Leatherface Costume
Recreate the terrifying butcher look from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Leatherface is the iconic, chainsaw-wielding antagonist from the classic horror franchise The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Horror fans choose this costume for its high-impact scare factor and instantly recognizable slasher aesthetic. The look features a stitched skin mask, a blood-splattered butcher's apron, a collared shirt with a tie, and a prop chainsaw.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $40–120
Try it on
See yourself as Leatherface
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What you need for a Leatherface costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Leatherface costume — one box instead of 7 pieces.
Stitched skin mask
A latex or overhead mask designed to look like stitched-together human skin with crude eye and mouth holes.
DIY: Use a blank plastic mask, paint it flesh tones, add stitch marks with thick black thread, and cut messy eye holes.
Butcher's apron
A heavy-duty yellow or tan canvas butcher's apron, heavily splattered with fake blood and grime.
DIY: Splatter a plain yellow or white canvas apron with red acrylic paint and brown fabric dye.
Short-sleeve collared shirt
A short-sleeve, button-down collared shirt in white, light yellow, or beige.
DIY: Use an old thrifted white button-down shirt and stain it with brewed black tea.
Dark necktie
A dark, messy necktie, preferably navy, black, or dark brown.
DIY: Use any old dark tie and distress the edges with sandpaper.
Dark trousers
Dark, loose-fitting trousers or slacks in navy blue, brown, or black.
DIY: Use old dark slacks or jeans from your closet.
Work boots
Sturdy, dark brown or black leather work boots.
DIY: Use any worn-out dark boots or heavy shoes.
Prop chainsaw
A realistic plastic prop chainsaw, ideally with sound effects and blood splatters.
DIY: Construct a lightweight chainsaw out of cardboard, paint it orange and silver, and add fake blood.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Leatherface costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the dark trousers and the short-sleeve collared shirt, leaving the top collar button undone.
- 2
Tie the dark necktie loosely around your neck, letting it hang slightly askew.
- 3
Drape the yellow butcher's apron over your head and tie it securely around your waist.
- 4
Apply fake blood and brown paint or tea stains to the apron, shirt, and tie to create a heavily distressed, grimy look.
- 5
Put on the sturdy work boots and tuck or untuck the shirt as desired for a disheveled appearance.
- 6
Carefully pull on the Leatherface mask, ensuring the eye holes align comfortably with your vision.
- 7
Pick up your prop chainsaw and hold it firmly with both hands to complete the terrifying slasher silhouette.
Makeup & hair
If your mask doesn't have attached hair, wear a messy, unkempt dark brown wig or tease your own hair with hairspray. Apply dark eyeshadow around your eyes before putting on the mask so your real skin doesn't show through the eye holes.
Leatherface for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with another classic slasher like Freddy Krueger, or go as Leatherface and a terrified victim in 1970s attire.
- group
- Assemble the Sawyer family with characters like the Hitchhiker, Chop Top, and Grandpa.
- kids
- A kid-friendly version features a cartoonish felt mask, a clean yellow apron, and a soft foam toy chainsaw.
- Plus size
- Choose a loose-fitting, oversized button-down shirt and an adjustable extra-wide utility apron for a comfortable fit.
- pet
- Dress a dog in a small yellow bandana painted with red splatters and a tiny plush chainsaw toy.
Tips
- Ensure the mask has adequate ventilation holes; widen the nostril and mouth slits slightly if you feel too hot.
- Use fabric paint or acrylics mixed with textile medium for the fake blood so it doesn't wash out or smear onto others.
- Keep the prop chainsaw lightweight, especially if you plan to carry it around a party or convention all night.
- Wear dark, comfortable clothing underneath the apron and shirt to stay warm during chilly Halloween nights.
Leatherface costume FAQ
- How do I make a DIY Leatherface mask?
- You can craft a budget-friendly mask using a cheap plastic face mask as a base. Cover it in liquid latex or paper mache, paint it with flesh tones, draw crude stitches with a black marker or real thread, and cut out irregular eye and mouth holes.
- What kind of clothes does Leatherface wear?
- Leatherface's classic look consists of a short-sleeve light-colored dress shirt, a dark necktie, dark slacks, work boots, and a blood-stained yellow butcher's apron over the top.
- Is a Leatherface costume comfortable for a party?
- The clothing is very comfortable, but wearing a full latex mask can get hot and limit your vision. Consider taking the mask off periodically or opting for a half-mask that covers only the face.
Did you know? Leatherface's character was partially inspired by the real-life crimes of murderer Ed Gein, who also wore masks made of human skin.