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Costume and Cosplay Guides

These guides help you build a recognizable costume from one or two key pieces plus clothes you already own. You'll learn how long a staff or scythe should be for the wearer, how to wear clip-on horns and costume noses comfortably, how to put together grim reaper, witch, clown, Pinocchio and animal costumes, and what to check before taking a prop to a convention or school. Start with the character you have in mind, or with the prop rules guide if you are heading to an event.

All guides Party Planning Balloons & Decorating Costumes & Cosplay Pet Celebrations Home & Everyday
Party supply calculatorHats, balloons, banner length and tableware for your guest count. Balloon arch calculatorBalloons by size and strip length for any arch or garland.

What you'll learn

  • Prop length: a staff reads as full height when it reaches about the wearer's shoulder; our 28.5–33.2 in props do that on young kids but stand about hip to wrist height on most adults.
  • Character recipes: the one prop or accessory that makes each character recognizable, and what to add from your closet.
  • Fit and comfort: trial fittings for strap-on noses and masks, horn clip placement, and when to remove a piece.
  • Event rules: common categories in convention and school prop policies, and how to measure and carry a prop.

Where to start

Costume or questionStart with
Grim reaperGrim reaper costume guide
Wizard, sorcerer or vampire staffHow to choose a wizard staff
WitchWitch costume accessories
Devil or demonDevil horns: clip-on vs headband
ClownClown costume basics
Pinocchio in a school playPinocchio costume for a school play
Animal costume for kidsEasy animal costumes with a felt mask
Taking a prop to an eventConvention and school prop rules

Planning a pharaoh, serpent sorcerer or showman? The snake cane and cobra staff ideas guide covers characters for the cobra-head cane.

How these guides are written

Each guide works from the measurements of the props and accessories we sell: plastic scythes from 28.5 to 33 in, orb staffs at 29.3 and 30.7 in, a cobra cane at about 33.2 in, a 6.29 in long nose, a 1.77 in clown nose, a latex witch nose and 1.57 in horn clips. The characters are generic or public-domain figures, so the advice works whatever version you have in mind.

Where props are concerned, the guides are clear about limits. These are lightweight decorative props for posing and photos. They are not tools, weapons or walking aids, and they shouldn't be swung at people or used to support weight.

Planning a costume in three steps

  1. Pick the character, then the single piece that makes it readable from across a room.
  2. Build the base outfit from clothes you own, in the character's main colors.
  3. Do a full fitting a few days ahead, including the prop, and check any event rules.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a wizard staff be?

As a rule of thumb, a staff reads as full height when it reaches about the wearer's shoulder. A 29 to 33 in staff does that on many preschoolers but stands about hip to wrist height on most adults.

Can I take a costume prop to a convention?

It depends on that event's current prop policy. Measure the prop assembled, know what it is made of, and carry it apart between venues.

Do I need makeup for a clown or witch costume?

No. A red clown nose or a green witch nose with a strap gives the character's face without makeup, and the clown costume guide covers no-makeup options.

Are clip-on horns or a headband better?

Clip-on horns give a small, band-free accent you can place anywhere in your hair or wig. A headband suits big horns or very short hair.