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, about $45 on Amazon: a velvet dress, collar, and hat in one box, with 4.2 stars from 598 buyers. 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, about $22 on Amazon: a full outfit from the biggest name in costumes, averaging 4.5 stars across 480-plus reviews.
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.