X-Ray Costume
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Wilhelm Röntgen discovered the X-ray in 1895, and the glowing skeleton image has been a Halloween favorite ever since. The X-ray costume is a clever twist on the plain skeleton: you’re not just bones, you’re a medical scan. It’s funny, it’s spooky, and it’s one of the very few costumes that starts with X.
What Makes It Work
Start with a skeleton. Wear a black base layer, then a skeleton-print shirt and leggings, or paint the bones on with white fabric paint.
The frame is what makes it an X-ray. Cut a large rectangle out of a piece of black foam board or a cardboard box, leaving a border, and wear it in front of you on shoulder straps so your bones show through the window. Label the corner with a hospital name and “PATIENT: ME.”
Glow-in-the-dark paint or glow sticks taped along the bones make it look like a lit-up scan. Skull face paint finishes it.
What People Get Wrong
Skipping the frame. Without it, it’s just a skeleton costume. The other mistake is regular white paint in a dark room. Use glow paint or light it.
Buy It or Build It?
Skeleton shirts and leggings run $15 to $30, and glow-in-the-dark versions cost a bit more. The frame is free if you have a box and some black paint.
Where to Buy
| Retailer | What they carry | |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Costume kits, wigs and accessories | Shop on Amazon |
FAQ
How do I make an X-ray costume?
Wear a skeleton-print outfit and carry or wear a black cardboard frame in front of you so your bones show through like a scan.
What's a funny X-ray costume idea?
Add something swallowed, like a toy car or a cell phone, taped inside the rib cage.
Is an X-ray costume good for kids?
Yes. Glow-in-the-dark skeleton pajamas plus a cardboard frame make an easy kids’ version.
What group costume works with X-rays?
A group of X-rays with a doctor in scrubs reading the scans.
Next up: Yeti Costume
See Also
Free: The Last-Minute Costume Cheat Sheet
Ten costumes you can make tonight, mostly from your own closet. One page, printable, plus a short email before each costume season. No spam.