8 Best Dog Halloween Costumes of 2024
by Nicole Pajer
Published on September 14, 2022
Halloween is one of the most fun holidays of the year, especially for pet parents who enjoy dressing up their pups. What’s cuter than dogs in Halloween costumes? If you agree, then you aren’t alone. Americans spend a whopping half a billion dollars per year on Halloween costumes for their pets.
If you need some clever dog Halloween costume ideas, we’ve got you covered! Whether you’re looking for a funny, cute, scary, or budget-friendly dog costume, our list can help you choose the best dog Halloween costume for your four-legged friend.
How We Chose Our Top Dog Halloween Costumes
With so many dog Halloween costumes to choose from, shopping for the perfect outfit for your pet can be overwhelming. We’ve selected our favorite pet Halloween costumes based on customer reviews, safety of the costume, durability of the material, price, and available costume sizes. We’ve also price-compared each costume with multiple online stores to find you the best deals, factoring in shipping costs and return policies. And lastly, we researched reviews to find out how comfortable the dog Halloween costumes are and how easy they are to put on and take off. Having two dogs of my own that I dress up every Halloween, I’ve learned that comfort is a must for a successful dog Halloween costume!
Our Picks: Top Dog Halloween Costumes
All featured products are chosen at the discretion of the author. However, Vetstreet may make a small affiliate commission if you click through and make a purchase.
- Best Overall Dog Halloween Costume: UPS Dog Costume
- Best Female Dog Halloween Costume: Wonder Woman Pet Costume
- Best Male Dog Halloween Costume: Superman Pet Costume
- Funniest Dog Halloween Costume: Guitar Dog Costume
- Cutest Dog Halloween Costume: Yoda Pet Costume
- Scariest Dog Halloween Costume: Deadly Doll Dog Costume
- Best Budget Dog Halloween Costume: Dog Lion Mane
- Best Dog and Owner Halloween Dog Costumes: Hot Dog Halloween Costume
8 Dog Halloween Costumes That Are True Treats
Make Halloween 2024 a year to remember (and don’t forget to take some pics). Here are our eight favorite dog costumes for Halloween that will help your pet become the life of the party.
Best Overall Dog Halloween Costume
Our pick: UPS Dog Costume
Our overall favorite Halloween costume for dogs is this adorable UPS outfit. What’s cuter than dressing your dog up as the very person who he spends time barking at all year round? This costume comes with a shirt with attached arms, a visor with an elastic chin strap, and a tiny UPS box that will turn your pup into a little delivery doggie. It’s comfortable for your pet to walk in, easy to take on/off, and has excellent customer reviews. It’s made of durable polyester and comes in five different sizes to fit just about any dog. Be sure to refer to the sizing chart before ordering.
Highlights
- Inexpensive
- Excellent reviews, mostly 5 stars
- Male or female dogs
- Comes in five different sizes
- Adorable and funny
Things to Consider
- Some customers said their dog didn’t like wearing the visor.
- Some reviewers had trouble putting the costume on their dog.
- If buying from Amazon, you’ll need to search individual listings by size.
Best Female Dog Halloween Costume
Our pick: Wonder Woman Pet Costume
This Wonder Woman pet costume is a super choice for your little superhero, especially if you’re a comic book lover. This cute dog Halloween costume comes in four different sizes that will fit most pets and is made of 100 percent polyester. It’s easy to put on, comfortable to walk and lie down in, and includes a matching Wonder Woman headpiece. For an extra layer of fun, match your pup’s outfit with a Superman or Batman costume of your own. You might even get friends or family to dress up as the other members of the Justice League!
Highlights
- Excellent reviews, mostly 5 stars
- Comes in four different sizes
- Superheroes are always a hit
Things to Consider
- Some customers said their dog didn’t like wearing the headpiece.
- See sizing chart and custom sizing tips for proper measuring
Best Male Dog Halloween Costume
Our pick: Superman Pet Costume
Superman is a classic Halloween costume, so why not have your pup be “Superdog?” This timeless Halloween dog costume comes with a red cape, a chest piece with Superman logo, and a matching yellow belt. It’s made of 100 percent polyester and fits comfortably so your pet can walk freely. It comes in four different sizes to make a great Halloween costume for small to large dogs. And if you have both male and female dogs, this will pair well with Wonder Woman!
Highlights
- Inexpensive
- Excellent reviews, mostly 5 stars
- 30-day return or refund policy on Amazon
Things to Consider
- Some customers complained it wasn’t easy to put on and involved several different ties.
Funniest Dog Halloween Costume
Our pick: Guitar Dog Costume
There are plenty of funny dog Halloween costumes out there, but this one steals the show. If your dog is a fan of music or is naturally just a little rockstar, this guitar dog Halloween costume is a great choice. It comes in several different sizes, but judging by the measurements and pictures, it’s definitely more of a medium to small dog Halloween costume. Also, this would be an easy costume to match with you and the rest of your rockstar family members!
Highlights
- Good price point
- Most customers found that this costume fit well (and that it was hilarious!)
- Comes in a variety of sizes
Things to Consider
- May not fit larger dogs; be sure to check the measurements.
Cutest Dog Halloween Costume
Our pick: Yoda Pet Costume
Of all the cute dog Halloween costumes, this one is our favorite. The force will definitely be with your pup this Halloween in this adorable Star Wars classic Yoda pet costume. It’s a step-in jumpsuit made of durable polyester with a hooded headpiece that’s comfortable and easy to put on/take off. But what really shines is the stuffed lightsaber attached to the hand! This costume comes in four sizes, ranging from small to extra large.
Highlights
- Step-in jumpsuit
- Very good reviews
- Comes in four different sizes
- Headpiece has hook and loop fastener
- 30-day return or refund policy on Amazon
Things to Consider
- More expensive than most other dog Halloween costumes
- HalloweenCostumes site says this costume is not returnable if you have opened the package
Scariest Dog Halloween Costume
Our pick: Deadly Doll Dog Costume
Watch out! This scary Halloween dog costume is sure to turn a few heads. The Deadly “Chucky” Doll pet costume is made of comfortable cotton and polyester fiber and comes with a soft wig and a Velcro removable soft knife. It comes in five different sizes but judging by the measurements and pictures, this might be a better Halloween costume for small to medium dogs.
Highlights
- Excellent reviews, mostly 5 stars
- Inexpensive
- 30-day return or refund policy on Amazon
Things to Consider
- May not work for larger dogs
- Scary for humans who don’t love the clowns
- HalloweenCostumes site says this costume is not returnable if you have opened the package
Best Budget Dog Halloween Costume
Our pick: Dog Lion Mane
If you’re looking for a simple but cute dog Halloween costume that won’t break the bank, turn your pup into a lion for Halloween. This realistic looking lion mane wig is easy to put on/take off, easy to clean, and is comfortable for your pet to wear. This is the perfect big dog Halloween costume and there is only one size, so be sure to check the neck measurement. Available in brown or black.
Highlights
- Over 6k reviews, mostly 5 stars
- Inexpensive
- 30-day return or refund policy on Amazon
Things to Consider
- Only available in one size, not a small dog Halloween costume
Best Dog and Owner Halloween Dog Costumes
Our pick: Hot Dog Halloween Costume
Matching dog and owner Halloween costumes take the holiday fun to a whole new level. Turn your four-legged friend into a hot dog and you can go perfectly together as a ketchup or mustard bottle, hamburger, chef, pizza, or taco! Rubie’s makes a variety of coordinating people food costumes for the whole family. This fabulous hot dog Halloween costume is made of lightweight and comfortable polyester and comes in four different sizes, but seems to work best as a Halloween costume for small dogs. It’s double the fun if you have a wiener dog!
Highlights
- Great reviews
- Inexpensive
- Easy to match your pet
- 30-day return or refund policy on Amazon
Things to Consider
- Some customers complained that it was too small. Be sure to check the size chart and maybe opt for the next size up.
Dog Halloween Costume Buyer’s Guide
When shopping for Halloween dog costumes, the first question you should ask yourself is, will my pet even wear a costume? Shelby Semel, a certified personal dog trainer with Shelby Semel Dog Training, tells pet owners to consider, “will your pet like this and actually be comfortable or does your dog typically find clothes, headpieces, harnesses, etc. unpleasant?” Halloween can already be a very stressful time for pets and adding a costume is not always the right decision for some dogs, she warns. She also suggests warming your dog up to the costume before Halloween, rewarding them with treats while they are in costume, and seeing if they are comfortable wearing it. Never try to force a dog to wear a costume if they clearly don’t want to.
When shopping for a Halloween dog costume, make sure your pet can easily walk, sit, and lie down in the outfit. If it’s too big, your pet can trip, and if it’s too small, it will be tight, uncomfortable, and may restrict breathing. It’s important to measure your pet accurately and check the sizing charts. Place your dog costume order well in advance of Halloween to allow time to exchange it if needed.
In general, simple is better. Your dog’s Halloween costume should be comfortable, lightweight, and not restrictive. Be on the lookout for signs that your dog is stressed or unhappy in their costume and take it off immediately if so. “Some common signs of stress while wearing the costume would be not moving, lip licking, avoidance cues such as turning their head away, whale eye, a closed tight mouth with possibly ears pinned back,” Semel says.
Dog Halloween Costume Safety Checklist
When shopping for a dog costume, run through the following to make sure you’re finding the right option for your pup:
Test the waters. Before shopping for a dog Halloween costume, try easing your pet into wearing clothing with a doggie T-shirt or a bandana. If they seem to be OK with this, then proceed.
Measure your pet. Measure your pet’s neck, chest, and back (from the base of their neck to the base of their tail) with a tape measure, then check against the costume size chart. It can also be helpful to scan the reviews to see if other pet parents have noticed that a costume runs small or big before choosing a size.
Buy early. If shopping online, order early to allow time to exchange an ill-fitting costume. However, pay close attention to the retailer’s return policy. Some costumes may not be returnable once you have opened the package.
Ensure a proper fit. A costume should not restrict your pet’s movement. Be sure your pet can walk, sit, and lie down comfortably in their new costume. If the costume looks too big or too small on your dog, don’t try to make it work just because it’s cute or because the store doesn’t have any more in stock.
Do a safety check. In addition to buying the right size, make sure the costume doesn’t have any small dangling objects that your dog can chew off and choke on. The costume also shouldn’t pose any tripping hazards or affect your pet’s ability to see.
Observe you pup. Take off the costume immediately if your pet is showing any signs of distress. Some dogs don’t like wearing clothing or accessories at all, while others will easily hop into full costume. If your dog doesn’t like wearing clothing, you can always accessorize him with something less invasive like a Halloween-themed bowtie or bandana.
