Dragon Ball Z Costume
Unleash your inner Saiyan with the ultimate Goku cosplay guide.
Dragon Ball Z is one of the most influential anime franchises of all time, making its characters instant hits for cosplay and Halloween. This guide focuses on the iconic orange and blue martial arts gi worn by the series protagonist, Goku. It is a highly recognizable, vibrant look that is comfortable to wear and perfect for anime fans of all ages.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $35–90
Try it on
See yourself as Dragon Ball Z
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 Dragon Ball Z costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Dragon Ball Z costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Orange martial arts gi top
A sleeveless or short-sleeved orange V-neck wrap top, ideally featuring the 'Kame' kanji patch on the chest and back.
DIY: Use a plain orange t-shirt and cut the collar into a deep V-neck, then paint the black and white kanji symbol on the chest.
Blue undershirt
A dark blue crewneck t-shirt or tank top worn underneath the orange gi to show at the neckline.
DIY: Any snug-fitting dark blue t-shirt you already own.
Orange martial arts pants
Loose-fitting, comfortable orange jogger pants or martial arts pants with elastic ankles.
DIY: Use bright orange sweatpants and tuck the cuffs into your boot covers.
Blue waist sash
A wide, dark blue fabric sash tied securely around the waist with the ends hanging down the side.
DIY: Cut a long strip of stretchy dark blue jersey fabric.
Blue wristbands
Matching dark blue sweatbands worn on both wrists.
DIY: Cut the cuffs off an old blue sweatshirt or use blue fabric strips.
Blue and yellow boot covers
Dark blue boot covers that wrap around your shoes, featuring a red or yellow vertical stripe decoration.
DIY: Wrap blue felt around existing high-top sneakers and secure with yellow fabric tape.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Dragon Ball Z costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the dark blue crewneck undershirt.
- 2
Layer the orange V-neck gi top over the blue undershirt, ensuring the blue collar is visible.
- 3
Pull on the matching orange martial arts pants.
- 4
Wrap the wide blue fabric sash around your waist, tying it off to the side so the excess fabric hangs down.
- 5
Slide the blue athletic wristbands onto both wrists.
- 6
Put on your shoes and pull the blue boot covers over them, securing any straps underneath the soles.
Makeup & hair
Goku's signature look is his gravity-defying, spiky black hair (or bright yellow for his Super Saiyan form). Use a pre-styled cosplay wig, or style your own hair using heavy-duty hair gel and hairspray to form thick, triangular spikes pointing outward.
Dragon Ball Z for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair Goku with Vegeta in his blue Saiyan armor, or with Chi-Chi in her traditional dress.
- group
- Gather a crew as the Z Fighters, including Gohan, Piccolo, Krillin, and Master Roshi.
- kids
- Kids can wear a comfortable one-piece fleece jumpsuit version of the orange gi.
- Plus size
- The loose-fitting wrap design of the martial arts gi is highly adjustable and comfortable for all body types.
- pet
- An orange dog t-shirt with the black and white kanji symbol printed on the back.
Tips
- If using a wig, wear a wig cap underneath to keep your natural hair flat and secure.
- The loose-fitting pants make this costume highly comfortable for walking and sitting at conventions.
- Strike Goku's signature Kamehameha pose—knees bent, hands cupped at the hip—for dynamic photos.
- Keep a small travel-sized hairspray handy if you are styling your own hair to maintain the spikes all night.
Dragon Ball Z costume FAQ
- What is Goku's outfit called?
- Goku's outfit is called a 'gi', which is a traditional Japanese martial arts uniform. His is distinctively orange and blue.
- How do I get Goku's spiky hair?
- The easiest way is to purchase a pre-styled synthetic cosplay wig. If styling natural hair, you will need a lot of strong-hold styling wax and freeze spray.
- What does the symbol on Goku's gi mean?
- The most common symbol is 'Kame' (meaning turtle), representing his training under Master Roshi (the Turtle Hermit).
Did you know? Goku's orange gi was inspired by the traditional robes worn by Shaolin monks in China, reflecting the character's martial arts origins.