Zombie Costume
Bring the undead to life with distressed clothes and gory makeup.
The zombie is a classic horror archetype representing the walking dead, popular for its terrifying versatility and DIY potential. People choose this look because it allows them to transform ordinary, old clothes into a spooky masterpiece. The costume consists of tattered, blood-splattered clothing, pale decaying skin makeup, and messy, unkempt hair.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $15–45
Try it on
See yourself as Zombie
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 Zombie costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Zombie costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Old or thrifted clothing
A set of everyday clothes like a t-shirt, jeans, or a button-down shirt that you do not mind ruining.
DIY: Use old, worn-out clothes from the back of your closet.
Fabric shears or scissors
Used to cut jagged holes, fray edges, and slice hems to make the clothes look ripped and weathered.
DIY: Use standard household scissors or a utility knife.
Fake blood
Thick, dark red liquid or gel fake blood to splatter across the clothing and apply to the face and body.
DIY: Mix corn syrup, red food coloring, and a drop of blue food coloring.
Zombie makeup kit
A palette containing pale green, gray, white, and black cream paints to create a decaying skin tone and dark eye sockets.
DIY: Use pale foundation mixed with a touch of green eyeshadow and dark grey eyeshadow for shading.
Costume dirt or dark eyeshadow
Brown and black powders used to smudge onto the clothing and skin to simulate dirt and grime.
DIY: Rub real potting soil or charcoal dust onto the fabric.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Zombie costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Use scissors to cut jagged slits, fray the collar, and rip the hems of your chosen old clothing.
- 2
Rub potting soil, charcoal, or dark eyeshadow onto the fabric to make it look dirty and weathered.
- 3
Splatter fake blood across the clothing, focusing on the collar, chest, and cuffs, then let it dry completely.
- 4
Apply a pale green, gray, or white base makeup to your face, neck, and hands to look undead.
- 5
Blend dark purple, brown, or black eyeshadow around your eyes and in the hollows of your cheeks to create a sunken appearance.
- 6
Drizzle a small amount of fake blood from the corner of your mouth or along your hairline.
- 7
Mess up your hair using hairspray, styling gel, or baby powder to give it a disheveled, unwashed look.
Makeup & hair
Apply a pale, sickly base to all exposed skin, shading the eyes and cheeks with dark purples and grays to look sunken. Backcomb your hair and apply baby powder or dry shampoo to make it look dusty, messy, and unwashed.
Zombie for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- An undead bride and groom in tattered, blood-stained formal wear.
- group
- A full horde of zombies wearing themed outfits, like zombie athletes, zombie doctors, or zombie office workers.
- kids
- A simplified version using old clothes, green face paint, and minimal fake blood for a kid-friendly fright.
- Plus size
- This costume is highly adaptable; simply use any comfortable, oversized clothing and distress it to fit.
- pet
- A pet bandana painted with fake blood paired with a soft plush brain toy.
More ways people search for this costume
The most-searched variations of “Zombie costume”, and how this look adapts to each.
Kids zombie costume
- A simplified version using old clothes, green face paint, and minimal fake blood for a kid-friendly fright.
Zombie diy costume
- Skip the store: Use old, worn-out clothes from the back of your closet. Use standard household scissors or a utility knife. Mix corn syrup, red food coloring, and a drop of blue food coloring.
Tips
- Let fake blood dry completely before putting on the costume to avoid staining car seats or furniture.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes, as a zombie walk requires a lot of shuffling.
- If trick-or-treating in cold weather, distress an oversized jacket or hoodie to wear over your layers.
- Use a makeup setting spray over your face paint so it does not smudge throughout the night.
Zombie costume FAQ
- How do you make clothes look realistically zombie-fied?
- Cut jagged holes with scissors, fray the edges with sandpaper, and rub coffee grounds or potting soil into the fabric for a dirty, weathered look.
- What is the best way to apply fake blood?
- Flick a wet paintbrush dipped in fake blood onto the clothes for realistic splatters, and use a stipple sponge for scraped skin effects.
- How do you wash out zombie makeup?
- Most theatrical cream makeup can be removed with warm water, soap, or an oil-based makeup remover, but check the product label first.
Did you know? The modern pop-culture zombie was popularized by George A. Romero's 1968 film 'Night of the Living Dead,' which established the trope of slow-moving, flesh-eating ghouls.