Fancy dress prize ideas for best and worst costume

Prizes are the reason people bother with a costume. Announce the categories in the invitation and the effort goes up straight away.

We don't sell costumes - we make cards, badges and party bits in house, printed in the UK - so nothing below is a sales pitch for an outfit.

Keep the prizes small and funny. The category matters more than what's in the envelope.

Award categories that work

• Best costume - the obvious one, judged on the night.
• Worst costume - gets more people dressing up than the best award does.
• Most effort, for whoever clearly lost a weekend to it.
• Cheapest costume, receipts encouraged.
• Best group entry.
• Least recognisable, awarded after three failed guesses.
• Most committed to the bit - stayed in character all night.
• Best last-minute save, for whoever assembled it in the car.

Prizes that don't cost much

• A pin badge they'll actually wear afterwards.
• A card with the award written inside, signed by everyone.
• A candle - the safe win for any category.
• A bottle of something, wrapped in a bin bag for the worst costume.
• A trophy made from a cake topper and a jar.
• First choice of the leftovers.
• A print or keepsake for the group entry.
• Immunity from washing up, which people take seriously.

How to judge without an argument

• Judge at a set time - 9.30pm - not whenever someone remembers.
• Use a phone vote or a show of hands, never one person deciding.
• Nobody wins two categories; spread them around.
• Let the bride, birthday person or host stay out of the running.
• Announce the categories before the party so people aim at one.
• Take a photo of each winner as they collect it.

Shop pin badges

Decorations for the night

Banners, cake toppers and confetti that go up in ten minutes.

How to write it so it lands

• List the categories in the invitation - effort goes up immediately.
• Have one more prize than you think you need.
• Give the awards before people start leaving, around 9.30pm.
• Write the category on a card so the winner keeps the joke.

Where to shop next

• Fancy dress ideas
• Fancy dress party themes
• How to throw a fancy dress party
• Last-minute fancy dress ideas
• Hen party fancy dress themes
• DIY fancy dress on a budget
• 80s and 90s party ideas
• Birthday party ideas
• Party supplies
• Halloween costume ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What prizes should I give at a fancy dress party?

Small and funny beats expensive. A pin badge, a card with the award written inside, a candle or a bottle wrapped in a bin bag all land better than a big prize.

What categories should a costume competition have?

Best costume, worst costume, most effort, cheapest costume and best group entry. Worst costume is the one that gets reluctant guests to dress up.

How do you judge a costume competition fairly?

Judge at a fixed time with a show of hands or a phone vote, keep the host out of the running, and make sure nobody takes home two awards.