Want a spooky Halloween decoration without spending a fortune? This DIY Halloween witch decoration is ridiculously easy to make using black garbage bags, a witch hat, and a few basic supplies you may already have at home.
Make one witch for your front porch or create an entire group for a creepy Halloween witch yard display. They’re inexpensive, easy to customize, and look especially fun surrounded by pumpkins, fall leaves, lanterns, or Halloween lights.
Best of all, you don’t need to be an expert crafter to make them!
Easy DIY Garbage Bag Witch
If you’ve ever wondered how to make a witch for Halloween, this is one of the easiest methods I’ve tried.
The black garbage bag creates the witch’s flowing body, while a simple hat instantly gives her that unmistakable witchy look. Make yours creepy, cute, colorful… or create several witches with completely different personalities.
Difficulty: Easy
Time: About 10–15 minutes
Best for: Porches, covered outdoor displays, Halloween parties and yard decorations
Tip: If you’re displaying your witch outside, keep her in a covered or protected area when possible and secure lightweight pieces so the wind doesn’t carry your witch—and her fabulous hat—into the neighbor’s yard. 😂
Supplies You’ll Need
Gather these supplies before you start:
- Large black garbage bags
- Newspaper, old clothing, plastic bags or other lightweight stuffing
- Witch hat
- Twine, zip ties or strong string
- Tape
- Scissors
- Garden stake, broomstick or long sturdy stick, if needed for support
- Optional wig, ribbon, fabric, faux spiders or other Halloween accessories
A multipack of inexpensive witch hats is also useful if you’re planning to make three or more witches for a larger display.
👉 Grab some heavy-duty black garbage bags here — the larger size works best for creating a fuller witch.
How to Make a Witch for Halloween
Once you have your supplies, it’s time to bring your witch to life.
Step 1: Make the Witch’s Head
Start by stuffing a smaller section of a black garbage bag with newspaper, old fabric, plastic grocery bags or another lightweight material.
Shape the stuffing into a round head.
Gather the bag underneath the head and secure it tightly with twine, string or a zip tie.
Don’t worry about making it perfect. A slightly lumpy witch may actually be more fun.
Step 2: Create the Witch’s Body
Place the head over the top of a sturdy garden stake, broomstick or long stick.
Secure it so it won’t slide off.
Next, drape a large black garbage bag over the support to create the witch’s body and long black dress.
If you want a fuller witch, lightly stuff the upper portion of the bag.
For an outdoor display, push the stake securely into the ground or place the witch somewhere protected where she can remain upright.
Step 3: Shape the Witch’s Dress
Let the bottom of the garbage bag hang loosely to create the appearance of a long witch’s dress.
You can leave the bottom straight or carefully cut uneven strips along the edge for a ragged, spooky look.
Want her to look like she’s floating?
Leave some extra black material around the bottom and allow it to drape across the ground.
Step 4: Add the Witch Hat
Now comes the part that makes the whole thing work… the hat!
Place a witch hat over the top of the head and secure it with tape, string or another hidden fastener if necessary.
Try different hat styles if you’re creating several witches. Purple, black, spiderweb, striped and glittery hats can make each one look completely different.
Step 5: Give Your Witch Some Personality
This is where you can get creative.
Add things like:
- A wig or yarn hair
- Purple ribbon
- Faux spiders
- A broom
- Halloween lights
- A scarf
- Plastic skeleton hands
- A cauldron
- A funny sign
You could even give each witch her own color or personality.
For a creepier Halloween display, keep the face hidden underneath the hat and let the dark silhouette do the work.
How to Make a Group of Halloween Witches
One witch is cute.
Three witches plotting something in your yard? Even better.
Make several witches in different heights and arrange them in a small circle.
Place a plastic cauldron in the center and position the witches around it as though they’re brewing a mysterious potion.
You could add orange or purple battery-operated lights inside or underneath the cauldron for a nighttime glow.
Another fun idea is to arrange your witches near pumpkins and then add one of our Halloween pumpkin games nearby if you’re decorating for a Halloween party.
Where to Display Your DIY Witches
Your homemade witches can work in several places around your home.
Try displaying them:
- On a covered front porch
- Near your front door
- Along a walkway
- In a garden
- Around a Halloween cauldron
- Near pumpkins
- As part of a Halloween party backdrop
- In a covered outdoor Halloween display
If you’re hosting a party, they also make an inexpensive backdrop for photos.
Pair them with some of our Halloween party ideas for adults and suddenly you’ve got an entire theme going.
Easy Ways to Make Your Witch Display Even Better
Once you’ve made the basic witch, a few extra details can make the display look much more impressive.
Add lighting. Place battery-operated orange or purple lights around the witches for a spooky nighttime effect.
Surround them with pumpkins. Different sizes and colors of pumpkins make an inexpensive witch display look much fuller.
Add a cauldron. Position the witches around a Halloween cauldron and add lights inside for a fake bubbling-potion effect.
Give them brooms. Lean inexpensive witch brooms against the figures or place one beside each witch.
Create a witch gathering. Three or five witches grouped together usually make a bigger visual impact than one standing alone.
And if you’re throwing a Halloween party, don’t stop at the decorations. Add one of these fun Halloween party games to keep everyone entertained.
Make a Cute Witch or a Spooky Witch
Another thing I love about this Halloween DIY is how easy it is to change the vibe.
For a cute Halloween witch, use purple accents, colorful hats, bows, pumpkins and string lights.
For a spooky witch decoration, stick with black hats, ragged edges, skeleton hands, creepy lighting and darker accessories.
You could even make a whole witch family with different heights and hats.
More Halloween DIY and Party Ideas
Once your witches are ready, keep the Halloween fun going!
Serve some Halloween-themed food ideas alongside your decorations, or make a batch of these fun Halloween cookiesfor your party table.
If games are more your thing, try our Halloween Eyeball Game or browse these Halloween party ideas for adults for even more ways to turn your Halloween celebration into something memorable.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes the best Halloween decorations are the ones you make yourself.
These DIY garbage bag witches are inexpensive, customizable and easy enough to make without spending an entire afternoon crafting. Make one for your porch or create a whole group of witches for a Halloween yard display.
Add some pumpkins, a cauldron and glowing lights, and you’ve got a Halloween decoration that looks like you put in way more effort than you actually did.
Happy haunting! 🎃🧙♀️
how cute!
I’m not very savvy when it comes to creativity. However, this looks fun and easy!
This looks like a fantastic idea. Thanks for sharing.
Very fun idea. Thanks for sharing