Monkeys and Apes Costumes
You feel it the moment you slip on the fur: your shoulders drop, your arms swing loose, and you start moving like you weigh twice as much and answer to nobody. Maybe you're a gorilla now, chest out, knuckles brushing the floor, or a monkey, quick and curious, already eyeing the candy bowl like it's the last banana on the branch. Either way, you stop walking like yourself and start walking like something wilder. By the time someone spots you across the room, you're already mid-performance: a grunt, a scratch, a lopsided grin through the mask. Kids shriek and chase. Adults laugh and step back half a pace, just in case. For one evening or one school day, you get to be the loudest, silliest, most physical version of yourself, and everyone expects it.
For kids
For adults
Accessories and finishing touches
Why it is such a popular choice
Monkeys and apes work because they let you be big without being scary and silly without saying a word. There's no dialogue to remember, no plot to explain. You just move, and the character does the rest. It also covers enormous ground: a toddler can shuffle around in a soft one piece and get the same delighted reaction as an adult filling out a full gorilla suit in the middle of a party.
It lasts because it's built on physical comedy, not a passing trend. Chest thumping, exaggerated walking, a startled scratch of the head: these gags never go out of style, and they work whether you're seven or seventy. It also gives shy people a way in. Hidden behind a mask or a full suit, you can ham it up in ways you'd never try as yourself.
Who it suits
The quiet kid who won't do a dance in front of the class will absolutely do a monkey walk, because the mask takes the pressure off. The performer wants the full ape suit so they can chase, pose and thump their chest all night. The animal lover wants to get the details right and will ask questions about real gorillas and monkeys for a week beforehand. Younger toddlers do best in a simple, soft, one piece version they can nap in halfway through the party.
For adults, it suits anyone happy to be the biggest personality in the room, plus anyone who wants a costume that's comfortable for a long shift of trick or treating or standing around a party. It works well in groups: a small troop of monkeys causes far more chaos, and therefore far more laughs, than one alone. Families can build a set around it too: a grown up gorilla shepherding a toddler monkey gets a laugh on its own, no matching outfits required.
Couples can play it two ways: both go full ape and cause double the trouble, or one goes gorilla while the other plays the explorer who "found" them, which gives you a bit of a scene to act out together.
Types of monkeys and apes, and how to choose
- Classic gorilla, full suit: the option for anyone who wants to fully disappear into the character. Best for adults and older kids who don't mind the extra warmth of a full outfit and want to commit to the bit all night.
- Cute or cartoon monkey: soft, rounded, friendly. Right for toddlers and younger kids, and for anyone who wants a costume that reads as playful rather than intense.
- Realistic ape mask or suit: more detailed, more convincing, and a bit more dramatic. Suits older kids and adults who want people to do a genuine double take before they laugh.
- Scary or spooky ape: a snarl instead of a grin, a heavier brow, a fiercer stance. Good for anyone who wants their costume to work for a haunted house or a scarier party rather than a purely cute one.
- Circus or performer style monkey: bright, cheeky, a bit theatrical. Suits a kid who likes to clown around and do a bit of a show.
- Winged or fantastical monkey: for the kid or adult who wants a character with a bit of story built in, more flying monkey than jungle animal, and stands out in any group.
- Full outfit versus accessory kit: a full jumpsuit or suit is the option for full commitment and photos, while an ears and tail set or a headband and tail kit lets you layer the character over your own clothes. Accessory kits suit last minute costumes, school dress up days, and anyone who wants the joke without the full outfit.
- Add on pieces: separate gloves, foot covers or a mask can sharpen up a plain outfit, or let two people share one bigger costume between different parts.
Playing the part
Keep it simple and physical. Bend your knees slightly, let your arms hang a little looser than usual, and let your steps get heavier. A slow head tilt before you notice someone is funnier than a shout. Add a grunt or two, a low "ooh ooh" if you're feeling bold, and a chest thump for the big entrances.
Give the kids a small game to play with you: hide a few plastic bananas around the room or garden for a "gorilla feeding time" hunt, or challenge trick or treaters to copy your best monkey walk before they get their sweets. A little mirrored movement game (you scratch, they scratch) gets even shy kids giggling and joining in.
Pace yourself. A full evening of grunting and chest thumping is funny for the first hour and tiring by the third, so save the big performance for arrivals, photos and any moment someone's clearly watching, and let it rest a bit in between.
Finishing touches
- A tail that actually swings when you walk, not one that just hangs still
- Textured or shaggy fur rather than flat fabric, for a costume that reads well from a distance
- A mask or face paint that still lets you eat, drink and talk to people at the party
- Matching gloves or foot covers so the illusion holds up close, not just in photos
- Comfortable, well fitted layers underneath if the full suit runs warm