Scary Costumes
Some of the scariest Halloween costumes are also the most iconic. These are the characters that defined horror and still anchor October.
Every guide here is built the same way: pick the piece that carries the character, and build out from there. The verdicts name what's screen-accurate, what's an honest budget stand-in, and where to buy each.
New here? How we pick explains the screen-accurate-versus-casual call behind every verdict.
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)
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