How do you make a DIY cardboard Pac-Man costume?

Cut two matching large circles out of heavy cardboard, cut a pie-slice wedge out of both for the mouth, paint them bright yellow, and hot-glue wide black fabric straps to the inside to hang over your shoulders.

What should I wear under a Pac-Man costume?

Wear solid black clothes (long-sleeve shirt and pants) so your limbs blend into the background, making the yellow circular body pop.

Is the inflatable Pac-Man costume hard to walk in?

It is lightweight and easy to walk in, but it is wide, so be mindful of doorways, tight crowds, and low-lying obstacles.

Skip the store: Cut two large circles out of cardboard, paint them bright yellow, cut a wedge out of one side for the mouth, and connect them with shoulder straps. Any solid black long-sleeve tee or turtleneck from your closet. Use any plain black sweatpants or dark jeans.

Have one person dress as Pac-Man and four friends dress as the Ghost Gang (Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde) in red, pink, cyan, and orange tunics.

AI-generated example

Pac-Man Costume

Waka waka! Bring the ultimate 1980s arcade icon to life.

Pac-Man is the legendary, dot-munching protagonist of Bandai Namco's classic 1980 arcade game. A favorite for retro gamers and pop culture fans, this look is instantly recognizable and highly nostalgic. The costume typically centers around a bright yellow, circular foam or inflatable tunic worn over simple black clothing.

Difficulty: Easy
Time: ~15 min
Budget: $25–65

See yourself as Pac-Man →What you need Buy the Pac-Man costume

Try it on

See yourself as Pac-Man

One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.

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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.

Pac-Man costume — Example look · AI-generated

You as Pac-Man

Result

What you need for a Pac-Man costume

Short on time? Buy it ready-made

Spirit Halloween sells the complete Pac-Man costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.

Shop Pac-Man at Spirit ↗

Yellow Pac-Man Tunic
A circular, sleeveless yellow foam or inflatable tunic featuring Pac-Man's open mouth shape or printed face.
DIY: Cut two large circles out of cardboard, paint them bright yellow, cut a wedge out of one side for the mouth, and connect them with shoulder straps.
Amazon
Black Long-Sleeve Shirt
A plain, lightweight black crewneck shirt to wear underneath the tunic so the yellow body stands out.
DIY: Any solid black long-sleeve tee or turtleneck from your closet.
Amazon
Black Pants or Leggings
Form-fitting black pants, jeans, or leggings to keep the focus entirely on the yellow circular body.
DIY: Use any plain black sweatpants or dark jeans.
Amazon
Yellow or Red Gloves
Bright yellow or red fabric gloves to match Pac-Man's classic modern cartoon aesthetic.
Amazon
Black Sneakers
Simple, comfortable black canvas shoes or athletic sneakers to blend in with your legs.
DIY: Any dark-colored comfortable walking shoes.
Amazon

Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Pac-Man costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗

How to put it together

1
Put on the solid black long-sleeve shirt and black pants or leggings.
2
Slip on the black sneakers to complete the dark, unobtrusive base layer.
3
Carefully step into the yellow Pac-Man tunic, pulling it over your head and aligning your arms through the side armholes.
4
If using an inflatable version, turn on the internal battery-operated fan and wait for it to fully inflate.
5
Put on the bright yellow or red fabric gloves.
6
Adjust the tunic so it sits straight and allows you to walk and move your arms comfortably.

Makeup & hair

Since your head and face are mostly hidden or framed by the tunic, keep hair simple or tied back. You can optionally apply yellow face paint or wear a yellow beanie if your face is visible through the mouth opening.

Pac-Man for couples, groups, kids & more

couples: Pair up with Ms. Pac-Man (featuring a red bow and lipstick) or one of the colorful ghosts like Blinky.
group: Have one person dress as Pac-Man and four friends dress as the Ghost Gang (Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde) in red, pink, cyan, and orange tunics.
kids: A smaller foam yellow sandwich-board style tunic worn over black pajamas.
Plus size: Inflatable tunics are naturally spacious and offer a comfortable, flexible fit for all body types.
pet: A small yellow circular felt harness or cape designed to sit on your pet's back.

More ways people search for this costume

The most-searched variations of “Pac-Man costume”, and how this look adapts to each.

Pacman costume diy: Skip the store: Cut two large circles out of cardboard, paint them bright yellow, cut a wedge out of one side for the mouth, and connect them with shoulder straps. Any solid black long-sleeve tee or turtleneck from your closet. Use any plain black sweatpants or dark jeans.
Pacman costume group: Have one person dress as Pac-Man and four friends dress as the Ghost Gang (Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde) in red, pink, cyan, and orange tunics.

Tips

If using an inflatable tunic, bring extra AA batteries to keep the fan running all night.
Wear lightweight, breathable layers underneath the foam or plastic tunic, as it can get warm inside.
Practice sitting down beforehand; foam tunics can bunch up, so you may need to lift it slightly or slide it off to sit comfortably.
Carry a small yellow ball or a printed 'Power Pellet' prop for fun photo poses.

Pac-Man costume FAQ

How do you make a DIY cardboard Pac-Man costume?: Cut two matching large circles out of heavy cardboard, cut a pie-slice wedge out of both for the mouth, paint them bright yellow, and hot-glue wide black fabric straps to the inside to hang over your shoulders.
What should I wear under a Pac-Man costume?: Wear solid black clothes (long-sleeve shirt and pants) so your limbs blend into the background, making the yellow circular body pop.
Is the inflatable Pac-Man costume hard to walk in?: It is lightweight and easy to walk in, but it is wide, so be mindful of doorways, tight crowds, and low-lying obstacles.

Did you know? Pac-Man's iconic shape was inspired by a pizza with a single slice removed, which creator Toru Iwatani envisioned while looking at a whole pizza during a lunch break.