy, a cowgirl, a space ranger in white and green, and a toddler dinosaur.
• Winnie the Pooh: a bear in a red shirt, a striped orange tiger, a small pink pig and a gray donkey.
• Peter Pan: a boy in green, a fairy with wings, a pirate captain, and the baby as the crocodile.
• Harry Potter: dark robes, striped scarves and round glasses, with the baby as a white owl.
• Bluey: a family of cartoon dogs in blue and orange, with felt ears and tails.

Food, Animal and Punny Family Costumes

Food themes.

• S’mores: two cardboard graham crackers, one child in brown as chocolate, the smallest in white as the marshmallow.
• Breakfast plate: bacon, toast, a pancake, and an egg (a white shirt with a yellow felt circle).
• Pizza shop: a pizza maker in an apron, a delivery person with an empty box, kids wearing felt slices.
• Fruit salad: a strawberry, a pineapple with a green paper crown, a watermelon and a blueberry baby.
• Ice cream parlor: a scooper in an apron, kids as pastel scoops, the baby in a red cherry hat.

Animals.

• Woodland friends: a fox, an owl, a deer and a raccoon, made with felt ears and tails.
• Arctic friends: penguins in black and white with orange socks, plus a polar bear in white.
• Bug garden: a ladybug, a bee, a butterfly and a caterpillar, with one adult as the gardener.
• Ducks in a row: a parent in white, kids in yellow, orange paper feet over shoes.
• Cats, mice and cheese: parents as cats, kids as gray mice, the baby in yellow as the cheese.

Punny and funny.

• Raining cats and dogs: raincoats and an umbrella with paper cats and dogs hanging from it.
• Smart cookies: cardboard cookie sandwich boards plus paper graduation caps.
• Bread winners: cardboard bread slices on the front, with ribbon medals around each neck.
• Laundry day: parents as a cardboard washer and dryer, kids as mismatched socks.

Easy DIY and Last Minute Family Costumes

Easy DIY from the closet. No sewing, and most pieces go back in the drawer on November 1.

• Lumberjacks and a tree: plaid shirts and beanies for parents, a child in brown and green with paper leaves.
• Tourists: bright shirts, sun hats, cameras, paper maps and socks with sandals.
• 1980s workout class: leggings, sweatbands, leg warmers and bright oversized tops.
• Camping trip: flannel shirts, backpacks and headlamps, with the baby in white as the marshmallow.
• Painters and paint: adults in white splattered with color, each child in one solid color.

Last minute, under an hour.

• Pajama party: matching pajamas, robes, a teddy bear and messy hair. Wear real shoes.
• Black cat family: all black clothes, paper ears, eyeliner whiskers and a sock tail.
• Home team fans: jerseys you already own, with one child in stripes as the referee.
• Switch day: kids dress as the parents, parents dress as the kids with backpacks.
• Rainy day: raincoats, boots and umbrellas, with the baby in yellow as the duck.

Our Halloween activities for kids and pumpkin painting ideas are just as quick.

How to Choose a Family Costume Everyone Will Wear

• Comfort first: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests a costume that is not too long or too bulky, and checking that your child can see, breathe, walk and move their arms easily in it.
• Weather layers: the AAP advises checking the forecast and including layers if needed.
• Bathroom and diaper access: for children still potty training, the AAP says there is no harm in an easy-on, easy-off diaper.
• Naps and car seats: if you are driving, dress at the event, and choose a baby costume that comes off in seconds.
• Keep it respectful: skip any costume that turns a culture, ethnicity, religion, disability or body type into a joke.

Match your costumes to your car with our trunk or treat ideas.

DIY vs. Store Bought and a 4 Week Planning Timeline

• DIY: costs less, fits over warm layers and lets kids help.
• Store bought: saves time. Look for “flame resistant” on the label and shorten hems that drag.

Family Costume Photo Tips

• Take the family photo before you leave, while costumes are intact.
• Shoot outdoors in open shade or before sunset, at your smallest child’s eye level.
• Stand in story order (crayons by color, bears by size) so the theme reads at a glance.

Keeping Bedtime on Track on Halloween Night

The AAP notes that infants and young children thrive on routine. Its suggestion: trick-or-treat while it is still light so you can keep the usual bedtime, or look for an earlier local event.

• Protect the afternoon nap so your child does not start the evening overtired.
• Serve dinner first and agree on a few treats for tonight. The AAP recommends limiting added sugar.
• Costume off, face paint washed away, then your normal toddler bedtime routine in the normal order.

Related Betteroo Guides

• Halloween safety tips
• Trunk or treat ideas
• Pumpkin painting ideas
• Halloween movies for kids
• Halloween activities for kids
• Toddler bedtime routine

Family Costume Safety

Our Halloween safety tips cover streets, candy and allergies. These are costume specific.

• Flame resistance: the AAP says to look for “flame resistant” on costume labels, wigs and accessories. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends polyester or nylon over sheer cotton or rayon, and warns that any fabric can burn if it touches an open flame.
• Fit and trip hazards: the CPSC advises avoiding overly long or baggy costumes to prevent trips and falls. The AAP says to avoid sharp or long swords, canes or sticks.
• Masks vs. face paint: the AAP calls non-toxic makeup and decorative hats safer alternatives to masks. Test makeup on a small patch of skin first.
• Visibility: the AAP recommends bright, reflective costumes. The CPSC suggests reflective tape as trim, plus a flashlight or glow stick.
• Babies and toddlers: per the AAP, a mask, hat or cape should not block your child’s face or become a choking risk.
• Car seats: the AAP says bulky clothing, including winter coats and snowsuits, should not be worn underneath a car seat harness, because padding flattens in a crash and leaves extra space under the straps. Treat a padded costume the same way: buckle in thin layers and add the costume when you arrive.
• Baby-wearing: the AAP says to make sure you can always see your baby’s face in a carrier, with the mouth and nose not blocked by fabric or your body and the chin not pressed into the chest.
• Dogs: the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says a pet costume should fit properly, have no pieces that can be chewed off, and not block sight, hearing, breathing, the mouth or movement.

Safe sleep comes before a cute photo. A baby never sleeps in a costume with a hood, cape, strings or loose parts. Change your baby into normal sleepwear and lay them down alone, on their back, on a firm, flat, bare surface: the AAP says a fitted sheet only, with no hat indoors. No pillows, blankets or soft toys. If your baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller or carrier, the AAP says to move them to a firm sleep surface as soon as possible. See our safe sleep environment checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions

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