22 DIY Halloween Lantern Ideas That Will Light Up Your Spooky Nights

Halloween is not just about costumes and candy—it’s also about setting the right mood. One of the best ways to do this is with DIY Halloween lanterns. Lanterns add a magical, eerie glow that makes any porch, window, or yard feel straight out of a haunted movie scene. What makes them even better is that you can create them yourself with simple materials. From mason jars to tin cans, paper bags to carved pumpkins, the possibilities are endless.

In this guide, we’ll explore 22 creative DIY Halloween lantern ideas that are budget-friendly, easy to make, and guaranteed to impress trick-or-treaters and guests. Each idea has its own charm, whether spooky, cute, or rustic farmhouse style.

1. Mason Jar Ghost Lanterns

Mason jars are classic when it comes to homemade Halloween lanterns. For ghost lanterns, all you need is white tissue paper, glue, and a black marker. Wrap the jar with tissue paper and draw spooky ghost faces on the outside. Drop in a battery-powered tea light, and suddenly you’ve got a glowing ghost peeking out at night. These lanterns are perfect for lining a walkway or placing on windowsills. They’re safe since you don’t need real candles, and they bring an old-fashioned, cozy vibe that feels timeless.

2. Pumpkin Carved Lanterns

Nothing screams Halloween more than pumpkins. Carving pumpkins into lanterns is a tradition that never gets old. But you can give yours a twist—try carving stars, moons, or even geometric patterns instead of the usual faces. Place an LED light inside, and the glow will shine through beautifully. These lanterns are great for porches and lawns, making your home look festive and welcoming. Plus, carving pumpkins can be a fun family activity where everyone gets creative.

3. Tin Can Punch Lanterns

Recycling tin cans into lanterns is both eco-friendly and stylish. Clean out some cans, fill them with water, and freeze them overnight to make punching holes easier. Use a hammer and nail to create designs like stars, bats, or cobwebs. Once done, spray-paint them black or orange for that spooky feel. Add candles or LED lights, and the patterns will glow like tiny constellations on Halloween night. These lanterns are sturdy, making them perfect for outdoor use.

4. Paper Bag Lanterns

Paper bag lanterns are simple yet magical. All you need are brown or white paper bags, scissors, and a flameless candle. Cut out shapes like bats, cats, or witches on the bags, then place the light inside. The cutouts cast eerie shadows that dance around. They’re especially great for lining a driveway or pathway for trick-or-treaters. The best part is you can make dozens of them in no time, and they’re super affordable.

5. Glow-in-the-Dark Lanterns

For a modern twist, try glow-in-the-dark lanterns. Take any jar, bottle, or container and paint the inside with glow-in-the-dark paint. When the lights go out, your lanterns will glow on their own. These are especially fun for backyard parties or haunted house setups. You can experiment with different colors—green for a toxic sludge effect, purple for a witchy glow, or blue for a ghostly light. Unlike candles, they don’t fade quickly, making them a long-lasting option.

6. Creepy Skull Lanterns

Plastic skulls from the dollar store can be turned into creepy lanterns with ease. Simply cut a hole at the top or back, insert an LED light, and watch the skull come alive with an eerie glow. You can even paint the skulls with metallic or glitter paint for a different vibe. Place them around your yard, and they’ll look like haunted relics glowing in the dark. These lanterns add a scary yet stylish touch to any Halloween setup.

7. Witch Hat Lanterns

If you love witchy vibes, witch hat lanterns are a must. Grab some small witch hats, place them upside down, and hang LED lights inside. You can suspend them from trees or ceilings to create a floating effect. The glowing hats look like witches are flying overhead, casting spells. For an extra touch, add some dangling ribbons or faux cobwebs. They’re enchanting and spooky, making them perfect for both indoor parties and outdoor decorations.

8. Jack-o’-Lantern Paper Lanterns

Paper lanterns shaped like pumpkins are another fun idea. You can buy orange paper lanterns and simply draw or paint jack-o’-lantern faces on them. Add a light source inside, and they’ll glow like floating pumpkins. Hang them from trees, porches, or even inside your home for a cheerful yet spooky atmosphere. Kids love making these because they can design different faces—funny, scary, or silly.

9. Haunted House Silhouette Lanterns

Transform a simple glass jar into a haunted house lantern. Cut out paper silhouettes of haunted houses, bats, or graveyards, and glue them inside or outside the jar. When you add a light, the cutouts cast haunting shadows on the walls. These lanterns feel like mini spooky worlds trapped inside glass, making them a creative centerpiece for tables or shelves.

10. Spider Web Lanterns

Spider web lanterns are both creepy and elegant. Wrap jars or vases with black yarn or hot-glued string to form web shapes. Add plastic spiders for extra detail. Once lit from the inside, the web design glows, giving off a chilling vibe. They look fantastic when grouped together on a mantle or in a dark corner. The mix of shadows and glowing webs creates a perfect Halloween mood.

11. Candle Jar Lanterns with Fake Blood

For a gory twist, turn mason jars into bloody lanterns. Drip red candle wax or fake blood down the sides of the jars. Place a candle or LED inside, and the light will flicker through the “bloody” streaks. These lanterns are ideal for horror-themed parties. They’re shockingly effective yet easy to make, giving you a creepy haunted-house vibe with very little effort.

12. Floating Balloon Lanterns

This idea combines balloons and lanterns in a magical way. Wrap white balloons in gauze or cheesecloth to look like floating ghosts. Attach LED lights inside and hang them around your porch or yard. At night, they appear like glowing spirits floating in the air. Kids and neighbors will stop and stare at these fun, spooky creations.

13. Candy Corn Lanterns

Candy corn is an iconic Halloween treat, and it makes a cute lantern design. Paint mason jars or glass bottles in the three candy corn colors—yellow, orange, and white. Add a tea light, and you’ve got a lantern that looks good enough to eat. These are less spooky and more festive, making them perfect for family-friendly gatherings.

14. Black Cat Lanterns

Cats and Halloween go hand in hand. For black cat lanterns, use black paper cutouts of cats with glowing eyes. Attach them to jars or glass lanterns. When lit, the cats seem to stare with glowing, haunting eyes. These lanterns are whimsical yet mysterious, making them a great addition to windowsills or porches.

15. Potion Bottle Lanterns

Old glass bottles can be transformed into glowing potion bottles. Paint labels like “Witch’s Brew” or “Zombie Tonic” and fill them with colored water or glow sticks. Place them on shelves or tables for a witchy apothecary feel. These lanterns look especially cool when grouped together, giving the impression of a magical potion workshop.

16. Skeleton Hand Lanterns

Plastic skeleton hands can be used to hold small lanterns or jars. Wrap them around LED candles, and it looks like a skeleton is guarding the flame. These make great tabletop decorations for Halloween dinners. They’re eerie without being too over-the-top, giving a classy spooky effect.

17. Rustic Branch Lanterns

If you prefer natural decorations, rustic branch lanterns are perfect. Take twigs or small branches and glue them around a jar to form a rustic cage. When lit from inside, the lantern casts forest-like shadows, creating a spooky woodland vibe. These are great for outdoor Halloween setups where you want a nature-meets-haunting effect.

18. Graveyard Lanterns

Turn jars into miniature graveyards by adding tiny tombstone cutouts and skeleton figurines. Paint the inside of the jar black or gray for a gloomy backdrop. When lit, it looks like a haunted cemetery glowing in the dark. These lanterns are small but impactful, especially as part of a spooky centerpiece.

19. Broomstick Lanterns

Tiny broomsticks can be used to hold lightweight lanterns. Attach mini jars or paper lanterns to broomstick handles, then place them in your yard or along pathways. They look like witches left their brooms glowing behind. This is a whimsical, creative twist that feels straight out of a Halloween fairy tale.

20. Eyeball Jar Lanterns

Creepy eyeballs floating in jars can double as lanterns. Use ping pong balls painted like eyeballs, fill jars with water, and drop in glow sticks. The glowing water makes the eyeballs look alive. These lanterns are creepy enough for horror lovers but fun enough for a playful Halloween vibe.

21. Stained Glass Halloween Lanterns

Turn plain glass jars into stained glass lanterns using colored tissue paper. Cut the paper into small shapes and glue them onto the jars. Once lit, the colors shine through like stained glass windows. You can choose Halloween colors like orange, purple, and black for extra effect. These lanterns look artistic and warm, perfect for adding a cozy glow indoors.

22. Monster Face Lanterns

Last but not least, monster face lanterns are a hit with kids. Use jars, bottles, or even milk jugs to create funny or scary monster faces. Add googly eyes, teeth cutouts, and crazy colors. Place lights inside, and you’ll have glowing monster friends ready to greet trick-or-treaters. They’re fun, silly, and easy to personalize.

Final Thoughts

Creating DIY Halloween lanterns is about more than just decoration—it’s about building atmosphere. Each lantern idea, whether creepy or cute, adds a touch of magic to your Halloween night. You don’t need to spend a fortune; most materials are things you already have at home. The glow of a lantern, especially one you made yourself, feels personal and festive.