Hippopotamus Costume
Stomp into your next party with this fun, cozy animal look.
The hippopotamus is a classic, beloved animal costume choice known for its cute, bulky silhouette and playful appeal. Whether you choose a cozy plush onesie, a hilarious inflatable suit, or a simple DIY grey outfit, this look is guaranteed to stand out. It is a fantastic option for Halloween, school plays, or themed dress-up days.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~20 min
- Budget
- $25–65
Try it on
See yourself as Hippopotamus
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
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What you need for a Hippopotamus costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Hippopotamus costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Grey Hippo Onesie or Jumpsuit
A soft, plush grey hooded jumpsuit featuring a hippo face, felt teeth, and small ears on the hood.
DIY: Wear a matching grey sweatshirt and grey sweatpants as your base.
Hippo Headband or Hood
A grey headband featuring stuffed hippo snout, pink-lined ears, and white felt teeth.
DIY: Glue grey felt ears and white felt triangle teeth onto a plain grey headband or the hood of a grey sweatshirt.
Pink Tutu
A classic pink tulle tutu skirt to add a whimsical ballerina hippo touch.
DIY: Tie strips of pink tulle around an elastic band to create a simple tutu.
Grey Gloves or Mittens
Simple grey felt or knit gloves to represent hippo hooves.
DIY: Cut out simple mitten shapes from grey felt and fabric-glue them together.
Grey Shoe Covers or Socks
Grey fabric shoe covers or oversized grey socks worn over your regular shoes.
DIY: Wear solid grey sneakers or pull large grey socks over your existing shoes.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Hippopotamus costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on your base layer of grey sweatpants and a grey shirt, or step directly into your plush hippo onesie.
- 2
If using a separate tutu, slip the pink tutu over your waist and adjust it so it sits evenly over the grey base.
- 3
Put on your grey shoes and cover them with grey shoe covers or oversized grey socks.
- 4
Place the hippo headband on your head, or pull up the hood of your onesie so the hippo face is visible on top of your head.
- 5
Put on the grey gloves to complete the look of hippo hooves.
- 6
Practice your best slow, heavy hippo stomp and wide-mouthed yawn.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair simple and tied back under the hood or headband. For makeup, paint a grey circle on the tip of your nose and add two small pink circles on your cheeks for a cute, cartoonish animal aesthetic.
Hippopotamus for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up as a Ballerina Hippo and a classic Safari Guide in khaki gear.
- group
- Gather four friends in different colored shirts and matching hippo hats to go as the classic Hungry Hungry Hippos board game.
- kids
- A plush, padded hippo romper with a soft hood is incredibly cute and keeps toddlers warm.
- Plus size
- An inflatable hippo costume or a loose-fitting fleece onesie offers a comfortable, roomy fit for all body types.
- pet
- A lightweight grey dog hoodie with soft felt teeth and ears attached to the hood.
More ways people search for this costume
The most-searched variations of “Hippopotamus costume”, and how this look adapts to each.
Dog costume hippo
- A lightweight grey dog hoodie with soft felt teeth and ears attached to the hood.
Tips
- Onesies can get warm indoors, so wear lightweight t-shirts and shorts underneath.
- If wearing an inflatable hippo costume, bring extra AA batteries for the fan pack to ensure it stays inflated all night.
- Keep your hands free for snacks by choosing fingerless grey gloves instead of full mittens.
- For outdoor trick-or-treating, the plush onesie style naturally keeps you warm in cool weather.
Hippopotamus costume FAQ
- How do I make a DIY hippo costume at home?
- Wear a solid grey sweatshirt and sweatpants. Cut ears and teeth out of felt, then fabric-glue them to the hood of the sweatshirt, adding two large white circles with black centers for the eyes.
- What is the ballerina hippo costume reference?
- It is a nod to the classic dancing hippos in tutus from Disney's Fantasia. You can easily recreate this by adding a pink tutu over any grey hippo outfit.
- Is a hippo costume comfortable for parties?
- Yes, especially the onesie version, which fits like pajamas and allows for easy movement and warmth.
Did you know? The iconic dancing hippos in pink tutus first appeared in Disney's 1940 animated masterpiece 'Fantasia' during the 'Dance of the Hours' segment.