Clowns
A clown costume can go a lot of directions: the elegant black-and-white Pierrot, a glam party look, a cute one for kids, or full horror.
Below is the clearest pick in each lane and where to buy it. Plus, we cover the two horror clowns and the make-it-yourself route in depth.
Five ways to be a clown: the classic Pierrot, a glam women’s look, the scary icons, a cute version for kids, or make your own. We name a clear pick for each, with full guides for the Pierrot, the two horror clowns, and the DIY route.
Pierrot & classic clowns
The Pierrot — the elegant, sad-faced, black-and-white French clown — is what most people picture as a “classic clown,” and it’s the most-searched clown look.
We cover it in depth in our Pierrot costume guide: the classic five-piece costume in women’s and men’s cuts, a cheaper party dress, and a premium velour set, each with one clear pick.
Glam & women’s clowns
For a dressier, party-leaning take, the look is a fitted clown dress with a ruffle collar. Our starting pick is Leg Avenue’s 3-piece Pierrot Clown on Amazon: a velvet dress, collar, and hat in one box, and the budget route into this look. Add a petticoat so the skirt doesn’t hang flat.
Cute clowns & kids
For kids, the bright, friendly clown is the easy win: colorful, comfortable, and quick to get on. Our starting pick is Rubies’ Clown On The Town for Kids on Amazon: a full outfit from the biggest name in costumes.
Scary & killer clowns
We cover the horror versions in depth: the Terrifier face and the year’s hottest horror costume, Art the Clown; and Pennywise, both the 2017 IT look and Tim Curry’s 1990 yellow.
Each guide names where to buy the complete kit versus the screen-accurate mask.
Make your own
A clown is one of the cheapest costumes to build yourself. Our DIY clown costume guide covers the makeup kit, a quick ruffle collar, and a baggy outfit from your own closet. About eleven dollars, start to finish.
New here? How we pick explains the one-clear-pick call behind every verdict. Prices checked June 2026. They’re subject to change, and they tend to rise in season.
Know before it’s too late to order
We name the pick. The list tells you when it stops being possible to get it in time. Get the printable order-by calendar — the last safe day to order at every major store, on one sheet — then the confirmed dates and a couple of reminders as the deadlines hit each October.
Here’s your order-by calendar.
Download the order-by calendar (PDF)Bonus: the easy DIY costume cheat-sheet (PDF)
Check your inbox. We’ve sent a confirmation link. Click it to get the confirmed dates and our costume picks all season.
Double opt-in for the newsletter — you’ll confirm by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our privacy policy. With JavaScript off, this opens a confirmation page in a new tab.