If you are looking for an easy, last-minute Halloween costume, this is it! All you need is some duct tape and a white shirt and pants. While this prisoner costume will probably be favored by boys this Halloween more than girls, it works for either one!

Prisoner Costume from Duct Tape

A prisoner costume is one of the most common Halloween costumes out there. There are lots of ways to dress it up too. I’m going to show you how to make a ball and chain, but you can also paint your child’s face to give them a beard and even a few bruises.

Here’s what you will need:

• White shirt (one size larger than what your child normally wears)
• White pants
• Black and white duct tape
• Black marker
• Cutting mat and craft knife

You can either buy a ball-and-chain or make one yourself using the supplies below:

• Soccer ball
• Black and silver duct tape

Accessorize your prisoner costume with:

• Plastic chain and cuffs (for wrists)
• Face paint to create a mustache and beard

PRINTABLE INSTRUCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THIS POST

Here’s how to make your prisoner costume:

Measure and cut a 6-inch long piece of white duct tape. Use a black marker to write “No. 47952” (or choose your own number).

Place the shirt flat on the work surface. Lift the prisoner number off the cutting mat and stick it to the front of the shirt.

Start making the stripes on the white shirt using black duct tape, covering the edges of the prisoner number in the process. Continue adding stripes to the front of the shirt until done.

Turn the shirt over and using the same process as the front, write “DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS” on a white piece of tape. Stick it to the back of the shirt and repeat the striping process, lining up with the stripes on the front.

Repeat the striping process on the pants.

Measure out a piece of tape the length of your cutting mat. Lift the tape and turn it upside down, sticky side up. Fold the bottom third of the tape up onto itself.

Fold the top third down, making a strip with no sticky edges remaining. Cut this strip in half. Repeat for however many chain links you would like to use.

Cover a soccer ball completely with black duct tape.

Take one of the strips and tape it into a ring, creating the first chain link. Use black duct tape to attach it to the soccer ball. Use several pieces to ensure a strong hold.

Continue adding links, taping them together as you go.

To make the ankle cuff, measure out a piece of black tape the full length of your cutting mat. Measure a second piece above that, overlapping the first by about 1/4-inch, attaching them together. Lift off the mat and turn upside down. Fold in thirds in the same way as you did the chain links. Wrap around child’s ankle, tape together then attach a final chain link to the ankle cuff and chain.

And there you have it! A duct (or Duck!) tape prisoner costume in about half an hour. Who say procrastination is a bad thing!?

I’ll show you how to make this spiderweb costume from duct tape too! Be sure to check out my book, Duct Tape Mania, filled with lots of duct tape craft ideas.

Make sure to check out this duct tape pirate costume and this duct tape skeleton costume too!

Print Project

4.80 from 5 votes

Prisoner Costume

Author: Amanda Formaro

Supplies

• White shirt one size larger than what your child normally wears
• White pants
• Black silver and white duct tape
• Black marker
• Cutting mat and craft knife
• Soccer ball
• Plastic hand cuffs with chain
• Face paint

Instructions

• Measure and cut a 6-inch long piece of white duct tape. Use a black marker to write "No. 47952" (or choose your own number).
• Place the shirt flat on the work surface. Lift the prisoner number off the cutting mat and stick it to the front of the shirt.
• Start making the stripes on the white shirt using black duct tape, covering the edges of the prisoner number in the process. Continue adding stripes to the front of the shirt until done.
• Turn the shirt over and using the same process as the front, write "DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS" on a white piece of tape. Stick it to the back of the shirt and repeat the striping process, lining up with the stripes on the front. Repeat the striping process on the pants.
• Cover a soccer ball completely with black duct tape. Set aside while you make the chain.
• Measure out a piece of tape the length of your cutting mat. Lift the tape and turn it upside down, sticky side up. Fold the bottom third of the tape up onto itself.
• Fold the top third down, making a strip with no sticky edges remaining. Cut this strip in half. Repeat for however many chain links you would like to use.
• Take one of the strips and tape it into a ring, creating the first chain link. Use black duct tape to attach it to the soccer ball. Use several pieces to ensure a strong hold. Continue adding links, taping them together as you go.
• To make the ankle cuff, measure out a piece of black tape the full length of your cutting mat. Measure a second piece above that, overlapping the first by about 1/4-inch, attaching them together. Lift off the mat and turn upside down. Fold in thirds in the same way as you did the chain links. Wrap around child's ankle, tape together then attach a final chain link to the ankle cuff and chain.

I originally created this costume in 2014 for Menards via Chicago Tribune.