We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
65 Ingenious Family Halloween Costumes That'll Please Your Whole "Boo Crew"
From classics like The Wizard of Oz to new favorites like Super Mario Bros., these group costume ideas will please everyone in your whole clan.
When I was a kid, when I chose my Halloween costume, I never expected my father, mother or sister to jump in with me and find a costume that went with mine. And to that I say: They totally missed out! Now, when I stroll the streets on Halloween night, I see entire clans with siblings, adults, neighbors, friends and even dogs getting in on the act with coordinating looks. From the smiles on their faces, family Halloween costumes seems like the most fun type of group Halloween costumes to put together.
The hardest part is finding something that everyone can agree on. These are the best family Halloween costumes that we've found for 2023, since they are flexible enough to meet everyone in your brood where they are. Many are from movies, shows and books that have a lot of characters, so everyone can choose their favorites. Others are more like themes — animals, food or general storybook or sci-fi characters — that are adaptable enough so that each person in the group can make it their own. And some like to flip conventions, with the biggest characters for the littlest kids and vice versa. Whether you're just looking for matching siblings or you want to dress the whole crew, including aunts, uncles and cousins, you can fit these ideas to your family's needs. All you have to worry about is what to do with all that candy.
Looking for even more costume inspiration? Check out Good Housekeeping's other guides to the best Halloween costumes of 2023:
The Best Halloween Costumes for Kids | The Best Baby Halloween Costumes | The Best Toddler Halloween Costumes |
Starbucks Family Halloween Costume
What's your order? This one includes a Frappucino, a coffee, a box of milk and a cake pop, served by two adult baristas. It's just the jolt you need to get things going!
Disney Villains Family Costume
It's Halloween — time for the villains to shine! This family is made up of some of Disney's best and baddest, including Dr. Facilier from The Princess and the Frog, Ursula from The Little Mermaid, the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland and Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmatians.
'Spider-Verse' Family Halloween Costume
There are so many variations on Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse that your family members can all pick a different one and not repeat. There's Miles Morales, Ghost Spider and Peter Parker, of course. If there's a baby in the mix, you can get someone to be Peter B. Parker holding his daughter, Mayday, in a baby carrier. Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman would be a good choice for anyone looking for a maternity costume, and you can add a studded vest and spiked cuffs to a regular Spider-Man costume to get a quick, DIY Spider Punk. When you're all done, you can re-create the Spider-Man pointing meme.
'The Addams Family' Costume
Wednesday fans are going to want to get in on this Addams Family costume ASAP, so brush up on those pigtail-braiding skills. The hand on Gomez's shoulder is spookily good touch.
See more at Loft 3 Photography »
RELATED: How to Create the Ultimate Wednesday Addams Halloween Costume
Space Family Costume
Astronauts are always popular Halloween costumes with space-loving kids, but if you don't want to go with the NASA version, you can always take your cues from this retro-futurstic space family. Note: This DIY has a lot of spray paint involved.
'The Little Mermaid' Family Costume
Whether you go with the looks from the 1989 classic or update them for this year's The Little Mermaid remake, everyone can be part of this world. Can't tell what that red blob is being held by King Triton? It's baby Charlotte dressed as Sebastian the crab.
See more at Craftiness Is Not Optional »
RELATED: The Best Disney Family Costumes, So Everyone Can Be Their Favorite Characters This Halloween
'Where the Wild Things Are' Family Costume
Let the wild rumpus start! This is an especially good idea for families with kids who go to schools that have a "dress as your favorite book character" day. You can have as many Wild Things as you need (this one has two adult Wild Things and one baby one), and a Max to lead them all.
See more at The House That Lars Built »
RELATED: The Best Book Character Costumes for Kids and Teachers
Super Mario Family Costume
After The Super Mario Bros. Movie this year, they're going to want to head into the Mushroom Kingdom for their costume inspiration. There are ready-to-buy costumes and accessories, in sizes from infant to adult, for multiple characters including Donkey Kong and Bowser. Or you can try to DIY your own, like blogger Vanessa Coppola.
Hungry, Hungry Hippos Family Costume
When you have a baby at home, sometimes they just act like a hungry, hungry hippo all the time. Go with it, and dress up like the classic board game with monochromatic suits and hippo hats.
Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth »
RELATED: Best Halloween Costumes for 3 People That Are Trio Goals
'The Nightmare Before Christmas' Family Halloween Costume
Now this is Halloween! In addition to having a Jack Skellington and a Sally, this family has a Halloween Town mayor; if you need more, you can always consider adding a Lock, Shock and Barrel, an Oogie Boogie, a Zero or another Halloween Town resident into the mix.
Plant Family
They say it's not easy being green, but these DIY plant costumes can be whipped up in a snap.
For the Planter:
- Cut a hole in the bottom of a grasscloth basket wide enough for wearer’s hips and legs to fit through comfortably.
- Download our leaf template and trace it onto green paper. Trim and fold in half.
- Cut varying lengths of wire. Create stems by threading wire through green straws, dabbing hot glue as you thread to keep straws in place.
- Hot-glue leaves to ends of stems.
- Hot-glue stems to inside of basket, avoiding sides. Reinforce with duct tape if necessary once dry.
- Cut 2 lengths of green ribbon for shoulder straps. Attach to inside front and back of basket with Velcro tape or safety pins.
- With wearer dressed in green; slide basket over head, straps resting on shoulders. Bend stems around wearer to create a natural look.
For the Snake Plant:
- Cut 1.5” wide strips of light green crepe paper and 1.75” strips of dark green crepe paper.
- Curve the tops into points.
- Spread a glue stick all over a light green strip.
- Place a length of floral wire down the middle of the strip, and top with a strip of dark green crepe paper.
- Smooth with your fingers and let dry.
- Curve the strips to create a leaf effect and attach to a hat with hot glue or safety pins.
- Fill shirt pockets with more leaves to complete the look.
For the Cactus Hat:
- Cut 2” lengths of pipe cleaners and fold each in half.
- Dab a small dot of hot glue in the center and attach to the beret. Cover the whole hat and let dry.
'Trolls' Family Halloween Costume
With Trolls Band Together coming out at the end of the year, your family might want to re-watch Trolls World Tour again — and if they do, they might fall in love with Poppy and the rest of the musical trolls all over again. This family went with Poppy, Queen Barb, Biggie and — hilariously — Tiny Diamond, but your family can find the Trolls that bet match their personality.
Glow-in-the-Dark Skeleton Family Costume
These one-piece costumes are warm, comfortable and glow in the dark. (Safety!) They require low effort and make it easy to identify each other on Halloween night.
'A League of Their Own' Family Costume
Batter up! Any player of any age can put on a Rockford Peach uniform — just cross your finger that you you don't get traded to the Racine Belles.
'Pinocchio' Family Halloween Costume
When you wish upon a star, you'll get amazing Geppetto, Pinocchio, Blue Fairy and Jiminy Cricket costume inspiration. you can always add a pair of donkey ears, too.
'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' Family Costume
If anyone can come up with a delightful cast of characters, it's Roald Dahl. If you want to get in on the madcap fun, dress your family as Willy Wonka, Violet Beauregard, Mike TV, Veruca Salt and an Oompa Loompa from the 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Retro Music
With this trio of costumes, everyone in the fam can pick their favorite icon of an era of music gone by.
For the Record:
- Cut out 2 large cardboard circles from a box. Cover both sides of circles with black spray paint and let dry completely.
- While circles are drying, print out 2 copies of our record label template.
- Cut out labels and glue 1 to the center of each black cardboard circle.
- To create shoulder and chest straps, measure length needed; for each strap, place 2 strips of black duct tape, sticky sides together.
- Tape straps to cardboard on front and back so costume will slip easily over wearer’s head. Use a paint pen to draw on record grooves.
For the Mix Tape:
- Cut 2 large rectangles from the cardboard box.
- Spray paint both sides of the circles with teal spray paint.
- While this dries, print out 2 copies of our cassette label template.
- Cut out the label and glue it to the center of the cardboard rectangles.
- Using a black permanent maker, follow the template provided to add the cassette shapes and outlines.
- Use the directions above (in the record instructions) to create shoulder and chest straps.
- Tape to the cardboard front and back so you can easily slip it over your head.
For the Disco Ball:
- Cut 2 large circles from the cardboard box.
- Spray paint both sides of the circles with silver spray paint and let dry completely.
- While this dries, cut out 1" x 2" foil rectangles.
- Tear 1/2" wide strips of duct tape and place foil rectangles on sticky side so the majority of the foil hangs off (so it looks like a banner of flags).
- Starting at the bottom, stick the tape/foil banner across the silver cardboard circle so the layer above overlaps the layer below. This will create a tiled effect.
- Trim or fold back the tape around the edge of the circle to maintain the round "disco ball" shape.
- Complete 2 circles for the front and back.
- Use the directions above (in the record instructions) to create shoulder and chest straps.
- Tape to the cardboard front and back so you can easily slip it over your head.
Strawberry Banana Family Costume
For a sweet "Mommy & Me" costume, you can dress as your favorite fruits! Since these outfits are so simple and easy to wear, they're perfect for a daycare or class party.
'Turning Red' Red Panda Mei and 4*Town Fans
'Turning Red' Red Panda Mei and 4*Town Fans
Your kids are wild animals, so let their inner red pandas shine with this one-piece Turning Red red panda jumpsuit. And you? You can go as the world's biggest 4*Town fan (after Mei), with the 4*Town World Tour shirt (complete with tour dates on the back).
'Ice Ice Baby' Family Costume
Don’t miss out on this punny costume from the 1990 hit rap song, “Ice Ice Baby” — perfect for a family of three!
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.
Shanon is a writer and editor who specializes in best-of product roundups and deals. She has over six years of experience, including almost three years as a Good Housekeeping product and reviews editor, covering the best sales and products across home, appliances, health, beauty, parenting and more.
55 Cute Pumpkin Faces for Your Jack-O'-Lanterns
90 Creative Pumpkin Decorating Ideas
37 Best Witch Movies for the Entire Family
26 Best Halloween Costumes for Brunettes
