BB-8 Costume
Bring the galaxy's most lovable rolling astromech droid to life.
BB-8 is the loyal, spherical Resistance astromech droid belonging to Poe Dameron in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Fans love this character for his spunky personality, making him a highly popular choice for Star Wars group themes and family costumes. The look centers on a white spherical body decorated with orange and metallic gray circular panels, topped with a domed headpiece.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $25–80
Try it on
See yourself as BB-8
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a BB-8 costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete BB-8 costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
White base garment
A white long-sleeve dress, oversized white sweatshirt, or white inflatable bodysuit to serve as the spherical droid body.
DIY: Use an oversized white t-shirt stuffed with pillow stuffing or bubble wrap to create a round shape.
Orange and gray felt sheets
Stiff felt sheets in bright orange, medium gray, and black to cut out BB-8's signature circular mechanical panels.
DIY: Draw the panels directly onto the white garment using fabric markers or acrylic paint.
Fabric glue or double-sided tape
Heavy-duty fabric adhesive to secure the felt panels to your white base garment.
DIY: Safety pins can be used on the inside of the garment to secure the pieces temporarily.
White beanie hat
A snug white knit beanie or dome-shaped hat to represent BB-8's head.
DIY: Use a white baseball cap turned backward, decorated with fabric markers.
Black and gray markers
Permanent markers to draw the optical lens and receiver details onto the beanie.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made BB-8 costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Lay your white base garment flat on a clean workspace.
- 2
Cut out four large circles from the orange felt, then cut smaller gray and white circles to layer inside them, mimicking BB-8's mechanical ports.
- 3
Arrange the circular felt panels evenly around the torso of the white garment and secure them firmly with fabric glue.
- 4
On the white beanie, cut and glue a thick orange horizontal band around the base, leaving a small gap at the front.
- 5
Cut a medium-sized black felt circle to represent BB-8's primary photoreceptor (eye) and glue it to the front center of the beanie.
- 6
Add a smaller blue or gray felt circle next to the black one for the secondary sensor lens.
- 7
Let all glue dry completely before putting on the bodysuit and beanie to complete the droid look.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup clean and futuristic with silver or white graphic eyeliner. If your hair is visible under the beanie, style it in neat, tucked-away braids or a low bun.
BB-8 for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with Poe Dameron in an orange flight suit, or Rey in her desert scavenger gear.
- group
- Form a droid squad with R2-D2 and C-3PO, or a Resistance team with Finn and Chewbacca.
- kids
- An inflatable BB-8 suit or a plush, padded circular romper is perfect for toddlers and kids.
- Plus size
- An oversized white tunic or a custom-painted white poncho provides a comfortable, breezy, and naturally round silhouette.
- pet
- A lightweight white dog coat painted with orange and gray circles, paired with a matching elastic strap hat.
Tips
- To get the signature round shape without an inflatable suit, wear a hoop skirt or petticoat under a white dress.
- If using an inflatable costume, bring extra AA batteries to keep the fan running throughout your event.
- Keep your hands free for photos by carrying a small orange or silver crossbody bag that blends into the costume design.
BB-8 costume FAQ
- How do I make a quick last-minute BB-8 costume?
- Wear a white hoodie and use orange and black duct tape to quickly tape the circular patterns onto the front, then draw a black circle on the hood.
- What does BB-8 stand for?
- According to filmmaker J.J. Abrams, the name was chosen because the character's round body and head look like the number 8, and the letters 'BB' sound like a cute, bouncy name.
- Is an inflatable BB-8 costume easy to walk in?
- Yes, but your steps will be slightly wider. Ensure the leg elastic is snug around your ankles to keep the air from escaping.
Did you know? BB-8's voice was created by comedians Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz, who used a synthesizer app on an iPad to generate the droid's expressive bleeps and bloops.