Best Halloween costumes: Fancy dress ideas for men, women, kids and pets

Picking the ideal Halloween costume is never easy. Do you want to stick with the classics – a vampire, Frankenstein’s monster, bat or sexy cat – or can you be a little more adventurous? Are you looking for something genuinely terrifying, or are you looking for something more family-friendly? And have you considered dressing up your pets for the occasion too? These are just a few of the absolutely crucial questions you’ll need to answer before you start shopping. 

Whatever you do, don’t spend too much time fretting about your costume choices – we’ve got some great suggestions to help spark a little Halloween inspiration. We’ve collected some of the best costume ideas we could find, for everyone from adults to children and – as a bonus – pets too. Some are cute, some are scary, but all of them will make you a hit at whatever party or trick or treat session you attend.

How to choose the best Halloween costume for you

What do I need to watch out for when buying a Halloween costume?

Sizing might be the biggest issue when it comes to Halloween attire. Because a lot of it is cheaply made, it’s not as simple as going by your usual sizing, and you’ll need to take an extra-close look at the measurements provided by the seller. This also goes for children and animal costumes as one size most definitely won’t fit all. Check the recommended age-range (or, for dogs, breed) before purchasing. Speaking from experience, it may be wise to order the two closest sizes at once so you don’t have to faff with returns and re-ordering. 

Are there any extra bits I need to buy?

Almost certainly. While some costumes require nothing more than a can-do attitude, others will need a touch of something extra. Be prepared to shell out for accessories, wigs and face paint to match your chosen outfit, but these are all relatively inexpensive and can be used again and again. The most important thing is to be aware of what’s included and what’s extra before hitting the buy button. 

Best Halloween costumes to buy in 2020

1. Cruella costume

Price: £19 | Buy now from Amazon

Get ready for Emma Stone’s upcoming Cruella film with this classic costume, which includes a black dress, red gloves, choker, fur shrug and cuff. Add some dark makeup, a wig, fishnet tights and a cigarette holder and you’ll be sure to scare any nervous pups out and about on Halloween night. Also great for any Disney-themed fancy dress/hen parties in your future, or just for an everyday look – we’re not judging.

2. Game of Thrones Night King mask

Price: £13 | Buy now from Amazon

Game of Thrones may be over but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your obsession just yet. This Night King mask is an easy way to emulate the show’s frostiest villain (excluding Lena Headey), with its impressive detailing and texture creating a brilliant effect. Our guess is that you’ll be overcome with a sudden urge to find a wall to knock over, but do try and restrain yourself. Also great for the anti-social. 

3. Incredibles Elastigirl costume

Price: £35 | Buy now from Amazon

One of the best parts of Halloween is the ability to bring all manner of outlandish things to life, including animated characters. This Elastigirl costume from Pixar’s The Incredibles lives up to the film’s name and includes everything you’ll need with the jumpsuit, boots tops and mask. Why not make it a couples costume with this Mr Incredible suit? Sadly, the ability to retrieve the remote from down the back of the sofa not included.

4. Toy Soldier costume

Price: £26 | Buy now from Amazon

One of those costumes that might require you to stand still for most of the night to get the full effect, but is worth every stationary minute. It comes with the belted shirt, trousers, helmet and stand, so all that’s left to do is get the green face paint out. Warning – people might mistake you for an inanimate object, so remember to move away from the bar every once in a while. 

5. Clueless Cher costume

Price: £28 | Buy now from Amazon

The 90s are back in a big way, and there are few looks from the decade more iconic than Clueless’ Cher kitted out in her yellow blazer and skirt. It’s not a scary look for many people – outside of millennials wondering how the 90s were almost 30 years ago  – but it’s one pretty much everyone will get on first look. Add a blonde wig for ultimate likeness. 

6. Pennywise Clown costume

Price: £54 | Buy now from Amazon

A sure-fire winner on Halloween ever since the first feature adaptation of Stephen King’s terrifying IT hit cinemas a couple of years ago, Pennywise is still fresh this year thanks to the recently-released sequel. Note: this costume only includes the bodysuit, so you’ll need some face paint, wig and (optional) a creepy red balloon to achieve the full look. Complete the outfit, and you’ll float, too. 

Best Halloween costumes for kids

1. LEGO Ninjago Movie costume

Price: £17 | Buy now from Amazon

Bring a LEGO Ninjago character to life with this nifty costume from Amazon. This is one of the easiest options for your child, involving just a soft tunic-style top, mask and gloves, underneath which they can easily wear normal clothes. Available in two sizes – 4-6 years and 7-8 years.

2. Child Medusa costume

Price: £16.50 | Buy now from Amazon

Make your kid feel powerful for a night with this awesome Medusa costume, complete with dress and snake headband that may or may not help the wearer turn people into stone. The green makeup used on the model is your best bet at making the outfit look scary, and you could also add a green wig to really sell it. 

3. Bodysocks Inflatable Surgeon costume

Price: £30 | Buy now from Amazon

What’s Halloween without a little fake blood and gore? Less fun, that’s what, and this Bodysocks Inflatable Surgeon costume delivers that and more. The occupant stands with their feet in the surgeon part and their head in the body part, creating one heck of an illusion and almost certainly eliciting a few double takes while trick or treating. 

4. Captain Marvel Hero suit

Price: £20 | Buy now from Amazon

You can have your young superhero dress up as the newest Avenger in town with this Captain Marvel suit, complete with optional helmet. Marvel hasn’t given girls a ton of options for fancy-dress over the years, but this year she can cosplay as the strongest hero of the bunch with the padded jumpsuit, belt and shoe covers also included.

Best Halloween costumes for babies and toddlers

1. Stay Puft Ghostbusters onesie

Price: £30 | Buy now from Amazon

We all know that dressing up babies for Halloween has nothing to do with the child in question and everything to do with the parents. You have to be careful to choose something comfortable to avoid an understandable tantrum, then, and this Ghostbusters-themed Stay Puft outfit is adorable while also taking the form of your standard onesie.  

2. Baby Bat costume

Price: £20 | Buy now from Amazon

Guarantee a chorus of ‘awwws’ at the party with this Baby Bat costume from Amazon. It’ll keep your little one snug as a bug (or a bat?) all while fitting in with the scary theme of the night. It has skid-resistant feet and a snap closure that makes any nappy changing a doddle, so your little monster can party all day and into the night.

3. Baby Pea sleepsuit

Price: £19 | Buy now from Amazon

This Baby Pea sleepsuit is the perfect choice for your tiniest family member this Halloween, with its attached peas providing entertainment for the baby and the unbearable cuteness of the outfit providing entertainment for the grownups. Recommended if you need to take the pushchair or pram out trick or treating with the older kids.

Best Halloween costumes for pets

1. Beetlejuice Halloween Pet costume

Price: £21 | Buy now from Amazon

Get your pooch involved in the proceedings with this amazing Beetlejuice costume, which comes with a tiny striped suit and wig. The costume comes in four different sizes so you can get the perfect fit for your dog, no matter how big or small, though the listing recommends it for pugs, Jack Russell terriers and similarly-sized dogs. Disclaimer: Michael Keaton not included.

2. Pirate Costume for dogs/cats

Price: £14 | Buy now from Amazon

Suitable for both cats and dogs, this costume fits on just the front legs to create the illusion of a ferocious pirate complete with skull and crossbones hat and hook. It’ll mean absolutely nothing to your animal, but your friends, family and party guests will be able to talk about nothing else. Just watch your treasure chests around them.