Each costume contest category should reward a different kind of effort. A guest who sewed a costume and a guest who bought one should each have a category they can win.
The lists below sort categories by crowd: adult parties, office events, kids, family parties, and add-on extras. Pick the judging method and the tiebreaker before the party, and announce both with the categories.
Pick four to six Halloween costume contest categories, and make each one reward a different kind of effort, such as making, buying, acting, or humor. Collect anonymous ballots from guests, or have two or three judges score the finalists from 1 to 5. These category lists are original designs, grouped by the crowd you are hosting.
At PartyGameKit, we build free tools for party games and gift exchanges. For games to play at the same party, see the Halloween party games guide. A parking-lot event has its own contest section in the trunk-or-treat games guide.
Halloween Costume Contest Categories to Use
Use four to six categories for one contest. Fewer than four leaves many guests with no award to win, and more than six turns the announcement into a long ceremony that dilutes each prize. Each category should reward a different kind of effort, so no single style wins everything. A guest who sewed a costume by hand and a guest who wore a purchased outfit should each have a category where they can compete.
Check the mix before you print the list. If two categories on your list reward the same effort, drop one and add a category from a different group.
Adult General Parties
For a mixed adult party, pick four or five of these:
- Most Creative
- Funniest
- Scariest
- Best Pop-Culture Reference
- Best Duo or Group
- Best Last-Minute Costume
Office or Work Parties
Office contests use these categories:
- Most Creative
- Funniest
- Best Team or Group Costume
- Best Pop-Culture Reference
- Best DIY
- Best Desk-Friendly Costume, meaning a costume someone can wear while working
Announce in advance that costumes follow the workplace dress code, and that no category rewards anything offensive. Set the Best DIY rule before the party too. Announce that a purchased full-costume bundle does not qualify.
Kids and School Parties
Kids’ contests use these five categories:
- Silliest
- Spookiest
- Most Creative
- Best Group
- Best Handmade
Give every child a participation prize or sticker so nobody leaves empty-handed.
Family Parties
Family parties use these categories:
- Best Parent-and-Child Pair
- Best Group
- Funniest
- Scariest
- Most Creative
Funny Extras
These four add-on categories are:
- Best Use of a Prop
- Most Likely to Scare the Host
- Best Costume Under One Item
- Best Costume from the Closet
Pick one or two of these, and count them toward the four-to-six total rather than adding them on top of it.
How to Judge a Costume Contest
Use one of two methods. The guest ballot suits a large party, and the scorecard suits a smaller or more formal contest.
Guest Ballot with Numbered Stickers
Hand every guest a printed ballot with one line per category. For a handwritten version, write the categories on index cards. Keep a pen with each ballot. Some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links that earn a commission.
Run the ballot in three steps:
- Collect ballots halfway through the party.
- Tally them while guests socialize.
- Announce the winners after the tally.
Put a numbered sticker on each costume. Voters write the number on the ballot instead of a name. Anonymous ballots keep voting from becoming a popularity contest. A guest may not vote for their own costume.
Judge Scorecard for Small or Formal Contests
Pick two or three judges. Each judge scores each finalist from 1 to 5 on the three criteria in the table below. Add the scores, and the highest total wins the category.
| Criterion | Score | What the judge checks |
|---|---|---|
| Creativity | 1 to 5 | How original the costume is |
| Effort | 1 to 5 | How much work the costume shows |
| Fit to category | 1 to 5 | How well the costume matches the category name |
One judge’s total for one finalist runs from 3 to 15, because three criteria at 1 to 5 each add up to that range. With three judges, a finalist’s total runs from 9 to 45, and the highest total wins.
A judge skips the costume they helped make.
Ties, Prizes, and Timing
Breaking a Tie
Pick one tiebreaker before the party and announce it with the category list. Three options work:
- A quick re-vote by applause, or a second ballot that includes only the tied costumes.
- A co-award, with two prizes for the tied costumes.
- A pre-announced tiebreaker, such as the judge’s pick.
Prize Ideas
Prizes that fit these contests include:
- Ribbons, such as award ribbons, or printed certificates.
- A small trophy or a candy basket.
- A gift card the host chooses.
- A trophy that passes to the next year’s winner.
For kids, a sticker or small treat goes to every entrant.
Timing and Flow
Run the contest in this order:
- Put the contest time and the category list on the invitation.
- Run voting halfway through the party.
- Announce the winners before the evening winds down.
A small group can parade costumes one at a time for a quick walk past the guests. With a large group, skip the parade and use the ballot only. A printable bingo generator can run beside the contest.
Keeping the Contest Fair
Fairness depends on rules that guests know before the party starts. Put these rules in the invitation or on the ballot:
- Announce the categories so guests can plan their costumes.
- Announce any category rule, such as the purchased full-costume bundle rule for Best DIY.
- Keep the host and the host’s household members out of the prize categories.
- Keep the tone playful when the winners are read out.
- Bar guests from voting for their own costume, and have judges skip any costume they helped make.
Use the ballot with no parade for a large group, and the scorecard for a small or formal one. The four-to-six category count holds for either method.
Pick four to six Halloween costume contest categories for your crowd, print them on the ballot or the scorecard, and send the list with the invitation.