DIY Witch Costume
A witch is all black and a pointy hat. Aside from a ghost, it doesn't get much simpler than that.
The hat is the one thing worth buying. A real felt point is what separates a witch from someone who just wore black, and a good one runs about ten dollars. Everything after that is optional.
What you need
An all-black outfit and a pointy hat.
- Effort: Easy
- Cost: ~$10
- Time: 5 min
What to buy
The hat
Amazon Our pick
gagift world 18" Witch Hat · See current price at Amazon
A tall felt hat with a wire in the point you can bend into a proper witch's curve. Felt also holds its shape better than knit. Ships flat, so puff it out first.
See it at Amazon →Also checked
The makeup
Only the classic green witch needs makeup; the modern witch skips it.
Amazon Our pick
Snazaroo Face Paint Set, Rainbow, 8 Colors · See current price at Amazon
The classic witch goes green from the jaw up — the 8-color kit has the green for the skin and the black for the eyes.
It washes off after, and the green is the whole job, so the basic set covers it.
Eight colors to use one, which is what a green that actually covers costs. This one comes from Amazon direct, not a reseller.
See it at Amazon →Also checked
How to put it together
- Start with all black. Pull together a black top and black bottoms, or a single black dress. Long sleeves and a long skirt look more witchy than a t-shirt and jeans, but anything all-black is a fine base.
- Add the pointy hat. A felt hat with a bent point is the most convincing, and it's the piece people notice first.
- Layer in texture, if you want. Striped or fishnet tights, a tattered or layered skirt, and a wide belt push the look from wearing-black to witch. None of it is required, all of it helps.
- Grab a prop or two. A long pendant, fingerless gloves, or a broom you already own fill out the silhouette. Check the garage before you buy anything.
- The makeup: classic green or modern, your call. Two ways to go, and either one says witch. The modern witch skips the green: a dark lip and smudged, smoky eyes are plenty. For the classic storybook witch, paint your skin a soft witch green, blend a smoky eye under a sharp brow, and finish with a deep-rust lip and a wart or two. Pick the one you'd rather wear.
Make it your own
- For a kid
- Same formula, smaller. A black dress or black leggings and a tunic, the hat sized down, and whatever warm layer fits underneath for trick-or-treating.
- For a group
- Everyone in black with a hat is a coven the moment you walk in together. Vary the hat shapes or add one green face so it looks deliberate, not like you all happened to wear black.
- Pair it up
- A witch pairs with almost anything spooky. For a couple, put your partner in all black too, as a warlock or a grim reaper, or go for contrast with a black cat or a scarecrow.
- To level it up
- Add a cape, a tattered overlay skirt, or cobweb details at the shoulders. A wig or a single streak of color turns the closet costume into a built one.
Best if you own black clothes and want a hat with a real witch shape.
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.