Halloween is the one night a year when walking into a party as Iron Man, Spider-Man or Optimus Prime is completely normal, and the costumes people remember are the ones with a real head. A faceplate that opens on a voice command, a voice changer that makes you sound like Megatron, or a full-head mask with see-through lenses does most of the work before anyone notices what you are wearing below the neck. This guide covers every wearable helmet and mask we carry, what to wear with each one, couple and group ideas, how to get through a whole party in it, and how early to order.
Measure your head before you order. Every piece below lists a head size, and our head size guide shows how to measure with a soft tape.
Shipping is free and tracked, usually 10-22 business days after 1-2 business days to prepare the order, so if you want your costume for Halloween, order early. The details are in our shipping policy.
Pick your character
Here is every piece in this guide at a glance. Each one is covered in more detail below.
| Character | Piece | What makes it | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Man | MK5 helmet | Faceplate fans open in segments, LED eyes | [[price:mk5-iron-man-helmet]] |
| Iron Man | MK50 helmet | One-piece faceplate lifts up, white eyes | [[price:mk50-iron-man-helmet]] |
| Iron Man | MK17 Heartbreaker helmet | Jaw drops open, lit visor, four color schemes | [[price:mk17-heartbreaker-iron-man-helmet]] |
| Spider-Man | Brand New Day mask | Stretch fabric, mesh lenses, nothing to charge | [[price:spider-man-brand-new-day-mask]] |
| Daredevil | Born Again mask | Full-head mask with sculpted horns, red or black | [[price:daredevil-born-again-mask]] |
| Optimus Prime | Helmet | Motorized battle mask, lights, voice changer | [[price:optimus-prime-transformers-helmet]] |
| Bumblebee | Helmet | Battle mask closes across the face, voice changer | [[price:transformers-bumblebee-helmet]] |
| Megatron | Helmet | Mouth moves with the voice changer as you talk | [[price:megatron-helmet]] |
| Captain America | 1:1 shield | Die-cast aluminum with leather arm straps | [[price:1-1-captain-america-shield]] |
| Thor | Mjolnir hammer | Thunder effects when you swing it, Bluetooth speaker | [[price:mjolnir-thors-hammer]] |
Iron Man: pick your faceplate
We carry three wearable Iron Man helmets. They share the same fit, weight and power, and the real choice is how the faceplate opens.
- MK5 [[price:mk5-iron-man-helmet]] – the Mark V faceplate splits into segments that fan outward. Gold, silver or dark finish.
- MK50 [[price:mk50-iron-man-helmet]] – one solid motorized faceplate lifts up, and the eyes light white.
- MK17 Heartbreaker [[price:mk17-heartbreaker-iron-man-helmet]] – the jaw drops open, and the visor lights in two modes. Four color schemes, for an Iron Man most people at the party have not seen before.
All three open by button, voice command or remote, fit heads from 55 to 62 cm (21.7-24.4 in), weigh about 1130 g, and run for about 8 hours on 4x AA batteries, with 1x AAA in the remote. For a side-by-side look at the three faceplates, read our MK5 vs MK50 vs MK17 comparison, and for a closer look at the open jaw, our MK17 Heartbreaker review. All three helmets are fan-made collectibles and are not officially licensed by Marvel.
What to wear with it
A fitted red or dark top, dark pants and gloves read as Iron Man once the helmet is on. A light-up chest piece pulls the look together. For photos and a big entrance, add the MK42 right arm [[price:iron-man-arm]]: its armor panels open and close on your arm, and the palm repulsor lights up. Batteries are not included, so pick up 4x AAA for the arm and 1x AAA for its remote before the party.
Spider-Man: the Brand New Day look
Spider-Man: Brand New Day reached theaters on July 31, and the new suit is the Spider-Man look people will recognize this year. The Brand New Day mask [[price:spider-man-brand-new-day-mask]] is built around the film’s redesigned eye shape, with a web pattern on a soft stretch fabric and breathable mesh lenses you see out through.
It has no electronics, no motors and nothing to charge, which makes it the lightest piece in this guide and the easiest to keep on all night. It fits most teens and adults up to about 60 cm (23.6 in). Like our Iron Man helmets, it is fan-made and not officially licensed by Marvel.
What to wear with it
A full printed suit is the complete version. For a simpler costume, a fitted red top with a black or dark blue base layer, gloves and dark sneakers let the mask carry the look. If you wear glasses, plan on contact lenses for the night, since frames do not sit well under a fitted fabric mask.
For the full build, from the suit to the gloves, see our Spider-Man Brand New Day costume guide.
Daredevil: Born Again
The Daredevil: Born Again mask [[price:daredevil-born-again-mask]] is not a half-face costume mask. It is a full-head piece molded with the woven texture of the show’s suit, with sculpted horns, and it covers the whole head and sits on the shoulders. Choose the classic red or the darker black finish. It fits heads up to 62 cm (24.4 in) and is a fan-made collectible.
The eye lenses are tinted red. You see out through them, but tinted lenses make dim rooms and dark streets harder, so it is at its best at an indoor party, and it is worth taking off to walk anywhere dark.
What to wear with it
Dark red or black fitted layers, dark tactical pants, gloves and boots. For a second look to switch into during the night, take the mask off and put on round dark glasses and a jacket: that is Matt Murdock.
Transformers: Autobots and Decepticons
The Transformers helmets are the loudest pieces here. Each one has a motorized battle mask or moving panels, lights and a voice changer that turns your voice into the character’s while you talk.
- Optimus Prime [[price:optimus-prime-transformers-helmet]] – motorized battle mask, rotating side gear covers, red and blue lights, Energy and Battle modes, and an automatic voice changer. It measures 254 x 329 x 372 mm and ships fully assembled.
- Bumblebee [[price:transformers-bumblebee-helmet]] – the battle mask transforms across the face, the eyes switch between red and blue, and a voice changer is built in. It fits heads from 57 to 61 cm and runs about 8 hours on 4x AAA batteries.
- Megatron [[price:megatron-helmet]] – the voice changer moves the mouth as you speak, and panels open electrically. It fits heads up to 60 cm.
All three respond to voice commands, touch panels or a remote. At a loud party, voice commands are the least reliable of the three, so keep the remote in a pocket. For how the three compare in detail, read Optimus vs Bumblebee vs Megatron, and for the villain on his own, our Megatron helmet review.
What to wear with it
The helmet is the costume. A jacket or hoodie in the character’s color is enough: red and blue for Optimus, yellow and black for Bumblebee, gray for Megatron. For Bumblebee, the Bumblebee arm blaster [[price:bumblebee-arm-blaster]] straps to your forearm, deploys in stages and spins its barrel in battle mode. It takes 6x AA batteries, which are not included, and it is recommended for ages 14 and up. Because of their size, the helmets are best for an entrance, a costume contest and photos, with breaks in between, rather than a crowded dance floor.
Couple and group costume ideas
A group costume works best when each person has one standout piece.
Iron Man and Captain America
One helmet and one shield. The 1:1 Captain America shield [[price:1-1-captain-america-shield]] is die-cast aluminum, 61 cm across, with leather straps so you can wear it on your arm. At 5.3 kg it is real metal, so treat it as a piece for photos and entrances, not something to carry all night.
Spider-Man and Daredevil
Two street-level heroes. The Brand New Day mask and the Daredevil mask together make a duo where neither person needs batteries.
Optimus Prime and Bumblebee
Two Autobots with two voice changers. Add Megatron and you have Autobots vs Decepticons for a group of three.
Avengers night
Iron Man, Captain America and Spider-Man, plus Thor with the Mjolnir hammer [[price:mjolnir-thors-hammer]]. It is an officially licensed Marvel piece that fires thunder effects when you swing it, and it doubles as a Bluetooth speaker, so it can bring the music to the party too.
Wearing it all night
The Brand New Day mask has nothing to power and is the easiest to keep on all night. The Iron Man and Bumblebee helmets run for about 8 hours on a set of batteries, and the bigger Transformers helmets are at their best for an entrance, a costume contest and photos. A few habits make a long night easier in any of them.
- Try it on at home first. Wear it for an hour a few days before the party, so fit problems show up in time. Take breaks somewhere cool on the night.
- Use a thin beanie if a helmet feels loose. It takes up the gap and absorbs sweat.
- Turn the eye lights off when you walk. Lit eyes look great in photos, but they make it harder to see out.
- Lift the faceplate to talk and drink. On the Iron Man helmets that is one button press. Bring a straw for everything else.
- Carry fresh batteries. Weak batteries can make motors and lights behave as if something is broken, so start the night with a new set and keep a spare set in your pocket.
Safety before trick-or-treating
These are costume and display pieces, not protective gear. They offer no impact protection, and with a closed faceplate or a full-head mask your side vision is narrower than usual.
- Never drive in one, including the drive to the party, and never ride a bike or motorcycle in one. Our article on wearing a replica helmet on a motorcycle explains why.
- Open the faceplate or take it off on stairs, in crowds and at every street crossing.
- If you are walking kids around the neighborhood, you are the one who needs to see the road. Carry the helmet between houses and put it on for the photos at the door.
- These are sized for teens and adults. None of them is made for young children’s heads.
After October 31
After the party, the Iron Man helmet stand [[price:iron-man-mk50-helmet-stand]] holds the MK5, MK50 and MK17 on a base that lights up blue, and the Transformers helmet stand [[price:transformers-helmet-stand]] holds Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron. The Megatron helmet also has its own sculpted Megatron stand [[price:megatron-helmet-stand]]. Take the batteries out before you put a helmet on display for the winter.
FAQ
How long does shipping take?
Orders take 1-2 business days to prepare, then free tracked shipping usually takes 10-22 business days. Weekends and holidays do not count, and express shipping is not available right now, so the earlier in the fall you order, the more likely your costume arrives before October 31.
Can I see out when the eyes are lit?
You can see out of every helmet and mask here, but lit eyes and tinted lenses reduce what you see, especially in the dark. Turn the lights off when you walk and switch them on for photos.
Can I wear glasses under a helmet or mask?
Glasses rarely sit well under a fitted fabric mask or a full-head piece. Contact lenses are the easier option for the night.
Shipping and returns. Free tracked shipping on every order, usually 10-22 business days. See our shipping policy for details. 30-day return window, see our refund policy for what qualifies.
