Create the ultimate haunted house with these cheap and easy DIY Halloween props!
Whether you're creating eerie DIY Halloween yard decorations for trick or treaters or transforming your home into one of the scariest haunted houses on the block, these DIY Halloween decor ideas will help you set the ultimate chilling scene. From bubbling cauldrons and eerie ghosts to larger-than-life zombies and monstrous creatures, there's no shortage of ways to make your indoor and outdoor space both fun and frightful.
The best part? You don't have to spend a fortune to make jaw-dropping, scary Halloween decorations. With some creativity, basic supplies, and a little DIY magic, you can craft homemade props that look like they came straight out of a horror movie set. Whether you're aiming for quick and easy decorations or elaborate setups with crawling spiders and life-size monsters, there's something here for every skill level. Many of these projects can be customized for both DIY outdoor Halloween decorations to thrill passersby or indoor pieces to set the perfect party atmosphere.
From creepy outside scenes to bone-chilling setups inside, these props will inspire you to turn your home into a spooky masterpiece. You'll find everything from quick weekend Halloween crafts for adults to more elaborate projects for advanced DIYers.
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Ghost and Ghoul Props
Easy Packing Tape Ghost from Crazy Green Thumbs
Chicken Wire Ghost from DIY Network
Yard Ghosts from Listotic
Creepy Ghosts (source unknown)
doll, fabric, fabric stiffening spray
Get a doll and drape fabric around it. Spray with Aleene’s Fabric Quick Stiffening Spray and remove the doll once it’s dry.
DIY Chicken Wire Cheesecloth Ghost from DIY Show Off
Levitating Ghost from HGTV
The Ring Prop from Lothar’s Lair
Samara from The Ring from Pinterest
Lawn Ghosts from Pink Pixie Forest
Creepy Ghosts from Grim Hollow Haunt
Easy DIY Ghost from Pinterest
foam head, tomato cage, night gown, light underneath the gown
Spider & Monster Halloween Props
Giant Spider (source unknown)
Giant Spider Web from Instructables
Person Caught in Spiderweb from Instructables
Giant Tentacle Monster from Instructables
7-Foot Monster Plant from Eden Maker’s
Body Part Props
Person Under Garage Door (source unknown)
shirt, pants, shoes, straw, plastic bag, or newspaper filling, fake blood
You can get the clothes at the thrift store for cheap if you don't have any extra clothes around the house
Milk Jug Skulls from Instructables
Body Bag (source unknown)
cheap white trash bags, rope, or twine
Create an outline of a body with trash and wrap it up in the trash bag and rope.
(Ex: use a milk jug for the head)
Hanging Bodies from Haunt Forum
Heads in Jars from Homeward Found Decor
Mummy Hand from Through My Looking Glass
Creepy Hands (source unknown)
painter’s tape, wire, wire cutters, paint
Zombie Props
Halloween Zombies with Buckets from Dapper Cadaver
Pop Out Zombie from Brewster Yard Haunt
Zombie Pallet Gate from Atta Girl Says
Pallet Trapped Door from Pinterest
pallet, red light, fake hands, shovel
Zombie Dolls from Instructables
Zombie Plated Hands from Sew Woodsy
Other Halloween Props
Hanging Cage from The Navage Patch
Skull and Floating Bottle from A Crafty Mix
Trash Bag Witches from Rowan Everleigh (via Pinterest)
black trash bags, foam shapes, long garden stake, witch hat, black ribbon
You can do the same thing with white trash bags to make ghosts
Wicked Witch Legs from Grillo Designs
Halloween Mailbox Monster from All You
DIY Giant Scarecrow from Hallmark Channel
Halloween Pop Up Prop from Instructables
Monster Mud Reaper from Halloween Forum
Merlin’s Reaper Stone from Haunter’s Hang Out
Life Size Mummy from Crafty Mommy and Me
Halloween Monster from Civ’s Legend of Sleepy Hallow
Fake Boarded Up Windows from Haunted Yards
Cousin It (source unknown)
Tomato cage, grass skirts from the Dollar Store
DIY Giant Corn Stalker Scarecrow from Tee Diddly Dee
Accessories for Halloween Props
DIY Faux Chains from Ribbons and Glue
Faux Fire Prop from Make Life Lovely
Halloween Tombstones from Little Yellow Wheelbarrow
Easy and Cheap Cardboard Tombstones from eHow
Pallet Wood Coffin from Instructables
$20 DIY Fog Machine from TeeDiddlyDee
Water Only Fog Machine from Instructables
Della says
How did you make the well with the girl coming out of it I made the girl just nor sure about the well
Misti says
The link for the Dead and Breakfast sign (BHG) doesn’t go to more info about that particular decoration.
Rowan Everleigh says
Those witches around the cauldron are mine. I made them. You can give credit for them to me.
prudentpennypincher.com says
Hi Rowan,
Thank you for letting me know! I updated the post and included your name! I love that witch circle so much; it’s one of my favorite halloween finds! 🙂
Sandy says
I am going to try some of these they are good ideas
prudentpennypincher.com says
Thanks! Glad you like them 🙂 Have fun
Feather says
You have a broken link to my packing tape Ghost tutorial. This is a working link: http://crazygreenthumbs.com/2017/10/07/easy-packing-tape-ghost-2/ I also have an entire section on Halloween tutorials in the tab at the top of my home page, if you are interested. Thanks for sharing!
prudentpennypincher.com says
Thanks for letting me know and providing the new link! I updated the post to include it. I will be sure to check out your halloween tutorials too!