The boo basket is one of my favorite traditions every Halloween season. My kids are big Halloween fans, so I love coming up with new boo basket ideas every year — and bringing out seasonal favorites! It’s also a fun way to kick off the spooky festivities and get everyone into the Halloween spirit.
In this post, you’ll find ideas to create a cute and spooky basket for Halloween — plus tips for keeping it simple and low-cost.
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What is a Boo Basket?
A boo basket is a cute Halloween-themed gift basket filled with items to enjoy all season long. We do so much planning as parents that sometimes it feels like the actual day we’re getting ready to celebrate goes by super quickly. So I am all for stretching out holidays to be as long as possible!
That being said, I want to remind you that you shouldn’t feel any pressure to do anything extra! Personally, it’s just as fun for me to put together the basket as it is for my daughters to get it. Similar to filling an Easter basket or a Christmas stocking, a boo basket is just one way you can make the holiday feel a little more magical.
Here are a few more reasons why I like this Halloween tradition:
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They’re a great Halloween alternative to candy. It can be so easy to snack on Halloween candy before the holiday is even here, leading to sugar overload. With a boo basket, you can focus on fun treats and activities that engage your kids — and practical items that will get a lot of use.
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You can customize them for your kids. If your kid can’t have certain candy or doesn’t enjoy trick-or-treating, a spooky basket ensures they don’t miss out on any Halloween fun. Plus you have complete control over it, so you can add the gifts and goodies you know they’ll love.
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They bring your family together. Halloween is more than just candy and costumes. Whether it’s reading Halloween books together, playing a game, or doing our nails, I like to add items that encourage special family moments and meaningful memories.
Tips for a Budget-Friendly Boo Basket
There are many ways to keep your boo baskets simple and affordable, so they don’t feel like yet another overwhelming task or something you have to spend a lot of money on.
Here are a few ideas to help:
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Repurpose items from previous years. I purposely put away anything seasonal, like Halloween-themed toys, books, or accessories, and then bring them out for the holiday. Not only does this save money, but it also adds a bit of nostalgia to the basket. My girls usually forget what I’ve stored and get excited to see their Halloween favorites!
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Focus on a few fun items and practical gifts. Your kids don’t need a ton of stuff to enjoy the holiday. And your basket doesn’t need to look a certain way. Instead of buying everything new or filling your basket with items that won’t last long, you can repurpose containers and choose meaningful, purposeful gifts.
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Buy in bulk. Sometimes you don’t want a ton of one thing, but buying larger packs can help you save money in the long run. I recommend buying in bulk if you have more than one kid or want to create multiple gift baskets. You can also save items for the following year.
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Look for freebies and sales. Check online for free printables and coloring pages, DIY craft ideas, and other Halloween freebies. You can also snag stuff on sale closer to the holiday — or buy it the day after and save it for next time.
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Make it more personal. DIY items can be cheaper and make your basket feel more unique. For example, you can add homemade treats or baked goods, create your own Halloween craft kit, or make your own play-doh.
Boo Basket Ideas
The key to creating a boo basket is balancing fun, practical, and reusable items that make the season extra special for your family. I always aim to include items that can be enjoyed year after year, creating long-lasting memories without cluttering the house with one-use items.
Here are some of my favorite ideas to help you create a spooky basket.
Bath & Body
If your kids love bath time, these Halloween gifts will make it even more fun. Nail polish is also an easy addition to your basket, especially if you want to have a Halloween-themed spa day.
Halloween Bath Bombs: My kids love bath bombs! These smell great, turn the water orange (without leaving any residue on the tub), and they each have a cute toy hidden inside.
Halloween Bath Toys: Little ones will love playing with this cute set of bath toys for Halloween — plus they’re mold-free.
Halloween Nail Art Stickers: These stickers are easy to add to nails — with or without nail polish — and are super cute for Halloween.
Nail Polish: Festive nails for the holidays are always fun! My girls love this bright orange nail polish and black nail polish for Halloween. Piggy Paint polish is also a great option for younger kids.
Activity Books
These Halloween gift ideas give the kids something interactive to do throughout the season, and I love the added bonus of keeping them entertained.
Halloween Coloring Book: The pictures in this book are simple and big, making it an easy coloring book for little kids.
How to Draw Halloween Stuff: Perfect for beginners! This book shows you step-by-step how to draw pumpkins, witches, and more.
Halloween Sticker Book: This book includes 500+ stickers, 12 scenes, and 12 coloring pages. Plus it’s binded so all the sheets stay together.
Paint by Sticker Kids Halloween: Perfect for ages 5+, this booklet makes it easy to create (and frame) some spooky scenes for Halloween. We also love Color with Stickers.
Halloween Hidden Pictures: This is a fun Halloween activity for kids, plus it helps build concentration and focus.
Halloween Mad Libs: This is a gift that never gets old — and it’s a great way to build language skills. My girls also love Trick-or-Treat Mad Libs.
Books
Books are a must-have! Whether it's a classic Halloween tale or a new spooky story, it’s always nice to cozy up with a seasonal read. As soon as Halloween is over, I put the books away so they feel extra special when I bring them out again.
Weird but True Halloween: Do your kids love to learn (and share) new facts? This book includes 300 facts about Halloween candy, costumes, and more.
Spooktacular Jokes & Riddles: Fun for ages 6+, this book includes 250+ jokes, riddles, and puns.
Halloween Books: There are so many good ones to include! Here’s a full list of my kids’ favorite Halloween books from over the years.
Creative Ideas
I love Halloween gifts that encourage self-expression, creativity, and imagination. As a bonus, they help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Plus they’re all mess-free!
Halloween Play-Doh: Fun for boo baskets and trick-or-treaters! This set includes 15 containers of Play-Doh in six different Halloween colors.
Crayola Light-Ups Re-Colorable Ghost: This fun Halloween toy includes three washable markers for kids to get creative, and it lights up in three different colors.
Halloween Chalk: Perfect for creating sidewalk art that adds to your Halloween decorations. Kids can draw with chalk during the day, then watch it glow in the dark at night!
Magnetic Glow Doodle Tiles: Do your kids love magnetic tiles? Get them a glow-in-the-dark set that they can draw on.
Halloween Scratch Art: A fun (and mess-free) paper craft for kids! This set includes 24 pumpkins for kids to draw on and display.
Halloween Temporary Tattoos: Temporary tattoos are always a win! This set includes 360 designs that glow in the dark after absorbing sunlight.
Games
We bring these games out on the first so my kids can enjoy them all month long. I like adding something to their basket that’s fun for the whole family, plus it’s a great screen-free activity.
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza (Halloween Edition): This is one of my kids’ favorite games — with a spooky twist for Halloween!
Halloween Go Fish: This deck features cute Halloween characters that kids can easily identify.
Uno Harry Potter: UNO is one of our favorite games! Plus we love Harry Potter, so this version gets brought out every Halloween.
Hair Accessories
Seasonal accessories are a fun way for kids to switch up their regular day-to-day outfits and get into the holiday spirit. If you pack away your seasonal stuff like I do, you can bring the same Halloween accessories out every year instead of buying something new.
Bat Hair Bow Clips: The perfect accessory for Halloween! Kids can wear these just for fun or add them to a costume.
Halloween Hair Bow: This pumpkin and candy corn bow is super cute, or you can choose from several other Halloween prints.
Cat Ears Headband: Fun for daily wear, a Halloween costume, or a Halloween party.
Knotted Halloween Headband: My kids love these headbands! They’re well made and have lots of pretty Halloween patterns to choose from.
More Ideas on What to Include:
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Trick-or-Treating Basket
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Craft kits
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Stuffies or squishies
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Slime
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Bubbles
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Mini pumpkins (to paint)
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Halloween finger puppets
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Pajamas
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Halloween socks
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Cute room decor
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Homemade goodies
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Seasonal snacks and drinks
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Glow sticks
You can also find more ideas on my Halloween Amazon page.
FAQ: Boo Baskets
Are boo baskets just for kids?
I wrote this post for parents who want boo basket ideas — but you can create a Halloween basket for anyone! No matter how old you are, it’s always fun to get a thoughtful gift over the holidays from a friend, relative, neighbor, or coworker.
What are some boo basket suggestions for adults?
Some of the ideas above work well for adults too, like nail polish, bath bombs, and a spooky book. You could also add a fall-scented candle, a Halloween mug with cocoa, seasonal goodies, a fall-themed puzzle, and a mini pumpkin.
Where do you shop for boo basket ideas?
Mostly Amazon and Target. But I also love Etsy and Anthropologie. With three kids and a packed schedule, it’s usually easier for me to shop online. Plus I typically find better deals that way.
How do you keep a boo basket budget-friendly?
As fun as it can be to browse stores, you can usually find things online for cheaper since there are no overhead costs. You can also check out the dollar sections of stores, buy larger packs to split items up between baskets (or save them for next year), or focus on practical items that can be used past Halloween.
What do you use for the basket?
You could use a Halloween basket — or any regular basket will work! You could also use a tote bag, wooden crate, or storage bin.
When should I gift a boo basket?
You can gift boo baskets any time in October. Personally I want my kids to get as much use out of the items inside as they can, so I put everything into one basket and set it out on October 1st.
Do you make multiple baskets?
I just do one family basket for all three girls to enjoy. My kids are close in age, so they share a lot of the items and do the activities together.
More Halloween Fun
Looking for more Halloween family fun? Check out these blog posts:
I'd love to hear how your family celebrates Halloween — just share with me in the comments below!
