How do I make the E.T. basket easy to carry?

Loop a wide, padded guitar strap or dark luggage strap through the back of the milk crate so you can hang it hands-free around your neck.

What did E.T. wear for Halloween in the movie?

E.T. dressed up as a ghost using a white bedsheet with eyeholes, which is another fun, easy DIY variant you can try.

Can I buy an official E.T. costume?

Yes, there are official inflatable E.T. costumes and full-body plush jumpsuits available online if you prefer not to do the Elliot basket DIY.

Dress your dog in a simple white towel wrap to be the E.T. to your Elliot.

E.T.

E.T. Costume

Phone home in style with this nostalgic '80s movie costume.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is one of the most beloved sci-fi characters of all time, making it a nostalgic favorite for Halloween. The most popular and practical way to wear this costume is recreating the iconic bicycle scene, featuring Elliot in his red hoodie carrying E.T. in a front basket. This look is instantly recognizable, comfortable, and perfect for fans of the classic 1982 Spielberg film.

Difficulty: Medium
Time: ~45 min
Budget: $30–90

See yourself as E.T. →What you need Buy the E.T. costume

Try it on

See yourself as E.T.

One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.

Choose or drop a photo of yourselfJPG · PNG · HEIC

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.

Your photo

Example look · AI-generated

You as E.T.

Result

What you need for a E.T. costume

Short on time? Buy it ready-made

Spirit Halloween sells the complete E.T. costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.

Shop E.T. at Spirit ↗

Red zip-up hoodie
A classic, vibrant red hooded sweatshirt with a zipper front, worn with the hood pulled up.
DIY: Use any plain red hooded sweatshirt you already own.
Amazon
E.T. plush toy or mask
A realistic plush E.T. doll, or a vinyl E.T. mask stuffed to look like a head.
DIY: Print a high-resolution image of E.T.'s face and secure it to a brown pillow or stuffed animal.
Amazon
White blanket or towel
A plain white swaddling blanket or bath towel to wrap around the E.T. figure.
DIY: Use a white bedsheet or large white towel from home.
Amazon
Rectangular plastic milk crate or basket
A gray, black, or blue plastic milk crate to hold E.T., mimicking a bicycle basket.
DIY: Use a sturdy cardboard box painted gray or black.
Amazon
Faux bicycle handlebars
A set of bicycle handlebars attached to the front of the crate for the full illusion.
DIY: Cut handlebar shapes out of thick cardboard and paint them silver or black.
Amazon
Blue jeans
Classic straight-leg blue denim jeans to complete Elliot's 1980s look.
DIY: Any pair of worn-in blue jeans will work perfectly.
Amazon

Rather not assemble it? See ready-made E.T. costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗

How to put it together

1
Put on the blue jeans and the red zip-up hoodie, leaving the hood down for now.
2
Wrap the E.T. plush toy or stuffed mask securely in the white blanket, leaving only his face exposed.
3
Place the wrapped E.T. inside the plastic milk crate so he is sitting upright and facing forward.
4
Secure the bicycle handlebars to the front or back of the milk crate using zip ties or strong tape.
5
Attach a strap to the milk crate so you can wear it around your neck, letting it rest against your chest.
6
Pull the red hood up over your head, adjust the crate in front of you, and prepare to carry your alien friend.

Makeup & hair

Keep it completely natural. Elliot has simple, messy brown '80s hair, which is mostly covered by the red hood.

E.T. for couples, groups, kids & more

couples: One person dresses as Elliot in the red hoodie, while the other wears a full-body tan E.T. bodysuit or E.T. mask with a blue plaid flannel shirt.
group: Add friends dressed as Gertie (with pigtails and a flower pot) and Michael to complete the kids' adventure group.
kids: A highly popular choice; kids can wear the red hoodie and carry a small E.T. plush in a lightweight cardboard basket.
Plus size: The oversized red hoodie and jeans offer a very comfortable, universally flattering fit.
pet: Dress your dog in a simple white towel wrap to be the E.T. to your Elliot.

More ways people search for this costume

The most-searched variations of “E.T. costume”, and how this look adapts to each.

Et costume dog: Dress your dog in a simple white towel wrap to be the E.T. to your Elliot.

Tips

Use a lightweight plastic crate and a plush E.T. to keep the chest-worn rig comfortable for long walks.
Add a battery-operated red LED light to E.T.'s fingertip for an extra magical touch in night photos.
Wear comfortable sneakers, as Elliot is a kid on a bicycle mission.

E.T. costume FAQ

How do I make the E.T. basket easy to carry?: Loop a wide, padded guitar strap or dark luggage strap through the back of the milk crate so you can hang it hands-free around your neck.
What did E.T. wear for Halloween in the movie?: E.T. dressed up as a ghost using a white bedsheet with eyeholes, which is another fun, easy DIY variant you can try.
Can I buy an official E.T. costume?: Yes, there are official inflatable E.T. costumes and full-body plush jumpsuits available online if you prefer not to do the Elliot basket DIY.

Did you know? The iconic bicycle chase scene was so powerful that the image of Elliot and E.T. flying in front of the moon became the official logo for Amblin Entertainment.