How much does a custom costume cost?

A simple dress or tunic runs $150–300. Fitted bodice and skirt sets run $400–800, structured coats $500–1,000, and full period ensembles $1,200–2,500. Mascots start near $1,500. Fabric, fit and embellishment set the price. See the price guide for the full table.

How do I measure for a costume?

Take height, bust or chest, waist, hips, shoulder width, sleeve length, nape to waist and inseam. Wear the underlayers you will use on the day and ask someone to hold the tape. The price guide lists every measurement and how to take it.

Can a maker work from a photo?

Yes, if the photo shows the garment clearly. Add a back view and any detail shots. A maker can copy a look from a photo but cannot see inside the seams, so expect questions about fabric and construction.

Can I get a costume in under four weeks?

Sometimes. Simple dresses and tunics can be done in two to three weeks. Rush work costs 30–50% more and some makers will decline. Post as early as you can and state the hard deadline in the brief.

Who owns the pattern?

Unless the brief says otherwise, the maker keeps the pattern and you own the finished costume. If you need the pattern for reuse or replacements, agree that in writing before the bid is accepted. Expect a fee.

Can I pay for alterations instead of a new costume?

Yes. Post the garment, what needs to change and photos of it worn. Alterations usually cost a quarter to half of a new build. Some rental or thrifted pieces are worth altering; others are cheaper to remake.

Can one maker do a whole cast?

Often, yes. A cast of 12 usually costs 15–30% less per costume than single orders. Give sizes for everyone, tell the maker if costumes are identical, and allow extra weeks for fittings. Large casts can also be split between makers.

How do I wash a custom costume?

Ask the maker for care notes with the delivery. Cotton and poly-blends can usually be washed cold and hung to dry. Velvet, silk, boned garments and anything beaded should be spot cleaned or dry cleaned. Mascot heads are spot cleaned only.

How hiring a costume maker works

Four steps. The platform holds your payment until you confirm delivery.

From brief to opening night

Post your briefWhat you need made, the occasion, the date, your measurements or the cast list, and a budget range.
Compare bidsMakers reply with a price and a timeline. Check their profiles, completed jobs and reviews before you pick.
Accept and payPay by card through Stripe. The platform holds the payment and releases it to the maker only when you confirm delivery.
Fit, receive and releaseThe maker can post progress photos in the app. When it arrives and you confirm delivery, the payment is released to the maker.

Theatre · dance · mascots · events

Give them something a rental rack can't.

Theatre, dance, mascots, historical, kids' events. One brief, several makers bidding, payment held until delivery. No minimums, no six-week factory lead times.

Post your brief →

You're early, not late

$4.9Bglobal Halloween costume market, 2024

4.3%annual growth forecast to 2031

$3.3Btheatrical costume market, 2026

Market figures are industry estimates (HTF Market Intelligence, 2024; Research and Markets, 2026).

Why post on The Spool List instead of a DM

Payment held until delivery

You pay when you accept a bid. The platform holds the payment and releases it to the maker when you confirm delivery.

Makers compete for you

Post once and verified makers can send quotes. Compare price, turnaround, reviews and past work before you choose.

No buyer fee on top

You pay the maker's quoted price. No platform fee is added on top for buyers.

Reviews from real orders

Reviews are tied to completed orders, so ratings come from buyers who actually ordered.

No design? No problem

Need a design first? Post that too: CAD, STL repair, vector conversion or 3D scanning. Makers who offer it can quote.

Dispute resolution

Something wrong? Open a dispute in the app. Unresolved disputes are reviewed by The Spool List.

Every job on The Spool List has a written scope. If you asked for a lined wool coat with hand-finished buttonholes, that is what the maker agreed to build.

On longer jobs the maker can post milestone updates with photos, so you see progress before anything ships. The payment itself is released in one go, when you confirm delivery.

If a costume stalls or arrives wrong, the dispute process reviews the scope, the photos and the messages. A private message thread cannot offer that.