38 Clever Pun Halloween Costumes for Those Who Love a Play on Words
These last-minute costume ideas are as funny as they are easy to pull off.
Are you looking for an easy last-minute Halloween costume to creep it real on October 31? Well, look no further than a punny costume that requires minimal prep time and accessories, but will still give 'em pumpkin to talk about at your annual costume party. Any one of these punny Halloween costumes will be easy on your wallet without compromising on the creativity of your outfit. Plus, you can turn some of these costume ideas into a spooky couples' costume or a group costume with your BFFs if you and your partner or squad have the same sense of humor — that is, you love a good pun.
It's easy to draw a blank on what to dress up as on Halloween and fall back on tried and true classics like a wicked witch costume or a scary Halloween costume that is just plain ghoulish. And while these ideas never fail to disappoint, clever Halloween costumes are hardly ever basic. Instead, they take a (somewhat cringe) play on words and spin it into a hilarious ensemble that you can whip together in mere minutes. No one will know you spent minimal time making your DIY Halloween costume — they'll be too busy cackling like a witch at how witty you are.
Ready to look totally gourd-geous? Check out our picks for the best pun Halloween costumes!
French Toast
To become "French toast," you just need to round up a black beret, a striped tee, a red scarf, and a piece of "toast" crafted from cardboard. Then, simply punch two holes in the top of the bread and tie string to them to wear around your neck.
Prince Charming
Lay on all the (lucky) charm with this royal Halloween costume that combines a classic prince costume with your favorite childhood cereal.
Get the Prince Charming Punny Halloween Costume tutorial at The Thinking Closet.
Ceiling Fan
Give us a "C," give us an "E," give us an "I," give us an "L," give us an "I," give us an "N," give us a "G!" What do you get? This spirited ceiling fan!
'Fifty Shades of Grey'
Got a bunch of gray paint swatches? Got a plain T-shirt? Then it looks like you've got yourself a punny costume!
Head in the Clouds
You only need three things to DIY this idiom into a Halloween costume — and you probably already have at least one item (a.k.a the headband) on hand. From there, your flights of fancy can come to fruition.
Get the Head in the Clouds DIY Costume tutorial at Aww Sam.
When Life Gives You Lemons
Use adhesive letters or a black Sharpie to write "LIFE" on a white T-shirt, then carry around a bag of lemons to hand out. Easy as (lemon cream) pie!
Taco Belle
If you're dressing up with a friend or partner, then you can take on this clever "Taco Belle" costume, which combines a taco with Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Alternatively, you can simply dress up as Belle and carry around a taco for the night.
RELATED: 48 Adorable Disney Couple Costumes for a Magical Halloween
Black Eyed Peas
Whether you are a Black Eyed Peas fan or just a fan of puns, this last-minute funny costume will get lots of nods on Halloween night. Let's just say, we gotta feeling that tonight's gonna be a good night.
Get the Black-Eyed-Peas Punny Halloween Costume tutorial at The Thinking Closet.
Deviled Egg
To become a "deviled egg," you just need to dress in all white and attach a yellow circle of felt to your stomach. Don't forget your devil horns and tail!
Mornings Suck
Not a morning person? Then this costume was made for you. All you need to do is dress up in a robe and slippers, carry around a mug and newspaper, and add some vampire fangs and fake blood to complete the look.
Hawaiian Punch
This easy costume was made for lazy folks, as you only need a Hawaiian shirt and boxing gloves to put it together.
Raining Men
Looks like the weather forecast is predicting a 100% chance of raining men on Halloween night. You might want to plan accordingly.
Get the DIY Raining Men Costume tutorial at Studio DIY.
'Grapes of Wrath'
Book lovers, this is the costume for you. Spell out "By John Steinbeck" on a purple t-shirt with white adhesive letters, then safety pin purple balloons onto the shirt. Create a vine crown by hot-gluing faux vines together to complete your look.
RELATED: 30 Easy Book Character Costume Ideas for Kids and Teachers
Pumpkin Pi
For a look that's sweet as pie, attach a mini pumpkin to a headband using a hot glue gun. Then, print out the Greek letter "Pi" or cut one out of felt and glue it onto an orange t-shirt.
French Kiss
Not everyone is a fan of KISS, but most are fans of a French baguette. Regardless, this witty costume will crack some smiles even if "Rock and Roll All Nite" is skipped on the Spotify queue.
Formal Apology
Have an old formal dress lying around? Use sharpie and a plain white sash to become a "formal apology."
Ice Ice Baby
You and the family can dress up as Vanilla Ice's iconic '90s song "Ice Ice Baby" by turning large clear trash bags into bags of ice and equipping your little one with all the right accessories.
Get the Ice Ice Baby Punny Halloween Costume tutorial at The Thinking Closet.
RELATED: 51 Creative Family Halloween Costumes That Everyone Will Love
Freudian Slip
Psych out everyone at the party by wearing a slip dress and attaching well-know terms coined by Sigmund Freud.
Zom-Beyoncé
Become an undead version of the "Single Ladies" singer with a black leotard, black heels, gold jewelry, and some zombie makeup.
RELATED: 90 of the Best Celebrity Halloween Costumes of All Time
Tickled Pink
Grab a pink t-shirt, feather boa, and pom-pom headband, then make sure to keep giggling all night long.
Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.
Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.
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