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9 Last-Minute Halloween Costumes for Guys (Mostly From Your Closet)

ByCostume Team

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The party’s tonight. You forgot. Or you were planning to “just wear a hat.” Either way, you need a costume, and you need it in the next hour.

Every costume here comes mostly from a regular guy’s closet: flannel, jeans, a white T-shirt, a suit. Each one lists the one cheap thing worth grabbing on the way if you’ve got time.

Jump to a Costume

  1. Lumberjack
  2. Greaser
  3. Cowboy
  4. Zombie
  5. Mad Scientist
  6. Secret Agent
  7. 1920s Gangster
  8. Pirate
  9. Punk

1. Lumberjack

Illustration of a lumberjack costume: a bearded man in a red and black buffalo-check flannel shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbow, dark suspenders, rolled-cuff blue jeans, brown lace-up work boots, a gray knit beanie, a wooden-handled axe resting on one shoulder.

The fastest good costume for guys. A lumberjack is flannel, jeans and a beanie, and it looks better the bigger and beardier you are.

How to do it: Red flannel, jeans, boots and a beanie. Roll the sleeves. Suspenders if you have them. About 10 minutes.

Worth buying: an inflatable axe.

2. Greaser

Illustration of a 1950s greaser costume: a young man with slick black pomaded hair in a pompadour, a fitted white T-shirt with sleeves rolled once, a black leather motorcycle jacket with the collar flipped up, dark cuffed blue jeans, black boots, a comb in one hand, a confident lean.

White tee, jeans, slicked hair. A 1950s greaser is basically free.

How to do it: Fitted white T-shirt, cuffed dark jeans, boots, a leather or jean jacket with the collar up, and hair combed back with gel or pomade. About 15 minutes.

Worth buying: strong-hold pomade.

3. Cowboy

Illustration of a cowboy costume: a man in a felt cowboy hat, a plaid snap-front western shirt, a red bandana at the neck, jeans with a big belt buckle, leather cowboy boots, a coiled lasso in one hand.

If you own boots and a plaid shirt, you’re a cowboy.

How to do it: Plaid or western shirt, jeans, boots, a bandana at the neck and your biggest belt buckle. The hat is the one thing worth buying. About 10 minutes.

Worth buying: a classic cowboy hat.

4. Zombie

Illustration of a zombie office worker costume: torn dress shirt and loosened tie, ripped slacks, gray-green skin, dark sunken eyes, a stiff lurching pose, dirt-smudged clothes.

The ultimate no-budget costume. Any outfit becomes a zombie if you ruin it.

How to do it: Old clothes torn by hand, dirt rubbed in, gray eyeshadow on your face and dark circles under the eyes. Pick a “before” job: zombie golfer, zombie office guy, zombie jogger. About 25 minutes.

Worth buying: washable fake blood.

5. Mad Scientist

Illustration of a mad scientist costume: a person in a stained, oversized white lab coat with rolled sleeves, wild frizzy white hair, big brass goggles pushed up on the forehead, long black rubber gloves, holding a flask with glowing green liquid, a gleeful expression.

A white button-down worn backward or a lab coat is a mad scientist.

How to do it: White shirt or lab coat, goggles or swim goggles, rubber gloves and hair sprayed straight up. Drop a glow stick in a water bottle. About 15 minutes.

Worth buying: a cheap white lab coat.

6. Secret Agent

Own a black suit? You’re done. The easiest sharp-looking costume there is.

How to do it: Black suit, white shirt, black tie, sunglasses and a curly earpiece (or a phone charger cord tucked behind your ear). Talk into your wrist. About 5 minutes.

Worth buying: a secret service earpiece.

7. 1920s Gangster

Illustration of a 1920s gangster costume: a man in a navy double-breasted pinstripe suit with wide lapels, a fedora tilted slightly, a pocket square, suspenders peeking out, two-tone wingtip shoes.

A dark suit and a fedora is a Prohibition-era gangster.

How to do it: Dark suit or vest and slacks, a loud tie, suspenders and a fedora. Pocket square. Slick your hair. About 15 minutes.

Worth buying: a classic fedora.

8. Pirate

Illustration of a pirate costume: a man in a loose cream shirt with billowy sleeves, a brown vest, a red waist sash, dark breeches tucked into tall boots, a black tricorn hat over a bandana, a cutlass at his hip, a gold hoop earring.

Messy is the point. A pirate is a loose white shirt and attitude.

How to do it: Loose white shirt untucked, dark pants tucked into boots, a scarf at the waist and another on your head, and an eye patch. Smudge some eyeliner. About 15 minutes.

Worth buying: a pirate bandana and eye patch.

9. Punk

Illustration of a 1970s punk costume: a young woman with spiked bright pink hair, heavy black eyeliner, a black leather jacket covered in patches, studs and safety pins, a ripped white T-shirt pinned with safety pins, red tartan plaid trousers, a studded belt, black combat boots, a defiant stance.

A band tee, ripped jeans and a jacket covered in safety pins is a punk.

How to do it: Black band tee, ripped jeans, boots, a leather or jean jacket with safety pins, and hair spiked with gel. About 15 minutes.

Worth buying: a pack of punk patches.

How to Make a Last-Minute Costume Look Intentional

Commit to one detail. The beanie, the pomade, the fake blood. A half-done costume looks like you forgot; a fully committed one looks like you planned it.

Buy the one thing people recognize first. The cowboy hat, the fedora, the earpiece. Everything else can come from your closet.

Stay in character a little. A secret agent who talks into his wrist all night is funnier than a guy in a suit.

Need more ideas? Start with our 10 last-minute Halloween costumes, or browse the full costume encyclopedia from A to Z.

Last-Minute Guys’ Costume FAQ

What’s the easiest last-minute Halloween costume for a guy?

A secret agent if you own a black suit, or a lumberjack if you own a flannel.

What can a guy dress up as with a white T-shirt?

A greaser, a mad scientist or a zombie.

What’s a cheap last-minute costume for men?

A zombie. It’s free if you have old clothes and some eyeshadow.

What last-minute costume can I wear to a work party?

A cowboy, a lumberjack or a secret agent. All three are easy and office-safe.

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