Halloween lands on Saturday 31 October, which leaves about three and a half weeks. DIY Halloween decorations on a budget are the standard advice for saving money, but making things isn’t always the cheapest route. Some projects cost almost nothing. Others quietly need paint, foam, and a glue gun, and end up pricier than a ready-made dollar-store ghost. This guide helps you decide what to make, what to buy, and what suits your space.
Make or buy? The real cost of each project
| Project | Style | Real cost (USD) | Time | Skill | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black paper bats and window silhouettes | Minimalist / Modern | $2-3 | 30-45 min | None | Make |
| Milk-jug ghost lanterns | Rustic / Playful | Jug-free, plus $1.25-1.50 battery lights | 20 min | None | Make |
| Gauze-wrapped jar mummies | Gothic / Vintage | Jar-free, plus a $1.25-1.50 flameless tea light, plus gauze (not price-checked) | 20-30 min | None | Make |
| Old sheet or duvet ghosts | Vintage / Playful | About $20 if you buy foam skulls | About 10 min each | Low | Make if you own the fabric |
| Foam-board tombstones | Rustic / Spooky | Roughly $10 each (rough estimate) | 1-2 hrs | Medium | Make for the yard only, and seal them |
| Witch or graveyard scene | Witchy / Gothic | About $17 each in one example | Several hours | Medium | Thrift or buy, unless you enjoy crafting |
| Copycat of a $90 ghost wreath | Modern / Playful | Craft-store foam balls and basics (not price-checked) | About 1 hr | Low-medium | Make |
Time estimates are a rough guide, except for the duvet ghosts.
A few prices are below. A pack of black construction paper runs roughly $2 to $3. The foam skulls for the duvet ghosts were $3.99 each, about $16 for four. One DIY site copied a $90 ghost wreath, the kind of piece where making it pays off. Dollar-store twinkle and glow items are listed under $1.50. 10 budget-friendly DIY Halloween decorations +3
Honest take: DIY wins when a project uses things you already own, or when it copies a retail piece costing $40 or more. It loses when you must buy a starter kit for one project. A can of spray paint or a glue gun can wipe out the savings on a single ghost. Lights and electrical items are usually better bought than made. Paper and cardboard look fine for one season but rarely survive storage.
Decorating a small space or rental
Minimalist / Modern, for a studio or small apartment (about $2-5). Cut 15 to 20 black bats and fan them across one wall or around a mirror, using removable tape. Before: a blank wall. After: one clear focal point, with nothing on the floor. Renters should check the lease first and choose options that avoid damaging walls or ceilings. For a footprint-first plan, see our Halloween decorations for small apartments guide. tenantcloud
Gothic / Vintage, for a mantel or console (about $5-20). Group three or four gauze-wrapped jars with flameless lights beside two hanging sheet ghosts. Before: a tidy mantel. After: a layered, candlelit-looking scene with no flame. Keep fabric ghosts well away from any real heat source.
Playful / Family, for any room (about $3-10). An Australian DIY writer suggests white paper lanterns and black markers, or ping-pong balls turned into eyeballs, with supplies from Kmart, Big W and the Reject Shop. Kids can make these without help.
DIY for outdoors
Rustic / Spooky, for a porch, path or yard (about $5-20). Milk-jug lanterns lined along a path, with battery lights inside, hold up better than paper. For tombstones, skip untreated cardboard, which breaks down quickly in rain. Foam board sealed with paint is a sturdier option. Anchor anything light, because wind finds it first.
Seasons matter. In the UK, damp is the main enemy of paper and cardboard. In Australia, Halloween falls in spring, so expect warmer days and storms, and skip autumn-leaf styling. For layouts and trick-or-treater safety, see our Halloween porch decor ideas.
Where to buy the few things you need
- US: Dollar Tree is the usual stop, but check the tag. Items have been listed at $1, $1.25, and $1.50, and some now cost much more.
- UK: An undated trade roundup listed skull LED lights at £2 and spider tealight holders at £1 at Poundland. Confirm current prices in store.
- Australia: Kmart sells a 30-shape Halloween paper garland kit at A$5.
For price tiers and where else to shop, see our cheap Halloween decorations guide. UK and Australian prices stay in local currency because conversions shift.
Keep it safe
Homemade decor is often paper, cloth and cardboard, which burn easily. Estimates of the risk differ. One restoration firm cites roughly 900 house fires a year started by Halloween decorations. An insurer quoting the National Fire Protection Association says decorations were first to ignite in more than 1,000 fires.
- Use battery LED candles instead of real flames.
- Keep cobwebs, crepe paper, leaves and fabric away from anything hot.
- Switch lights off overnight or use a timer.
- Don’t overload sockets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make Halloween decorations on a budget?
Start with what you own: paper, glass jars, milk jugs, old sheets. Cut black paper into bats, turn jars into flameless lanterns, and string battery lights through everything. Add a few dollar-store pieces only where a project truly needs them. Lighting does the most work, so spend there first and keep everything else simple.
Is it cheaper to make or buy Halloween decorations?
It depends on what you already own. Paper silhouettes, jar lanterns, and old-sheet ghosts cost a few dollars. Projects needing foam, paint, and glue can reach $15 to $20 each, more than many ready-made dollar-store pieces. Make things that copy a $40-plus retail piece or use leftovers; buy lights and multipacks.
What household items can I use for DIY Halloween decorations?
Glass jars, milk jugs, black paper, cardboard, old white sheets, and string lights cover most projects. Wrap jars in gauze for mummy lanterns, draw faces on rinsed milk jugs, and cut silhouettes for windows. Recycling-bin materials work best indoors, because paper and cardboard collapse once rain or damp gets at them.
Are DIY Halloween decorations with lights and candles safe?
They can be, if you swap real flames for battery LED candles and keep paper, crepe, cobwebs and dry leaves away from heat. UK fire services and US safety groups both advise this. Switch lights off at night or use a timer, and never overload sockets.
Quick reference: what to make this month
| Situation | Style | Make this | Rough cost | Skip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small apartment or rental | Minimalist / Modern | Paper bat flock, window silhouettes | $2-5 | Anything that needs nails or wall paint |
| Living room or mantel | Gothic / Vintage | Jar mummies, sheet ghosts | $5-20 | Real candles near fabric |
| Porch or yard | Rustic / Spooky | Milk-jug lanterns, sealed foam tombstones | $5-20 | Untreated cardboard outdoors |
| Kids or party | Playful | Paper garlands, ping-pong eyeballs | $3-10 | Elaborate scenes that take a weekend |
| One free evening | Any | Paper bats, jar lanterns | Under $10 | Projects needing new tools |
Ranges are my estimates built from the prices above; cheesecloth and paint weren’t price-checked.
Checklist before 31 October:
- Check what you already own before buying supplies.
- Pick two or three “Make” projects from the table.
- Buy battery LEDs for every light and candle.
- Test any tape or hooks on a hidden spot first.
- Store reusable pieces flat after Halloween.
