20 DIY Halloween Costumes Every Kid Wants

Costumes for kids — especially character costumes — can cost anywhere from $50 to more than $100. That’s a lot for an ensemble that will be worn once or twice, and probably smeared with chocolate!

For thrifty parents who want to save money, many outfits can be created from thrift-store finds and items around the house. We’ve gathered 20 DIY costume tutorials featuring characters from movies such as "The Incredibles," "The Descendants," "Frozen," "Star Wars," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Captain America," "Thor," "The Lego Movie" and "Maleficent" for crafty moms and dads.

So, grab your glue gun and some cardboard and let’s get started!

This story was originally published in September 2014 and updated in September 2018. ParentMap staff contributed to this article