Family Christmas Costume Ideas: Santa, Mrs. Claus, Little Elves, Baby Santa, and the Dog

The best Christmas photos we see from customers aren't the ones with the fanciest Santa. They're the ones where everybody played along: Grandpa in the suit, Mom in a Mrs. Claus dress, two elves who refused to hold still, a baby dressed as a gingerbread cookie, and a dog in a Santa hat looking deeply unimpressed. Here's how we'd cast that picture from our Christmas costumes collection, one family member at a time, with prices current at time of writing.

Pick Your Cast First

Decide who's who before anyone opens a browser tab. The classic lineup is Santa, Mrs. Claus, one or more elves, a baby in something adorable, and the dog. A teenager who's "too old for this" will usually agree to a Santa hat. Once roles are assigned, the shopping is quick, because every character below has a budget version and a photo version.

Dad or Grandpa: Velour for the Living Room, Velvet for the Photo

For a Christmas-morning Santa, the Men's Complete Velour Santa Suit ($48.99) is the whole kit in one box: pullover jacket with belt loops, pants with side pockets, white fur trim, black belt and boot tops, white gloves, a beard, and a hat with attached hair, one size for adults 40-48. If Santa is the centerpiece of a professional photo, the burgundy velvet suits with long-hair plush trim are the step up, sold by jacket size. Every option is in Santa suits, and our sizing guide keeps the guesswork out.

Mom: Classic Mrs. Claus or the Budget Kompanion

Our Mrs. Claus costumes run from simple to stunning. The Women's Burgundy Velvet Mrs. Claus Dress, Large ($239.99) is burgundy velvet with white long-hair plush trim, zips in the back, and includes a satin apron with lace trim and a mop-style hat. It's sized Medium (8-10), Large (12-14), XL (16-18), and XXL (20-24), and its page suggests pairing it with one of our Santa suits. On a tighter budget, the Women's Kringle's Kompanion, Medium ($36.99) is a red and white satin pullover dress with hat and belt, sized Medium (8-10). Shoes and stockings aren't included; black boots from the closet finish it.

Kids: Jingle Elves, Velvet Elves, and a Little Santa

Elves are the easy win for kids because the costumes are light and there's no beard to argue about. The Kids Satin Jingle Elf Costume ($44.99) is a red and green satin tunic trimmed with glitter pom-poms, fits sizes 4-8, and is perfect for a school play or a family party. The Child Velvet Elf Suit ($79.99) is the dressier version in hunter green velvet with red velveteen trim: tunic with attached collar, elastic-waist pants, a hat with a gold glitter pom-pom, and a twisted rope belt, also fitting sizes 4-8. More options are in Santa's elf costumes.

If one child insists on being Santa too, the Kids Plush Santa Suit ($108.99) comes in Medium (6-8), XL (10-12), and XXL (14-16) and includes its own beard and mustache set. Everything for this age group is in kids' Christmas costumes.

Baby: Santa, Lil' Elf, Gingerbaby, or the Pink Bunny

This is where the photo gets its "aww." Four favorites from baby Christmas costumes:

• Baby Santa Costume, 12-18 Months ($78.99): lined zippered jumpsuit with faux fur accents, attached belt and leg snaps, a hood with faux fur hair and a detached beard, and skid-resistant booties. Also made in 6-12 months.
• Baby Santa's Lil' Elf, 6-12 Months ($69.99): a green and red elf jumpsuit over a striped under-jumpsuit, both with snaps for diaper changes, plus hat and slip-on booties (indoor use only). Its page notes it ships separately.
• Baby Sweet Gingerbaby, 12-18 Months ($52.99): lined zippered jumpsuit with attached vest and leg snaps, a gingerbread hood with rickrack trim, and slip-on booties.
• Baby Christmas Bunny, 18-24 Months ($58.99): the soft pink one-piece bunny suit with open-faced hood, floppy ears, and mittens, 100% polyester. Spot clean with cold water and a damp cloth, then air dry.

The Dog Gets a Costume Too

Nobody steals a Christmas photo like a dog in a suit. The Santa Dog Costume, Medium ($17.99) is a one-piece body suit with a hat, and the Elf Dog Costume ($14.99) is the same idea in elf colors, listed as one size fits most medium dogs. Both are made in other sizes too, all in dog Christmas costumes. Put the dog's costume on last, hand out a treat, and take the photo fast.

Budget Builds Under $100 for the Whole Family

You don't need a full suit on every person for the photo to read "Christmas family." Accessories carry a lot of weight:

• Santa Hat ($8.99): red velvet plush trim, one size fits most adults, approximately 22-23" diameter.
• Santa Helper Headband ($17.99): a red and green elf hat trimmed with marabou and pom-poms on a red headband.
• Adults Elf Christmas Apron & Hat Set ($27.99): forest green fleece apron with red felt trim and a matching hat with a gold glitter pom-pom. Ideal for whoever is hosting.

Sample build: Santa Hat for Dad ($8.99), Helper Headband for Mom ($17.99), apron set for Grandma ($27.99), Jingle Elf for the kid ($44.99), and the Elf Dog Costume ($14.99). That's $114.95 with a real costume on the child, or $78.95 if the child gets a Santa hat instead of the elf tunic. Orders over $99 ship free by ground, so bundling the family into one order pays off.

A Note on Timing

Christmas-card season runs on deadlines. During our September to December peak, processing typically takes 24-72 hours, and ground shipping is usually delivered 3 to 5 business days after the day it ships. Give yourself two weeks before the photo, and remember that costumes can only be returned unopened, so check sizes on each product page before you add to cart. Then round everybody up, hand the dog a treat, and make the memory.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I match sizes across kids?

Kids' Christmas costumes are sold by age range, and the ranges differ by item. The Satin Jingle Elf and the Velvet Elf Suit both fit sizes 4-8, while the Kids Plush Santa Suit comes in Medium (6-8), XL (10-12), and XXL (14-16). Baby pieces come in 6-12, 12-18, and 18-24 month sizes. At the top of a range, size up.

Is there a Santa suit for teens?

Yes. The Kids Plush Santa Suit is made in an XXL (14-16) and includes a beard and mustache set. Older teens who are already adult-sized can wear the one-size velour suit, listed as adults size 40-48.

Can we dress the whole family for under $100?

Yes, if you lean on accessories. At time of writing a Santa Hat is $8.99, a Santa Helper Headband is $17.99, an Elf Apron & Hat Set is $27.99, the Elf Dog Costume is $14.99, and the Santa Dog Costume is $17.99. Hat, headband, apron set, and one dog costume come to under $75.

When should we order for Christmas-card photos?

Give yourself at least two weeks. During our September to December peak, processing typically takes 24-72 hours, and free ground shipping on orders over $99 is usually delivered 3 to 5 business days after it ships. 2-Day and Overnight options appear at checkout if you're cutting it close.