Trash Can Costume
Turn everyday rubbish into a hilariously creative, budget-friendly Halloween look.
The trash can costume is a classic, lighthearted choice for anyone looking to bring some humor to Halloween. Perfect for parties or neighborhood parades, this look is highly customizable and guaranteed to get a laugh. The outfit typically consists of a silver metallic body resembling a corrugated metal bin, complete with a matching lid hat and colorful plastic trash spilling out.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $15–50
Try it on
See yourself as Trash Can
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
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What you need for a Trash Can costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Trash Can costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Silver pop-up laundry hamper
A cylindrical mesh or fabric pop-up hamper with the bottom cut out to serve as the main bin body.
DIY: Use a large cardboard box painted metallic silver with drawn-on vertical ridges.
Metallic silver suspenders
Adjustable silver elastic straps to hold the hamper body up over your shoulders.
DIY: Safety-pin thick silver ribbons or gray duct tape straps to the inside of the hamper.
Silver foil pie pan or plastic lid
A lightweight, round silver lid to serve as the trash can lid hat.
DIY: Cut a circle out of cardboard, wrap it in aluminum foil, and attach a small cabinet knob to the center.
Elastic headband
A simple black or white elastic band to secure the lid hat to your head.
DIY: Staple or hot-glue the foil lid to a cheap plastic headband or an old baseball cap.
Clean plastic trash and recyclables
Empty, clean soda cans, crumpled paper, plastic water bottles, and colorful food wrappers.
DIY: Gather clean, dry household recyclables and empty chip bags from your pantry.
Gray or black base clothes
A simple, solid-colored long-sleeve shirt and matching pants to wear underneath the bin.
DIY: Wear any dark, plain sweatshirt and sweatpants already in your closet.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Trash Can costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on your solid gray or black long-sleeve shirt and pants.
- 2
Carefully cut out the bottom fabric of the silver pop-up laundry hamper so your legs can fit through.
- 3
Attach the silver suspenders to the top rim of the hamper, adjusting them so the bin sits comfortably around your torso.
- 4
Using hot glue or safety pins, secure clean plastic wrappers, crumpled paper, and empty soda cans around the top rim of the hamper so they look like they are overflowing.
- 5
Construct the lid hat by securing a silver foil pie pan to an elastic headband using hot glue or strong tape.
- 6
Place the lid hat on your head, adjusting the elastic band under your chin or behind your ears to keep it stable.
- 7
Step into the hamper body, pull the suspenders over your shoulders, and adjust the fit.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair simple and tucked under the lid hat. For a funny touch, apply a few smudges of black or brown face paint to your cheeks to look like soot or dirt.
Trash Can for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up as a Trash Can and a Sanitation Worker wearing a neon safety vest and carrying a trash grabber.
- group
- Go as a full waste management team with a Trash Can, a blue Recycle Bin, a green Compost Bin, and a garbage truck driver.
- kids
- Use a smaller silver pop-up bin or a gray plastic bucket with leg holes cut out, paired with comfortable gray pajamas.
- Plus size
- A flexible fabric pop-up hamper or a large painted cardboard box provides a comfortable, roomy fit for all body types.
- pet
- Dress your pet in a small gray felt vest decorated with tiny crumpled paper wrappers to look like a mini trash bin.
Tips
- Make sure the bottom opening of your trash can is wide enough to let you take normal walking strides comfortably.
- Only use clean, dry, and non-sharp recyclables to decorate the rim to avoid any odor or safety hazards.
- If attending an indoor party, make sure the width of your bin can easily pass through standard doorways.
- Keep the lid hat lightweight so it doesn't slide off your head when you move or tilt your head.
Trash Can costume FAQ
- How do I sit down in a trash can costume?
- If you use a flexible fabric pop-up laundry hamper, it will easily compress when you sit. If you use a rigid cardboard box, you may need to slide the box up or temporarily slip it off to sit comfortably.
- What is the easiest way to make a DIY trash can lid?
- The easiest way is to wrap a circular piece of cardboard in aluminum foil, hot-glue a small plastic cup or cabinet knob to the center as a handle, and secure it to a headband.
- Can I make a recycling bin version instead?
- Yes! Simply use a bright blue pop-up hamper or paint a box blue, then stencil the white universal recycling symbol on the front.
Did you know? The iconic image of a character living in a trash can was popularized globally by Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street, who debuted in his green form in 1970 after originally appearing as orange in 1969.