What Are You Wearing This Year? Most Popular Halloween Costumes by State

From ghosts to comic book villains, these are the most searched costumes in each state.

Halloween, the spookiest and most entertaining holiday of the year, isn’t just about tricks and treats; it’s also a time to showcase creativity through costumes.

As people in each state prep for All Hallows’ Eve, the question of what to wear is on everyone’s minds. These are most searched for traditional and pop culture costumes in each state according to Boohoo. What will you wear this Halloween?

Traditional: Skeleton

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Popular in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont

This very easy costume — just a tight bodysuit adorned with a skeletal image — is the most searched in 14 states.

Skeletons can be dressed to be scary or more fun, for example, like the two dancing skeletons alongside SNL’s David S. Pumpkins.

Pop Culture: Wednesday Addams

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Popular in: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah, Vermont

Jenna Ortega’s ultimate goth girl — Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s hit show — captured our hearts and the Google searches for her look in 12 states support this.

Of course, you can also rock Christina Ricci’s or Lisa Loring’s version of Wednesday Addams for a more classic look. All you need is all black everything.

Traditional: Ghost

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Popular in: Alaska, Colorado, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Virginia

There is no easier costume than being a ghost. By cutting a few holes in a sheet, everyone will know what you are without having to second guess it.

And, as evidenced across social media, ghosts are even popular costumes for pets.

Pop Culture: Cruella de Vil

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Popular in: Alaska, Wisconsin

Goth looks are definitely in this year, and like Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Addams, Emma Stone’s Cruella de Vil is another popular look with a nod toward 70s/80s subculture.

Costume designer Jenny Beavan said of the look, “The colors for Cruella were clear: black and white with some grey, plus the red for the signature moments.” Any vintage shop will do.

Traditional: Scarecrow

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Popular in: Arkansas

Scarecrows not only, well, scare crows, they scare humans, making them a great Halloween costume.

Creating this look is a no-brainer — all it takes are oversized old clothes, straw, and a bit of face paint, and nothing will come near you or your crops.

Pop Culture: Gwen Stacy

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Popular in: Arizona

In the comic books and in the MCU, Gwen Stacy is Peter Parker’s girlfriend, and her tragic death has a big impact on Spider-Man’s story.

In an alternate universe, however, she’s Spider-Woman and Parker is the one who dies. This version of her and the one that is featured in the animated “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” released this year, is no doubt the one that people in Arizona are looking to for costume inspiration.

Traditional: Cat

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Popular in: Delaware, Utah

Just a couple of ears, a tail and whiskers are all it takes to get your feline on.

You can go for a classic black cat look for a scary or mysterious vibe, or get creative with colorful fur, makeup, and accessories to become a whimsical or fantastical feline character.

Pop Culture: Princess Peach

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Popular in: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, West Virginia

Dressing as a princess has always been popular on Halloween, but this year belongs to Princess Peach of the Mushroom Kingdom, who teams up with the Mario Bros to save her kingdom from Bowser. A simple pink outfit and a sassy but smart attitude are all it takes to achieve this royal look.

Traditional: Vampire

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Popular in: Georgia, Maine, Minnesota, Ohio, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Vampires have been popular fictional characters since Bram Stoker wrote “Dracula.”

From Nosferatu to Bela Lugosi’s Count to the vampires of “What We Do in the Shadows,” there are endless and fun ways to portray the undead.

Pop Culture: Weird Barbie

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Popular in: California, Massachusetts, Missouri, Virginia

“Barbie” was the movie of the year, so you can expect to see several characters from the film this Halloween.

Kate McKinnon’s Weird Barbie — the Barbie that little girls play with too hard — is one such character. All that’s needed is a choppy-haired wig and a few squiggles with face paint. And if you can do the splits, even better!

Traditional: Witch

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Popular in: Hawaii, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire

Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and caldron bubble — it is indeed the Season of the Witch, and witch costumes remain popular in these four states.

Like many of the other costumes on our list, witches can be fun (aka, the Sanderson sisters of “Hocus Pocus”) or terrifying (Bathsheba from “The Conjuring”).

Pop Culture: Harley Quinn

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Popular in: Kentucky, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington

Joker’s girlfriend, Harley Quinn, has been a cosplay mainstay at comic-cons across the country thanks to Margot Robbie’s interpretation of her. (Lady Gaga will introduce her own version in “Joker: Folie a Deux” in 2024.)

In the comic books, Quinn is known for her jester outfit, typically a red and black diamond-patterned bodysuit. In “Suicide Squad,” her most well known outfit is a ripped t-shirt paired with short shorts and fishnets. Don’t forget the baseball bat!

Traditional: Zombie

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Popular in: Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Wyoming

Zombies have had a real resurgence in recent years, thanks to “The Walking Dead” and “The Last of Us,” and are the most-searched costume in five states.

Unlike other costumes on this list, this one really lends itself to a being a multi-person effort, since zombies are known to lumber toward the living in groups.

Pop Culture: Poison Ivy

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Popular in: Louisiana

Poison Ivy hasn’t yet had a resurgence in film or TV like other comic book characters on this list, so it’s unusual to see her as such a popular search in Louisiana, but we can’t deny she has a great look.

Her real name is Dr. Pamela Isley. She’s an eco-terrorist who often clashes with Batman and has the ability to control plants and release toxins. She known for her distinct green skin (or costume) and fiery red hair — she was also played by Uma Thurman in the 1997 movie “Batman & Robin” with George Clooney in his first turn as Batman/Bruce Wayne.

Traditional: Pirate

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Popular in: Illinois, South Carolina, South Dakota

Whether you go as Capt. Jack Sparrow or Blackbeard for Halloween, being a pirate never goes out of style.

Swashbuckle your way from door to door in a white or off-white ruffled shirt, black or brown pants, a belt with a large buckle. Accessorize with a toy sword or dagger, knee-high boots, a bandana, eyepatch, and hoop earrings. Your neighbors will be handing over the candy loot in no time!

Pop Culture: Wonder Woman

Warner Bros. / YouTube

Popular in: New Jersey, South Carolina

Whether you go as the comic book version or Gal Gadot’s character from the DCEU films, as Wonder Woman, you’ll radiate strength and confidence.

Her red, blue and gold costume is eye-catching and instantly recognizable. Plus, Wonder Woman represents female empowerment, so it’s a great way to celebrate strong women and have a fun and meaningful Halloween.

Traditional: Clown

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Popular in: Kansas

Sure, clowns don’t mean to be terrifying, but they absolutely are to many people, particularly in Kansas, where they are the top costume search. However, they can also be cute costumes for toddlers and kids enamored with the circus.

Pop Culture: Catwoman

Barry Brecheisen / AP Photo

Popular in: Pennsylvania

Catwoman is the most widely searched pop-culture costume in Pennsylvania. This confident and alluring character in a skin-tight black outfit and cat-inspired accessories makes for a striking costume.

Whether you’re a fan of hers from comics, TV (as played by 1960s icons Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt) or movies (as played by Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry and Zoe Kravitz) or just want a captivating look, Catwoman is a great costume option.

Traditional: Dog

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Popular in: Tennessee, Washington

Dog costumes are the most searched in two states and can be worn in a variety of ways.

They are especially adorable on smaller children. All you need are floppy ears from felt or fabric, a tail, face paint, and a simple ribbon as a collar. If possible, use mittens or gloves in a matching color for paws.

Pop Culture: Traditional Barbie

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Popular in: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Wyoming

Traditional (or original) Barbie is everywhere this year — she’s the most searched costume in 14 states.

Of course, Margot Robbie’s portrayal of her plays a big part in her popularity, but even as a doll, she’s always been popular because she embodies the idea that women can do anything. She inspires young girls to dream big, believe in themselves and pursue their ambitions, no matter who they are.

Traditional: Angel

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Popular in: North Carolina

North Carolina is the sole state where angel costumes are the most searched.

With a white dress or robe as the basis of the outfit, you can create angel wings by cutting wing shapes from cardboard and covering them with aluminum foil or feathers. Don’t forget the halo!