Fun Halloween Costume Ideas for 2025

Halloween is around the corner, and for many families, the big question is: what will the kids wear this year? If your child is in elementary school and still loves playful, classic costumes, or in middle school and craving something a little cooler, we’ve rounded up some of the best Halloween costume ideas for 2025.

Classic Favorites That Never Go Out of Style

Some costumes remain timeless, perfect for elementary school kids who want something familiar and fun. Bonus points if an older sibling has these costumes and can pass them along!

Witches and Wizards – Add modern twists like LED wands or glowing capes. Or take a note from Wicked and go for Glinda or Elphaba!
Ghosts – Easy to DIY and customizable with colorful sheets or painted faces.
Vampires – A classic choice that works for both silly and spooky. Add some fake blood and white makeup for fun!
Pirates – Always popular, especially with playful accessories like toy parrots.

These staples are easy to pull together with items you already have at home—and they never lose their Halloween charm.

Pop Culture Picks for 2025

Elementary and middle schoolers love showing off costumes inspired by their favorite shows, books, and games. Some themes expected to be big this year:

Video Game Heroes – Characters from Minecraft, Fortnite, and Super Mario remain popular, especially as they continue to make fun new movies!
Animated Characters – Expect a rise in costumes from hit movies & shows released this year, with colorful sidekicks and fun duos for friends. Think of Elio, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and Roz.
Superheroes – From Marvel to DC, superhero costumes continue to be in demand, often with updated versions based on recent movie releases. The addition of more diverse characters adds to expanding options. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse offers so many choices!
Fantasy Creatures – Dragons, unicorns, and mermaids are still magical favorites, especially with glittery, glow-in-the-dark details. Even for parents, fantasy is having a moment.
Popstars: As someone who went as Josie from the Pussycats in kindergarten, this is a hall of fame mention. Modernize it by going as Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, take your pick!

Creative DIY Costume Ideas

If you’re looking to save money or avoid store-bought costumes, DIY options are a great way to stand out.

Bubble Tea Cup – Use a clear plastic umbrella, black balloons for “boba,” and a cardboard straw hat.
Solar System – Paint foam balls and attach them to black clothing for a cosmic effect.
LEGO Brick – Cardboard boxes and paint make an affordable, instantly recognizable look. (This idea could also be used to make a “news stand” costume, classic.)
Emoji Faces – Big cardboard circles painted as your child’s favorite emoji make for fun and silly costumes.

DIY costumes can double as craft projects—perfect for creative kids. Send us pictures of what you come up with!

Group and Sibling Costume Ideas

Halloween is even more fun with themed group costumes. Perfect for siblings or friends heading out together:

Fairy Tale Crew – Princesses, dragons, knights, and wizards. You could extend this to a superhero crew, as well! Thunderbolts, anyone?
Fruit Salad – Each child dresses as a different fruit (banana, strawberry, grape cluster).
Board Game Pieces – Dress as chess pieces or characters from Candy Land. The possibilities are endless.
Rock, Paper, Scissors – A simple but hilarious trio costume.

Bonus: Wednesday and Pugsley Addams are a classic hit that I must include here (living for the revival!), plus any other Addams Family members you desire!

Tween-Friendly Middle School Ideas

Middle schoolers often want costumes that feel less “cute” and more creative or clever. These ideas strike a good balance:

Optical Illusion Costumes – Outfits that make it look like you’re being carried by an alien or robot (absolutely hilarious!).
Retro Throwbacks – ’90s and early 2000s-inspired outfits, which are making a big comeback. An age-appropriate Brittney Spears or Cristina Aguilera is not a bad move! And did someone mention Cher, ugh, as if?! 💁🏼‍♀️💛
Meme Costumes – Teens love showing off humor—think recognizable internet jokes and trends. If your family owns What Do You Meme?, use it for inspiration!

These ideas let tweens show off their personality without being too grown-up.

MomBrains Inspiration

This year, the little ones at MomBrains are going as Moana (from Moana 2, to be clear) and a Kit-Kat bar (complete with complimentary Kit-Kats for her fellow trick-or-treaters)!

Tips for the Big Night

Comfort comes first. Make sure costumes allow for walking, running, and carrying candy bags.
Layer smartly. Depending on your region, Halloween can be chilly—consider costumes that work with jackets, turtlenecks, leggings, etc. underneath.
Safety counts. Reflective tape or glow accessories keep kids visible in the dark if you live in a poorly lit area.
Budget wisely. Mix DIY and store-bought pieces to save money without sacrificing creativity. This might be the only year they can wear this!

From classic witches and vampires (or pumpkins if you’ve got really little ones!) to creative DIY projects and trendy pop culture looks, this year has endless possibilities for Halloween costumes.

So grab some glitter, cardboard, or a ready-made cape—make Halloween 2025 one to remember!