Have you ever wondered why some costumes are more expensive than others? Sometimes, there can be various price points within a costume category. Much of the pricing comes down to a difference between materials, the number of accessories, and other amenities like zippers and pockets versus hook and loop tape and printed features. We will explain this in greater detail by comparing popular Halloween costumes to give you a better idea of what to expect when you see costumes listed at multiple price points. You'll know what to look for the next time you're shopping for costumes with a budget in mind!
Comparing Inexpensive and Expensive Pirate Costumes
| Kids' Cutthroat Pirate | Pirate Captain Costume |
You probably don't need us to tell you that the costume on the right costs more than the one on the left, but what makes one cheaper and the other more expensive? It generally comes down to the cost of the materials, the construction, and the number of included accessories. You can see that the pirate on the left features a shirt that looks like a vest, but the larger picture of the shoulder shows that the fabrics are sewn together in one piece to minimize the number of included accessories. Make sure to check the costume listing if you're not sure if pieces are included or not! Another aspect of costume construction you'll see on less expensive costumes is a lack of a hemline, as seen on the sleeve cuff. Hems help increase the longevity of apparel by rolling the fabric and sewing through it, keeping raw edges from being exposed and fraying.
When examining the costume on the right, you can see that it includes a jacket, a vest, and a shirt. (Although reading the listing will tell you it's a shirt and vest combo with a separate jacket.) The layers here look less like they're sewn together for a more authentic feel. You can also see that the sleeves, undershirt, and vest are hemmed. While the less expensive costume may be fine for your needs if your child is only going out for one night of trick-or-treating, you might have reasons for wanting a more expensive costume. Do you appreciate quality items more? Does your kid like dressing up and reusing their Halloween costumes? Whatever your reason, you know which costume suits your needs and budget!
Comparing Inexpensive and Expensive Character Costumes
| Adult Ghostbusters Costume | Cosplay Ghostbusters Costume |
Shop all Ghostbusters Costumes
When buying character costumes, there can be quite a lot of variation between cheap and expensive versions of the same thing. For simplicity's sake, we're keeping the budget costume on the left and the premium costume on the right. On the left, you see a basic, recognizable Ghostbusters costume. It's perfectly fine for one-time use, like a Halloween party. As seen on the sleeve, the Ghostbusters logo is not a patch but rather a printed-on detail. (The shine generally helps to give it away!) The proton pack is included but inflatable to make it easy to pack and store in a typical Halloween costume bag. It's not authentic, but it gets the job done, and it's perfectly fine when you're just out to have fun.
You can see that the Ghostbusters costume on the right feels more complete. The Ghostbusters logo is a patch; switchable, embroidered patch name tags are included. The proton pack has an upgrade to a more authentic-looking backpack, although a cosplayer would likely change this piece with their favorite accessory. The costume listing even includes extra images to help show the upgrade in quality, like this shot of the zipper at the bottom of the legs. It even has extra stitching to help reinforce the area so that you can wear this costume multiple times for Halloween, conventions, and more. Both are excellent and usable costumes, but what you ultimately choose to wear depends on you!
What Else Should I Look for When Comparing Costume Prices?
There are a lot of things to consider when shopping online for costumes. Some of the most important things you can do besides just looking at the pictures are reading more of the costume listing and looking for lists of included pieces and descriptions of the costume's make and materials. Getting a slightly more expensive costume may save you money if you feel the need to buy an additional accessory separately. Is your Jack Sparrow costume missing the wig and hat? Maybe your Alice costume doesn't include a black bow headband. We'll share a few other differences that can be easy to spot to help determine which costume is right for you.
Shiny vs. Matte Costume Fabrics
| Snow White Costume | Premium Snow White Costume |
The materials a costume is made from are part of what determines a costume's price. One of the more common materials found in costumes is costume satin, the more affordable bridal satin. (Think of bridal dresses when you're looking for higher-quality satin!) Costume satin generally has a higher degree of shine and less body, which can make it look a little wrinkly. It's great for costumes when you're sticking to a budget but is less durable. You may notice that more expensive costumes often have less shine, and that's because they're using different materials. The bodice of the Snow White costume on the right is still shiny, but the material differs from the one on the left.
Hook & Loop Tape vs. Zippers
| Enchanting Unicorn Costume | Magical Unicorn Costume |
Not every costume needs to be fastened, such as if it's a shirt and pants or shorts, but sometimes you need a way to keep a costume on. Many Halloween costumes use what is called hook and loop fastener, which is otherwise known as Velcro. (It's like the branded difference between saying Kleenex or tissue.) If a costume shows images of the back and front, you may be able to spot hook and loop tape without reading the costume description. We still recommend reading either way so you know exactly what to expect! Like the costume on the right, they generally cost a little more if they use a zipper. (For anyone who has sewn before, zippers are also more tedious to install!) Both closures are fine for costumes, but you may prefer one over the other.
Skirt Volume
| Deluxe Aurora Costume | Premium Sleeping Beauty Costume |
Shop all Sleeping Beauty Costumes
Some costumes feature pencil skirts and mini skirts, such as your sexy costumes and flight attendants, but others require a full skirt. Disney Princess costumes set a great example here: many have dresses with ballgown bottoms. One way to make costumes more budget-friendly is to use less fabric, like the dress on the left. There is less gathering at the waist, leading to less volume in the skirt overall, and it's also made shorter. The premium costume on the right allows the skirt to go all the way to the floor, and the waves in the skirt show it's also more full. (This is the costume you want to twirl in!) The volume in a skirt is generally one of the easiest things to spot when shopping online and looking at Halloween costume images.
Half Masks vs. Full Masks
| Darth Vader Costume | Ultimate Edition Darth Vader Costume |
In some cases, specific character costumes may wear a full mask. Star Wars costumes are a great example, from Darth Vader (as seen here) to Stormtroopers, Mandalorians, and more. Now, the more authentic version of the costume would include a full mask, as seen on the right, but this also increases the price. However, there are many reasons you might want to have a costume with a half-mask, as seen on the left. It's more budget-friendly, but in some cases, not everyone likes wearing masks, especially full masks. They can restrict your vision; sometimes, you just want something easier to take off. We get that! Thankfully, you can decide which mask style is right for you.
Foam or Printed Armor vs. Molded Plastic Armor
| Child Master Chief Costume | Kids' Ultra Prestige Master Chief Costume |
If you love sci-fi or video game characters, there's a chance that you may have the option between costumes with molded armor pieces or printed jumpsuits that may or may not have sewn-on foam armor. Sometimes, it's just printed fabric, too. Similar to the case of the whole and half helmets, there may be reasons other than price that keep people from wanting a premium costume. Molded plastic armor looks cool but is a little heavier and more challenging to move around. You might want to ask your child what they would prefer if they intend to wear one of these costumes while out trick-or-treating, mainly because they'll be climbing steps and walking around the neighborhood. (Plus, armored costumes are an inconvenience when using the bathroom!) If you're considering the adult-sized costume for yourself, your movement and comfort are also things you'll want to keep in mind.
Fake Pockets vs. Real Pockets
| Adult Pink Ladies Jacket | Authentic Pink Ladies Jacket |
When crafting costumes for different price points, including pockets is another amenity to keep in mind. Not every costume will have pockets, but costumes with pants and jackets might include them. In the case of this Pink Ladies jacket, the affordable option on the left has fake pockets, which are strips of fabric sewn on top to look like pockets. However, the coat on the right has pockets added. If pockets or no pockets will influence your decision when buying a costume, read the item's description for more details. It can be challenging to tell if pockets are real or fake through images alone!
Printed Details vs. Sewn and Embroidered Details
| Toddler Fire Chief Costume | Kids' Black Firefighter Costume |
It's common for Halloween costumes to have printed details, but sometimes, they're used in place of details that might be sewn or embroidered. This will save you money and lower the costume cost, but it may be less visually appealing. You can see that the safety tape and the buttons are printed on the toddler costume on the left. It gets the job done, and it's easy enough to wear. The kids' costume on the right is similar, but the safety lines and buttons are sewn to the garment. These costumes are both easily identifiable as firefighters and perfectly acceptable to wear on Halloween.
Unfinished Hems vs. Sewn Hems
| Child Vampire Costume | Girls' Vampire Costume |
We often see raw fabric edges or serged edges rather than sewn hemlines with single-wear items like Halloween costumes. If a fabric doesn't easily fray or split, it may simply be cut and left as-is, as you can see on the costume on the left. The sleeves, mesh bat wings, collar, and bottom hem all appear in raw-edged fabrics, which is great for parents on a budget. (Especially if you have multiple kids in need of Halloween costumes!) In contrast, the costume on the right has finished edges, making the costume more durable. You might simply prefer the look of a costume with sewn hems, which is totally up to you, or perhaps your child likes to hang onto costumes for their dress-up trunk. These are all things to consider when finding the perfect Halloween costume!
We hope you learned a few things! It boils down to "you get what you pay for", but it's always good to take the time to compare your options in detail. Do you prefer to wear less expensive costumes for the price and convenience, or are you willing to buy the more costly costumes so that your costume can be worn multiple times? Are there any other pressing costume-related questions you want to learn about? Let us know in the comments below! We love your input and are glad to help you find the perfect costume.
