Editor Recs: The 47 best pet Halloween costumes we’ve tested and loved

I wasn’t sure my boyfriend’s cat Aloo would like wearing a costume, but I had a DIY idea I thought would be perfect for this cool, calm and collected cat. I took a lime green pet sweatshirt I ordered on Amazon and wrote “brat” in black Sharpie. The result: an iconic and cozy outfit Aloo can enjoy taking his naps in. This took me maybe 10 minutes of concentration to write “brat” in what I think replicates the "Brat" album font well. Though getting the sweatshirt on was a bit of a struggle (Aloo typically sports a bow tie, if anything), I can confidently say that Aloo is brat. — Gareen Puglia, associate testing writer

I have a grand tradition of dressing up my cat Phoebe as non-cat animals for Halloween, so this year we dove into the holiday with this octopus headpiece from Chewy, complete with eight additional legs (and two comically huge eyeballs). Phoebe didn’t love her trip under the sea — it only lasted about five minutes — but I appreciated that the costume didn’t restrict her movement too much and was super easy to put on and take off thanks to a Velcro strap around the neck. It’s worth noting, however, that the hood was a little large for her smol head. — Chelsea Stone, editorial director

This is the first time I tried to outfit my cats in Halloween costumes, and I was skeptical that they’d wear them. (I tried putting a bandana on them once and it lasted about three seconds.) To my surprise, my kitty Kaia didn’t mind this adorable banana split costume. However, Zara (pictured) wasn’t a fan and tried to wiggle out of it immediately. I will say it was easy to put on thanks to the Velcro straps, so I didn’t have to fuss with it too much. — Tamara Kraus, senior lifestyle editor

As I mentioned with the other costume, I didn’t think my cats would let me put a full-on costume on them, so I thought this headpiece was a safer bet. I FaceTimed my mom while putting this on my cat, and we both couldn’t stop cackling. However, I think they didn’t like this one as much because it weighed down their head and was a little big. — Tamara Kraus, senior lifestyle editor

"Beetlejuice" was (and still is) one of my favorite horror movies growing up. Plus, I’m a big Michael Keaton fan. So, I thought with the new movie coming out that I’d dress up my favorite boi as the titular character this Halloween. Just like Beetlejuice, Arrow’s a bit of a troublemaker. And when I saw this Rubies costume at Petco, I thought it would also match his surly disposition whenever I put clothes on him. It comes with a gray wig and is super easy to put on, even on a pet that hates dressing up. It’s also only around $20. I ended up with a size too big, but it comes in sizes extra small to extra large for fur babies big and tiny. Has it changed Arrow’s mind about costumes? I doubt it. But does he look absolutely ridiculous in it? That was the point! — Michelle Uy, testing and updates writer

Gizmo, my Pembroke Welsh corgi, will know how to get to Sesame Street this Halloween in his Cookie Monster pet costume from Pet Krewe. Here, Gizmo sports his costume while lying next to everyone’s favorite blue cookie-craving monster couch pillow and throw blanket. Made of soft, nontoxic polyester that's safe for pets, Gizmo’s costume is a two-piece ensemble consisting of a googly-eyed headpiece and chocolate chip cookie-holding bodysuit. The headpiece features two ear slits where his perky little triangles easily slipped through, and the headpiece stayed on securely thanks to its adjustable, elastic chin strap. The Velcro fasteners on the bodysuit made it easy to put on and take off. Gizmo is ready for Halloween in his size extra large, but the costume also comes in small, medium and large. If your pet is between sizes, Pet Krewe recommends sizing up. — Suzanne Kattau, testing editor, home and kitchen

Marie is a big Chappell Roan stan just like her dad, so it's only fitting that she turned into a Pink Pony Girl for Halloween. I love the simplicity of this costume; bandanas are pretty unobtrusive for my fussy Frenchie, and unlike every other piece of headgear I've put on her, the cowboy hat actually stays on thanks to the adjustable neck strap. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor

Is it an ode to the famous cartoon snail who meows? Not really. Is my chihuahua mix Seymour particularly slow? Nope, he's actually quite fast. There's honestly no reason he'll be suiting up as a snail this Halloween besides the fact that it's hilarious. I mean, c'mon. Just look at him! — Joe Bloss, associate testing writer

We always joke that our dog Miso is just like Eeyore because she carries her head so low and always looks like the saddest girl in the world (even though she’s constantly getting belly rubs and treats). This year, we decided to embrace it and get her an Eeyore costume, and I think it’s safe to say it looks perfect on her. — Kai Burkhardt, outdoors, sustainability and pet editor

To match Miso’s Eeyore costume, we’re dressing up our happier, fluffier dog as Winnie-the-Pooh. I wish I had gotten one size bigger, and I also wish the closures were on the belly and not the back so they weren’t as visible, but Dashi still looks super cute and that’s all that really matters. — Kai Burkhardt, outdoors, sustainability and pet editor

For my dog Juni’s first Halloween costume, we wanted to do something cute that would also complement her black coat. I saw this butterfly costume and knew she would look absolutely adorable. It consists of two pieces — the wings and the headpiece with antennae — which went on without a fuss. Because the wings attach with elastic straps that loop around the dog’s legs, if your dog is used to wearing a harness, they should be perfectly comfortable in this costume. Juni was actually so unbothered by her costume that she wore it around the house for a whole day. The wings are padded and lightweight, and they even flounced a bit as Juni walked. It's worth noting that the sizing runs a bit big. I went by the size chart and ordered a large, but the straps were very loose for my girl and I had to fasten them with a hair tie to keep the wings from sliding off. — Sophie Shaw, beauty and fashion editor

I have three dogs — let's just say my house gets a little crazy — but with more pups comes more creative freedom! These three peas in a pod costumes were perfect for them. I attached them to their backs like a backpack, and I liked that it didn't involve putting anything on or over their heads. My only gripe was that the costumes slid around a lot, and it was difficult to get them to stay on their back securely. — Gabriella Triolo, social coordinator

Transform your dog into a Pokémon with this adorable Squirtle costume! I love how this costume doubles as a comfortable hoodie, so it'll work for Halloween and for daily walks in the colder weather. The soft fleece inside makes the costume extra cozy and warm. My dog, Stitch, doesn’t like things placed on his head, so the clip to hold the hoodie back away from his face is super convenient and easy to use. Make sure to check out the sizing guide since those measurements are accurate but different from the typical sizes my dog wears (he’s 10 pounds, and the large fits him perfectly). — Stephanie Luna, editorial coordinator

I was hoping to find a Raygun costume for my other cat, Bow, but the only thing I could find was a pricey one on Etsy. Lucky for me, a big "Wizard of Oz" and "Wicked" fan, I found a Dorothy costume that I thought was perfect, especially with the movie coming out in December. The gingham costume, which comes in sizes small, medium, large and extra large, is gorgeous and very detailed. It even comes with a red bow and a pair of ruby slippers, which Bow kept playing with, so I couldn't get them to stay on. He loved wearing the dress, though, and wore it the whole night! And I know what you’re thinking: "He’s a boy!" But hey, if Harry Styles can wear a ballet outfit for his Glamour photo shoot, then my sweet boi can very well be Dorothy for Halloween! — Michelle Uy, testing and updates writer

My boyfriend’s family also owns chickens (and yes, I receive fresh eggs). Not all the hens were interested in sporting these hats from Amazon, but Lady let us place the tiny hat with a drawstring on her head. Did it last longer than a few minutes? No. But we loved seeing Lady dressed up as our interpretation of Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady" (if she were a chicken from Altadena, California). — Gareen Puglia, associate testing writer

What’s better than a dog with a human name? A dog in a human costume. This hilarious costume is no doubt going to take the lead at my local bar’s dog costume contest this year, and Ben has no problem wearing it, as it’s only attached to the front of him. The strap for the wig helps it sit comfortably without being too snug. — Molly Flores, photo editor

Mando and Grogu are a lot like Marie and me: One's a tired, scruffy wanderer, and the other is an adorable, mischievous critter with comically large ears. As such, it only made sense for me to don the Mandalorian mask while dressing my Frenchie up as the character better known as Baby Yoda. I love that this costume is lightweight and relatively unobtrusive; she doesn't love the hood that features Grogu's giant ears, but fortunately, she's got a pair of her own. I can't wait to roam the galaxy (aka Queens) and see how many treats she's able to Force-pull out of unsuspecting neighbors' hands this Halloween. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor

This is one of the easier Halloween costumes I’ve wrangled my cat Phoebe into (probably because there’s no headpiece?). But that doesn’t mean it’s any less cute. I could just eat her up! — Chelsea Stone, editorial director

We got a new puppy — Dashi — a few months ago, and it’s safe to say her energy levels drive us crazy every once in a while. She loves wreaking havoc and sticking her long snoot into places it shouldn’t be. That’s why I thought this devil costume would be perfect for her. She didn’t tolerate the horns on her head for too long, and the wings need a harness to properly attach, but it’s a quick and easy costume great for a photo shoot. — Kai Burkhardt, outdoors, sustainability and pet editor

In complete contrast, our older dog Miso is a perfect angel baby (as long as she doesn’t see bikes). Indoors, she’s basically a stuffed animal and is asleep most of the day, which is why she got the angel costume. The halo in this costume stays put easier than the devil horns, and you still need a harness to attach the wings. — Kai Burkhardt, outdoors, sustainability and pet editor

A spooky costume for my spooky girl. Eartha's two little fangs tend to hang out when she rolls on her back, so I figured that a vampire costume this year was perfectly fitting. She absolutely hated the process of putting it on, as you can see above, but once she settled in and realized she could roll around in it, it wasn't half bad. Anything for a photo as cute as this one. — Rachel Lubitz, former senior lifestyle editor

I don't have much luck when it comes to pet costumes, or clothing in general, because Teddy is in between sizes and mostly because he just quite literally hates every form of clothing. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how accurate this sizing chart was, and the medium fit his furry little body like a glove. There are only two leg holes and a few Velcro attachments, so putting the mailman costume on him was more manageable and it only took me a few minutes (and a little fighting, if we're being honest). The faux package was like a fun little project as it required me to cut it with scissors and tape it together, but overall, it was really easy to attach to the costume. Best of all, it came with a UPS hat that really tied the whole look together! — Stephanie Griffin, director of social

Wearing red, weighing in at 8.6 pounds, the flyweight champion of the world: Seymour! This boxing champ outfit was practically made for our chihuahua mix because he's a scrappy pup who wants to take on anyone and anything. Plus, he was adopted from the suburbs of Philadelphia, so a tribute to Rocky is on-brand for him. I love that this costume covers only his front, allowing him to stay comfortable. It's available in extra small through extra large — perfect for your pet no matter their size. — Joe Bloss, associate testing writer

There’s nothing cuter than a sweetie dressed like a monster. My sister’s dog, Boobie, makes for a very fearsome villain in her sparkly dragon costume. — Caroline Curran, deals editor

My family has a joke that my dog, Daisy, is prehistoric because she can chew through anything and will pretty much digest anything too. So this year for Halloween, a dinosaur costume seemed fitting. It’s all one piece, just with some Velcro to secure it, so it’s super easy to put on. Although Daisy is a small dog, we went with a size large based on the sizing chart and it fit perfectly. She’s never been a fan of wearing clothes, but she seemed to embrace this alter ego and didn’t put up a fuss. — Sophie Shaw, beauty and fashion editor

Most cat owners will know that it’s near impossible to dress up your furry best friend. Thankfully, this bear costume was easy to take on and off and is super lightweight. Ringo wasn’t the biggest fan of getting dressed up, but after years of being called a little bear, the costume was only fitting for the spooky festivities. — Lindsey Smith, associate editor

As a Pembroke Welsh corgi, my dog Gizmo is a natural when it comes to herding. His absolute favorite friend to pal around with is Lamb Chop, who he seriously has about 10 of. This Halloween, he's going to blend right in with his favorite pals thanks to this adorable two-piece Lamb Chop costume. The head part has cutouts for his ears to poke through, and the soft body easily adjusts around his neck thanks to its Velcro straps. Gizmo is wearing a large, but it's also available in sizes small and medium. — Suzanne Kattau, testing editor, home and kitchen

With a kitty named Bugsy Segal, we figured a little gangster action was worth it this Halloween. Plus, she managed to scratch up her nose for an extra-menacing look. For $16, this costume with a metal chain and two buttons can double for any dapper costume idea, though next time I'll go for the medium size, as the small was a little tight for my well-fed feline. — Tobey Grumet Segal, reviews editor

Daisy is scared of just about everything, but she LOVED this cow costume. The Velcro made it very easy to put on her without freaking her out as well as comfortable for her to wear. The only recommendation I have is to definitely size up because it runs a bit small. — Gabriella Triolo, social coordinator

Tango hates wearing things, but I would never pass up the opportunity to dress her in a cute little Halloween costume. This unicorn hoodie was relatively easy to put on, not to mention absolutely adorable. There are even ear holes in the hood! It does run small, though; the size chart says an extra small should fit pets up to 10 pounds, but it was slightly too small for my barely 9-pound cat. — Amina Lake Abdelrahman, home and gifts editor

Milly is such a big dog, so I've never thought to get her a costume, but once I saw these huge bat wings, I knew she needed them. The Velcro made it easy to put on, and they didn’t bother her at all, which is a huge win! Now that she has these wings, there’s no stopping her. — Tyler Holender, social strategist

My senior dog-niece, Millie, has a love-hate relationship with costumes: Sometimes she loves them, and sometimes she hates them — and by extension, her humans, for dressing her up. So I knew this pineapple costume was going to be hit-or-miss, mostly because of the headpiece, but as Underscored's resident lover of pineapple, I was willing to take that risk. But she loved it, and she looked deliciously adorable in it, as you can see from these photos where she is strutting her pineapple-y stuff instead of sitting still to let Auntie take her photo. — Jolie Kerr, contributor

I had what was probably too much fun dressing up my cat for Halloween this year, with this costume really taking the cake. It easily attached around my cat's neck, so in about three seconds she looked like a little 6-pound French artist. As if the palette and paintbrush weren't enough, it also came with a black beret. My cat's pretty temperamental, and this costume pissed her off the least by far, which is quite an accomplishment. — Rachel Lubitz, former senior lifestyle editor

For $20, this lobster costume is a no-brainer. It’s super comfy and is basically a plush pet jacket with a hood on it! I can’t wait for him to strut around town on Halloween like the cute little lobster he is. — Stephanie Griffin, director of social

I absolutely love dog costumes that make your pup look like a little person; I just think they’re so cute. That’s why when I saw this postman outfit I knew I had to buy it. It’s simple to put on, and the little box that attaches is absolutely adorable. The legs were a bit too long for Miso, hence the cuffs, and the hat didn’t stay on perfectly, but it’s a great costume for your Halloween photo shoots. — Kai Burkhardt, outdoors, sustainability and pet editor

Is Atticus a cat or a lion? It’s exceptionally hard to tell with this lion mane costume for cats. The headpiece is easy to get on your furry friend with a Velcro band that straps underneath their chin. We loved this simple yet absolutely adorable costume. — Emily McNutt, former senior travel editor

My sister and I grew up watching “Lilo & Stitch” together, so when we saw this unique costume, we had to get it for her poodle puppy, Boobie. I love how all six legs sort of waddle around when she walks. — Caroline Curran, deals editor

My dog, Marie, is a massive Phoebe Bridgers stan, so just like Pheebs, she’s insisted on dressing like a skeleton two years in a row now. It’s the ultimate fit for the sassy sad girl in your life, or just people who like dressing their dogs as skeletons. Also pairs well with humans. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor

It’s hard to imagine my sister’s toy poodle puppy could get even cuter, but this bumblebee costume really sends me over the edge. I love that there are little slots for her ears (which she doesn’t seem to mind!). So precious, plus there’s nice alliteration with the pup’s name: Bumblebee Boobie! — Caroline Curran, deals editor

I couldn’t resist dressing up Teddy as a cowboy for Halloween, and for once, he actually didn’t mind it! The measurements were spot-on, and the two Velcro straps weren’t restrictive, so he could still run around like normal — however, this time, with a cowboy on his back. — Stephanie Griffin, director of social

In my book, two skeleton hoodies for pets are better than one. As much as she absolutely hates it, I love to dress up Eartha once or twice a year. This year she’s a skeleton. (Phoebe Bridgers who?) But really, while this outfit is now her nemesis, it is incredibly cute, relatively easy to slip on and for pictures like this, I can’t say I regret it at all. — Rachel Lubitz, former senior lifestyle editor

My chocolate lab, Moose, was a prisoner last year for our evening tour of the neighborhood. I can’t believe he tolerated the hat all night long. (He did chew it to shreds later that evening. I guess he earned it.) — Mike Bruno, VP of commerce

If you didn’t impulse-buy a $5 dinosaur hat for your cat, did you even go to Target? Not pictured: Phoebe attacking the city à la Godzilla when she realized what was on her head. — Chelsea Stone, editorial director

I couldn’t resist dressing up my dog as Snoopy at least once, and this cheap, simple costume does the trick while being soft and easy to put on. It has little holes on the top so your pup’s ears don’t get smushed flat, and our dog only tried to shake it off once. — Kai Burkhardt, outdoors and sustainability editor

There’s nothing more classic Halloween than a pumpkin, so I really had no choice but to transform my fur child, Phoebe, into a "pumpkitten" last year. The hat is really lightweight (unlike other pumpkin costumes that are filled with stuffing) and more on the basic side (Phoebe rejects clothing on her body). Yes, it comes with a matching pumpkin hat for humans. No, I will not share a photo of me wearing it. — Chelsea Stone, editorial director

When you have a black cat, getting an on-theme Halloween costume is serious business. And these bat wings were absolutely perfect for Eartha last year. Easy to wrap around her for a quick photo, the wings are made from felt material, so they’re super light and easy to awkwardly walk around in. And she looks just terrifyingly cute enough to make for a perfect Halloween Instagram, don’t you think? — Rachel Lubitz, former senior lifestyle editor

Marie runs my apartment much like Darth Vader runs the Death Star, so this Imperial outfit is perfect for her — even if she hates wearing clothes. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor