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Halloween is creeping up fast. If you’re searching for the perfect costume that won’t break the bank or gather dust after one night, DIY Halloween costumes at Goodwill are the way to go.
With a little imagination and a few thrifted treasures, you can create a DIY Halloween costume that turns heads while supporting your local community.
September 15, 2025
The Cost of Halloween
In 2023 alone, Americans spent $4.1 billion on Halloween costumes:
- $2 billion on adult costumes
- $1.4 billion on kids’ costumes
- $700 million on pet costumes
- $108.24 per costume on average
That’s a scary amount of money for something you’ll likely wear once and stuff into a closet (or worse, a landfill). Shop smarter and more sustainably this year at Goodwill.
Why Choose Goodwill for Halloween?
- Unique Costumes You Can’t Find Anywhere Else | Skip the pricey, mass-produced costumes.
- Sustainable Style | Fast fashion hurts the planet. Shopping second-hand reduces waste and gives items a second life.
- Support a Cause with Every Purchase | When you shop at Goodwill, 87 cents of every dollar goes directly toward funding programs, including:
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- Career and job training
- Education support
- Resume help and job placement
DIY Your Costume at Goodwill
Creating a show-stopping look is easier (and way more fun) than you think:
- Get Inspired | Think about your favorite movie, TV show, meme, or era.
- Costume Idea: Channel Kim Possible with green cargo pants, a black top, and combat boots.
- Start with a Statement Piece | A funky jacket, a long cape, or a sequin dress can be the base of your look.
- Costume Idea: Find a pink faux fur jacket to recreate Sabrina Carpenter’s iconic look. Add a white crop top and black skirt to complete the look.
- Be Inventive | Old curtains? Perfect for a vampire cloak. Tablecloths? Ghost material, literally.
- Costume Idea: Find an empty picture frame and wear it around your neck like a portrait. Use face paint or makeup to match a famous painting.
- Accessorize Smart | Look for vintage hats, costume jewelry, and toys to finish the look.
- Costume Idea: Find a sparkly pink gown, crown, and toy wand, and boom—you’re Glinda the Good Witch.
- Craft It Up | No sewing required. With a little hot glue, fabric paint, or patches, you’ll be Halloween-ready in no time.
- Costume Idea: Cut mouse ears from cardboard, glue them to a headband, and throw on some ’80s workout gear. You’re a Gym Rat—pun costume for the win!
Visit your local store or head to goodwillhalloween.org for ideas, inspiration, and everything you need to bring your costume vision to life.
