A good scary pumpkin costume for kids is the scare level your child wants, in their age band, with a mask they can see out of or no mask at all. Ours run from a smiling pumpkin tabard from 2 years to a hooded pumpkin monster with a toy pitchfork in sizes up to 12-14 years. Between April 22 and October 16, 2026, more than six in ten orders for our kids' pumpkin costumes on our US website included a size for ages 7 to 14.
Table of Contents
- What should you check before buying a scary pumpkin costume?
- Which scare level suits your child?
- What comes in the pack, and what do you add?
- How do you size a pumpkin costume?
- Can kids see out of a pumpkin mask?
- How do you keep a pumpkin costume warm and visible at night?
- Why is a jack-o'-lantern scary?
- What goes with a scary pumpkin costume?
- Frequently asked questions
This guide covers all six of our kids' pumpkin costumes. For every other look, start with our best kids Halloween costumes guide or our kids Halloween costumes collection.
What should you check before buying a scary pumpkin costume?
Before you buy a scary pumpkin costume, check five things: the scare level, the pack, the age band, the eye holes, and how it handles a cold, dark night.
- Scare level: a friendly jack-o'-lantern face, a spooky pumpkin scarecrow, or a full hooded pumpkin monster.
- What is in the pack: mask, robe or tunic, hood, belt, and props; pants and a long-sleeve top come from the closet.
- Size by age: age bands from 2 years to 12-14 years.
- Seeing out: mesh eye holes on the foam masks of our scarecrow and brown monster sets, or face paint for a child who would rather go mask-free.
- The night itself: a warm layer underneath and reflective tape on a dark robe.
The National Retail Federation's 2026 Halloween survey expects $1.5 billion to be spent on children's costumes, and 49% of consumers planned to begin their Halloween shopping in September or earlier.
Which scare level suits your child?
The right scare level is the one your child picks: a friendly jack-o'-lantern from 2 years, a spooky pumpkin scarecrow from 4-6 years, or a full hooded pumpkin monster from 3-4 years.
| Scare level | The look | Sizes in our range | Our costumes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friendly | A smiling jack-o'-lantern face on a bright orange tabard, no mask | 2 years to 4-6 years (the round pumpkin starts at 3-4) | Kids Round Pumpkin Costume; Kids Pumpkin Tabard Costume |
| Spooky | A foam pumpkin mask over a distressed scarecrow tunic and collar | 4-6 years to 12-14 years | Boys Scary Pumpkin Scarecrow Costume |
| Full monster | A hooded robe and a fanged or grinning pumpkin mask | 3-4 years to 12-14 years | Boys Evil Pumpkin Monster Costume; Boys Scary Pumpkin Monster Costume; Boys Brown Pumpkin Monster Costume with Pitchfork |
A child who has outgrown the round pumpkin can stay a pumpkin: the scarecrow and monster sets run to 12-14 years.
What comes in the pack, and what do you add?
Each of our six pumpkin costumes ships with the pieces that make the look, so most need only pants and a long-sleeve top from your child's closet.
| Costume | In the pack | Add from the closet |
|---|---|---|
| Boys Brown Pumpkin Monster Costume with Pitchfork | Distressed cloak with rope belt and straw detail, pointed brown hood, foam pumpkin mask with mesh eye holes, toy pitchfork | Brown or black pants and long-sleeve top |
| Boys Evil Pumpkin Monster Costume | Full-length black robe with jagged edges, pointy hood, pumpkin mask, gloves, rope waist tie | A thin long-sleeved top and leggings on cold nights |
| Boys Scary Pumpkin Monster Costume | Brown cloak with straw detail and rope belt, pointed brown hood, foam pumpkin mask with mesh eye holes | Dark pants or leggings |
| Boys Scary Pumpkin Scarecrow Costume | Distressed tunic with rope belt, large printed collar, foam pumpkin mask with mesh eye holes | Plain dark pants |
| Kids Round Pumpkin Costume | Padded orange tabard with jack-o'-lantern face and green collar, matching trick-or-treat bag | Long sleeves and leggings underneath |
| Kids Pumpkin Tabard Costume | Orange tabard with jack-o'-lantern face and green collar, separate matching hood | Everyday clothes underneath |
Every costume goes through over 30 measurement checks. All of our kids' products are safety tested by accredited labs.
Boys Brown Pumpkin Monster Costume with Pitchfork
The Boys Brown Pumpkin Monster Costume with Pitchfork packs the whole harvest-monster look: a distressed printed cloak with straw detailing and an attached rope belt, a large pointed brown hood, a foam pumpkin mask with mesh eye holes, and a toy pitchfork. Four sizes run from 4-6 years to 12-14 years, in 100% polyester. Finish the look with brown or black pants, a long-sleeve top, and gloves of your own.
Kids Round Pumpkin Costume
The Kids Round Pumpkin Costume is the friendly end of the scale: a soft padded orange tabard with a jack-o'-lantern face and a green collar, plus a matching trick-or-treat bag. It goes on through shoulder openings, and the roomy cut layers over a sweater or thermals. The bag in the photo has a scowling face, a little spook with no mask. The size selector offers 3-4 years and 4-6 years.
For a black-robed monster, the Boys Evil Pumpkin Monster Costume brings a jagged-edged black robe, pointy hood, pumpkin mask, gloves, and rope tie, in sizes from 3-4 years. The Boys Scary Pumpkin Scarecrow Costume pairs its foam mask with a large printed collar, and the Kids Pumpkin Tabard Costume starts at 2 years with its own hood.
How do you size a pumpkin costume?
Size a pumpkin costume by your child's age band, then confirm on the size selector on the product page. The full-monster and scarecrow sets run S (4-6 years), M (7-9 years), L (10-12 years), and XL (12-14 years); the evil pumpkin monster set adds a toddler size for 3-4 years; and the two friendly tabards run from 2 years (the round pumpkin from 3-4) to 4-6 years.
- Between two sizes: size up, as the scarecrow's product page recommends, for extra comfort and ease of movement.
- Robe length: the American Academy of Pediatrics wants hems that will not trip a child or catch on things, so do a try-on in the shoes your child will wear on the night and walk the porch steps.
Can kids see out of a pumpkin mask?
Kids can see out of our foam pumpkin masks through mesh eye holes on the scarecrow set and both brown monster sets. Whichever mask your child picks, including the evil pumpkin monster's, do a try-on at home: your child should be able to look down and see a step without tipping their head back.
For a child who would rather keep their face free, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as alternatives to masks. An orange face, black triangle eyes, and a jagged grin under the hood turn any of the monster sets into a mask-free pumpkin, and the friendly tabards need no mask at all. Either way, lift the mask to cross the street.
How do you keep a pumpkin costume warm and visible at night?
A warm layer underneath and reflective tape on the outside keep a pumpkin costume ready for a chilly evening walk.
- Layer in costume colors: a brown or black long-sleeve top and pants under the monster robes, as the brown pumpkin monster's product page suggests for warmth, and black under the orange tabards.
- Add reflective tape: the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests reflective tape or striping on costumes and treat bags, so put a strip on the back of a dark robe and on the pumpkin bag.
- Carry a flashlight: the AAP lists one for after dark, and it lights the porch steps for a child looking out through a mask.
- Keep props short: the AAP advises against sharp or long props, so check the length of anything your child wants to carry.
Why is a jack-o'-lantern scary?
The first jack-o'-lanterns were turnips carved with scary faces to frighten away evil spirits. The Library of Congress traces the custom to Ireland, where it originated with carved turnips instead of pumpkins and is said to come from the folk tale of Stingy Jack, a man who repeatedly trapped the Devil and was given a burning lump of coal in a carved-out turnip to light his way. According to History.com, Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, where pumpkin carving became a Halloween custom. A pumpkin mask on Halloween night is that carved face, out walking.
What goes with a scary pumpkin costume?
A scarecrow goes with a pumpkin: a sibling or parent in a scarecrow look makes a harvest-field pair. Our scarecrow costume guide covers kids and adult scarecrows. A toddler in the round pumpkin beside an older sibling in a pumpkin monster set puts both ends of the scare scale in one photo.
For more of the creepy end, see our scary Halloween costumes for kids guide; the matching family Halloween costumes guide has sets that run from toddler to adult.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good scary pumpkin costume for kids?
Choose by scare level and age band. For a full monster, look for a hooded robe and a pumpkin mask in your child's age band; our pumpkin monster sets run from 3-4 years to 12-14 years, and the foam masks on our brown monster sets have mesh eye holes. For a gentler look, our friendly pumpkin tabards need no mask and run from 2 years to 4-6 years.
Is there a scary pumpkin costume for toddlers?
Yes. Our Boys Evil Pumpkin Monster Costume starts at a toddler size for 3-4 years, with a black hooded robe, a pumpkin mask, gloves, and a rope tie. For a gentler look, the Kids Pumpkin Tabard Costume starts at 2 years and the Kids Round Pumpkin Costume starts at 3-4 years, both with a smiling jack-o'-lantern face and no mask.
What is a pumpkin head costume?
A pumpkin head costume swaps the wearer's face for a carved jack-o'-lantern, usually a pumpkin mask worn with a hooded robe or cloak. Our pumpkin monster and pumpkin scarecrow sets each include a pumpkin mask and a robe, tunic, or cloak, sized from 3-4 years up to 12-14 years.
Do scary pumpkin costumes come with pants?
Pair our scary pumpkin costumes with your own pants: plain brown or black pants or leggings work under the monster robes and the scarecrow tunic, and a long-sleeve top in the same color keeps your child warm without changing the look.
Can my child see out of a pumpkin mask?
Our foam pumpkin masks on the scarecrow and brown monster sets have mesh eye holes. Try the mask on at home first, check your child can see the ground in front of them, and lift the mask to cross the street. Face paint is a mask-free alternative.
How do you wash a pumpkin costume?
Give the fabric pieces a cold hand wash and an air dry, flat and away from direct heat. Wash the robe, cloak, or tunic separately from the mask, and store the mask and any pitchfork flat so they keep their shape.
