Professional vs. Budget Santa Suits: What You Actually Get
Our Santa suits run from $48.99 to $799.99, and nearly every one of them is red or burgundy with white trim. So what does the extra money buy? Rather than tell you a $400 suit "feels more luxurious," we went through the product pages and pulled out what actually changes: fabric, lining, hardware, the pieces in the box, and what is left out. Prices are current at time of writing and may change.
Budget Santa suits (under $100): everything in one box
The Men's Complete Velour Santa Suit ($48.99) is the most complete kit at any price: a pull-over velour jacket with back closure and belt loops, velour pants with side pockets, black belt and boot tops, white gloves, a beard, and a hat with attached hair. One size fits most adults, 40-48. The Adult Economy Santa Suit ($73.99) is a similar list, a red pull-over jacket, pants and hat with white fake fur trim, belt, boot tops, gloves and beard, in Adult Large, 40-48. The Santa Suit Adult Men's Costume ($85.99) is red brushed knit polyester in Adult XL, 50-54, with jacket, pants, hat, belt, boot tops and gloves but no beard. The Men's Santa Suit ($88.99) is plush with a nylon-lined jacket, elastic-waist pants, a nylon wig and beard, a belt with metal buckle, hat and vinyl spats, in size 46-50.
What you get at this price: a full head-to-boot-top look, usually with a beard, in a pull-over jacket. What you don't: zippers, satin lining or long-hair plush trim, and only the 40-48 and 50-54 ranges.
Mid-range Santa suits ($100 to $250): zippers, lining and plush
The first upgrade is the coat. The Men's Rich Velour Santa Suit ($122.99) swaps the pull-over for a zipper-front jacket with belt loops, in Adult Large 40-48; its page notes it ships separately from other items. The Regency Plush Santa Suit XL ($118.99) has a lined zipper jacket, a belt with a 2-by-4-inch buckle and fits up to a 50-56 jacket, but the wig, beard, bag, bell and glasses are not included. The Adult Plush Regal Santa Costume ($122.99) is the exception that still includes the beard and wig, plus a reusable zippered storage bag, in one size 40-48.
The Adults Plush Rental Quality Santa Suit ($149.99 to $184.99) is where the hardware changes: a zipper coat with belt loops, a bound belt with loop and gilt buckle with prong, deluxe vinyl boot tops with white pile plush cuffs, a hat with large pom-pom and white knit gloves, in XL (50-56), XXL (58-62) and XXXL (64-70). The Velveteen Santa Suit ($195.99 to $209.99) brings burgundy velveteen with long-hair plush trim; the Men's Premium Plush Santa Suit ($203.99) and its plus-size version ($229.99, XL 50-54) are trimmed in faux rabbit fur. The Men's Victorian Santa Suit ($245.99) is a different look entirely: a satin-lined, hooded burgundy robe with capelet and an emerald satin tunic, one size 42-50.
What you get: zipper coats, sturdier belts and boot tops, longer trim, and the first XXL and XXXL sizes. What you don't, on most of them: a beard. The Regal Plush is the only mid-range suit that includes one.
Professional Santa suits ($300 and up): satin lining and long-hair plush
The Burgundy Deluxe Santa with Outside Pockets ($308.99 Large, $309.99 XL) adds deep, satin-lined outside pockets to a partially lined burgundy pile plush coat, a detail its page describes as "something every working Santa wishes for." The Men's Burgundy Velvet Santa Suit ($355.99 to $429.99, Large 42-48 through XXXL 64-70) is burgundy velvet with long-hair white plush trim, a partially satin-lined zipper coat with extended sleeve cuffs, a Naugahyde bound belt with eyelets and gilt buckle, Naugahyde boot tops with long-hair plush cuffs, and white nylon gloves. The Regal Red Velvet Santa Suit ($359.99 to $379.99) is the same construction in bright red, and the Professional Santa Suit XXL ($368.99) is satin lined with an inside coat pocket, in jacket size 58-62.
At the top: the Men's Santa Suit Super Deluxe ($667.99, one size up to 44) has a satin-lined jacket with inside front pockets, faux rabbit fur trim, brass-colored buckles and gloves with snap closure. The Burgundy Velvet Santa Suit with Overalls XL ($689.99) replaces the pants with overalls with adjustable straps and a zipper fly under a three-quarter-length coat with outside pockets. The Adult Men's Majestic Santa Claus Suit XXL ($799.99) is thick burgundy pile plush, fully satin lined, and fits up to a 76 chest.
What you get: burgundy velvet or thick pile plush, satin lining, long-hair trim, Naugahyde belts and boot tops with cast or gilt buckles, pockets, and the widest size range. What you don't: a beard or wig on any of them.
The thing no professional suit includes
No suit we sell above $100, except the Adult Plush Regal Santa Costume, includes a beard or wig in its listed contents; the Velveteen, Majestic, Victorian and Father Christmas pages say so outright. Budget for one. Our Professional Santa Wig and Beard Set ($80.99) is professional-grade synthetic fiber, fully washable, individually boxed and one size fits most; the rest of the line-up lives in Santa beards and wigs. Remember that wigs, beards and facial hair are not returnable under our refund policy, so choose once.
How to decide
If you're playing Santa for one evening, a party or a classroom, the Complete Velour suit puts the whole look in one $48.99 box. If you'll wear the suit several times a season and want a zipper coat and better belt and boot tops, the Rental Quality suit sits in the middle for under $185 in three sizes. If you're doing paid appearances, photos or a run of December events, the velvet and pile plush suits are built for it. Whichever band you choose, get the size right first with our Santa suit sizing guide, and keep it looking new with our Santa suit care tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a budget and a professional Santa suit?
Based on our product pages, budget suits under $100 are velour, plush or brushed knit with pull-over jackets and usually include a beard. Professional suits from about $300 up use burgundy velvet or thick pile plush with satin lining, long-hair plush trim, Naugahyde belts and boot tops, zipper coats and pockets, and never include a wig or beard.
Do professional Santa suits come with a beard and wig?
No. None of the suits we sell above $100, except the Adult Plush Regal Santa Costume, includes a beard or wig in its listed contents. Our Professional Santa Wig and Beard Set is $80.99 at time of writing.
Which Santa suit is best for a one-night party?
The Men's Complete Velour Santa Suit ($48.99 at time of writing) includes jacket, pants, belt, boot tops, gloves, beard and hat in one box, one size fits most adults 40-48.
What sizes do professional Santa suits come in?
The Burgundy Velvet suit runs Large 42-48, XL 50-56, XXL 58-62 and XXXL 64-70; the Professional Santa Suit XXL fits 58-62; and the Majestic suit is sold in Medium (up to 55 chest), Large (up to 66), XL (up to 69) and XXL (up to 76).