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9 Last-Minute Group Halloween Costumes for Friends

ByCostume Team

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Group costumes usually fall apart because someone has to order something and it doesn’t show up. These don’t have that problem.

Each theme works with any number of people and lets everyone build from their own closet. Send the group text, pick one, and you’re a matching crew by tonight.

Jump to a Costume

  1. Zombie Squad
  2. Garden Gnomes
  3. Witches’ Coven
  4. Ghost Crew
  5. 80s Workout Class
  6. Hippie Commune
  7. Pirate Crew
  8. Skeleton Crew
  9. Rosie the Riveters

1. Zombie Squad

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 easiest group costume ever. Everyone becomes a zombie version of their regular self.

How to do it: Everyone wears old clothes they can wreck, plus gray eyeshadow and dark circles. Assign jobs for laughs: zombie nurse, zombie chef, zombie bride. About 25 minutes.

Worth buying: washable fake blood.

2. Garden Gnomes

Illustration of a garden gnome costume: a jolly man with a big round fluffy white beard, rosy cheeks and nose, a tall stiff pointed red felt hat, a blue long-sleeve shirt, a wide brown belt with a large brass buckle, brown trousers tucked into brown boots, holding a small garden shovel.

Adorable and hilarious in a crowd. A group of garden gnomes works for any size.

How to do it: Everyone in a different colored shirt with a belt, plus a pointed red hat (felt or paper) and a cotton-ball or fake beard. Freeze for photos. About 20 minutes.

Worth buying: gnome hats and beards.

3. Witches’ Coven

Illustration of a witch costume: a woman in a long layered black dress with a tattered hem and a deep purple sash, striped tights, a tall pointed wide-brimmed black hat, holding a broom, a small black cat at her feet.

Black clothes plus hats. A coven of witches looks great at any size.

How to do it: Everyone in black with pointed hats. Give each witch a different accent color, like purple, green or orange. About 10 minutes.

Worth buying: witch hats with wired brims.

4. Ghost Crew

Illustration of a classic sheet ghost costume: a figure under a long flowing white sheet that just brushes the floor, two cut-out eye holes, a wide-brimmed hat under the sheet giving it a rounded shape, playful rather than scary.

Cheap and very photogenic. A group of sheet ghosts in sunglasses is a classic.

How to do it: White flat sheets with eye holes and a cap underneath each. Matching sunglasses or different hats for each ghost. About 15 minutes.

Worth buying: round novelty sunglasses.

5. 80s Workout Class

Illustration of a 1980s aerobics costume: a woman in a neon pink leotard over shiny tights, bright leg warmers, a sweatband, a side ponytail with a scrunchie, white high-top sneakers.

Loud, funny and almost entirely closet-based. The 80s aerobics look is perfect for groups.

How to do it: Bright tops, leggings or bike shorts, sweatbands, leg warmers and side ponytails. One person is the instructor with a whistle. About 15 minutes.

Worth buying: neon leg warmers.

6. Hippie Commune

Illustration of a late-1960s hippie costume: a woman with long center-parted hair and a headband across the forehead, round tinted sunglasses, a peasant blouse, a fringed suede vest, bell-bottom jeans, love beads, flowers in her hair, sandals.

Comfortable and colorful. A group of hippies is mostly thrifted clothes.

How to do it: Flared jeans, flowy or tie-dye tops, headbands, round sunglasses and flower crowns. Peace signs in every photo. About 15 minutes.

Worth buying: hippie headband sets.

7. Pirate Crew

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.

Every rank on the ship. A pirate crew works for any number.

How to do it: Loose shirts, dark pants, boots, scarves and eye patches. One captain gets the hat. About 15 minutes.

Worth buying: pirate bandanas and eye patches.

8. Skeleton Crew

Illustration of a skeleton costume: a person in a black bodysuit printed with anatomically placed white bones, skull face paint with black eye sockets and drawn teeth, black gloves printed with hand bones.

All black plus face paint. A skeleton crew looks striking in photos.

How to do it: Everyone in black, plus white skull face paint. Different flower crowns or hats so you can tell each other apart. About 25 minutes.

Worth buying: a skull face paint kit.

9. Rosie the Riveters

Illustration of a Rosie the Riveter style costume: a woman in a chambray work shirt with sleeves rolled above the elbow, a red bandana with white polka dots tied around her head with the knot on top, a small curl of hair at the forehead, red lipstick, high-waisted dark jeans and work boots, flexing one arm with her fist up.

A group of Rosies flexing together is one of the best group photos there is.

How to do it: Denim shirts, red bandanas tied on top, red lipstick and rolled sleeves for everyone. About 5 minutes.

Worth buying: red polka-dot bandanas.

How to Pull Off a Last-Minute Group Costume

Pick a theme where everyone uses their own clothes. Ordering matching costumes the day of never works.

Give everyone one shared piece: the same hat, bandana or face paint.

Let individuals personalize. Different colors, jobs or ranks make the group more fun to look at.

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

Last-Minute Group Costume FAQ

What’s the easiest group Halloween costume?

A zombie squad or a ghost crew. Both use things everyone has at home.

What group costume works for any number of people?

Garden gnomes, witches, zombies, ghosts or Rosie the Riveters.

What’s a cheap group costume?

Ghosts or zombies. Both are nearly free.

What’s a good group costume for coworkers?

Rosie the Riveters or an 80s workout class. Both are easy and office-safe.

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