DIY Ghost Costume
A ghost is a white sheet with two eye holes. That's the whole costume, and it's the simplest thing on this site to pull off.
If you already own a plain white flat sheet, you're done before you start. A thrifted one runs a dollar or two, and an inexpensive new sheet is the only thing here worth buying. Everything past that is a finishing touch.
What you need
A white flat sheet and a pair of scissors.
- Effort: Easiest
- Cost: $0–12
- Time: 5 min
The one thing to buy
Rather not cut your good linens? A few stores sell inexpensive versions. None of these is special-order, so if Halloween is less than a week away, order online for in-store pickup. That way you find out whether the store can fill it before you make the trip.
Walmart Our pick
Mainstays Percale Flat Sheet, Arctic White, Twin/Twin XL · $11.84
Walmart's $11.84 Mainstays flat sheet is the one to cut Arctic white; a twin drapes an adult with room to spare.
Any plain white flat sheet does the job, so grab the cheapest you find.
See it at Walmart →Also checked
How to put it together
- Pick the right size sheet. A twin flat sheet drapes most kids and adults with room to spare. If you're tall or want it to puddle on the floor, go up to a full or queen. Plain white, no pattern.
- Drape it before you cut anything. Put the sheet over your head first, then have someone mark where your eyes land with a pen. Cutting eye holes blind never lines up; marking them while it's on you does.
- Cut the eye holes. Take the sheet off and snip two small holes at the marks, a little bigger than a quarter. Start small, since you can always widen them, but a too-big hole can't be undone.
- Back the holes with black tulle. Tack a square of black tulle behind each hole. From the outside the eyes look hollow and dark, and you can still see straight through the mesh.
- Weight the hem so it hangs. Sew a few coins into the bottom corners, or round off the hem with scissors. A weighted, rounded edge hangs like a ghost instead of sitting flat like a sheet off the bed.
Make it your own
- For a kid
- Size the sheet down to a crib or twin and trim the length so it clears the ground. A hem that drags is the thing that trips a kid on a dark sidewalk, so cut it shorter than feels right.
- Pair it up
- A ghost goes with anything, so pair it with whatever your group is already doing. Making one for the dog too? Same idea, just a smaller sheet and lower eye holes.
- To level it up
- This is where the good ghost gets made. A heavier hem weight and a longer drape give you that floating hang, and gray or tea-stained fabric looks more haunted than bright white.
Best if you want the easiest costume here and a sheet you don't mind cutting.
More spooky DIY costumes
Prices checked September 4, 2026. Stores set their own prices and may change them. The “See it at” links go to the live listing.