Every Halloween we go all-in on a matching family costume, and this year’s theme – DIY caveman costumes – was such a blast. The kids got completely into character, and the build was quick, forgiving, and budget-friendly. If you’re after something fun and easy, here’s exactly how we made ours, plus links to the props and accessories we used.
Table of Contents
What You Need for DIY Caveman Costumes
During a trip to my local fabric store, I grabbed a couple of different leopard print fabrics, some plain brown cotton, and a fuzzy fur fabric that matched everything perfectly.
Besides fabric, you’ll need a sharp pair of fabric scissors, some thread, and a sewing machine.
How to Make a Caveman Tunic: Easy DIY Base Layer
For the base layer, I made simple tunics in either leopard print or plain brown for each of us. I started by cutting out a big rectangle wide enough for each person. When you buy fabric off the bolt, it’s already folded in half—keep it that way! On the folded edge, I cut a hole for the head to slip through.
For the sleeves, I tried the tunic on my kid and marked where I wanted the side seams. Then, I cut in from the sides to create the bottom edge of each sleeve.
Next, I trimmed off the extra fabric from the sleeve’s armpit down to the bottom of the tunic.
After flipping the tunic inside out, I sewed a single seam down each side from the bottom of the sleeve to the tunic’s edge.
These costumes are great for letting kids join in—even if the seams aren’t straight, it doesn’t matter at all! That’s the beauty of these DIY caveman costumes; they’re meant to look a little rough.
Finally, I roughed up the edges by cutting tiny triangles along the sleeves and the tunic’s bottom edge. It instantly gave it that perfect rugged caveman look!
Adding the Extra DIY Caveman Costume Details
The tunics alone are adorable, but adding fur pieces to your DIY caveman costume really takes it to the next level. For some family members, I added leg warmers: just a simple rectangle of fur fabric sewn up one side to fit around each leg—super easy!
Then, for a few extra fun pieces, I made a furry over-layer by cutting another rectangle and keeping it folded at the top.
I eyeballed a rounded armhole on one side and made a sweeping cut across the chest and under the arm on the other side. I sewed the sides, flipped it inside out, and trimmed the bottom edge into long triangles for that rugged vibe.
And the fur sash like my older daughter’s in this photo? So simple! Just a strip of fur fabric wrapped around, pinned, and stitched to fit. It was a hit!
These DIY caveman costumes don’t need to be perfect—that’s half the charm! I can’t recommend this enough as a family project. We do a theme every year, and my kids always love getting involved. The rough cuts and uneven seams just add to the look, so don’t stress if everything isn’t perfect!
And there you have it—our family of cavemen! These costumes were quick, easy, and so much fun to make. If you’re considering DIY caveman costumes, don’t overthink it. The more rugged, the better—just go for it!
Here’s a video of the entire process for all you visual learners!
The Finished Cave Family Costumes
This one is a sleeveless look with a black, long-sleeve tee layered underneath. For the eyebrows and the ‘face paint,’ I just used a brown eyeliner pencil. Super easy!
The bone accessories, like the necklaces and hair clips, totally finished off the look for these easy DIY caveman costumes!
My two younger girls skipped the long-sleeved tees, but I got them all some simple black shorts to wear underneath. And they all absolutely loved the jumbo bone props—they really got into character with those!
How cute did this baby DIY caveman costume turn out?! And that unibrow? It was all so good! I originally made him a solid brown tunic to wear under the leopard print layer, but I loved the look of just the leopard print. Plus, the weather was perfect for our Trunk or Treat, so it worked out great! This caveman club prop was super fun too.
For my husband Stuart’s costume, he totally looked the part with this awesome caveman wig and beard combo. For my hair and the girls’, I teased it to be big, poofy, and messy, then added the bone hair clips. We both finished off our DIY caveman costumes with these cool, fake animal tooth necklaces.
I loved this year’s family Halloween costume! The DIY caveman costumes turned out so good, and it was definitely one of the easiest years for sure!
Links to Accessories
Need more fun, Halloween ideas? Here’s a tutorial for these viral, light-up porch ghosts, and details for all of my interior Halloween decor.
📌 Save This Idea for Later
Pin now and come back when you’re planning your next family costume for Halloween!
DIY Caveman Costume FAQs
For a DIY caveman costume, you’ll need leopard print or brown fabric, faux fur fabric, scissors, thread, and a sewing machine. Accessories like bone necklaces or club props complete the look.
Start with a tunic by cutting a folded fabric rectangle with a head hole. Sew simple side seams, trim the edges, and add rough cuts to give it a rugged look.
Furry leg warmers, animal tooth necklaces, bone hair clips, and a caveman wig can add character, giving the outfit a realistic, fun flair.
Yes! This costume is forgiving of rough cuts and uneven seams, making it a great beginner DIY project.
