Rat Costume
Scurry into your next event with this classic, easy rodent look.
Whether you want to be a classic sewer rat, a cute cartoon rodent, or a pizza-loving city dweller, a rat costume is a fun and versatile choice. This look is highly customizable, ranging from a simple cozy jumpsuit to a detailed DIY outfit. It consists of a gray or brown base, round rodent ears, a long pink tail, and simple whisker makeup.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~30 min
- Budget
- $15–60
Try it on
See yourself as Rat
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 Rat costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Rat costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Gray or Brown Hooded Sweatshirt
A solid, oversized gray or dark brown hoodie to serve as the main body of the rat.
DIY: Use any plain gray or brown long-sleeve shirt or sweater you already own.
Matching Sweatpants
Comfortable sweatpants in the same shade of gray or brown as the hoodie.
DIY: Wear gray leggings, jeans, or dark trousers.
Rat Ears Headband
A headband featuring round gray felt or faux fur ears with pink inner felt lining.
DIY: Cut circles out of gray and pink felt, glue the pink circles inside the gray ones, and attach them to a plain headband.
Pink Rat Tail
A long, flexible pink fabric or foam tail that can be pinned to the back of your pants.
DIY: Stuff a long pink knee-high sock or a tube of pink fabric with batting, insert a wire for structure, and pin it to your waist.
Pink Nose and Whiskers Makeup
Black and pink face paint or makeup pencils to draw on a nose and whiskers.
DIY: Use a standard black liquid eyeliner and a pink lipstick.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Rat costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the gray or brown sweatpants and matching hooded sweatshirt.
- 2
Attach the pink rat tail to the back waistband of your sweatpants using a safety pin.
- 3
Place the rat ears headband securely on your head, positioning it just in front of the hood if you choose to wear the hood up.
- 4
Use black makeup or eyeliner to draw a small, rounded triangle on the tip of your nose and paint it in.
- 5
Draw three thin whisker lines extending outward from each cheek using the black eyeliner.
- 6
Add a touch of pink face paint or lipstick to the center of your nose for a classic rodent snout look.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair simple or tucked under the hood. Use black eyeliner to draw a small round nose and three whiskers on each cheek, and optionally apply pink lipstick to the tip of your nose.
Rat for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up as a Rat and a slice of Pizza, or go as Remy and Linguini from Ratatouille.
- group
- Dress up as a pack of NYC sewer rats, or the Three Blind Mice.
- kids
- Use a gray fleece one-piece pajama suit with attached ears and tail for a warm, comfortable kids' costume.
- Plus size
- An oversized gray fleece hoodie and matching joggers provide a comfortable, flexible, and highly adjustable fit.
- pet
- A simple gray dog sweater with attached felt ears makes an adorable pet version.
Tips
- Bend a wire hanger and insert it into your DIY tail so you can curve it off the ground to avoid tripping.
- Carry a prop like a fake slice of yellow cheese or a cardboard pizza box to add a funny, recognizable touch.
- Wear comfortable sneakers, as this is a highly active, fun-loving costume.
- If it is cold outside, the hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants base will naturally keep you warm.
Rat costume FAQ
- How do I make a quick DIY rat tail?
- You can stuff a pink knee-high sock, a pair of pink tights, or a sleeve of pink fabric with cotton balls or paper towels, then safety pin it to your pants.
- What color should a rat costume be?
- Gray is the most common and recognizable color, but dark brown, black, or even white (for a lab rat) work perfectly.
- Is a rat costume easy to move in?
- Yes, because the base is made of standard sweatpants and a hoodie, it is one of the most comfortable and mobile costumes you can wear.
Did you know? Rats are incredibly social and clean animals that groom themselves constantly, much like cats, despite their pop-culture reputation as dirty sewer dwellers.