Grave Digger Costume
Bring the legendary Monster Jam truck to life with cardboard and paint.
The Grave Digger monster truck is one of the most iconic and recognizable vehicles in Monster Jam history, famous for its spooky green-and-black paint job and graveyard graphics. Kids and fans love dressing up as the truck itself, often using a wearable cardboard chassis or a printed jumpsuit. This guide focuses on the classic, crowd-pleasing wearable cardboard truck costume that lets you 'drive' the legend.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~120 min
- Budget
- $15–45
Try it on
See yourself as Grave Digger
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 Grave Digger costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Grave Digger costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Cardboard Box Chassis
A medium-sized rectangular cardboard box big enough to fit around the wearer's waist, with the top and bottom flaps removed.
DIY: Recycle a shipping box or appliance box and cut out the top and bottom.
Black and Green Acrylic Paint
Glossy black paint for the body, bright neon green for the flames, trim, and undercarriage details.
DIY: Use leftover house paint or permanent markers for smaller details.
Paper Plates (Wheels)
Four large, sturdy paper plates painted solid black with silver centers to mimic giant monster truck tires.
DIY: Cut four large circles out of extra cardboard and paint them black.
Shoulder Straps
Two thick strips of black webbing, ribbon, or suspenders to hold the cardboard truck up on the shoulders.
DIY: Use duct tape folded over on itself or old backpack straps.
Grave Digger Graphics
Printed or hand-painted graveyard graphics, including red headlights, tombstones, and the classic spooky green flames.
DIY: Draw tombstones, ghosts, and the 'Grave Digger' logo on white paper, color them in, and glue them to the sides.
Black Shirt and Pants
A simple black long-sleeve t-shirt and black pants to wear underneath the truck chassis so the focus stays on the vehicle.
DIY: Use any dark-colored sweatshirt and sweatpants from your closet.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Grave Digger costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Cut the top and bottom flaps off your cardboard box so it forms a hollow sleeve that fits easily over the wearer's hips.
- 2
Paint the entire exterior of the box gloss black and let it dry completely.
- 3
Paint four paper plates black with silver gray centers to look like wheels, then glue or hot-glue them to the lower four corners of the box.
- 4
Use neon green paint or printed graphics to add the signature Grave Digger green flames, spooky tombstones, and the 'Grave Digger' text on the sides.
- 5
Attach two red paper circles or plastic cups to the front of the box to serve as the glowing red headlights.
- 6
Measure and duct-tape two black fabric straps inside the box, running from front to back, so the box hangs comfortably from the wearer's shoulders like suspenders.
- 7
Put on the black shirt and pants, slip the cardboard truck over your head, and rest the straps on your shoulders.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair simple or wear a black baseball cap. For an extra touch, paint a small green flame or a simple skull on one cheek using face paint.
Grave Digger for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair the Grave Digger truck with a driver wearing a black racing suit, helmet, and holding a checkered flag.
- group
- Create a mini Monster Jam lineup with friends building Max-D, Megalodon, or El Toro Loco cardboard trucks.
- kids
- This cardboard box design is highly adjustable for toddlers and kids; just scale down the box size and strap length.
- Plus size
- Use a larger utility box for the chassis and adjust the shoulder strap length for a comfortable fit.
Tips
- Keep the cardboard box lightweight so it is easy to walk, run, and trick-or-treat in for several hours.
- Make sure the width of the box allows the wearer's arms to swing naturally at their sides.
- Add reflective tape or small battery-operated LED lights inside the red headlight cups for safety and cool night-time visibility.
- Reinforce the areas where the shoulder straps attach to the box with extra duct tape to prevent tearing.
Grave Digger costume FAQ
- How do you make a Grave Digger costume out of cardboard?
- Cut the top and bottom out of a rectangular box, paint it black with neon green flames, glue on four paper-plate wheels, and attach shoulder straps to wear it.
- What colors do you need for a Grave Digger costume?
- You will need gloss black, neon green, white, and red paint to capture the classic graveyard theme and headlights.
- Is the cardboard monster truck costume easy for kids to walk in?
- Yes, as long as the box ends above the knees and the straps are adjusted so it sits securely around the waist.
Did you know? Grave Digger was originally created by Dennis Anderson in 1982 using a 1951 Ford pickup truck body and spare parts he found in a junkyard.