An adult ghost costume comes in four looks: the classic white sheet, the striped-suit movie ghost, the Victorian ghost, and the faceless ghost in a white mask. Of the styles people name, the classic comes up most: in our Search Console data for the 90 days to September 20, 2026, the classic ghost costume query showed up about three times as often as the realistic one, and three times as often as the gothic one. Our White MorphMask covers the faceless look; the sheet you can make at home.
Table of Contents
- What is a classic ghost costume for adults?
- How do you see out of a faceless ghost costume?
- What is the striped-suit ghost costume?
- What is a gothic or Victorian ghost costume?
- How do you make a ghost costume look realistic?
- Which ghost costumes come in men's sizes?
- Why do people dress as ghosts at Halloween?
- Frequently asked questions
We keep the ghosts with the rest of our Halloween costumes, and our guide to the best Halloween costumes for 2026 covers the wider field. The rest of this page is ghosts, including the practical question of how you see where you are walking once your face is covered.
What is a classic ghost costume for adults?
A classic ghost costume for adults is a plain white sheet or hooded drape worn over the whole body, with the face covered or hidden. The sheet is older than Halloween parties: up until the 19th century the dead were almost always wrapped in burial shrouds rather than placed in coffins, so a figure in white cloth was what people expected a ghost to look like, and theater later kept the white sheet on stage because audiences found it scarier (KQED Arts).
Making one takes three steps:
- Pick the fabric. To reduce fire hazards, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission advises "choosing costumes made of polyester or nylon fabric and not sheer cotton or rayon fabric" (CPSC Halloween safety tips), so a white polyester sheet or fleece throw is a great choice.
- Trim the hem to ankle height. The same CPSC guidance says to "avoid overly long or baggy costumes to prevent trips and falls".
- Sort out your face before you cut anything. Drape the sheet, mark where your eyes sit with chalk, and either cut the holes there or skip the cutting and wear a see-through white mask under a hood, which is the next section.
How do you see out of a faceless ghost costume?
You see out of a faceless ghost costume through the fabric itself, by wearing a stretch mask that is opaque from the outside and see-through from the inside. The CPSC line on masks is that "eye and nose holes in masks should permit full visibility and adequate breathing"; a fabric mask you can see and breathe through everywhere removes the hole-placement problem altogether.
A blank white face you can drink through
Our White MorphMask covers the whole head in 91% polyester and 9% elastane, and we designed it so you can see, breathe, and drink while wearing it. One mask comes in the pack, in one size that stretches to fit most adult heads. Under a white hood or sheet it gives you the blank, featureless face of a classic ghost with no eye holes to line up; over a dark suit it reads as a faceless phantom instead. Hand wash it in cool water and let it air dry.
What is the striped-suit ghost costume?
The striped-suit ghost costume is a black and white vertical-striped suit and black tie, the look of the mischievous movie ghost of the late 1980s. The stripes are the part people recognize; the wild hair and pale, dark-eyed makeup in the photos are styling you add yourself. We make one suit for men and one for women, each 100% polyester and hand wash only, so two of you can go as the same ghost without anyone sewing anything; our couples Halloween costumes guide has more pairs like it.
The men's suit: jacket, pants, and tie
Our Mens Black & White Suit Ghost Costume packs a monochrome striped jacket, matching striped pants with an elastic waist, and a black tie. It is 100% polyester and runs Medium (38-40in chest), Large (42-44in), and XL (46-48in). Jacket, pants, and tie arrive together, so the hair and makeup are yours to play with.
The women's suit: six sizes, up to US 24-26
Our 80s Striped Suit Movie Ghost Costume Womens is a striped peplum blazer with large pointed lapels, matching legging-style pants with an elastic waist, and a black faux tie. The jacket has stretch, and the set runs six sizes from Small (US 4-6) to XXXL (US 24-26). Hand wash the blazer, the pants, and the tie one at a time to avoid color transfer.
What is a gothic or Victorian ghost costume?
A gothic or Victorian ghost costume is nineteenth-century period dress worn with pale ghost makeup: a long dark gown and bonnet, or a tailcoat and top hat, on someone who looks like they have been dead since 1880. The clothes put you in the century and the makeup makes you the ghost, which makes it a great look for anyone who enjoys the makeup as much as the outfit.
The lady in black and white
Our women's Victorian costume is a long black and white dress plus a white frill bonnet. It is 100% polyester and runs five sizes, Small (US 4-6) to XXL (US 20-22). Dress and bonnet arrive together; add a parasol of your own if you like the one in the photo.
The gentleman who never left the house
Our Mens Victorian Suit Costume packs four pieces: a black tailcoat jacket, a white shirt with an attached black vest and gold button detail, a black cravat, and a top hat. It runs Medium (38-40in chest), Large (42-44in), and XL (46-48in). Four pieces, ready to wear over your own black pants. Park the top hat upright somewhere it cannot get crushed between wears.
How do you make a ghost costume look realistic?
A ghost costume looks realistic when the face and hands match the clothes: pale, gray-toned makeup, shadowed eye sockets, and no bare skin in its normal color anywhere in view. That applies to the Victorian costumes and the striped suits alike, since both leave the face open.
- Test the makeup first. The FDA's advice is to "test the makeup you plan to use at least 24-48 hours in advance", with a small amount on your arm (FDA Halloween safety tips).
- Carry the pale base down the neck and over the backs of the hands, or wear white gloves.
- Dust the shoulders and hat with a little gray powder so the clothes look as old as the face.
- Keep the hem off the ground. A floor-length gown gathered in one hand on the stairs is in character anyway.
If you would rather skip makeup completely, the faceless route above does the same job with a mask. For more looks that lean frightening, our scary Halloween costumes guide and our skeleton costumes guide sit next door.
Which ghost costumes come in men's sizes?
Two of our ghost looks are cut for men, the striped suit and the Victorian suit, and both are sized by chest in Medium, Large, and XL. The White MorphMask is one size for any adult. Every costume goes through over 30 measurement checks, and we run 500,000+ quality checks a year. Neither of those numbers knows your chest, though, so get a tape measure on it and read the size chart on the product page before you order. The table lists all five side by side, with prices as shown on our US store on September 21, 2026.
| Ghost look | In the pack | Sizes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| White MorphMask | 1 full-head mask | One size, most adult heads | $20.95 |
| Men's striped suit | Jacket, pants, and black tie | M to XL (38-48in chest) | $46.95 |
| Women's striped suit | Peplum blazer, legging pants, and faux tie | S to XXXL (US 4-26) | $46.95 |
| Women's Victorian costume | Long dress, frill bonnet | S to XXL (US 4-22) | $35.95 |
| Men's Victorian suit | Tailcoat, shirt with vest, cravat, and top hat | M to XL (38-48in chest) | $55.95 |
Why do people dress as ghosts at Halloween?
People dress as ghosts at Halloween because the holiday began as a night when ghosts were expected. Halloween traces to the Celtic festival of Samhain, when people believed "the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred", and those who went out after dark "wore masks after dark so ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits" (History.com). Dressing as a ghost goes back as far as the holiday itself, and it is still a great call.
Costumes are still the center of the night. In the National Retail Federation's 2025 Halloween survey, 71% of consumers planned to buy costumes, with $4.3 billion going on costumes out of a record $13.1 billion in total Halloween spending (National Retail Federation, 2025).
Frequently asked questions
What are good ghost costume ideas for adults?
Four ghost looks work well for adults: a classic white sheet or hooded drape, a black and white striped suit in the style of the 1980s movie ghost, a Victorian ghost in a tailcoat or long gown with pale makeup, and a faceless ghost in a plain white full-head mask. We sell the striped suits in men's and women's sizes, two Victorian costumes, and the White MorphMask.
Can you see through a white ghost mask?
Yes, with a fabric mask made for it. Our White MorphMask is a stretch blend of 91% polyester and 9% elastane that lets you see, breathe, and drink with it on. From the outside it looks like a blank white face.
What fabric should you use for a DIY sheet ghost costume?
Use white polyester or nylon. To reduce fire hazards, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission advises choosing costumes made of polyester or nylon fabric and not sheer cotton or rayon, and it also advises trimming anything long enough to trip on. Cut the hem to ankle height and mark the eye positions while you are wearing the sheet.
What sizes do the striped-suit ghost costumes come in?
The men's striped suit runs Medium, Large, and XL, covering 38 to 48 inch chests. The women's striped suit runs six sizes, from Small (US 4-6) to XXXL (US 24-26). Check the size chart on each product page against your own measurements before ordering.
How do you wash an adult ghost costume?
Hand wash it in cool water with a mild detergent and let it air dry flat. All five products on this page are hand wash only, and the striped suits should be washed piece by piece to avoid color transfer.
Why is the ghost a symbol of Halloween?
Halloween grew out of the Celtic festival of Samhain, when people believed the boundary between the living and the dead blurred and ghosts returned to earth for the night. People wore masks after dark so the ghosts would take them for fellow spirits, which is why the ghost has been a Halloween costume for as long as the holiday has had costumes.
