Dog Halloween costume sizing and the order-by date

Costume sizes are the least standard sizes in the dog world, and a costume that does not fit on the night is a costume for next year. One thing fixes most of it: measure before you order, so a wrong size never ships. Everything below is the actual chart for each of our five costumes, including which measurement each one uses, because they are not all the same.

Measure three things

Chest girth at the widest point behind the front legs. Neck where a collar sits. Head circumference at the widest point, usually just in front of the ears, for anything that goes on the head. Soft tape, dog standing, two fingers of room. Between sizes on any chart below, go up: a loose costume stays on for the photo; a tight one comes off in the hallway.

The Tiny Rider: chest and neck

The Tiny Rider is a plush rider (an outlaw, a reaper, a black cat on a pumpkin, or a jockey) on a vest that slips over the head and fastens under the belly. The vest decides the size.

The ranges overlap on purpose. A 19 in chest fits S, M or L, and the neck breaks the tie: an 18 in neck is an L.

The Good Dog Gone Bad: small dogs and cats

The Good Dog Gone Bad is a striped shirt and overalls with plush arms and a very soft plush knife, plus a red wig. It slips over the head and fastens underneath, and it is cut small.

Note the gap between L (15.7 in chest) and XL (19.7 in). A dog with a 17 in chest is an XL. Anything over 20 in should look at the Tiny Rider or the Most Wanted instead.

The Most Wanted: chest and neck, S to XL

The Most Wanted is a pullover striped top with plush arms holding a blank mugshot placard you write on. It runs S to XL for small to medium dogs. Measure chest and neck, pick the size on the product page, and size up between sizes. Because the arms and placard hang at the front, the neck opening sitting comfortably is what keeps the "standing up for a mugshot" effect straight.

Sister Mary Barks-a-Lot: head and neck

Sister Mary Barks-a-Lot is a hooded veil and a white bib with a cross, in S, M and L, for small to medium dogs and cats. This one is sized by the head and the neck, not the chest: the veil frames the face and the bib sits at the collar. Measure head circumference and neck, and between sizes go up so the hood sits back rather than over the eyes.

The King of the Jungle Mane: one size, head up to 29 in

The King of the Jungle Mane is a faux-fur lion mane that fastens under the chin, made for medium to large dogs such as retrievers, labs and shepherds. There is no S/M/L; the measurement to check is head circumference, up to about 29 in. The mane itself is about 15 by 15 in. Choose golden or chestnut, with or without the felt ears.

Over the head, or not

Dogs that dislike pullovers have fewer options here than with coats: the Tiny Rider, the Good Dog Gone Bad, the Most Wanted and Sister Mary all go on over the head. The Mane does not; it fastens under the chin. For a reluctant dog, put the costume on for ten seconds the day it arrives, treat, take it off, and repeat a few times before the night itself.

Ordering now

Costumes ship in 1 to 2 business days and usually arrive 4 to 9 business days after that. The order-by date for Halloween has passed, so an order placed now arrives after Halloween: it is ready for next year's photos and parties, and for any dress-up day before then. The product page shows an "order today, arrives" date range so you can see where you stand. US shipping is free on every order, and returns are accepted for 60 days, as set out on Shipping & Returns.

Questions

Is there a size chart by breed?

No, and we would not trust one. A 20 lb dog can have a 16 in chest or a 21 in chest. The tape measure takes a minute and is right every time.

What if it arrives and does not fit?

Return it within 60 days for a refund and order the next size.

Can my cat wear these?

The Good Dog Gone Bad and Sister Mary are both listed for cats as well as small dogs; use the same chest, neck and head measurements.