Tombstone Costume
Bring the graveyard to life with a classic DIY gravestone look.
While 'Tombstone' can refer to the classic 1993 Western film, this guide focuses on the literal gravestone archetype—a spooky, creative Halloween favorite. Perfect for parties or group graveyard themes, this costume transforms you into a stone monument complete with a custom epitaph. The look consists of a grey, stone-textured sandwich board or tunic featuring weathered details and humorous inscriptions.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $15–40
Try it on
See yourself as Tombstone
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 Tombstone costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Tombstone costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Grey foam board or cardboard
Two large sheets cut into a classic arched tombstone shape for the front and back panels.
DIY: Use recycled shipping boxes painted grey.
Dark grey and black acrylic paint
Used to create a textured stone finish, cracks, and the painted epitaph.
Black shoulder straps
Thick nylon webbing or elastic straps to connect the front and back panels over your shoulders.
DIY: Use strips of black felt or old belts.
Black long-sleeve shirt and pants
Simple, solid black base layers to make your limbs blend into the background.
DIY: Use any dark-colored clothing from your closet.
Fake moss or plastic ivy
Green craft moss glued to the corners to give the stone an aged, weathered look.
DIY: Cut out green felt pieces to look like moss.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Tombstone costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Cut two large pieces of foam board or cardboard into matching arched tombstone shapes.
- 2
Paint both panels with a medium grey base coat, then use a sponge to dab lighter and darker grey shades for a textured stone effect.
- 3
Use black paint or a thick marker to write a classic or humorous epitaph (like 'R.I.P.' or 'Barry M. Deep') on the front panel.
- 4
Paint faux cracks and weathered shading around the edges of the panels to make the stone look ancient.
- 5
Hot glue patches of fake moss or plastic ivy to the corners and base of the tombstone panels.
- 6
Securely attach two thick black fabric straps to the inner sides of the panels to wear them sandwich-board style over your shoulders.
- 7
Put on your black base layers, then slip the tombstone straps over your shoulders to complete the look.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair messy with grey hair-spray paint. Apply pale, ghostly face paint with dark grey eyeshadow under the eyes to look like a resident of the cemetery.
Tombstone for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up as a Tombstone and a Grim Reaper, or two matching 'His and Hers' gravestones.
- group
- Create a whole graveyard crew with multiple tombstones, a zombie, and a gravedigger.
- kids
- Scale down the cardboard dimensions for a lightweight, kid-friendly version.
- Plus size
- The sandwich-board design is highly adjustable; simply lengthen the shoulder and side straps for a comfortable fit.
- pet
- Attach a small, lightweight foam gravestone to a pet harness.
Tips
- Use lightweight foam board instead of heavy cardboard to keep the costume comfortable for walking.
- Keep the side straps loose enough so you can easily sit down or slip the costume off at parties.
- Add reflective tape to the back of the tombstone if you plan to wear it trick-or-treating at night.
Tombstone costume FAQ
- What is the best material for a DIY tombstone costume?
- Rigid insulation foam or thick foam board is best because it is lightweight, easy to cut, and holds paint well without warping.
- What are some funny epitaphs to write on the front?
- Classic options include 'R.I.P. Rustin Peaces', 'Barry M. Deep', or 'I told you I was sick!'
- How do I make the cardboard look like real stone?
- Use a sea sponge or crumpled paper towel to dab light and dark shades of grey paint onto a medium grey base coat to create a textured stone effect.
Did you know? The word 'tombstone' originally referred to the stone lid of a coffin itself, rather than the upright headstone marker we associate with the costume today.