Pufferfish Costume
Make a splash in a round, spike-covered pufferfish costume.
The pufferfish (or blowfish) is a beloved marine creature known for inflating into a spike-covered ball when threatened. People choose this costume for its funny, voluminous silhouette and playful underwater theme. The look centers on a round, spherical body shape in sandy yellow or beige tones, covered in soft spikes.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~90 min
- Budget
- $30–80
Try it on
See yourself as Pufferfish
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 Pufferfish costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Pufferfish costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Inflatable body suit or oversized round tunic
A spherical yellow, tan, or beige bodysuit to mimic the inflated shape of a pufferfish.
DIY: Stuff an oversized yellow t-shirt or paper-mache sphere with batting or bubble wrap to create a round ball shape.
Soft spikes
Dozens of small cone-shaped spikes made of foam, felt, or fabric attached all over the body.
DIY: Roll white or cream-colored felt sheets into small cones and hot-glue them to the bodysuit.
Pufferfish eyes and mouth headpiece
A matching yellow hood or beanie featuring large, cartoonish round eyes and a small puckered mouth.
DIY: Glue large white and black felt circles onto a yellow beanie to create big fish eyes.
Fin sleeves or gloves
Small yellow or translucent hand fins attached to the wrists or sleeves.
DIY: Cut fin shapes out of yellow stiff felt and sew or safety-pin them to your shirt sleeves.
Matching leggings or tights
Simple yellow, beige, or ocean-blue leggings to complete the lower half of the outfit.
DIY: Use any solid neutral or blue pants you already own.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Pufferfish costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the base layer of yellow or neutral leggings and a long-sleeve shirt.
- 2
Step into the round, inflated bodysuit or stuffed tunic, securing it around your waist and shoulders.
- 3
If DIYing, attach the felt or foam spikes evenly across the round body using hot glue or safety pins.
- 4
Slip on the yellow beanie or hood with the pre-attached large fish eyes.
- 5
Attach the fin sleeves to your wrists or wear yellow gloves to represent pectoral fins.
- 6
Practice your best puckered-lip fish face in the mirror to complete the look.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair tucked away under the hood or beanie. For makeup, apply blue or green face paint around the eyes, or use a high-shine lip gloss to emphasize a puckered, glossy fish mouth.
Pufferfish for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with a scuba diver, a shark, or a jellyfish for a classic under-the-sea duo.
- group
- Create an aquarium school of fish with friends dressed as clownfish, blue tangs, and crabs.
- kids
- Use a stuffed yellow sweatshirt with soft felt spikes for a cozy, kid-friendly version.
- Plus size
- An inflatable or wire-hoop structure provides an easy, comfortable, and naturally voluminous fit.
- pet
- A lightweight yellow dog sweater adorned with soft, flat felt triangles to mimic spikes.
Tips
- If using an inflatable suit, bring extra batteries for the fan pack so you stay puffed up all night.
- Keep the spikes soft (felt or foam) so you can sit down comfortably and avoid poking fellow partygoers.
- Wear breathable base layers, as round or inflatable costumes can trap body heat quickly.
Pufferfish costume FAQ
- How do I make a DIY pufferfish costume round?
- You can use a wire pop-up laundry hamper as a frame, cover it in yellow fabric, or stuff an extra-large t-shirt with upholstery foam, batting, or balloons.
- What are the spikes made of on a DIY costume?
- Soft foam cones, rolled felt sheets, or even painted paper cups work perfectly and remain safe and lightweight.
- Is this costume easy to walk around in?
- Yes, as long as the round body ends above your knees, allowing your legs to move freely.
Did you know? Pufferfish puff up by swallowing water (or air when out of water) to make themselves appear much larger and harder for predators to swallow.