Easy DIY Halloween Decorations (12 Cheap Projects for 2026)

Updated for 2026: new Dollar Tree, cardboard and adult scary ideas added for Halloween 2026.

Making your own Halloween decorations is cheaper than buying them, and it is a fun weekend project for adults and kids. Every idea below uses simple supplies, needs no special skills and can be packed away for next year.

Supplies to have on hand

Most of these projects use the same short list, so buy once and make several:

• Black and orange cardstock
• Cheesecloth or medical gauze
• LED tea lights
• Glass jars from your recycling
• Black and white acrylic or spray paint
• Twine, tape and a hot glue gun
• Small pumpkins and gourds

Expect to spend about $15 to $30 on supplies for five or six projects.

12 easy DIY Halloween decorations

1. Paper bat wall. Trace a bat template on black cardstock, cut 20 to 30, fold the wings and tape them in a swooping line. Cost: about $3.
2. Mummy jars. Wrap glass jars in gauze, glue on two googly eyes and add an LED tea light. Cost: about $1 per jar.
3. Cheesecloth ghosts. Dip cheesecloth in fabric stiffener, drape over a balloon on a bottle, let dry and pop the balloon. Cost: about $5.
4. Painted no-carve pumpkins. Paint pumpkins black, white or metallic, or add simple faces with a marker. Cost: $2 to $5 each.
5. Spooky branch tree. Spray-paint bare branches black, set them in a vase and hang paper bats or tiny ornaments.
6. Window silhouettes. Cut black paper witches, cats or a skyline and tape them inside a front window.
7. Bleeding candles. Drip red crayon wax down white pillar candles (use LED candles if you have kids or pets).
8. Potion bottles. Soak labels off old bottles, add colored water and print vintage potion labels.
9. Toilet paper roll bats. Paint rolls black, fold the top into ears and add paper wings. Great with kids.
10. Yarn spider webs. Tie white yarn into webs across a doorway corner.
11. Ghost garland. Cut ghosts from white felt or paper and string them on twine.
12. Candy corn vases. Paint the bottom of jars yellow, the middle orange and the top white.

How much DIY saves

Store-bought prices are typical US retail ranges. Your biggest saving comes from reusing jars, branches and frames you already have.

Make it a family project

Kids can trace and cut bats, paint pumpkins and wrap mummy jars. Keep hot glue and spray paint as adult-only steps, and work outside or in a well-ventilated room when spraying paint.

Display tips

Group DIY pieces in odd numbers, keep to two or three colors, and add one light source to each display. For a full room plan, see our Halloween decorations on a budget, and for the outside of the house, our Halloween porch ideas.

Five-minute DIY Halloween decorations

Short on time? These take almost no effort:

• Draw jack-o-lantern faces on orange balloons with a black marker.
• Turn white paper lanterns into ghosts with two black paper eyes.
• Wrap a front door in white streamers and add two big paper eyes for a mummy door.
• Fill a clear vase with candy corn and add a candle on top.
• Tape black paper eyes inside toilet paper rolls with glow sticks for spooky bush eyes.

All of these use supplies you probably have at home, and they look best in groups. Pair two or three quick projects with one bigger centerpiece like a branch tree or a bat wall.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Outdoor DIY Halloween decorations for the yard and porch

Indoor crafts are only half the fun. These outdoor DIY Halloween decorations handle a little wind and weather and cost far less than store-bought yard props:

• Tomato cage ghosts: turn a wire tomato cage upside down, add a foam ball head and drape with white cheesecloth or an old sheet. Weigh the base with stakes. Cost: about $8 to $12 each.
• Milk jug luminaries: draw faces on clean white milk jugs with a black marker, cut a small hole in the back and drop in an LED tea light. Cost: under $1 each.
• Foam board tombstones: cut shapes from foam insulation board or foam poster board, paint gray, add names with a black marker and anchor with garden stakes. Cost: about $3 to $6 each.
• Pool noodle candles: cut pool noodles to different lengths, paint them, add hot glue “drips” and an LED tea light on top. Cost: about $2 each.
• Glowing bush eyes: cut eye shapes into toilet paper rolls and slip in glow sticks. Tuck them into shrubs at dusk.
• Witch legs in a planter: stuff striped tights with plastic bags and add old shoes, then stick them upside down in a flower pot.

Step by step: make a tomato cage ghost

1. Gather supplies: a wire tomato cage, a foam ball or balloon for the head, white cheesecloth or an old white sheet, zip ties and garden stakes.
2. Flip the cage so the narrow end is on top, and bend the top prongs together with a zip tie.
3. Attach the head by pushing the foam ball onto the prongs.
4. Drape the fabric over the head and cage, letting it hang unevenly at the bottom for a floating look.
5. Add a face with black felt or a marker.
6. Anchor it with garden stakes through the bottom ring so wind cannot tip it over.
7. Light it by placing a small battery lantern or string of LED lights inside the cage.

Cute vs spooky: pick your style

A weekend plan for DIY Halloween decorations

• Saturday morning: buy supplies once using the list above and gather jars, rolls and branches from around the house.
• Saturday afternoon: do the messy work first: spray painting, fabric stiffener ghosts and pool noodle candles, so they can dry overnight.
• Saturday evening: cut paper bats, ghosts and silhouettes while watching a Halloween movie.
• Sunday morning: assemble mummy jars, potion bottles and tombstones.
• Sunday afternoon: set up the porch and yard, then decorate inside room by room.

Safety tips for homemade decorations

• Use LED tea lights instead of real flames inside jars, jugs, gauze and paper.
• Keep walkways clear of props, cords and webs for trick-or-treaters.
• Anchor outdoor pieces so wind does not blow them into the street.
• Do not cover vents, smoke alarms or exits with fabric, webs or paper.
• Use fake spider webbing carefully outside; birds and small animals can get caught, so yarn webs are a safer choice.

Common DIY Halloween mistakes

• Too many tiny pieces scattered around; group them for impact.
• Paper decorations outside that dissolve in the first rain.
• Starting too late, so paint and glue do not have time to dry.
• No lighting plan; decorations disappear after dark without a light source.
• Throwing everything away after Halloween instead of storing the reusable pieces.

How to store DIY Halloween decorations

Most DIY Halloween decorations can last for years if you pack them well. Store paper bats and garlands flat in a folder or pizza box, keep mummy jars and potion bottles wrapped in newspaper in a divided box, and drape cheesecloth ghosts over a hanger in a garment bag.

Toss real pumpkins and gourds, but keep painted faux pumpkins. Label one bin “Halloween DIY” so next year you only need to add one or two new projects. For table ideas to pair with your crafts, see Halloween table decor ideas.

Making Halloween decorations: where to start

Start with two or three big, simple pieces, not dozens of small crafts. A bat wall, a branch tree and a few mummy jars cover a whole room for under $15. Then add lighting so the decorations still work after dark.

1. Pick one room or the porch and one color palette.
2. Choose one large focal piece: a bat wall, ghost garland or branch tree.
3. Add two or three small pieces in a group, like mummy jars or potion bottles.
4. Finish with light: LED tea lights, orange string lights or a lantern.

Dollar Tree DIY Halloween decorations

Dollar stores are the cheapest source for DIY Halloween supplies. These projects use only dollar-store items plus paint or glue you already own:

DIY Halloween decorations with cardboard

• Cardboard tombstones painted gray, staked in the yard (cover with clear sealer for rain).
• A coffin-shaped bookcase or door panel cut from a large box.
• Haunted house window silhouettes cut from box flaps and painted black.
• A cardboard castle or skyline backdrop for a party table.

Scary DIY Halloween decorations for adults

For a creepier look, go dark and use light carefully:

• Fill apothecary jars with plastic bugs, rubber eyes or colored water and print vintage labels.
• Hang black cheesecloth from the ceiling and light it from below with a red or green bulb.
• Stage a “floating” candle cluster with LED candles and fishing line.
• Cover framed photos with dark paper cutouts and add a cracked-glass effect with a white marker.
• Wrap a hallway mirror edge in faux spider web and string a single dim red light nearby.

Helpful resources: For more on DIY Halloween decorations, see the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and National Fire Protection Association.

DIY Halloween decorations: frequently asked questions

What is the easiest DIY Halloween decoration?

Paper bats are the easiest. You only need black cardstock, scissors and tape, and a wall of 25 bats costs about $3.

How do I make a ghost out of cheesecloth?

Soak cheesecloth in fabric stiffener or diluted glue, drape it over a balloon set on a bottle, let it dry for a day, then pop the balloon.

How long do painted pumpkins last?

Uncarved painted pumpkins often last 4 to 8 weeks indoors, much longer than carved pumpkins, which last about a week.

Can kids help make Halloween decorations?

Yes. Kids can trace, cut, paint and wrap. Keep hot glue, sharp knives and spray paint for adults.

How do you make outdoor Halloween decorations cheaply?

Tomato cage ghosts, milk jug luminaries with LED tea lights, foam board tombstones and glow-stick bush eyes are some of the cheapest outdoor DIY Halloween decorations, most costing under $1 to $12 each.

What can I make for Halloween with things at home?

Toilet paper roll bats, mummy jars from old jars and gauze, potion bottles from used bottles, paper window silhouettes and yarn spider webs all use supplies most homes already have.

What are simple homemade Halloween decorations?

Paper bats, mummy jars made from old jars and gauze, ghost garlands, painted pumpkins and toilet paper roll bats are simple homemade Halloween decorations that cost a few dollars and take under an hour.

Can you make Halloween decorations from Dollar Tree items?

Yes. Paper lanterns, glass candleholders, foam wreath forms, creepy cloth and foam pumpkins from a dollar store can become ghost lanterns, candle clusters, skeleton wreaths and topiaries for about $2 to $8 each.

Sources: CPSC, NFPA. Prices are national planning ranges, not quotes. See how we research costs.

Latest Posts

Best Boot Tray for Winter (2026): 8 Picks for Snowy, Muddy EntrywaysBest Watch Winder for Automatic Watches (2026): 7 Quiet Picks and a Gift Guide for HimBest Ice Ball Maker for Whiskey: 8 Clear Picks (2026 Gift Guide)Best Luxury Hair Perfume for Women: 8 Designer Hair Mists Worth Gifting (2026)Best Garment Racks With Covers (2026): Rolling, Heavy-Duty and Dust-Proof Clothes RacksBest Tennis Bracelets on Amazon (2026): CZ, Moissanite and Lab-Grown Diamond Gifts for Her