Cosplay budget calculator
Add up every part of your costume, with a buffer for mistakes.
Calculate my budgetLet's pack for your con
Everything for a con day on one free con packing checklist. Tick, add your own, print it.
Tick it off as it goes in
Essentials
0/7Costume repair kit
0/6Wig and makeup
0/6Comfort
0/6Photos
0/2What goes in your con bag
Pack every part of your costume first, using your build checklist so nothing stays at home. Then add a small repair kit, wig and makeup touch-ups, water and snacks, your phone and a power bank, ID, some cash and your badge.
Most of what goes wrong at a con is small: a strap snaps, a wig slips, your feet hurt by lunchtime. A light bag that solves those keeps the day fun.
Your just-in-case repair kit
A repair kit fits in a pencil case: safety pins, a needle and thread in your costume's colors, superglue, double-sided and fabric tape, small scissors, spare elastic and hair ties.
If you wear armor or carry props, add spare foam, contact cement and a little paint for chips.
Tori's tip
Pack the repair kit in a clear pouch so you can find the safety pins in ten seconds, not ten minutes.
Bringing armor and props
Read the con's prop and weapon rules before you pack, since many cons check props at the door. Wrap fragile pieces in a towel or bubble wrap and keep them in a bag you carry, not at the bottom of a suitcase.
Staying over? Pack a little extra
Add your booking, a change of clothes, pajamas and toiletries. Bring the wig on a wig head or stand if you can, so it keeps its shape overnight, and a garment bag for the costume.
The night before, in five minutes
Lay everything out, charge your phone and power bank, style the wig and check the weather. Then pack in the order you'll need things, with the repair kit and water on top.
Tori's tip
Take a photo of everything laid out before you pack. If something seems missing at the con, you'll know in seconds whether it ever left home.
Questions cosplayers ask
Short answers before you start.
What should be in a cosplay emergency kit?
Safety pins, a needle and thread, superglue, double-sided and fabric tape, small scissors, spare elastic and hair ties, plus blister bandages and painkillers. Add spare foam and contact cement if you wear armor.
How do I carry a wig to a con?
Style it at home, then carry it on a wig head or in a hair net inside a box or a bag where nothing presses on it. Bring a comb and bobby pins to fix it after you put it on.
What should I bring for a long con day?
Water, snacks, a power bank, comfortable insoles or a change of shoes, blister bandages and a small repair kit. Eating and drinking on time does more for a long day than anything else.
Can I print this checklist?
Yes. Use the Print button to get a clean list with tick boxes, ready for paper.
Does the checklist remember my ticks?
Yes, on this device and in this browser, so your ticks are still there when you come back to the page.
Try another free tool
Each one takes a minute and works right on your phone.
Ready for the whole build?
Checklists, references, progress photos, a shopping list that adds up and countdowns to your cons. Free to download on the App Store.
