Party tonight? Start with the ideas marked "tonight" — they use clothes and household items you likely already have. The rest need only basic pieces that usually ship fast.
Not sure? Take the 7-question quiz →
12 ideas
Last-Minute Tourist
Tonight: use what's at home ($0)
- ✅ Floral or loud shirt — tuck in a fanny pack if you have one
- ✅ Hat + sunglasses — any
- ✅ Camera — your phone on a lanyard
- ✅ Sunscreen nose — a dab of white lotion
Or buy the pieces
Get the whole look (paid link)
- Floral button-up shirt — est. $12–20 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Bucket hat optional — est. $6–12 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Disposable camera prop optional — est. $5–10 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
Hot Mess (Pun)
Tonight: use what's at home ($0)
- ✅ Messy hair — no effort required
- ✅ Sign — paper + red marker reading HOT
Or buy the pieces
- Poster board optional — est. $2–5 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Red marker optional — est. $1–3 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
Bedsheet Ghost
Tonight: use what's at home ($0)
- ✅ Old white sheet — cut two eye holes (adults only for cutting)
- ✅ Sunglasses — optional, for the cool ghost look
Or buy the pieces
Get the whole look (paid link)
- White flat sheet — est. $8–12 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Novelty sunglasses optional — est. $3–8 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
Black Cat
Tonight: use what's at home ($0)
- ✅ All-black outfit — top + leggings or jeans
- ✅ Cat ears — headband + two cardboard triangles taped on
- ✅ Whiskers — eyeliner or a brown makeup pencil
Or buy the pieces
Get the whole look (paid link)
- Cat ears headband — est. $4–8 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Black outfit optional — est. $0–15 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Tail optional — est. $5–9 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
Ghost Couple (Sheet + Shades)
Tonight: use what's at home ($0)
- ✅ Two old white sheets — cut eye holes
- ✅ Two pairs of sunglasses — matching if you can
Or buy the pieces
Get the whole look (paid link)
- White flat sheet — est. $8–12 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Matching sunglasses optional — est. $3–8 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
Toddler Pumpkin
Tonight: use what's at home ($0)
- ✅ Orange top — any orange shirt or sweater
- ✅ Stem — green hat or green paper on a headband
- ✅ Face — black paper triangles taped on the shirt
Or buy the pieces
Get the whole look (paid link)
- Orange onesie — est. $8–14 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Green beanie optional — est. $6–10 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
Smart Cookie (Pun)
Tonight: use what's at home ($0)
- ✅ Glasses — your own or sunglasses
- ✅ Cookie — cardboard circle colored brown with marker chips
Or buy the pieces
Get the whole look (paid link)
- Fake glasses optional — est. $4–8 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Brown felt sheet — est. $5–9 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
Rock Star (Generic)
Tonight: use what's at home ($0)
- ✅ Black tee or leather jacket — whatever's darkest
- ✅ Eyeliner — smudged
- ✅ Sunglasses — any
Or buy the pieces
Get the whole look (paid link)
- Inflatable guitar — est. $6–10 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Leather-look jacket optional — est. $20–40 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
Garden Gnome
Tonight: use what's at home ($0)
- ✅ Red pointy hat — red paper or a red towel rolled into a cone
- ✅ Beard — your own, or cotton balls on paper
- ✅ Belt — over a long shirt
Or buy the pieces
Get the whole look (paid link)
- Red felt gnome hat — est. $8–14 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Suspenders — est. $7–12 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Fake white beard optional — est. $6–10 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
Mad Scientist
Tonight: use what's at home ($0)
- ✅ White button-up shirt — worn open like a lab coat
- ✅ Goggles — swim goggles or sunglasses
- ✅ Wild hair — tease it up; pens in the pocket
Or buy the pieces
Get the whole look (paid link)
- White lab coat — est. $15–25 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Safety goggles — est. $5–9 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Messy white wig optional — est. $8–14 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
Box of Crayons
Tonight: use what's at home ($0)
- ✅ Same-color outfits — one color per person
- ✅ Crayon tip — paper cone on a headband
- ✅ Label — black paper band across the chest
Or buy the pieces
Get the whole look (paid link)
- Solid color t-shirt — est. $6–10 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Cone party hat — est. $2–4 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Black fabric marker optional — est. $1–3 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
Teacher's Report Card
Tonight: use what's at home ($0)
- ✅ Plain t-shirts — one per person
- ✅ Grade letters — printer paper + thick marker, taped or pinned
Or buy the pieces
Get the whole look (paid link)
- Iron-on letters — est. $7–12 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
- Plain t-shirt optional — est. $0–10 · Shop on Amazon (paid link)
Not sure? Take the 7-question quiz →
FAQ
- What is the cheapest idea on this list?
- Hot Mess (Pun) — its must-have pieces are estimated at $0–0 per person, and less if you already own some of them. Prices are rough estimates; check Amazon for current prices.
- Which one is fastest to put together?
- Hot Mess (Pun), at roughly 5 minutes of prep. It is rated easy.
- Can I do any of these tonight with no shopping?
- Yes: Last-Minute Tourist, Hot Mess (Pun), Bedsheet Ghost, Black Cat, Ghost Couple (Sheet + Shades) and more can be made from household items — each card shows what to use.