Raid your closet first
Before you buy anything, check for these. Two or three of them is enough for a convincing costume:
- Anything orange: a tee, hoodie, sweatpants or scrubs
- A plain white t-shirt and black pants
- Anything with black and white horizontal stripes
- A beanie, ideally orange or black
- White sneakers or slip on shoes
- Paper or cardboard, a thick marker, tape and safety pins
- Black electrical tape from the junk drawer or toolbox
- A metal mug, a big key ring, or a plastic chain from a toy box
Pick your time budget
| Time | What you need | The result |
|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | Orange clothes, paper, marker, safety pins | Modern prisoner with a number and sign |
| 20 minutes | White tee, black electrical tape, black pants | Classic striped jailbird, front only |
| 60 minutes | All of the above, plus cardboard, foil and makeup | Full costume with props and a photo wall |
The 10 minute prisoner
This is the fastest version that still reads as a prisoner from across the room.
- Put on your most orange top and bottoms. Matching colors are what make it look like a jumpsuit, so tuck the top in. No orange pants? Wear plain white, khaki or gray.
- Cut a rectangle of white paper and write a fake inmate number in thick block digits, like 1031 or BOO-1031. Pin it to the left chest with two safety pins.
- Make a mugshot sign on another sheet: a fake facility name, your alias, the number, and the date 10-31. Add a silly charge like "Excessive Candy Possession."
- Mess up your hair a little and practice your unimpressed mugshot stare.
That is a complete costume. The sign does the heavy lifting, so bring it everywhere.
The 20 minute prisoner
No orange? Make stripes. Electrical tape on a white tee gives you the vintage cartoon jailbird in about 20 minutes.
- Lay a white tee flat with a piece of cardboard inside it.
- Lay strips of black electrical tape straight across the front, from side seam to side seam. Use two strips side by side for each stripe so they look bold, and leave a gap of the same width between stripes.
- Do five or six stripes from the hem up. If you are in a hurry, do the front only and keep your back to the wall in photos.
- Press every strip down firmly and do not stretch the tape, or it will lift.
- Pair with black pants and the paper number and sign from the 10 minute version.
Want the full method, including fabric paint and a stenciled number? See our DIY prisoner costume guide.
The 60 minute prisoner
With an hour, you can go all in with stripes on both sides, props and a photo spot.
- Full striped shirt: tape stripes on the front, back and sleeves. Line up the back stripes with the front at the side seams.
- Neat inmate number: cut a white felt or paper rectangle, write the number in bold block digits, and pin it to the chest. Add a bigger one on the back.
- Handmade handcuffs: cut two rings from a cereal box, wrap them in foil, and link them with a short paper chain. Wear one on a wrist and let the other dangle.
- Ball and chain: a black balloon or a ball wrapped in a black trash bag, tied to a paper chain or a plastic toy chain. Carry it rather than dragging it.
- Striped hat: wrap electrical tape stripes around a white beanie or a white paper band.
- Photo wall: run strips of painter's tape across a door a few inches apart and label them like a height chart.
- Five minute makeup: a light five o'clock shadow with brown eyeshadow and a sponge. Our prisoner costume makeup guide has the steps.
Can you still order one?
If Halloween is a few days away, ordering can still work, as long as the timing does. Check the delivery date before you commit.
If delivery timing works, here is what to buy, in order of impact:
- A complete costume set. Striped sets and orange jumpsuits often include a hat or a number patch, so one order covers the whole look.
- Just the accessories. If you already have orange or striped clothes, toy handcuffs and a mugshot sign prop turn them into a costume.
- A plain base layer. An orange tee or a white tee plus a roll of black electrical tape is a cheap safety net.
No buy accessories from around the house
- Tin cup: any metal camping mug or travel mug.
- Jail keys: a big ring stuffed with old keys, clipped to a belt loop.
- Escape tool: a big spoon sticking out of your back pocket.
- WANTED poster: print or draw one with your alias and a reward of one full size candy bar.
- Number patch: white tape on a dark shirt, written on with marker.
Want more ideas, plus funny fake charges for your sign? The prisoner costume accessories checklist has the full list.
Last minute for kids and couples
For kids, the 10 minute version works great with an orange tee and a paper number. Keep props soft and light, add glow bracelets for visibility after dark, and see the kids prisoner costume guide for more. For couples, make two matching signs with consecutive numbers, like 1031-A and 1031-B, or mix one orange and one striped look as cellmates from different decades. More pairings live in couples prisoner costumes.
Still deciding between styles? Our orange jumpsuit vs stripes comparison sorts it out fast, and the men's and women's guides have picks for next year when you have more time.
Questions people ask
What is the easiest prisoner costume?
An orange top and pants with a paper inmate number pinned to the chest, plus a handwritten mugshot sign. It takes about 10 minutes and uses things most people already have.
How do I make a prisoner costume without orange or striped clothes?
Tape black stripes onto a white tee with electrical tape, or wear any plain shirt with a big inmate number pinned on. A mugshot sign does most of the work, so do not skip it.
Can I still order a prisoner costume before Halloween?
It depends on the delivery date shown for your address. Check the estimated date on the listing and at checkout before you order, and if it lands after October 31, go with a closet look instead.
What can I use as a mugshot sign?
Any sheet of paper, cardstock or the side of a cardboard box works. Write a fake facility name, an alias, a fake inmate number and the date 10-31 in thick marker, and tape it to cardboard so it stays stiff.
How do I make fake handcuffs at home?
Cut two rings from a cereal box, wrap them in aluminum foil, and link them with a short paper chain or a piece of string. Keep them loose so they slide off easily.