Head on a Platter Costume
Serve up a spooky, hilarious illusion with this classic DIY costume.
The Head on a Platter costume is a classic optical illusion that makes it look like your severed head is being served as a main course. It is a favorite for DIY enthusiasts who want a funny, slightly morbid look that stands out at any party. The outfit consists of a wearable cardboard table disguised with a tablecloth, a plastic platter with a neck hole, and fake food props.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~90 min
- Budget
- $15–40
Try it on
See yourself as Head on a Platter
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What you need for a Head on a Platter costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Head on a Platter costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Cardboard box table base
A large, sturdy, flat piece of cardboard cut into a square or circle to act as the tabletop, with a hole cut in the center for your neck.
DIY: Cut a large square out of a shipping box, then cut a circular hole in the center large enough for your head to pass through comfortably.
Checkered tablecloth
A classic red-and-white checkered plastic or fabric tablecloth to cover the cardboard table, featuring a matching neck hole.
DIY: Use an old bedsheet or fabric scrap painted with a red and white grid pattern.
Large silver plastic platter
A lightweight, metallic silver plastic serving tray with a pre-cut hole in the center for your neck.
DIY: Cut a hole in a cheap dollar-store plastic platter and line the inner edge with duct tape so it does not scratch your neck.
Fake lettuce and plastic garnish
Artificial lettuce leaves, plastic parsley, or fake grapes to glue onto the platter around your neck.
DIY: Cut leaf shapes out of green construction paper or green felt.
Fake blood or ketchup
Stage blood or red paint to drizzle around the platter and your neck for a gory, severed effect.
DIY: Mix corn syrup with red food coloring and a drop of blue food coloring.
Webbing straps or harness
Two adjustable straps attached to the underside of the cardboard to wear the table like a backpack or suspenders.
DIY: Duct tape two old backpack straps or thick ribbons to the underside of the cardboard table.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Head on a Platter costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Cut a large square or circle out of sturdy cardboard to serve as your tabletop, ensuring it is wide enough to look like a table but narrow enough to fit through doorways.
- 2
Cut a circular hole in the exact center of the cardboard, just large enough for your head to slide through comfortably.
- 3
Drape the checkered tablecloth over the cardboard, cut a matching hole in the fabric, and secure the edges of the cloth to the underside of the cardboard using duct tape or hot glue.
- 4
Cut a matching hole in the center of the silver plastic platter, smooth the edges with tape, and glue the platter to the center of the tablecloth.
- 5
Attach the utility straps to the underside of the cardboard table, adjusting them so the table rests comfortably on your shoulders with your head popping through the center.
- 6
Decorate the platter by gluing fake lettuce leaves, plastic grapes, and fake cutlery around the neck hole, leaving space for your head.
- 7
Put the harness on, pop your head through the platter, and apply fake blood around the base of your neck where it meets the silver tray.
Makeup & hair
Apply pale, ghostly face paint with dark purple eyeshadow under your eyes to look drained. Mess up your hair or style it to look disheveled, and add drips of fake blood along your jawline and neck.
Head on a Platter for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One person is the head on the platter, and the other wears a chef's coat and chef hat, carrying a carving knife.
- group
- A group of waiters in black-and-white formal attire carrying different 'plated' heads on trays.
- kids
- Scale down the cardboard table size so it is lightweight and easy for a child to carry without tripping.
- Plus size
- Ensure the neck hole in the cardboard and platter is measured generously, and use wider, padded straps for shoulder comfort.
Tips
- Keep the cardboard table lightweight so your shoulders do not ache after wearing it for a few hours.
- Make sure the table width allows you to walk through standard doorways sideways if necessary.
- Leave a small gap in the front of the platter garnish so you can easily set down a real drink or snack on your 'table' during a party.
- Use foam padding or felt tape around the inner neck hole of the platter to prevent chafing.
Head on a Platter costume FAQ
- How do you hold the table up in a Head on a Platter costume?
- The cardboard table is held up by shoulder straps or a harness taped securely to the underside of the cardboard, allowing it to rest on your shoulders like a backpack.
- Is the Head on a Platter costume hard to walk in?
- It can be slightly awkward in tight spaces. Keep the cardboard dimensions to about 24 to 30 inches wide so you can navigate doorways and crowds.
- What should I wear under the table?
- Wear dark, plain clothing like a black t-shirt or long-sleeve shirt so your body blends into the background, making the floating table illusion more convincing.
Did you know? This classic illusion costume relies on the same visual trick used in Victorian-era stage magic shows, where hidden mirrors or black cloths made bodies 'disappear' beneath a table.