Frankenstein's Monster Costume
Bring the legendary Universal Monster to life with this classic look.
Frankenstein's Monster is one of the most iconic horror characters of all time, instantly recognizable by his flat-topped head, neck bolts, and lumbering gait [1.1.7]. Originally brought to life on screen by Boris Karloff in 1931, this classic look remains a Halloween staple. The costume consists of a dark, oversized suit, heavy boots, and pale green or grey skin makeup.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $30–80
Try it on
See yourself as Frankenstein's Monster
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What you need for a Frankenstein's Monster costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Frankenstein's Monster costume — one box instead of 7 pieces.
Oversized dark suit jacket
A dark grey, brown, or black blazer that is slightly too large and tattered at the cuffs.
DIY: Use an old thrift store suit jacket and rough up the edges with sandpaper.
Dark trousers
Matching dark grey or black pants, hemmed or rolled up slightly to look too short.
DIY: Cut the hems off an old pair of black slacks to give them a jagged, short look.
Black crewneck shirt
A simple black long-sleeve t-shirt or turtleneck worn as a base layer.
Heavy black boots
Thick-soled, chunky black work boots or platform boots to add height.
DIY: Wear regular black boots and add thick foam inserts inside to boost your height.
Green and grey face paint
Cream-based makeup to create a pale, undead, grayish-green skin tone.
DIY: Mix green face paint with a bit of white and grey to get a muted, corpse-like shade.
Neck bolts
Two plastic or foam bolts designed to look like metal electrodes.
DIY: Paint two wine corks silver, glue plastic washers to the ends, and attach them with spirit gum.
Flat-top headpiece
A black wig or latex prosthetic that recreates the flat, blocky forehead.
DIY: Style your own hair straight up with heavy-hold gel, or shape a piece of dark foam to fit under a black wig.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Frankenstein's Monster costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the black crewneck shirt as your base layer.
- 2
Wear the dark trousers, rolling or cutting the hems so they sit slightly above your ankles.
- 3
Put on the oversized dark suit jacket, pulling the sleeves up to make them look too short.
- 4
Lace up your heavy black boots to complete the blocky, lumbering silhouette.
- 5
Secure the flat-top wig or headpiece over your hair, blending the edges at your forehead.
- 6
Apply the green and grey makeup evenly over your face, neck, and hands.
- 7
Attach the neck bolts to both sides of your neck using spirit gum or skin-safe adhesive.
Makeup & hair
Use a sponge to apply a pale, grayish-green cream makeup base across your face, neck, and hands. Add dark grey shadow under your eyes and in the hollows of your cheeks for a sunken look, and draw a jagged scar on your forehead with a black makeup pencil.
Frankenstein's Monster for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with the Bride of Frankenstein, featuring her iconic white-streaked beehive gown.
- group
- Gather a classic Universal Monsters group with Dracula, the Mummy, and the Wolf Man.
- kids
- A cute, simplified version with a green face-paint kit, a black t-shirt, and a felt bolt headband.
- Plus size
- An oversized blazer or dark trench coat provides a comfortable, imposing, and screen-accurate fit.
- pet
- Dress your dog in a simple black t-shirt with soft plush bolts attached to a comfortable collar.
Tips
- To look more imposing, walk with stiff legs and keep your arms slightly extended.
- If you don't have platform boots, insert heel lifts inside regular black boots to add height.
- Keep a small tube of spirit gum in your pocket in case a neck bolt starts to peel off during the night.
- Use a setting powder over your green face makeup to prevent it from smudging onto your dark suit jacket.
Frankenstein's Monster costume FAQ
- How do you make Frankenstein's neck bolts?
- You can make lightweight neck bolts by cutting the ends off plastic bolts or using painted wine corks, then attaching them with spirit gum.
- What color is Frankenstein's Monster's skin?
- While Mary Shelley's original book describes his skin as yellow, the iconic 1931 film popularized a pale, grayish-green complexion [1.1.7].
- Is a Frankenstein's Monster costume hard to put together?
- It is relatively easy to assemble using thrifted dark clothing, requiring only some basic green face paint and neck bolts to complete the look.
Did you know? The monster's iconic green skin was actually a practical decision for the 1931 black-and-white film, as the specific shade of green makeup registered as a ghostly, pale white on the orthochromatic film stock used at the time.