20 DIY Halloween Design Ideas to Consider in 2021

Ah, Halloween. It's one of the most beloved holidays, and anyone can see why. Free candy, fun costumes, and scary movies - what's not to love?

It can be tiring, though, when it comes to choosing a costume. Buying new costumes can get expensive, and making your own is time-consuming and painstaking.

But what if we told you that you can get your hands on a great Halloween costume while saving money and effort?

With our Halloween design ideas, you can make the most of your Halloween while staying on a budget! You'll be able to look great with just a t-shirt and a few accessories.

But if you don't know where to start, never fear. Here is an overview of how to create your own Halloween designs. Keep reading for 20 DIY Halloween design ideas for 2021.

Why Design Your Own Halloween Creations?

Designing your own Halloween costume might seem like more trouble than it's worth. But the truth is, it's much better than simply buying a costume for a ton of reasons.

For one thing, it's simple and easy - much easier than roaming from store to store in search of the perfect costume. All you need, when it comes down to it, is a t-shirt and some creativity.

Secondly, it's also cheap. You just need to print a t-shirt and you're done! It's way cheaper than buying wigs, clothes, shoes, and more.

Designing your own Halloween creations is also loads of fun! Getting dressed up is already a blast, but it's way more satisfying when you create the designs yourself. You can get creative and express yourself through your costume.

Plus, it's much more customizable when you create your own costume. You can make sure that it actually fits you well and looks good on you. Or, if you want to dress as a certain character or object that you can't find anywhere else, you can easily make it yourself!

Halloween T-Shirt Costume Ideas

There are countless DIY Halloween costumes that you can throw together with a t-shirt and a few accessories! All you need to do is get creative and have fun. Here are some ideas for Halloween custom shirts!

1. Superman/Supergirl

This is a classic costume for a reason! Everyone will recognize it, and it's easy as pie to put together. All you have to do is print the iconic "S" on a t-shirt and you're good to go!

You can even add a cape if you want. Or, you can go a different route and hide your "S" underneath regular clothes for a dramatic reveal later, just like Clark Kent!

2. Batman/Batgirl

The classic bat symbol is another fun and recognizable costume, and it fits the Halloween theme perfectly! You just need the yellow logo on a black t-shirt to make your costume complete. 

3. Spiderman/Spiderwoman

Going along with the superhero theme, the spider logo is yet another costume that everyone of all ages will know and love. You could even try to find a mask to go with it.

4. Star Trek

The classic Star Trek t-shirt is a popular costume among sci-fi lovers, and it's simple as 1-2-3! All you need to do is print off a long-sleeved shirt with the Star Fleet insignia.

5. Zombie

If you want to stick with something spooky for Halloween, a zombie costume is a great choice. Design a t-shirt that looks like rotting flesh or spilling guts, add some face paint or makeup, and practice your zombie noises!

6. Frankenstein

Frankenstein's monster is another great option! You can find lots of t-shirt designs that resemble the monster or create your own. Then, get ahold of some accessories - like bolts in your neck or a Frankenstein wig - and you'll be the talk of the party.

7. Vampire

You can design a t-shirt that looks just like Dracula's robe without any of the hassles of actually wearing a robe. Then, add some fake fangs or even some fake blood if you're feeling fancy.

8. Skeleton

A skeleton is a great spooky costume that lends itself well to a t-shirt! A black shirt with white bones printed on it will do the trick. Or, you can even print glow-in-the-dark bones for a special effect, or get creative with t-shirts and hoodies adding skeleton graphics.

9. SpongeBob

If you want a more light-hearted costume, SpongeBob is a popular one! He's a recognizable and fun character, and you can print t-shirts that look porous and yellow, just like SpongeBob himself. This is a great choice for children's costumes! and the Gildan Youth Heavy Cotton T-Shirt is perfect for it.

10. Burglar

A burglar is an easy but effective costume. A simple black-and-white striped shirt with a mask over your eyes will make you look great with almost no effort!

11. Hippie

If you love tie-dye, then this costume is a great fit for you. A tie-dye t-shirt, a headband, and some peace signs will set you apart from the crowd.

12. Astronaut

You don't need to go to space for this costume! Print your design on a hoodie, like the Gildan Heavy Blend 50/50 Hoodie, to make your outfit look like a spacesuit. You can even make your own helmet to go with it.

13. M&M

This is an easy one! You can print the M&M logo on a colored t-shirt to pass as a piece of candy. It's one of the sweetest costumes you can think of!

14. Animal

You can use custom t-shirts to shapeshift into any animal you want. It might be a good idea, though, to choose an animal with a recognizable print - a zebra, tiger, leopard, or anything else!

15. Pumpkin

This one keeps with the Halloween theme. All you need to do is print a jack-o-lantern face on an orange t-shirt or hoodie!

16. Scarecrow

If you want to stick with the harvest and fall themes of Halloween, you can dress as a scarecrow. Choose a plaid-patterned shirt and stuff some straw in your sleeves and hat - or even print images of straw on the shirt itself!

17. Magic 8 Ball

This is another easy one. You just need to print the number "8" in white onto a black t-shirt and you're good to go.

18. Cactus

If you love plants, you can dress as a cactus. Print thorns and roses onto a green shirt and strike a cactus-like pose!

19. Cereal Killer

This is a creative and punny costume! Print popular cereal brand logos onto a t-shirt, combine it with a fake knife and some false blood, and you're now a "cereal" killer!

20. 404 Error: Costume Not Found

If no other ideas appeal to you, you can always use this one! Just print those words onto a shirt and you'll be all set.

Other T-Shirt Design Ideas

Maybe you don't need a costume, but you're throwing a Halloween party and you don't know what to wear. A custom Halloween-themed t-shirt is a perfect answer!

You can print shirts for Halloween with fun slogans or designs on them. For example, you could print cute designs of friendly monsters with funny catchphrases, or matching t-shirts for an event like a corn maze or a haunted house. You could also stick with the spooky theme and print shirts with scary designs of skulls, zombies, or chainsaws.

If you're throwing a Halloween party, you can turn this into an activity! Have your guests put in their t-shirt orders before the party and have fun decorating your shirts together.

How to Make Your Own Halloween Shirts

It's much easier than you might think to design your own Halloween shirts! Just follow these simple steps.

Choose Your Design

Decide on either a costume or a slogan, and then decide on something either funny/cute or spooky. What do you need the shirt for? Is it for you, or for a friend or a child?

Buy a Blank T-Shirt

Think about the colors you want and the size of your design. Consider as well the type of shirt - do you want a hoodie, a t-shirt, or a long-sleeved shirt?

Choose a Printing Method & Material

Different printing methods will work better on different t-shirt fabrics. Make sure you do your research before you decide on your method and your t-shirt material.

Trick-or-Treat Candy Bags

Another great Halloween design idea is to create your own custom treat bags using a blank tote bag! This is a good idea for parents who want to make their child's Halloween spectacular. You can have your child and their friends decorate treat bags at a Halloween party!

Trick-or-Treat Design Ideas

There are tons of treat bag designs to choose from! You can cover it all over with Halloween-themed images. You can personalize the bag with your child's name and with fun slogans.

Also, you could focus on one theme for the design of the bag. For example, you could make it look like a monster, a ghost, or a spiderweb. The shape of a drawstring bag looks a bit like a ghost, so that might work well!

Find More Halloween Design Ideas

Deciding on a costume can be difficult, but you don't need to be overwhelmed when Halloween rolls around. With this list of Halloween design ideas, your costume options are endless!

Don't wait! Halloween is just around the corner.

Choose a blank t-shirt to get started now!