I’ll never forget the year my son was OBSESSED with dinosaurs, and I knew a store-bought costume just wouldn’t cut it. The look of pure joy when he saw the homemade costume I’d cobbled together was worth every bit of felt and hot glue. If you’re in that same boat, you’ve come to the right place.
I put this guide together to give you multiple, easy-to-follow tutorials for making a diy dinosaur costume, no matter your skill level or budget. I promise you’ll find the perfect project here, from super simple no-sew options to more detailed cardboard creations. Let’s make something roarsome!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Before You Start: Essential Tools & Materials for Your DIY Dinosaur Costume
Before you dive in, it helps to gather your supplies. Think of this as your dino-crafting toolkit, and a great starting point for many fun DIY projects. You won’t need everything on this list for every costume, but these are the most common items you might use.
- The Base: An oversized hoodie and matching sweatpants are perfect for a comfy costume. You can also use cardboard boxes, especially from appliance stores.
- The Details: Felt is your best friend here. Grab it in various colors for spikes, bellies, and spots.
- Adhesives: A hot glue gun is fast and strong for cardboard. For fabric, have fabric glue on hand for a no-sew option.
- Cutting Tools: Sharp scissors are a must, as is a box cutter for cardboard (adults only, please!).
- Stuffing: Simple polyester fiberfill, or even cotton balls, will bring your dinosaur tail to life.
- Extras: You might also want paint, markers, a basic sewing kit, a headband, or an old pair of gloves.
I personally love using stiff felt for the back spikes because it holds its shape perfectly without any extra support. It saves you a step and gives the costume a really professional look, even if you just glued it on.
The Easiest No-Sew DIY Dinosaur Costume (The Hoodie Method)
This is my go-to method for a quick, comfortable, and absolutely adorable costume. It all starts with a simple hoodie. I’m including steps for both a no-sew version and an optional sewing version if you’re looking for extra durability.
What You’ll Need:
- A hoodie (preferably with a zipper for easy on-and-off)
- Matching sweatpants
- Stiff felt in a contrasting color (for the spikes)
- Fabric glue OR a sewing machine/needle and thread
- Polyester stuffing
- Scissors
Step 1: Create Your Dinosaur Spikes (or Plates)
First, decide on the shape of your spikes. Triangles are a classic! To make them uniform, I like to create a template out of paper or cardboard first. A good size is about 4-5 inches tall and 4 inches at the base.
Using your template, trace and cut out your felt spikes. You’ll need two identical felt triangles for each spike you make. For a child-sized hoodie, you’ll probably need around 10-15 spikes to run from the top of the hood down to the bottom of the sweatshirt.
Step 2: Attach the Spikes to the Hoodie
Lay your hoodie flat, face down. Arrange the spikes down the center seam of the hood and back.
- For the No-Sew Method: Take two matching felt triangles. Run a thin bead of fabric glue along two sides of one triangle, leaving the bottom edge open. Press the second triangle on top. You’ve just made a little pocket. Turn the spike right-side-out, fill it with a tiny bit of stuffing if you like, and then glue the bottom flaps onto the hoodie.
- For the Sewing Method: Pin your two felt triangles together. Sew along two sides, leaving the bottom unsewn. Turn it right-side-out, stuff it lightly, and then sew it securely onto the hoodie’s center seam.
Step 3: Craft the Dinosaur Tail
For the tail, cut out two long, tapered shapes from your hoodie’s matching fabric or more felt. Make it wider at the base and pointed at the end. Place the two pieces together and use fabric glue or your sewing machine to join the long edges, leaving the wide base open.
Turn the tail right-side-out and stuff it firmly with polyester filling. Don’t overstuff it, or it will be too stiff. To attach it, you can either use safety pins on the inside of the pants or hoodie for a temporary option, or sew it directly onto the base of the hoodie or the waistband of the pants for a permanent fit.
The Ultimate Cardboard Box DIY Dinosaur Costume (A “Boxtume” Masterpiece)
If you’re ready to build something with a bit more structure, the “boxtume” is a fantastic project. It looks incredibly impressive but is really just made of simple boxes. My best tip is to ask at local appliance stores for clean, sturdy boxes; they are usually happy to get rid of them.
And to make it even easier, you can often find printable templates online for specific head shapes and spikes that you can trace right onto your cardboard.
What You’ll Need:
- Two cardboard boxes (one that fits around the torso, one smaller for the head)
- A box cutter (for adult use only!)
- A hot glue gun and plenty of glue sticks
- Duct tape for reinforcing joints
- Paint (spray paint or craft paint) and brushes
Step 1: Build the Body
First, get your main body box. Cut off the bottom flaps. Then, cut a hole in the top large enough for your child’s head and two arm holes on the sides. Make sure to test the fit and adjust the holes as needed so it’s comfortable to wear. You can add simple straps made of duct tape or fabric to rest on the shoulders for a better fit.
Step 2: Shape the Head and Tail
Using the smaller box, begin crafting the head. You can cut it into a rectangular snout shape and glue it to another piece of cardboard that sits on the head. Cut out eye holes for visibility. For the tail, cut a long, triangular shape from a flat piece of cardboard, score it down the middle so it can be folded slightly for dimension, and hot glue it to the back of the body box.
Step 3: Add Details and Paint
This is the fun part! Cut out cardboard triangles for spikes and glue them along the back and tail. Add pointy cardboard teeth around the mouth opening of the headpiece. Once all your pieces are glued on and secure, take the costume outside or to a well-ventilated area and paint it. Greens, browns, or grays are great base colors, and you can add stripes or spots for more character.
Level Up: How to Adapt Your DIY Dinosaur Costume for Specific Species
Once you have a base costume, it’s easy to add a few key features to transform it into a specific, recognizable dinosaur. This is where you can really get creative and tailor the costume to your little one’s favorite prehistoric creature. This creative spirit is perfect for other seasonal crafts, like exploring some fun DIY pumpkin decorating ideas for Halloween.
| Dinosaur Type | Key Modifications | Material Suggestions |
|---|---|---|
| T-Rex | Large head, tiny front arms, powerful legs. | Use extra cardboard/stuffing for the head; attach tiny stuffed arms to the chest. |
| Stegosaurus | Double row of diamond-shaped plates on the back. | Cut plates from stiff felt or cardboard; create a “thagomizer” (spiked tail). |
| Triceratops | Large head frill and three horns. | Use a large piece of curved cardboard for the frill; use paper towel rolls for horns. |
Don’t Forget the Details! DIY Dinosaur Costume Accessories
The right accessories can take your costume from good to great. Here are a few simple mini-tutorials for adding those perfect finishing touches.
How to Make Dinosaur Feet
You can make easy slip-on dinosaur feet to wear over shoes. Just trace your child’s shoe onto a piece of craft foam or cardboard. Draw a larger, three-toed dinosaur foot shape around the tracing. Cut it out, then glue or tape a simple elastic band across the top that can slide over the shoe to hold it in place.
How to Make a Dinosaur Headpiece
If a full-body costume is too much, a simple headpiece can be just as fun. Start with a basic plastic headband or an old baseball cap. For a spiky dino, hot glue felt spikes along the center. For a Triceratops, you can attach a small cardboard frill to the back of the headband and glue on three horns made from rolled-up paper or small foam cones.
How to Make Dinosaur Claws/Gloves
This is one of the easiest and most effective accessories. Grab a cheap pair of stretchy winter or garden gloves that match your costume. Cut out small, claw-shaped triangles from stiff white or black felt. Simply use a hot glue gun or fabric glue to attach one claw to the tip of each finger on the gloves.
Special Considerations for Your DIY Dinosaur Costume
Not all dinosaurs are one-size-fits-all! Here are some thoughts for adapting your project for different ages and groups.
For the Little Ones: DIY Dinosaur Costumes for Babies & Toddlers
For the youngest paleontologists, comfort and safety are everything. I recommend using super soft fabrics like fleece for a hoodie costume. Instead of a full costume, you could make a simple cape with spikes down the back that fastens with Velcro. Be sure to avoid any small, detachable parts like googly eyes that could be a choking hazard; sewn-on felt details are much safer. A onesie is also a fantastic base for a baby costume.
For the Grown-Ups: DIY Adult Dinosaur Costume Ideas
Why should kids have all the fun? For adults, you can get a little more ambitious. I’ve seen a clever inflatable-style T-Rex costume made using hula hoops sewn into a fabric tube to create the round body shape. You can also create a more detailed and larger-scale cardboard costume, focusing on realistic painting and textures.
For the Whole Pack: Group and Family Dinosaur Costume Ideas
Dinosaur costumes are perfect for groups! A family of raptors is always a hit, with each person wearing a slightly different shade of green or brown. Another fun idea is to have one person be a paleontologist with a vest and brush, while the rest of the family dresses as dinosaur skeletons they’ve “discovered.” Or, if you have little fans of the show, you could dress up as different characters from Dinosaur Train.
Frequently Asked Questions
I get asked a few common questions about this project, so I thought I’d answer them here!
- How long does it take to make a DIY dinosaur costume? The simple hoodie costume can be done in an afternoon, maybe 1-2 hours, especially the no-sew version. A more detailed cardboard costume might take 3-5 hours over a weekend, depending on painting and drying time.
- What is the cheapest way to make a dinosaur costume? The cardboard box method is definitely the cheapest, especially if you can get boxes for free from local stores. The hoodie method is also very affordable if you use a sweatshirt and pants you already own.
- How do you make a dinosaur tail that stands up? The trick is to stuff it firmly but not too tightly. For extra “oomph,” you can insert a flexible piece of craft wire or a bent wire coat hanger inside the tail before you finish stuffing it. Just make sure to bend the ends of the wire so there are no sharp points.
- What’s the best glue to use for a no-sew costume? For a fabric-based costume like the hoodie, you absolutely need a dedicated fabric glue. It’s designed to be flexible and hold up to movement. For cardboard, a hot glue gun provides the fastest and strongest bond.
Conclusion
I hope these tutorials have inspired you to create a memorable diy dinosaur costume for your own little monster. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection; it’s about having fun and making something unique with love. Seeing the finished product and the smile it brings is one of the best rewards of any DIY project.
Which dinosaur did you make? Do you have a question I didn’t answer? Share your amazing creations and tips in the comments below, I can’t wait to see them