Halloween is right around the corner, and whether you’re celebrating with friends, family or just want to throw a fun party for the kids, Halloween printables are one of the easiest ways to get festive: you download a file, print it at home and cut it out. No special skills or big budget required. So I went looking for the best designs out there, and you’ll find even more seasonal ideas in my Halloween decor section.
Table decor, treat bags, home decorations, invitations… below you’ll find a whole collection of files to print and celebrate Halloween, each linked to its original creator. Before we get to them, I’m sharing a few practical tips on paper, printing and display so your printables look their best, plus ideas for doing them with kids. If you enjoy paper crafts, my DIY projects are full of easy ideas too. Let me know which ones you’d try!
Contents
1. How to print Halloween printables like a pro
2. Placemats, food labels and party packs to dress the Halloween table
3. Haunted house boxes and bags for trick-or-treaters
4. Garlands, candle wraps and potion labels to decorate the house
5. Invitations that set a spooky tone before the party
6. Easy ways to style printables around the house
7. Halloween printable activities to do with kids
How to print Halloween printables like a pro
A printable is only as good as the way you print it. Most files are downloaded as PDFs or high-resolution images from the creator’s site, so always grab the file from the original source (I’ve linked each one below) and check the creator’s terms: the vast majority are offered for personal use only.
- Check the paper size: many designs are made for US Letter (8.5 x 11 inches), but some come in A4. Pick the matching size in your print settings and choose “actual size” rather than “fit to page” when exact dimensions matter (boxes, wraps, labels).
- Use the best quality setting: select “high” or “best” quality, especially for designs with large black areas, which can look streaky on draft mode.
- Print a test page first: run one copy on plain paper to check colors, margins and sizing before using your nicer paper.
- No printer? No problem: most office supply and copy shops can print your files on cardstock for a small fee.
Cardstock, matte or glossy: picking the right paper
Plain paper is fine for coloring pages, but anything that needs to stand up, fold or hold candy calls for cardstock, around 65–80 lb cover (check your printer’s maximum weight). Matte is easiest to write on, glossy makes colors pop but shows fingerprints, and sticker paper is perfect for labels. Ink isn’t food-safe, so keep candy wrapped, and feed heavy sheets one at a time or use a print shop.
Placemats, food labels and party packs to dress the Halloween table
To start, here’s a series of printables to dress up your Halloween table. I loved these designs, and they work for little ones and grown-ups alike! For more ideas to complete the look, check out my Halloween table decorations.
1. A cream skull-shaped placemat beside a bat-topped plate and a cheesecloth runner © The Proper Blog
See the tutorial on The Proper Blog
A printed placemat is an instant way to set a themed table. If you want it to survive spills and sticky fingers, have it laminated or slip it under a clear acrylic sheet.
2. A black and white banner, kraft treat boxes and blank food tent cards © Hawthorne and Main
See the tutorial on Hawthorne and Main
3. A Happy Halloween banner, a bat-winged cake topper and “Boo” cupcake toppers © Etsy
Black and white designs are the easiest to print at home and look striking against orange pumpkins or candles, while colorful packs bring a playful party vibe that kids love.
4. Witch hats, black cats and coral treat boxes from a witchy paper kit © Allo Maman Dodo
See the tutorial on Allo Maman Dodo
To make the most of a party printable pack, choose one or two key pieces for each part of the table rather than using everything at once: a centerpiece banner, cupcake toppers on the dessert stand, food labels near the buffet, and place cards at each seat. Keeping the rest of the table simple, with solid plates, a plain runner and a few pumpkins, lets the printed designs stand out instead of competing with each other.
5. Dotted mini pumpkins, confetti and a black “Boo” garland on a white table © Little Big Bell
See the tutorial on Little Big Bell
Food labels and tent cards are especially handy for a buffet. Give each dish a spooky name (kids love naming the punch or the dip) and write it on a folded card. It’s fun for guests and also practical, since it helps people with allergies know what they’re eating if you list the main ingredients underneath.
Haunted house boxes and bags for trick-or-treaters
Looking for cute bags to hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters ringing your doorbell? Here are my favorite printables to make treat bags and boxes the kids will love!
6. Black haunted-house boxes with glowing gold windows and bats on the roof © Bright Side Ideas
See the tutorial on Bright Side Ideas
7. Polka dot and striped paper bags sealed with round Halloween stickers © Damask Love
See the tutorial on Damask Love
8. Clear candy bags clipped shut with black “Boo” toppers and googly eyes © Burkatron
9. Pillow boxes printed with ghosts, bats and “Happy Halloween” in black and white © Bird’s Party
See the tutorial on Bird’s Party
10. Kraft, black and vellum bags lettered “Ghost Treats” and “Bugs + Hisses” © Oh So Beautiful Paper
See the tutorial on Oh So Beautiful Paper
Treat bags also make great party favors. Fill them with a few candies, some stickers, a mini coloring page or a small toy, and line them up on a tray by the door so each guest can grab one on the way out. If you’re handing out treats to trick-or-treaters, consider adding a few non-food goodies, like pencils or glow sticks, for kids with food allergies. Some families take part in the Teal Pumpkin Project by placing a teal pumpkin by the door to signal that allergy-friendly treats are available.
Folding and filling your treat bags without fuss
- Print boxes and bags on cardstock so they hold their shape once filled.
- Score fold lines with a ruler and a dry ballpoint pen or bone folder before folding for crisp edges.
- Use a glue stick or double-sided tape rather than liquid glue, which can warp the paper.
- Fill them with individually wrapped, store-bought candy only, and keep allergies in mind if you’re handing them out to other kids.
Garlands, candle wraps and potion labels to decorate the house
Halloween is also about decorating your home. To help you add a spooky touch to your space, I’ve picked printables I absolutely loved! Pair them with my DIY Halloween decorations for a fully festive house.
11. A lit paper haunted house with ghost chimneys and paper trick-or-treaters © Merrilee Liddiard
See the tutorial on Merrilee Liddiard
12. Mini pumpkins dipped in hot pink and decorated with eye tattoos © The Proper Blog
See the tutorial on The Proper Blog
Decorating pumpkins with printed or temporary-tattoo designs is a great no-carve option for younger kids. For even more ideas, see my DIY pumpkin ideas.
13. Votives wrapped in pink spider and black cat paper sleeves © Make and Tell
See the tutorial on Make and Tell
Safety note: paper is flammable, so wrap paper only around the outside of glass votive holders and use battery-operated LED tea lights inside rather than real flames.
14. Labels like Snake Venom and Witch’s Brew on bottles of colored potions © The Beauty Dojo
See the tutorial on The Beauty Dojo
15. Little white ghosts with surprised faces strung on twine © In Two Homes
See the tutorial on In Two Homes
How to make and hang a printable garland
Garlands are one of the most satisfying printables to make. Print the shapes on cardstock, cut them out (kids can help with simple shapes), then punch two small holes at the top of each piece and thread them onto twine, baker’s twine or ribbon. Space them evenly and secure each one with a dab of tape on the back so they don’t slide together. Hang your garland with removable hooks or painter’s tape to protect your walls, across a mantel, a window, a doorway or the front of a table.
Framing printables for an easy seasonal update
Any graphic printable can become wall art. Slip it into frames you already own, swapping out your usual prints for the season, and group two or three on a shelf or console with a few mini pumpkins. Leave a white mat around a smaller design to make it look more finished. When November comes, simply swap back: zero damage, zero cost.
Invitations that set a spooky tone before the party
Finally, I hunted down the prettiest printable Halloween invitations from the best creative sites around the web! Take a look, and you’ll surely find the right invitation for your party.
16. Folded like an envelope, this black cat invitation hides the party details © Instants Papiers
See the tutorial on Instants Papiers
17. A sugar skull mask crowned with bright paper flowers © Sweet Party Day
See the tutorial on Sweet Party Day
18. A jointed skeleton invitation slipped out of a black envelope © Martha Stewart
19. Gray envelopes crawling with black spiders around the party invitation © Martha Stewart
See the tutorial on Martha Stewart
Send invitations about two to three weeks before the party so guests have time to plan costumes. Print them on cardstock, write in the details by hand if the design has blank lines, and tuck them into black or orange envelopes for an extra festive touch.
Easy ways to style printables around the house
Once your files are printed, the fun part is deciding where they go. A few well-placed printables can make a whole room feel festive without buying a single new decoration.
- Front door and entryway: tape a printable sign or a short garland to the inside of a glass door or window so it’s protected from rain and wind.
- Mantel or console: combine a ghost or bat garland with framed prints, candles (flameless) and a few small pumpkins for a layered vignette.
- Bar cart or kitchen counter: label bottles and jars with potion labels and set out treat boxes for guests to grab on the way out.
- Kids’ rooms: let children choose a few designs to hang with washi tape on their door or above their desk.
- Windows: print silhouettes like bats, cats or spiders on black cardstock, cut them out and tape them to the glass for a spooky effect from outside at night.
Mix printables with kraft paper and simple supplies
Printables look even better when you pair them with inexpensive basics: kraft paper or black paper as a table runner, orange and black baker’s twine, washi tape, small clothespins and mini pumpkins. Keep the palette consistent, for example black, white and orange, so your printed pieces from different creators look like they belong together. If one design is in full color, use it as the focal point and keep everything around it more neutral.
Print early and avoid the last-minute ink crisis
Ink and cardstock tend to run out at the worst moment, so print everything a few days before the party. Cut and assemble boxes and garlands in one session, and store finished pieces flat in a folder or box until you’re ready to decorate. It’s a fun, calm activity for a fall weekend afternoon, and it saves a lot of last-minute stress.
Halloween printable activities to do with kids
Printables aren’t just for decorating: they make great low-mess activities for little ones in the days leading up to Halloween or during a party, and a printer, some cardstock and an afternoon with the family are all it takes.
- Let them assemble: folding treat boxes and threading garlands are perfect hands-on tasks for school-age kids. Pre-cut the trickier shapes for younger children.
- Color first, then decorate: print black and white designs on plain paper and let kids color them before you hang or frame them.
- Make a craft station at the party: set out printed shapes, kid-safe scissors, glue sticks and stickers so guests can make their own decorations to take home.
- Personalize treat bags: have each child write their name or draw on their bag before filling it.
Frequently asked questions
What paper is best for printing Halloween printables?
Use cardstock for anything that needs to stand up or hold candy, like treat boxes, place cards, garlands and invitations; a medium weight around 65–80 lb cover works in most home printers. Plain paper is fine for coloring pages, and sticker paper is ideal for labels.
Can I print Halloween printables at a store?
Yes. Most office supply and copy shops can print PDFs or images on cardstock, often in color. Bring the original file on a USB drive or email it, and ask for the document to be printed at actual size.
Are free Halloween printables okay to sell or share?
Usually not. Most free printables are licensed for personal use only, so you can print them for your own home or party but not resell them or repost the files. Always check the creator’s terms and share a link to their page instead of the file.
How do I make printables last longer?
Laminate placemats and signs, or cover them with clear contact paper. Store garlands and framed prints flat in a folder or envelope with your Halloween decor so you can reuse them next year.
Are paper candle wraps safe?
Only with flameless candles. Paper is flammable, so wrap it around the outside of a glass holder and use battery-operated LED tea lights inside instead of real flames.
