Barrel Costume
Bring Halloween Town's trick-or-treating terror to life with ease.
This guide focuses on Barrel, the youngest of Oogie Boogie's mischievous henchmen from Disney's *The Nightmare Before Christmas*. A popular choice for group and trio costumes, his look is defined by a purple-gray skeleton suit and a wide-grinned ghoul mask. This costume is comfortable, recognizable, and perfect for fans of the stop-motion classic.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $25–75
Try it on
See yourself as Barrel
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What you need for a Barrel costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Barrel costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Purple-Gray Long-Sleeve Shirt
A solid, oversized long-sleeve crewneck shirt in a muted purple-gray or slate blue hue.
DIY: Use an old oversized gray sweatshirt and dye it with a light purple fabric dye.
Matching Purple-Gray Pants
Comfortable sweatpants or trousers matching the exact color of the shirt.
DIY: Dye a pair of white cotton sweatpants in the same dye bath as the shirt.
White Fabric Paint
Opaque white fabric paint or a fabric paint marker to draw the skeleton bones.
DIY: Cut bones out of white felt and fabric glue them onto the shirt and pants.
Barrel Mask
A round, white half-mask featuring a wide, toothy grin and hollow black eyes.
DIY: Cut a circle out of white foam board, draw the toothy grin with black marker, cut out eye holes, and attach an elastic band.
Skeletal Gloves
Three-fingered or standard white gloves with black bone details.
DIY: Paint black bone outlines onto plain white cotton gloves.
Lollipop Prop
A large, oversized red and yellow swirl lollipop.
DIY: Swirl red and yellow felt together in a spiral, glue it to a wooden dowel, and wrap in clear cellophane.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Barrel costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Lay the purple-gray shirt and pants flat on a protected work surface.
- 2
Using white fabric paint, draw a simple cartoon ribcage on the front of the shirt, and simple leg bones on the pants.
- 3
Allow the fabric paint to dry completely for at least 4 hours before handling.
- 4
Put on the painted shirt and pants, tucking the shirt in slightly for a neat look.
- 5
Slip on the white skeleton gloves.
- 6
Secure the Barrel mask over your face using the elastic strap, adjusting it for comfort.
- 7
Carry the giant lollipop prop to complete the trick-or-treater aesthetic.
Makeup & hair
If not wearing the mask the entire time, paint your face pale white with dark blue-gray circles around your eyes, and dye your hair a messy, slicked-back swamp green using temporary hair color wax.
Barrel for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with Shock or Lock for a dynamic duo from the film.
- group
- Assemble the ultimate trio with Lock (in red devil suit) and Shock (in witch garb).
- kids
- Perfect for kids using a cozy fleece pajama set painted with the skeleton bones.
- Plus size
- Use an oversized, loose-fitting sweatshirt and matching joggers for a comfortable, screen-accurate drape.
- pet
- Dress a pet in a simple black-and-white skeleton dog sweater.
Tips
- Wear comfortable black sneakers or boots, as Barrel's feet are rarely the focus.
- If trick-or-treating at night, use glow-in-the-dark fabric paint for the bones to stand out.
- Keep the mask on the top of your head when eating or drinking for convenience.
Barrel costume FAQ
- What color is Barrel's outfit?
- Barrel's outfit is a muted, desaturated purple-gray or slate blue color with white skeleton bones painted on it.
- How do I make a DIY Barrel mask?
- You can make one easily by cutting a circle out of white paper plate or craft foam, cutting out triangular eye holes, drawing a wide toothy grin with a black marker, and attaching an elastic string.
- What are Lock, Shock, and Barrel's roles?
- They are Oogie Boogie's trio of trick-or-treaters who are sent to kidnap 'Sandy Claws' in the movie.
Did you know? Despite being the youngest of the trio, Barrel is often the one who ends up getting hurt or blamed during their mischievous schemes.