Turn your favourite play on words into a punny fancy dress costume this year with an easy outfit [1] that's sure to rake in the laughs. Whether you're on the hunt for the funniest, most ironic, or cleverest costume out there, these ideas will win you "best costume" [2] for Halloweens to come. With jokes that cover all the fun-filled bases, there's not a costume here that won't tickle your punny bone.
There's nothing better than wearing a witty and creative costume [3], and we are here to help you do just that. Check out the punniest costumes ahead, and turn this Halloween [4] into one that is unBOOlievably funny.
— Additional reporting by Haley Lyndes, Macy Williams, and Lisette Mejia
Coach-Cello
A fun couples costume for music-lovers, dressing up as Coachella, or Coach-cello, might look a little different than one might think. Have one person dress up as a sport's coach and the other as, well, a cello. Feel free to get creative with this costume.
Little House on the Fairy
This giggle-inducing getup just needs some face paint, tissue paper, and a little house to make it yourself.
Eye Candy
Chances are you have some candy lying around your house, and if you pick up a black apron, you can glue it all on there with some googly eyes to complete the look.
Potheads
We wouldn't suggest using actual pots for this one, as your head might get a little tired. Cut a hole in the bottom of a plastic pot and fill the top with lightweight plastic plants. Slip the pot over your head and be ready to get some laughs.
Snail Mail
For this couples costume, have one person be the mailman (or woman) and the other be the snail!
Ghost Malone
This Post Malone [5] costume is totally killer, right? Instead of just dressing up as the singer, give the costume a Halloween [6] twist by adding deathly makeup to turn you into Ghost Malone himself.
Card-E-Bee
Put a whole new spin on the popular rapper with this punny Cardi B costume. Wear a bee costume (or just a yellow-and-black-striped shirt), and make the letter "E" out of cards.
Kiss the Cook
Get ready to rock when you dress up as this for Halloween [7]! Wear Kiss-themed face makeup and a chef's hat or apron, and you can kiss this costume hello.
Space Jam
If you loved the 1996 movie Space Jam, then dressing up as this punny costume will be right up your alley. Wear out-of-this-world cool attire, and add a jam-themed accessory to finish it off.
Jeep Wrangler
Beep beep! Good costume coming through! If you have a shirt with the Jeep logo on it and a cowboy hat, your Halloween [8] costume is complete. Just add rope!
Bear-ista
Make a barista costume even cuter by putting this clever spin on it. All you have to do is wear a barista apron, bear ears, and face makeup. Don't forget your iced coffee!
Gingerbread
If you have red hair, you won't even need a wig for this one. Otherwise, find a red wig and carry around a loaf of bread.
Ceiling Fan
Channel your high school days and grab some pom-poms for this easy-peasy getup. Simply draw "go, ceiling, go!" on your t-shirt.
Insta-Gram
Instagram just got a whole new meaning! Put a funny spin on the social media app by dressing up as a grandma and pasting the logo to your shirt. Everyone will be sure to "like" it.
Sheets and Giggles
Give everyone a good laugh when you dress up as sheets and giggles. Decorate a sheet with words like "LOL" and "hehe," and see how long it takes people to get it.
Cereal Killer
Attach mini cereal boxes to your shirt and hold a (fake) knife to pull off this pun.
Holy Cow
Holy cow, this is a good costume! Dress up as a cow by wearing a spotted shirt and face makeup, then put on a halo and angel wings, and you're ready to go.
Rey of Sunshine
What do you get when you cross Star Wars and a chance to be funny? This awesome "Rey of sunshine" costume that can be made with a few DIY [9] touches.
Party Animals
You can wear a party hat with any kind of animal shirt you have lying around the house. Easy enough!
Iron Chef
Foodies and chemistry-lovers alike will have a laugh over this Iron Chef costume.
Dunkin' Donuts
Your best athletic wear and an inflatable pool float — you can make the doughnut yourself, if you have time — take this costume from funny to punny.
Captain Obvious
How do you not LOL when you see this? A captain's hat and name tag make this an easy costume that people will give you props for.
Taco Belle
Channel Beauty and the Beast with this adorable costume, but rather than carrying around books, you'll be toting a Quesarito instead.
Sugar Mama
Got a baby carrier? Got a bag of sugar? Congratulations, it's a costume!
Old Fart
How do you look at this and not laugh? You can definitely make this yourself if you're crafty, and the addition of some good makeup, a gray wig, and glasses take it to the next level.
Miss Universe
Step aside, Priyanka Chopra — you, too, can be Miss Universe for the night. Use anything from a little black dress to a trash bag for your universe, and decorate it with an array of colorful planets (with bonus points for scientific accuracy).
The Devil Wears Prada
Not everyone can pull off a Meryl Streep [10] costume, but dressing up as a devil wearing Prada is easy — you can even write Prada across a plain shirt if, like most people, you don't happen to have anything from Prada lying around.
Copy Cat
Anyone can wear a pair of cat ears, but only the most clever partygoers see an opportunity for the perfect pun.
Stop! Hammer Time
You'll be dancing the night away in this punny ensemble. You will need a partner with this costume, so find another MC Hammer fan.
Cat Burglar
The cat's out of the bag, because this costume is punny and cute. Put on cat ears with a striped shirt, and don't forget your bag of loot.
A Bump in the Night
Things that go bump in the night are usually terrifying, but with this starry night ensemble, you'll look adorable.
Travel Bug
If you have a passion for traveling, a travel bug costume was made for you! Bring your passport, camera, and favorite pair of antennas.
Seal of Approval
If people are dying for your approval, you might as well give them the seal. This costume is a mix of clever and cute, so have some fun with it.
The Punchline
Think you're funny? Then you should be the punchline! Dress up as a boxer and place a long piece of paper across your boxing glove, and be ready for your cue.
Trés Leches
This sweet costume requires two other friends and a quirky sense of humor. Wear shirts that say "leche" or milk on them, and let people have fun guessing what you are.
One-Night Stand
It's safe to say everyone will get a laugh out of this costume. Put a cardboard cutout on your shoulders, and drape a sheet over it. Then add your must-have bedside essentials.
Batman
Who said Batman had to be named after the animal? This superhero clearly uses baseball bats to ward off crime.
Fantasy Football
Dress up as a wizard (or any mystical character, for that matter) and carry around a football.
Kevin Bacon
Use fabric paint on a plain shirt to draw your best bacon imagery. Stick a name tag on your shirt that says "Kevin," and you have the celebrity himself.
Breadwinner and Dust Bunny
These two costumes are very simple to pull off. As a breadwinner, put a gold medal around your neck and hold a loaf of bread. You can become a dust bunny easily by wearing some rabbit ears and holding a feather duster.
Hairy Potter
Give the classic costume a hairy twist this year. All you have to do is wear a long wig and put on a potter's apron with clay smudges.
Smarty Pants
Attach Smarties to your trousers for this nerd-tastic look.
Formal Apology
Dress in your fanciest attire and make sure to write "Sorry" on an obvious part of your body to become a formal apology.
Social Butterfly
Just tape on the logos for social networks like Facebook and Twitter, then throw on a pair of wings.
Spice Girls
Get a group of your girlfriends together and each dress up as your favourite seasoning by drawing a label on a large piece of poster paper to wrap around your body. Together you are the Spice Girls!
Pig in a Blanket
Here's another easy one: pick up a pig nose and some ears and wrap yourself in a cosy blanket. The bonus is that you'll be comfortable and warm!
Grapes of Wrath
Cover yourself in purple balloons that have angry faces drawn on them for this literary pun.
French Kiss
A French kiss doesn't have to involve lots of PDA. Style this costume with a black-and-white striped shirt, a beret, and makeup made notorious by the band KISS. Throw in a baguette for a tasty prop.
AvoCATo
Replace the "d" in avocado and what do you have? An avocato, of course. Dress as you typically would for a cat costume (don't forget the cat ears) and top it off with a cardboard cutout of an avocado!
News Flash
Everyone needs a news flash every once in a while. Cover a dress in newspaper, layer it with a long jacket, and no one will know who you are (until you "flash" them, of course).
Party Like a Brocstar
Spray your hair green and combine it with an all-green outfit. Finish it off with a fake guitar and you'll be a brocstar in no time.
"Kernel" Mustard From Clue
For this outfit, tape a popcorn "kernel" and a little mustard packet on a plain shirt.
Spoiled Milk
No one likes spoiled milk, unless it looks like this. All you need is an all-white outfit that says "milk" on the front, pair it with an expensive shopping bag or two, and you'll look the part.
When Life Gives You Lemons . . .
You make lemonade! Be the bright spot this Halloween [11] with a shirt that says "life" with a bag of lemons.
Spice Girls
Become everyone's favorite fall flavors by dressing in all black, layering it with a red apron, and becoming McCormick's cinnamon and pumpkin spices.
Deviled Egg
Everyone will get a laugh out of this creative costume. Just draw a little yellow on a white shirt and put on a pair of devil horns, and let this costume win Halloween [12].
Pigs in a Blanket
Well, more like pig in a blanket . . . but you get the gist. Find pig ears and wrap yourself in a blanket — it's really that simple!
Catfish
This is what modern-day Halloween [13] costumes look like. Make a cardboard cutout of your favorite (or least favorite) dating app, dress in head-to-toe black, add cat ears and fish scales, and you're a catfish!
Bee-Yoncé
If you're a part of Beyoncé's "Beyhive," even better! Wear a "yoncé" top with bee wings behind it to emulate a true fan.
Trap Queen
Become an actual trap queen by gluing mouse traps to a cape and topping it with a fancy crown.
Life of the Party
In case people don't already know how fun you are, try out this costume. A feathery boa and Life cereal should get the point across.
Bag of Eminems
Chances are you have a garbage bag lying around your house. It's time to get punny and print out large pictures of Eminem [14]'s face so you can tape them to your trash bag. Puncture holes for your arms and head, and now you have a costume!
Lego My Eggo
Our favorite breakfast tagline can finally come to life! Have one person paint a cardboard box yellow and paste the Lego logo to their shirt to become the classic toy. Another person has to cut out a large piece of material into a circle and create a grid on it to become the famed Eggo waffle. Your costumes may be cool separately, but together they're amazing!
Meat and Greet
For this funny pun, stuff nylons with tissue and knot off each section to create a sausage-link sash. For the bacon, you can use either paper or fabric and red paint. Utilize some bobby pins to make sure your "Hello" headpiece stays in place. Now you are a meat and greet!
Fifty Shades of Grey
Go grab 50 paint chips from Home Depot and place them on a shirt.
Heavy Metal Rock Band
Consisting of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and bromine (Br). Rock on!
Zombees
Take a cute and classic bee outfit to the next level with this hilarious pun.
Reigning Cats and Dogs
Dress up as a queen and pin all your stuffed cats and dogs to your body. You've never looked so cuddly.
Wonder Bread Woman
You will pretty much have the best costume ever by combining carbs with the hottest superhero.
Candy Rapper
No, not the wrappers the candy comes in. Twist your words and try out this creative costume. You should have plenty of candy in your cupboard already. Make sure to check out more of our practically free costume ideas too.
Fantasy Baseball
Pretty easy to put together, this unexpected costume will have people asking you what you are — and then laughing when they get it.
Hawaiian Punch
For this costume, someone needs to dress up like a boxer and the other person needs to wear their favorite Hawaiian attire. Once everyone gets the joke, your costume will be a hit.
A Shrimp on the Barbie
Cute, creative, and ideal for any anyone with a sense of humor, dressing up as a shrimp on the "barbie" will win you applause for the rest of the year. Find a Barbie shirt or make your own, and keep your eyes peeled for a shrimp hat. You are ready to take on the holiday!
A Blessing in Disguise
Cute, creative, and oh so easy, dressing up as a blessing in disguise is a blessed costume idea. Find a cute mask and a name tag, and you're ready to go!
Candy (Uni)Corn
Unicorns are basic, but when you combine them with candy corn, you get a costume that is anything but expected. Wear the traditional unicorn horn, but pair it with a yellow and orange ensemble.
Holy Guacamole
A halo, leggings, and a guacamole t-shirt are all you need to ensure people will bust a gut after one glance.
Black-Eyed Pea
Blacken one eye, place a P on your shirt, and there you go!
Grammar Police
One after our own hearts, the grammar police is an easy DIY [15] costume with some police props, iron-on letters, and your favorite shades.
Blind Mouse
The more, the merrier for this costume! Find two other friends to dress up with you, and you can all be the three blind mice. Just add ears, a cane, and sunglasses to finish off your costume.
Fruit Punch
Ideal for a couple or as a single costume, dressing as fruit punch requires boxing gloves and a fruit outfit of your choice. If you choose to be a grape, attach balloons to your body and add a dash of purple lipstick. The options are endless!
Bread Winner
Who's the breadwinner in your house? With this costume, you both are! Simply attach ribbons and medals to your shirts and carry around a piece of bread. Your work here is done.
Misbehavior and Misdirection
Who wants to be Miss America when you can be Misbehavior and Misdirection instead? Put on a formal dress and crown, and make a sash with the corresponding name. Just add props to make this costume complete!
First Base
Only take things as far as first base on Halloween [16] with the help of this costume! Dress up as a baseball player and put kiss marks wherever you please.
Tomcat
Take the traditional cat costume to a new level by dressing up as a tomcat. Simply wear cat ears and a name tag that says "Tom," and you'll be ready to get on the prowl.
Fruit Ninja
Dress however you feel a ninja would and carry some fruit around all night to emulate this popular game.
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.
Dumbledora the Explorer
Combine your love of Harry Potter [17] and children's cartoons by adding a wand and beard to colorful clothing. Pack some spell books in your backpack!