Best kids Halloween costumes 2022: easy fancy dress ideas for children

Ask any parent, and they’ll tell you - there’s nothing more frightening than hosting a party for your school-age children and their band of little pals.

While you may have play-dates and birthdays down to a fine art, Halloween is an altogether different beast.

Once only big for our friends on the other side of the Atlantic, Halloween parties and traditions like trick-or-treating and dressing up have become a firm fixture in the UK, for adults and children alike.

Whether you’re hosting a party for your little ones or you want to deck them out for a school shindig or (fingers crossed) someone else’s Halloween do, there are plenty of scarily good options made for children to have their best fright night yet.

From classic witches, wizards and pumpkins, to costumes inspired by their favourite books and movies, there are choices galore for all ages, from toddlers and primary school children to mid-teens.

We’ve taken the pain out of shopping for them and rounded up the best options to shop below.

Shop now

Halloween Harry Potter Gryffindor Fancy Dress Costume

Currently available in sizes for 9 - 12 year olds, kit your kids out as the world’s most famous wizard.

This Harry Potter costume features his classic Hogwarts robes with Gryffindor colours in a red and gold palette as well as a lion coat of arms, and collared shirt stitched into the outfit.

They’ll need a pair of black trousers or leggings to complete the look, but accessories are included, such as the wand and a pair of round glasses. Scribble the signature lightning bolt scar on their forehead and hey presto! They could be an extra from the film.

A good investment for Halloween as well as for World Book Day.

Find more kids fancy dress at ASDA here.

Buy now £16.00, George at ASDA

Kids Disney Frozen 2 Elsa Fancy Dress Costume

You’ll never get the songs out of your head, but if your little one is still in the throes of a full Frozen obsession, they will look adorable as a pint-sized Elsa this year. This outfit option has the blue long-sleeve dress with glitter detail as well as a replica of her signature silver blonde plait. It is available for ages 3 to 9.

Buy now £18.50, Matalan

Roald Dahl Miss Trunchbull Brown Costume

Roald Dahl’s books are classics, and this costume idea comes from one of his best, Matilda.

An outfit inspired by Miss Trunchbull, the infamous headmistress, turns the tables on the character and puts kids in the driving seat, making for a scary (and hilarious) Halloween look. This set comes with a long khaki-coloured dress with blouse section and sewn on finishes such as a brooch, two gold buttons and a belt. There is also green tights and a stick-on bushy eyebrow for the full look. This beauty of this one is that you can put your child in it again on World Book Day on March 2, 2023.

It comes in sizes 5-6 years, 7-8 years, 9-10 years and 11-12 years.

Buy now £12.51, Amazon

Disney Toy Story Jessie Fancy Dress Costume

If your little one is wild about Disney Pixar’s Toy Story, Halloween is the perfect chance to dress them as one of the film’s iconic characters.

This Jessie cowgirl outfit comes in sizes suitable for most 2 - 8 year-olds and includes a glam Western tiered ensemble as well as a red hat complete with her distinctive red plait. Just add faux freckles and cowboy boots to complete the look.

Shop a Woody costume for boys from Amazon (£22.99).

Buy now £24.49, Amazon

Ghostbusters Halloween Fancy Dress Costume

While other kids dress up as ghouls, ghosts and monsters, kit out your kid as one of the Ghostbusters to vanquish all things supernatural.

Made from 100 per cent polyester, this all-in-one outfit comes with a suit detailed with stitching to mimic overalls and the iconic Ghostbusters logo as well as an inflatable Proton Pack so they’ll really look the part.

Perfect for girls and boys aged 5 - 12 years.

Buy now £26.99, Very

Rubie's Official DC Wonder Woman Premium Child Costume

Instil a sense of power into your little one by dressing them up as one of the most recognisable superheroes around - Wonder Woman. The dress stays true to the comic books, with a red bodice and star-speckled tutu-style skirt, all complemented with a flowing cape at the back. A star emblazoned headband finishes off the look.

Buy now £15.83, Amazon

Transformers Optimus Prime Deluxe - Child Costume

Halloween is prime time for your children’s on-screen fantasies to be realised. If your little one is into the Transformers series, they’ll be thrilled with this impressive Optimus Prime outfit, which comes with a padded armour all-in-one as well as a mask.

Available in three sizes: Small for ages 3-4, Medium for 5-6, and Large 7-8 years.

Buy now £31.99, Amazon

Spooktacular Creations Deluxe Mermaid Costume Set with Red Wig and Headband

With the long-awaited live-action release of Disney’s The Little Mermaid comes reignition for the fantasy character.

Deck your little darling out as the titular character with the help of this set, which comes with a sequin and lurex mermaid dress, a red wig and a headband with pink foam seashells. The 100 per cent polyester look is ideal for all kinds of dress up play.

Available in S, M and L sizes as well as an option for toddlers too.

Buy now £16.99, Amazon

Star Wars Mandalorian Costume

From a galaxy far, far away to your neighbours’ doors this Halloween comes this Mandalorian costume with full armoured effect. It has an all-in-one suit with a mask and removable cape. It is available for ages 3 to 10.

Buy now £15.00, Argos

DC Comics Harley Quinn Costume Kit

After Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey, Harley Quinn became one of the most popular Halloween costumes and this year, your kids can resemble the iconic DC character in her signature get up. It is made up of a top, printed with the famous saying “Daddy’s Lil Monster” and classic red and blue jacket. Shop the wig and (inflatable) baseball bat separately.

Buy now £27.99, Very

Marvel Captain America Medium Costume Top Set with Shield and Mask

Captain America to the rescue! Foes will be running for the hills at the mere sight of your progeny decked out as Marvel’s superhero. The outfit is made to be worn with jeans, and consists of a patterned t-shirt, half-mask and the distinctive star motif on a shield. It will fit height 111cm - 121cm, waist 63cm - 66cm.

Buy now £22.64, Amazon

Justice League Batman Muscle Chest Costume

Have your mini caped crusader ready to keep the city safe in this epic Batman outfit, an officially licensed costume available at toy shop Smyths. The set consists of a caped top (six pack already stitched in) and the character’s essential mask, ready to transform them into a crime-busting superhero in seconds. Add a pair of jeans and some trainers, and they’re ready to go.

Buy now £17.23, Amazon

Animal Antics Glide on swan

A stunning design for the little ballerina in your life, this extravagant design fastens with a hook-and-loop fastening at waist and stays steady with the help of adjustable shoulder straps. Suitable for ages 3 - 5, simply add a white t-shirt and leggings underneath and watch them swan all over the neighbourhood.

Other adorable designs include a pink and white unicorn, a flamingo, and a T-Rex dinosaur.

Buy now £30.00, Selfridges

Addams Family Wednesday Costume

An officially licensed costume, Wednesday Addams is a popular choice for Halloween antics. This set not only comes with the dress but a long black wig too. Just add talcum powder to achieve her deathly pale pallor. Available in three sizes and suitable for kids aged 4 - 9.

Buy now £22.34, Amazon

Astronaut NASA Pilot Costume

Make your tiny star sailor reach for the heavens this Halloween. Kids can make-believe that they’re conquering the final frontier in this high quality NASA astronaut costume, which is made up of an embroidered body suit and even the helmet with a tinted and movable visor.

It comes in sizes Small (5-7 years), Medium (8-10 years) and Large (10-12 years).

Buy now £62.03, OnBuy

Toddler Tracker Costume from Paw Patrol

Your pint-sized Paw Patrol fan can emulate Tracker this Halloween with this costume that will bring the character to life. The costume is a jumpsuit with a tail attachment and the character’s hat and backpack (perfect for storing trick-and-treat candies). It comes in sizes XS (2-4) to M (7-8).

Buy now £32.99, Halloween Costumes

Postman Pat Blue Costume 5 Piece Set

Postman Pat has come a long way since our childhood with a whole manner of different transportation options these days but his outfit remains the same - the iconic blue suit complete with a hat, glasses and bag. For Halloween, they can dress up as their favourite cartoon postal worker complete with letter accessories. The outfit comes in ages 2 to 6.

Buy now £16.00, Argos

Morphsuit Official Glow Alien Kids Fancy Dress Costume

Morphsuits tap into the freakishness of Halloween. Most completely enclose your child with Velcro - but they’ll still be able to see, breathe - even drink - through it. Opt between this alien design, a Formula 1 racer, an Egyptian mummy and ninja characters or choose from patterns and looks like camo, check, tie-dye or a tuxedo print.

It comes in sizes Small (3-3’5”), Medium (3’6-3’11”) and Large (4’-4’6”).

Buy now £19.99, Amazon

Kids Halloween Pumpkin Costume

It doesn’t get much more classic than a pumpkin and also happens to make an adorable outfit choice. This iteration on Amazon comes with a felt outfit embroidered with a green leaf collar and lantern face detailing. There is also a hat and handbag that is helpful for collecting sweet treats. It will fit age 3-7 years.

Buy now £6.99, Amazon

Boy's Deluxe Ringmaster Costume

Have your little one run rings around the competition in this rather smart ringmaster costume from fancy dress purveyors Smiffy’s.

It’s a top to toe look, comprising the distinctive red jacket, faux shirt, trouser and a jacket.

Available for children aged 7 – 12.

Buy now £23.99, Very

Cinder Witch Costume

Witches are a quintessential Halloween look, for all ages. But not all witches are bad apples, as proven by this good witch’s outfit which comes with cheerful pink and black striped tights and colourful celestial motifs on the dress and hat.

Buy now £18.96, Amazon

Peppa Pig George Pig Mummy Print Halloween Costume

Peppa Pig, but make it Halloween? Your costume prayers are answered in George at ASDA’s three-piece ensemble which takes George (Peppa’s younger brother) and mummifies him for an adorably spooky vibe. Complete with a dino shaped bag to store trick-or-treated treasure and a mask, the 100 per cent polyester look is easy to care for - just throw it into the washing machine after October 31 to keep it looking as good as new for next time.

Buy now £15.00, George at ASDA

Claire’s Red Devil Cape

When in doubt, keep things simple. A devil will always win pride of place in any Halloween costume contest and you don’t need much to emulate the look. Claire’s has this metallic red cape with horns already stitched onto the hood - add a pitchfork and get ready to wreak havoc.

Buy now £14.00, Claire’s