Home / Wheelchair Halloween costumes for adults / Reaper's Throne
Reaper's Throne Wheelchair Costume: How to Build It
- Time 1 to 2 hours
- Help needed Cutting the back panel
- Best for Biggest presence
The Reaper looks best when sitting, and a chair is already a throne. The build is a black robe, a tall panel on the backrest with white skull shapes, and a short scythe. The height comes from the panel, not from anything near the wheels.
What you will need
- A black hooded robe, cloak or large black hoodie
- Black foam board or cardboard for a tall back panel
- White card or paper for skull shapes
- Hook-and-loop strips or removable ties
- Bone-white gloves and pale face makeup
- A short prop scythe: a cardboard blade on a short dowel, no longer than your forearm
- A black blanket or extra fabric for the lap
Step by step
- Cut a tall panel, about one to two feet above the top of the backrest, with a pointed or arched top. Paint or cover it black.
- Cut skull shapes from white card and glue them in a column along the edges and across the top, like a carved throne.
- Attach the panel to the backrest or push handles with hook-and-loop strips or removable ties. Make sure it does not touch the push handles, brake levers or controls.
- Put on the robe. Gather the lower fabric in your lap and tuck it under your thighs so no hem reaches the wheels. If it is too long, pin or cut it.
- Make a short scythe: a curved cardboard blade painted silver on a dowel no longer than your forearm. Rest it across your lap.
- Finish with white gloves and pale makeup: white base, black around the eyes, dark lips.
- Add a battery candle on your lap or the arm of the chair for glow.
Before you roll
Check. Check that the robe cannot slide toward a wheel when you move. Pull the hood down only as far as you can still see to the side. Make sure the panel does not catch a gust of wind: test it on a short roll before heading out.
Mistakes to avoid
- A long robe that trails toward the wheels. Pin it up or shorten it.
- A full-length scythe, which is a poke hazard and gets in the way. Keep it forearm length.
- A panel taller than your doorway. Measure it before you build.
Make it better
Add a rib cage painted on a black shirt under the robe, a row of battery tea lights across the lap, or a small skull perched on the panel.
Where to buy
Amazon links; check the product page against the notes before you order.
- Removable mounting tape (a removable version, not industrial strength)
- Black foam board (check the pack size and thickness)
Safety for every build
- Nothing may block, touch or catch in the wheels, hand rims, brakes or controls. Keep fabric above the wheels and make every attachment quick to remove.
- On a power chair, also keep clear of the joystick, cables, battery and vents.
- Keep tall pieces light and low on the chair so they do not change your balance.
- Check that the finished build fits through a standard door.
- Add reflective tape or a battery LED so you are visible in low light.