The best haunted house costume ideas you should consider are costumes that create a spine-chilling atmosphere and leave a lasting impression on your guests.

Think of costumes that are both visually striking and deeply unsettling, like ghostly brides, zombie butlers, possessed dolls, or eerie plague doctors.

These types of costumes not only set the mood but also help immerse visitors in the haunted house experience.

In this article, we will look at some of the best costume ideas for your haunted house.

Whether you want a classic horror theme or something unique and terrifying, the right costume can make all the difference.

Best Haunted House Costume Ideas

1. Ghostly Bride

A ghostly bride is a timeless haunted house character that never fails to send shivers down spines.

Drape yourself in a tattered, aged wedding gown, preferably in shades of white or gray, and add layers of torn lace for a truly worn, forgotten look.

Pale, almost translucent makeup, darkened eyes, and smudged lipstick give the appearance of a sorrowful spirit trapped between worlds.

Top it off with a dark, tattered veil and carry a withered bouquet for an added touch of tragedy.

2. Zombie Butler

Start by dressing in an old, torn tuxedo, adding patches of dirt and fake blood to give the appearance of decay.

Apply gory makeup with pale skin tones, open wounds, and sunken eyes to capture the look of a butler who has risen from the grave.

Carry a silver tray topped with a fake severed hand, eyeballs, or other creepy props to complete the unsettling effect. Shuffle slowly and groan softly as you serve your “guests,”.

3. Creepy Doll

The creepy doll costume is perfect for creating an unsettling and eerie atmosphere in your haunted house.

Start with vintage-style clothing, such as a frilly dress, lace socks, and patent leather shoes, to mimic the look of an old-fashioned toy.

Use exaggerated makeup to create oversized doll-like eyes, rosy cheeks, and a cracked porcelain effect across your face for an extra chilling touch.

Add a wig with tight curls or pigtails to complete the innocent-yet-terrifying appearance.

4. Plague Doctor

Wear a long, black cloak or robe paired with black gloves and boots to create a shadowy, ominous figure.

The iconic beaked mask, originally designed to protect doctors from disease, now gives off an eerie, otherworldly vibe. Add a wide-brimmed black hat to complete the look.

For an even creepier effect, carry a staff or lantern and move slowly and deliberately through the darkened rooms.

5. Vampire Countess

Dress in a long, flowing gothic gown, preferably in rich dark colors like deep red, black, or purple, adorned with lace or velvet.

Complete the look with dramatic makeup—pale foundation, smoky eyes, and dark lipstick.

Add sharp fangs and let fake blood drip from the corners of your mouth for a freshly fed, fearsome effect.

Accessorize with a jeweled choker or crown to emphasize your aristocratic status.

6. Headless Horseman

The headless horseman costume is a show-stopping haunted house idea that leaves a lasting impression.

Create the illusion by wearing a bulky jacket or cloak with shoulder padding to elevate the “missing” head area.

Attach a fake bloody neck stump at the top and hide your real head under dark fabric or a high collar.

Carry a carved pumpkin or a realistic “severed” head in your hands to complete the eerie look.

Walk slowly and confidently through the haunted house, swinging the head slightly for extra drama.

7. Possessed Nun

The possessed nun costume takes a symbol of peace and twists it into pure nightmare fuel, making it a chilling addition to any haunted house.

Start with a traditional black and white nun’s habit, but distress it with subtle tears or stains for an unsettling effect.

Apply pale face paint to give yourself a ghostly complexion, then use dark makeup to black out your eyes or create hollow, sunken sockets. Add unsettling touches like smeared blood around the mouth or forehead.

8. Mad Scientist

Start with a white lab coat splattered with fake blood, chemicals, or burn marks to hint at dangerous experiments gone wrong.

Tease your hair into a wild, frizzy mess and smudge your face with soot or grime.

Add rubber gloves, safety goggles, and a few broken test tubes or syringes tucked into your pockets for authenticity.

Practice a crazed, maniacal laugh and mutter about failed experiments as you stumble around, startling guests.

9. Evil Clown

The evil clown costume is a terrifying twist on a classic circus performer, making it perfect for a haunted house.

Start with oversized, colorful shoes, a ruffled collar, and mismatched, brightly colored clothing that looks too bright for comfort.

Paint a creepy, exaggerated grin on your face with black and red makeup, ensuring it is unsettling rather than playful.

Add smeared, fake blood around your mouth and splatter it across your costume for a sinister effect. A red balloon or creepy prop like a rubber chicken can complete the look.

10. Witch of the Woods

The Witch of the Woods costume transforms you into a mysterious and fearsome figure of the forest.

Wear tattered, earth-toned robes that seem to have been worn for centuries, blending with the natural surroundings.

Add wild, unkempt hair, perhaps entwined with leaves, moss, and small twigs, to create the look of someone who has lived in the wild for far too long.

Carry a crooked staff, decorated with vines, bones, or skulls, to enhance your connection to the dark forces of nature.

Smear your face with dirt or create intricate, unsettling makeup, completing the look of a witch who controls the forest’s secrets.

11. Living Statue

Paint your entire body in metallic colors such as silver, gray, or bronze to mimic the look of a statue.

Dress in matching clothes that complement the paint, such as plain, timeless garments that don’t distract from the illusion.

Stand motionless in a striking pose, blending into the background as if you were part of the decor.

When guests pass by, suddenly spring to life, moving jerkily or letting out a terrifying noise to catch them off guard.

12. Haunted Scarecrow

Start with patchy, weathered clothes like an old flannel shirt, tattered pants, and burlap sacks, giving the appearance of a scarecrow left to decay in the field.

Top it off with a wide-brimmed straw hat and stuff your sleeves and pant legs with straw to create a stuffed, lifelike appearance.

Use twisted makeup to create a grotesque face, adding stitches or a wide, unnatural grin.

Move slowly and unnaturally, as if you’re coming to life from the field, sending chills through any who cross your path.

13. Asylum Escapee

Wear a dirty, torn hospital gown, stained with fake blood or dirt to give the impression of a patient who’s been locked away for far too long.

Add fake shackles or chains around your wrists and ankles, showing signs of struggle as if you’ve broken free from the asylum.

Mess up your hair, apply pale, disturbed makeup, and create a wild, unhinged expression.

Move erratically, twitching or muttering incoherently, to embody the terrifying escapee on the loose.

14. Demonic Priest

Start with a traditional priest’s robe, but distress it with tears and stains to make it appear corrupted.

Add upside-down crosses on the robe, collar, or your hands, and use dark, eerie makeup to create an unsettling, sinister appearance.

Red or black contact lenses give your eyes an unnatural, demonic look, while blood or smudged makeup around the mouth hints at a malevolent entity.

Carry a blackened or cracked religious symbol, like a Bible, and speak in distorted prayers or chants to invoke pure terror in those who cross your path.

15. Grim Reaper

The Grim Reaper is an iconic figure of death and the perfect haunting presence for any haunted house.

Drape yourself in a long, flowing black cloak with a hood that hides your face in shadow, adding an air of mystery.

Wear skeletal gloves or paint your hands to resemble bone, and carry a large, menacing scythe to enhance the aura of doom.

You can add a skull mask or eerie face makeup to embody death’s cold, emotionless gaze.

16. Mummy

The mummy costume is a timeless classic that evokes the terror of ancient curses.

Wrap yourself in torn, disheveled gauze bandages, leaving some areas loosely hanging for a more tattered, decayed look.

Apply aged, weathered makeup to your face, emphasizing hollow eyes and cracked, decaying skin to create the effect of a cursed soul resurrected after centuries of rest.

Add a little dirt or fake blood to the bandages for added effect. Adopt a slow, dragging walk, like your limbs are stiff from age, and let out an eerie groan to make the haunting presence of the mummy truly come to life.

17. Banshee

Wear a flowing, ragged dress or gown in shades of white or pale gray to give the appearance of a ghostly apparition.

Use makeup to create a gaunt, hollow face, with dark circles around your eyes and pale, almost translucent skin to make you look as though you’ve been wandering the earth for centuries.

Enhance the chilling effect with a long, wild, unkempt wig or hair. At the right moment, let out a high-pitched, mournful wail that will send shivers down your guests’ spines.

18. Twisted Surgeon

The twisted surgeon costume is perfect for turning your haunted house into a nightmarish operating room.

Start with blood-stained surgical scrubs and a pair of rubber gloves smeared with fake blood.

Apply grotesque makeup to your face, such as deep, dark circles around your eyes and sickly pale skin, to make you look like a mad doctor driven to insanity.

Carry horrifying props like bloody scalpels, surgical tools, or severed body parts wrapped in plastic or dangling from your belt. Move erratically, muttering insane medical jargon or laughing maniacally.

19. Haunted Marionette

Attach fake strings to your wrists and ankles, securing them to your costume to create the illusion of being controlled by unseen forces.

Wear a puppet-like outfit, such as a Victorian-inspired dress or a ragged suit, with exaggerated features like painted-on buttons or oversized shoes to enhance the doll-like appearance.

Use stiff, jerky movements to mimic the mechanical motions of a puppet. Add creepy makeup with a cracked, porcelain-like face and unsettling eyes.

As you move unpredictably, your eerie, lifeless behavior will send chills through guests.

20. Shadow Creature

The shadow creature costume is perfect for creating a terrifying, silent presence in the darkness.

Wear all black, including a hooded cloak that covers your entire body, with gloves and shoes that match to ensure you blend seamlessly into the shadows.

Keep your movements slow and deliberate, lurking in dark corners or hallways where guests least expect it.

The absence of a distinguishable face, combined with the eerie silence, heightens the sense of dread.