Well guys, the impending Fall season means you need to come up with a cheap and easy Halloween costume [1] idea ASAP. We know you probably don't have full costumes in your closet, and that's why we rounded up the best costumes [2] for men that include DIY outfits [3], totally original ideas, funny [4] (and punny!) costumes, and some pop culture references that will help you win every costume contest around campus. From the dorms to date dashes and everything in between, these costumes are completely college approved.
Take a look at these costume ideas for men [5] that even the busiest college guy can handle. Happy hauntings, boys!
— Additional reporting by Hedy Phillips
Where's Waldo?
A striped shirt, beanie, and circular glasses are just about all you need to channel your inner Waldo.
Green Army Man
Going green never looked so cool. Paint your face green, wear green clothes, and complete the costume with a handmade green platform that you can strike your best army pose on.
Justin Timberlake
Throw it back to JT's glory days when you wear jean on jean on jean. Complete your outfit with a jean (!) cowboy hat, and you're ready to party.
Archer
If you've got a knack for face painting, this Archer idea will be perfect for you. Add comic-like features and a suit, and your work here is done.
Ryan Gosling in Drive
A silk jacket, black pants, and gloves will kick this Ryan Gosling [7] costume into full gear.
Thor
A red cape over a grey or black outfit with a large hammer will turn you into the iconic Thor. Be sure to show off your muscles!
Skeleton
No costume? No problem! Face paint is all you need to make this costume complete. If you want to make it even creepier, add a little fake blood to your outfit, too.
David Beckham
The ultimate stud, being David Beckham [8] is everyone's dream. You'll want to wear a crisp V-neck, gel in your hair, and if you don't have a bunch of tattoos, wear a fake sleeve to finish off your costume.
David S. Pumpkins
A pumpkin-printed suit is all you needed to channel Tom Hanks's iconic David S. Pumpkins character from SNL [9] this Halloween [10]. Any questions?
Picasso Painting
Go wild splattering yourself with bright colours of paint, and frame yourself in a similarly painted picture frame. Picasso's art is one of a kind, and your costume will be, too.
The Devil Wears Prada
A little red goes a long way here, as does a devilish smile. Dress in all black, and if you have any Prada, well, the more, the better.
Men in Black
This costume is great for guys who have a black suit and some dark sunglasses. Done, done, and done.
Athlete
Whether you played baseball, football, football, or any sport in the middle, dressing up as an athlete for Halloween [11] is always a safe bet. Once you find one of your old uniforms, it's game time.
Forrest Gump
If you're ready to run, Forrest, run, you'll need a dirty white t-shirt, some shorts, a hat (preferably with the Bubba Gump logo), and a very long beard. Then get running!
Derek Zoolander
Derek Zoolander's iconic look is easy to re-create. If you don't have a printed jacket, you can paint an already white or black one. Add a headband and spiky hair. The most important part, though, is your Blue Steel look.
Luigi Board
A Ouija board but with a Luigi twist? Yes, please. All you have to do is wear Luigi's famous green hat and a Ouija board around your neck, and you'll be ready to give everyone a good laugh.
Top Gun
If you have combat boots and aviators, you're halfway done with this costume! Get a green one-piece outfit and add some patches to complete the look.
Neville Longbottom From Harry Potter
Throw on an elaborately patterned cardigan, a button-down shirt, and jeans and carry a blood-stained sword to pull off this Harry Potter [12] character. Bonus points if you have a large fake snake!
John Wick
Embody the badass Keanu Reeves [13] character with an all-black suit and some fake blood. Don't forget the stuffed dog!
Star-Lord From Guardians of the Galaxy
This is an easy look to pull off, Just a red jacket and a retro cassette player. And swagger, so much swagger.
Superman
A Superman shirt, glasses, and some business separates make this the easiest superhero outfit you could put together.
Lumberjack
A plaid shirt, scruffy beard, and a love for the outdoors is all you need for this one. If you have an axe lying around that's great too!
Jason Momoa's Aquaman
Just as cool as it is sexy, being Aquaman is one of the best Halloween [14] costumes yet. Just grab a trident and get ready to blow people out of the water with your costume.
Hippie
If you have a turtleneck, bell-bottoms, or a groovy kind of style, fitting in with the '70s theme won't be too far out for you. Peace sign accessories and tie-dye are a must, too. Get groovy!
Harry Potter
Harry's outfits vary widely throughout the series, so the crucial parts of this look are just his glasses, wand, and lightning bolt scar. Ten points to Gryffindor if you also carry a white owl and call her Hedwig.
Vampire
Be a sexy vampire by dressing up the outfit with a blazer and bow tie. Paint some fake blood on your shirt for effect, and don't forget the vampire teeth.
Cowboy
Denim on denim plus a mustache, cowboy boots, and cowboy hat. Done and done!
Bruce Lee
This costume calls for a yellow outfit from head to toe. You can add the signature black stripes down the side easily with electrical tape. And don't forget your nunchucks.
Mime
Be ready to be quiet during your Halloween [15] party if you go as a mime or the costume won't work! Wear black pants, a black-and-white-striped t-shirt, black gloves, and a black hat. Keep your mouth shut all night and use only your hands to communicate.
Baywatch Lifeguards
If you don't mind a little nudity, this costume just requires red swim trunks and a whistle. Running around saving lives is totally optional on your part.
Alan From The Hangover
Your pet probably won't allow you to carry him around all night, but you can be like Alan from The Hangover and wear a baby carrier with a doll in it.
Woody From Toy Story
Dressing up as Woody from Toy Story is easier than you might think. Jeans, a yellow shirt, and cowboy hat will do the trick, and if you're feeling extra creative, you can always put a snake in your boot. Giddy-up partner!
The Brawny Man
Pearly whites and a red button up are all you need to make this costume complete. Oh, and a thick beard won't hurt either.
Second Amendment
Get it? The Second Amendment is the right to bear arms. All you need is some fur in any colour you please that you can wear as sleeves.
Half Dead
All you need for this killer costume is face paint, and you're ready to go. You can wear any outfit you want with this look, but black is always a good call.
Scientist
Wow all your party guests with your science knowledge . . . or just the sweet costume you threw together that makes you SEEM smart. You just need a white jacket, gloves, and protective glasses to pull off the scientist look.
Ron Swanson From Parks and Recreation
You'll need your best surly face and a love of meat, buffets, and meat buffets to pull off the Ron Swanson look. You'll also need khakis, a flannel shirt, and a badass mustache.
Robber
All this costume requires are black pants, a striped shirt, black gloves, a black hat, and a mask. Make sure you're sneaky all night so you don't blow your cover.
Marty McFly From Back to the Future
It's all denim all the time for Marty McFly. If you've got something lying around the attic from the '80s, you'll be all set.
Mad-Eye Moody From Harry Potter
You can create Mad-Eye's mad eye by cutting a white ball in half and gluing it to a strip of fabric you can tie around your head. Complete the look with a black robe and wand.
LaCroix
How easy would it be to dress up as one of your favourite beverages? Tie-dye a couple of shirts to look like the LaCroix labels, and write the name on the front.
Joyce's Wall From Stranger Things
Even if you've never seen the show, you probably recognise the wall of letters from Joyce's house on Stranger Things [16]. Write the letters on a shirt and either attach working Christmas lights or baubles that look like Christmas lights.
Jareth the Goblin King
David Bowie fans: this one is for you. With black boots, grey leggings, a white shirt, and a black vest, you too can be the goblin king. But only if you have a killer mullet to go with it all.
Garden Gnome
It's so easy to be these adorable garden gremlins! If you don't have a pointed red hat handy, you can make one out of felt. Wear it with your best flannel and a long white beard.
Flynn Rider From Tangled
This princely costume is fairly easy to re-create. You'll need khakis, a white button-up, and a blue vest to be this handsome Tangled character.
Dustin From Stranger Things
Pull out your sneakers, cords, plaid shirt, denim jacket, and ball cap for this Stranger Things [17] look. But don't forget the pudding. Dustin would never forget the pudding.
Dairy of a Wimpy Kid
If you grew up reading Dairy of a Wimpy Kid, then this costume is for you. All you need is a large sheet of paper (be sure to cut out an area that you can breathe out of!) and a black and white outfit. No one will think you're wimpy when you're wearing a costume this creative.
Chip Gaines
Just dress up like a carpenter in your best flannel and talk about how much you love JoJo and your kids. Also carry a hammer, obviously.
Chick Magnet
If you attract all the chicks, you might as well own it! Turn into the chick magnet that you are by sticking a cutout of a magnet and little chicks to your shirt.
Charlie Brown
If you're a fan of the Peanuts (Let's be honest, who isn't?), dressing up as Charlie Brown is right up your alley. A yellow collared shirt can easily be transformed into Charlie Brown's iconic outfit with a little marker, so get to work! Remember to "be yourself. No one can say you're doing it wrong."
Little House on the Fairy
This giggle-inducing getup just needs some face paint, tissue paper, and a little house to make it yourself.
Black-Eyed Pea
Blacken one eye, place a P on your shirt, and there you go!
A Whole Snack
If you know you're a snack, flaunt it! All you have to do for this costume is safety-pin candy, sweets, and salty treats onto your shirt, and everyone will eat you up.
A Transformer
Creativity is key when it comes to making your own Transformers costume. Styrofoam boxes and big bulky gear will do the trick. It won't be long before you can be "built" just like them.
A T-Bird From Grease
You'll need to slick back your hair and carry your comb around to be one of the T-Birds. Roll up your black pants a little and throw on a denim jacket to complete the look.
50 Shades of Grey
Use paint-sample chips in as many different shades of grey as you can find and attach them all over your outfit, and you'll be a whole new kind of 50 shades.
The Most Interesting Man in the World
If you're a fan of Dos Equis, this costume is for you. You can be the Most Interesting Man in the World simply by donning your best black suit and carrying a bottle of Dos Equis all night.
Surfer
You should already have everything this costume requires: swim shorts, sandals, and a t-shirt. Lei and surfboard are optional.
Spice Rack
A bra and your spice cabinet (or your mom's!) are all you need to make this pretty hysterical costume.
Shark
Look, we understand when time gets away from you and your Halloween [18] party is only five minutes away. We also understand that you might have a onesie in your closet, and now is the time to use it. This shark one makes dressing up SO easy.
Sorcerer Mickey
If you can get your hands on a pair of Mickey Mouse ears, you can easily be Sorcerer Mickey. You just need a red sweatshirt and black pants with a gold cord tied around your waist.
Ross Geller From Friends
Make sure you wear two name tags that say both "Ross" and "Dr. Geller" so everyone knows who you are. Also, if you walk around yelling, "Pivot!" and "We were on a break!" no one will be confused about your costume. Promise.
Olive From Easy A
This costume isn't just reserved for the ladies. You can be like Olive from Easy A (or Scarlet in The Scarlet Letter) with an A emblazoned on whatever you choose to wear.
Nerd
This one's easy! Hike up your shorts or pants, pull up your socks as high as they'll go, and wear a bow tie or suspenders for good measure. If you can find some glasses and even tape up the nosepiece, that'll be the icing on the nerdy cake.
Error 404
OK, for the superlazy and maybe anti-Halloween type, this costume is for you. Grab a t-shirt you don't want, write "Error 404 Costume Not Found" on it, and call it a day.
Woodchuck
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? He would chuck one piece of wood, labeled "chuck." Done.
Ursula From The Little Mermaid
The deep blue sea is no match for this insane Ursula costume. One easy way you can make the tentacles is by using black tights filled with stuffing and tied together around your waist. Finish the look by painting yourself purple and wearing a flashy red lipstick.
Sims Characters
To be a Sims character, you can dress however you want. You just need a diamond over your head, which you can make with a drugstore headband and green paper.
Identity Theft
You can dress up as something that literally no one likes — how fun! Plaster yourself with name tags with a bunch of names on them and go as identity theft.