55 Best Scary Halloween Costumes That Will Spook Everyone

What’s creepier than a murderous doll? Probably one powered by AI. You might be the most avoided person at the party in this outfit, but you’ll have the best scary Halloween costume, sure to be one of the most popular Halloween costumes of the year.

A lot of weird stuff happened when this beloved children’s series came out of copyright, but this seriously scary movie was probably the weirdest. Ruin your friends’ childhood memories by donning this ghastly mask, and don’t forget the red T-shirt beneath.

Director Jordan Peele really knows how to make a horror movie. Us hit cinemas in 2019, but it still gives us shivers to think about. This scary Halloween costume is super simple: Just slip on a red jumpsuit, grab some scissors (preferably fake ones) and keep an eye out for yourself. Plus, it’s a great couples costume idea for spooky lovers.

Creatures from folklore and mythology make the best horror Halloween costumes, and this Native American frightfest is no exception. At the very least, people will cross the street to avoid you in this getup.

One of the most notorious murderers in Victorian London walking down the street in modern times? You’re sure to get a few shrieks with Jack’s cape over your shoulders.

Dress up as the terrifying villain in one of the scariest Halloween movies to give your friends and family a real fright.

The Black Phone is easily one of the best scary movies—and the film’s masked killer, The Grabber, is extra sinister. If you’re looking for a costume that really brings the scare factor, dress up as The Grabber, complete with that terrifying mask and eerie getup.

Feel like going to the Dark Side for a night? This simple Sith costume is perfect for Star Wars fans.

Turn Halloween into prom night gone wrong by dressing as Stephen King’s unforgettable protagonist in Carrie. All you need is a white slip dress doused in fake blood and a corsage (telekinesis optional).

If you’re looking for a scary Halloween costume idea for your kids, this Grim Reaper getup will do the trick. The creepy glowing eyes really add to an already spooky costume. It’s a pretty easy Halloween costume to throw together too.

Vecna has made his mark in the villain world after terrorizing the town of Hawkins in season 4 of Stranger Things. Pay homage to the Upside Down’s biggest bad guy this Halloween by donning this eerie mask. Bonus points if you carry around a clock to really sell the character.

Scary and romantic—what’s not to love? This eerie zombie bride costume is pretty easy to put together. Do your face paint, put on a bridal-esque white dress and you’re on your creepy way down the aisle. Need help picking your wedding soundtrack? These creepy Halloween songs should do the trick (or treat!).

Dress up in this simple but scary costume and pay tribute to one of the most iconic slasher movies. You’re sure to get a couple of screams with this one! It’s also a good last-minute Halloween costume idea—all you need is the mask and some black clothing.

This is one of those scary Halloween costumes that’s pretty easy to DIY. All you need is black clothing (like leggings and a long sleeve shirt) and some black and white face paint, and voilà—you’re a scary skeleton. Feel free to carry around a fake skull for an added spooky effect.

The killer-clown mask is the key element of this scary Halloween costume, of course, but it’s helped along by a disturbingly cheery outfit with slash marks and a weapon of your choice. Bloody cleavers, flailing spiked balls—the options are endless and disturbing.

Get wrapped up in the Halloween spirit with this ghoulish mummy costume. Leave the toilet-papered mummy for the kids—you’re going all-out this Halloween with these well-worn, tattered bandages that are actually very sturdy (the secret is, they’re attached to a jumpsuit).

This guy’s no joke. But he has a whole routine of Halloween jokes to tickle your friends’ funny bones. And with those bells on his scary Halloween costume, at least you can hear him coming!

You don’t have to live by the bayou to get some swamp frights this Halloween. Kids will love dressing up in this scary swamp skeleton getup, especially when they see everyone’s faces while trick-or-treating.

This can be a truly terrifying vintage costume if you do your Halloween makeup right. After all, what’s scarier than a long-term commitment? Pin on that veil, and let the screams ensue!

This freaky, faceless reaper in the ghastly white robe and pointy black gloves will have trick-or-treaters running in the other direction. Add clanking chains to announce your arrival from the afterlife—or a set of lighter but realistic-looking plastic chain links—and carry a light-up skull lantern for a truly spooky effect.

People will lose their minds over this scary Halloween costume. Have you ever seen a more realistic severed neck? Plus, you can get a kid version if you want to dress up as a headless brood.

You’ll be the talk of the town (or the Halloween party) in this scary costume. Plus, you’ll be toasty warm in this outfit. Pair it with a scary vampiress makeup look and you’re all set. Get extra creative by making up a vampire legend for your ghastly character.

Be the twisted host of the scariest event in town in this unhinged three-ring circus look. If you’ve been searching for a best friend Halloween costume, they can dress up as a creepy clown, creating a terrifying circus duo.

With this head-to-toe, all-black costume, you can’t see any other identifying details either—and you can blend into the darkness, making it even more frightening. Add a pair of gloves with way-too-pointy fingers, demonically glowing eyes and some stealthy moves, and you have a recipe for pure terror as you creep up on unsuspecting friends.

This is a scary Halloween costume idea that’ll leave an impression. The hand may be ghostly, but the cutlass is very real (real plastic, that is). Avast, me hearties, if ye wish to live out the night!

You’ll be scaring way more than crows in this horror Halloween costume. If your friends wanted to find you, though (they don’t), they could just follow the trail of straw you’ll leave.

Go for the classic Wicked Witch of the West look with green face paint and a black witch costume. Make it really believable by bringing a broom, and don’t forget the evil cackle!

There’s just something so … eerie about this costume. Maybe it’s the bright jumpsuit or the button eyes—either way, you’ll be spooky dressed up as this Trick ‘r Treat character.

Feel like playing Halloween party games this Oct. 31? If so, dress up as Jigsaw, the frightening mastermind of horrific games in the Saw series. This mask is sure to get some gasps.

Dress up as the scariest gourd in the pumpkin patch this year and see how many shrieks you get.

Halloween is the perfect time to dress up as Slenderman, the creature at the center of a creepy urban legend. It’s a simple costume that’ll inspire plenty of scares.

This is another scary kids’ Halloween costume to consider for your little ones. They can dress up as a creepy urban legend for the night and (innocently) frighten those in their path.

This costume pays tribute to classic Pennywise from the 1990 IT miniseries. It’s just as scary as the new Pennywise look, and it’s unique too. You can easily stand out in a sea of Pennywises (which sounds terrifying, for the record).

A big perk of this costume setup is that you can wear pretty much what you want as long as you have the masks. Scary and practical! They’re also inclusive, just like these plus-size Halloween costumes.

A creep doll costume is bound to get a couple of gasps. Dress up as Annabelle, the demon doll who causes mischief and pure terror. Bonus scary Halloween costume points if you carry a creepy doll around all night.

Talk about a killer costume. This is a scary Halloween costume idea guaranteed to turn heads.

Go as the undead this Halloween in this rotting zombie costume. Just maybe don’t plan any first dates for Halloween night.

Get ready to send chills down people’s spines in this creepy plague doctor getup. You’ll make a scary impression—and possibly an appearance in someone’s nightmare.

A costume with no face? The only thing spookier than no face will be the eerie sounds coming from behind that mask. This horror Halloween costume is sure to send the scare-o-meter into red.

Go as a ghastly ghoul this Halloween by wearing this sinister ghost mask around town. Pair it with a dark robe to make one of Halloween’s most legendary monsters extra spooky.

You’ll make a few people scream by dressing up as this legendary Friday the 13th slasher.

This is another low-maintenance scary Halloween costume that’s guaranteed to get some gasps. All you need is a creepy werewolf mask and a flannel shirt and you’re good to go for some spooky fun.

This is another scary costume option for fans of Stranger Things. Don the dreaded demogorgon look to be the scariest thing outside the Upside Down. It makes a great Halloween costume for teens too.

Looking for a scary DIY costume for kids? This one’s perfect for the little one who wants to be a spooky ghoul. All you need is a white dress, white face paint and black lipstick to complete the look.

When it comes to scary Halloween costumes, you can’t go wrong with dressing up as one of the most iconic horror movie bad guys, Mike Myers. The jumpsuit, the mask … we’re already getting goosebumps.

Talk about creepy! This gargoyle mask is perfect for anyone looking to get a scream (or two) this Halloween. Pair it with a simple black cloak and the eerie getup is complete.

This costume is perfect for anyone wanting to show off their scary face-painting skills. All you need is orange and black face paint, a flannel and a straw hat to get the chilling look.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre terrified millions of moviegoers, thanks in large part to the chainsaw-wielding madman known as Leatherface. Recreate this horror villain’s look this Halloween by combining this mask with a bloody apron.

Now this is one scary Halloween costume. Dress up as Twisty the Clown (who made a horrific impression during Season 4 of American Horror Story) to really send chills down some spines at the Halloween bash.

The creepy urban legend of Bloody Mary comes to life with this getup. Get creative with the face paint to really heighten the fright—just make sure you don’t say her name three times in the mirror while getting ready …

Yikes! Dress up as the demon barber of Fleet Street and you’ll terrify anyone nearby who even slightly needs a haircut.

You can make the monster in Mary Shelley’s classic novel come to life with this terrifying mask. Pair it with a green blazer jacket, black shirt, black pants and black boots to make the undead creature come to life.

You can’t beat this classic scary Halloween costume. Dress up as an iconic Count this year to scare the daylights out of those crossing your mysterious path. Plus, you could tone down the getup and make it a work-appropriate Halloween costume.

This costume is anything but child’s play. In fact, it’s downright menacing—just like Chucky himself.

If you’ve seen Donnie Darko, you know this bunny all too well, but even if you haven’t, it’s a deeply unsettling look. Dress up as this ghastly rabbit and turn some heads.

What is the most terrifying costume?

Any character from a horror movie is guaranteed to be scary. A particularly effective way to easily transform yourself into something terrifying is using a mask since they can really alter your face and add some scary details quickly.

What’s the scariest thing I could be for Halloween?

Consider who will see you in your costume, and if targeting some things, they are particularly scared of would be suitable.

Do you have to dress up spooky for Halloween?

Absolutely not. Halloween is a time for creativity and fun, as well as dressing spooky. Plenty of folks decide to dress up in funny costumes that aren’t scary, so it’s completely up to you.

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