Chainsaw Costume
Rev up the terror with a classic bloody chainsaw slasher look.
Channel classic horror cinema with a terrifying chainsaw slasher costume. Perfect for Halloween and haunted houses, this look pairs rugged workwear with a blood-splattered butcher's apron and a realistic prop chainsaw. It is a highly recognizable, spine-chilling archetype that is easy to assemble and guaranteed to turn heads.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $40–90
Try it on
See yourself as Chainsaw
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.
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Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Chainsaw costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Chainsaw costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Prop Chainsaw
A lightweight, battery-operated plastic toy chainsaw with realistic sound effects and a weathered, bloody finish.
DIY: Paint a toy chainsaw with silver and brown acrylic paint to look rusted, then splatter with red paint.
Butcher Apron
A heavy-duty yellow, tan, or white vinyl or canvas apron designed to be heavily splattered with fake blood.
DIY: Use an old kitchen apron and stain it with coffee and red fabric paint.
Short-Sleeve Collared Shirt
A light-colored, short-sleeve button-down shirt in beige, white, or light blue, distressed with dark smudges.
DIY: Use an old thrifted dress shirt and rub it with charcoal or dark eyeshadow to look dirty.
Dark Work Pants
Rugged canvas work pants or jeans in dark brown, black, or charcoal grey.
DIY: Use an old pair of dark jeans and scuff the knees with sandpaper.
Work Boots
Scuffed, rugged leather work boots in brown or black.
DIY: Use old hiking boots and rub them with real dirt.
Fake Blood
A bottle of thick, dark red fake blood for splattering clothes and skin.
DIY: Mix corn syrup, red food coloring, and a splash of blue food coloring with chocolate syrup.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Chainsaw costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the light-colored collared shirt and dark work pants.
- 2
Distress the clothing by rubbing sandpaper over the seams and applying dark eyeshadow or charcoal to simulate grease and dirt.
- 3
Layer the heavy-duty butcher's apron over the shirt and pants.
- 4
Flick fake blood or red fabric paint generously across the front of the apron and shirt using a stiff brush.
- 5
Put on the rugged work boots and scuff them up with dirt or dark paint.
- 6
Style your hair to look messy and unkempt, and apply dark makeup smudges to your face.
- 7
Insert batteries into your prop chainsaw and carry it safely to complete the look.
Makeup & hair
Style your hair to look greasy, messy, and unkempt. Use dark grey or brown eyeshadow around your eyes to create a sunken, exhausted look, and add a few smudges of fake blood or black grease on your cheeks and forehead.
Chainsaw for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with a victim wearing distressed, blood-splattered casual clothes and dramatic running makeup.
- group
- Create a family of backwoods slashers with overalls, aprons, and various rusty prop tools like meat hooks and cleavers.
- kids
- A toned-down version featuring a clean utility jumpsuit and a soft foam toy chainsaw.
- Plus size
- Heavy-duty canvas aprons with adjustable ties offer an easy, comfortable, and adjustable fit for all body types.
- pet
- A lightweight dog harness styled to look like a tiny plush chainsaw strapped to their back.
Tips
- Ensure your prop chainsaw has volume control or can be turned off, as constant sound effects can get tiring at parties.
- Use dried fake blood or red fabric paint on your costume ahead of time so it doesn't smear on furniture or other people.
- Check venue rules regarding realistic-looking prop weapons before bringing your chainsaw to public events.
Chainsaw costume FAQ
- What kind of chainsaw should I use for a costume?
- Always use a lightweight plastic toy or foam prop chainsaw, preferably battery-operated with sound effects, and never a real tool.
- How do I make my apron look realistically bloody?
- Flick liquid fake blood or red fabric paint onto the apron using a stiff-bristled brush, concentrating the splatters near the center and bottom.
- Is a mask required for a chainsaw killer costume?
- While a stitched leather mask is classic for a Leatherface look, a grimy face with messy hair and dark makeup works perfectly for a generic slasher.
Did you know? The iconic sound of the chainsaw in classic horror films was often enhanced in post-production to sound deeper and more menacing than a standard consumer saw.