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This post is all about easy trunk or treat ideas.
Trunk or treat events are essentially the Super Bowl of car decorating.
The problem?
Not all of us have the time (or patience) to hot-glue 1,000 spiders and fake cobwebs onto our vehicles, only to have to take them off a few hours later.
That’s where easy trunk or treat ideas come in.
With minimal effort – or a good trunk-or-treat kit – you can transform your car into a silly, inspiring, or spooky masterpiece without losing your sanity.
Related:
How To Plan A Trunk Or Treat Event Everyone Will Love
What Is A Trunk Or Treat? Your Complete Guide To Taking Part This Year
These ideas work for cars, SUVs, and even pickup trucks.
So, whether you’re going all-out with a theme or just need something fast and cute, we’ve got you covered!
Easy Trunk Or Treat Ideas
1. Monster Mouth
The monster mouth is a trunk-or-treat classic for a reason: it’s foolproof.
Just stick the teeth across your trunk with a pair of googly eyes on top. You can use a kit or DIY it with cardboard cutouts if you’re crafty.
Either way, you’ll have a super easy setup, with just the right amount of spook that kids can handle.
2. Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz trunk looks elaborate, but it’s surprisingly simple.
A yellow table runner makes the road, a green foil curtain becomes the Emerald City, and a rainbow arch adds instant magic.
Toss in ruby slippers under a hay bale and you’re done.
Bonus points if you dress as Dorothy or another character.
3. I Spy
This “I Spy” trunk is as simple as it is fun.
Lay out a blanket in your trunk, scatter a mix of toys, pumpkins, and everyday objects, and add a sign with the list of things to look for.
Kids love searching for items, and you don’t need fancy supplies – most of the setup can come from things you already own.
Quick, interactive, and perfect for church or community events.
4. Where’s Waldo
Make your trunk a real-life “Where’s Waldo?” scene by piling it with stuffed animals and adding a striped tablecloth plus a simple sign.
Kids can hunt for Waldo while you dress the part in his classic red-and-white outfit.
It’s interactive, easy to pull together, and guaranteed to get plenty of laughs.
5. Twister Treat
Turn your trunk into a game everyone knows with this “Twister Treat” setup.
Hang a Twister mat as your backdrop, tape candy to the colored circles, and add balloons in matching shades for a playful pop.
A simple sign and the original spinner board make it interactive — kids spin, then grab candy from that color.
It looks impressive, but it’s really just a mat, balloons, and candy, so setup takes minutes.
6. Poke/Punch The Pumpkin
This trunk-or-treat game is easier to make than it looks.
Just arrange plastic cups in a pumpkin shape, cover them with tissue paper, and hide small prizes inside.
Add a simple tassel garland for decoration, and you’re done.
Kids love poking through the paper to see what they’ll get, and you’ll love how quick and budget-friendly the setup is.
7. Fishers Of Men
Bring scripture to life with this “Fishers of Men” trunk-or-treat display based on Matthew 4:19.
A blue wraparound skirt sets the water scene, while a tie-dye fishing net draped across the trunk holds dozens of paper fish cutouts. A scroll banner with the verse completes the look.
The best part?
You don’t have to DIY everything — this kit includes all the matching pieces for an easy, faith-filled setup that comes together in minutes.
Heads up: A few reviewers mentioned that the blue wraparound skirt adhesive from this kit can leave residue on car paint. It’s an easy fix—just use painter’s tape, command strips, or clips instead of the included adhesive, and you’ll avoid any issues.
8. The Great Pumpkin (Peanuts-Themed)
Bring the Peanuts gang to your trunk with this “It’s The Great Pumpkin” kit.
Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Linus, and Sally cutouts make setup a breeze — just tape them in place and add a few pumpkins for charm.
It’s colorful, nostalgic, and so easy that your car will be event-ready in minutes.
9. We Bee-long To Jesus
This “We BEE-long to Jesus” trunk is sweet, colorful, and simple to put together thanks to a ready-made kit.
Honeycomb signs, cheerful bee cutouts, and a hanging hive lantern transform your car into a joyful, faith-filled display in minutes.
The bee puns make it fun for kids, while the message keeps it meaningful for church events.
Since it’s all included in the kit, you won’t be stuck crafting; just decorate and enjoy.
10. Costco
Everyone loves a Costco sample station – and now you can turn it into a trunk-or-treat theme. All you need is a red tablecloth, a few boxes (bonus points if they’re Kirkland-branded), and some simple price-sign printouts to mimic Costco tags. Add candy “samples” on plates, throw on a Costco apron, and you’re set. It’s hilarious, recognizable, and super easy to pull together with things you probably already have at home.
11. Rub-A-Dub-Dub
This “Rub-a-Dub-Dub” trunk is bubbly, cute, and surprisingly easy to recreate.
A cardboard or foam board cutout shaped like a tub makes the base, while white balloons piled inside become the bubbles.
Toss in a few rubber ducks and other props like a scrub brush for extra charm.
Add a bowl of candy in front, and you’ve got a fun, kid-friendly setup that looks creative without taking much time or money.
12. Scooby Doo
A Scooby-Doo trunk is instantly recognizable and so easy to pull off.
Add the Mystery Machine bumper design and a few classic catchphrase signs like “Ruh-Roh!” or “Jinkies!”.
For extra fun, you can grab Scooby-Doo party packs – think favor boxes, bookmarks, or mini toys – to hand out as themed treats.
Everything’s sold in bundles, so building the full look is simple.
13. Shark Attack
This shark trunk-or-treat kit turns your car into a giant set of jaws.
The cutout shark head fits over your trunk, creating the illusion of kids grabbing candy straight from its mouth.
Add the included warning signs — “Beach Closed” and “Danger No Swimming” — for extra fun.
Setup is simple, but note: some reviewers say the pieces run small for larger SUVs, so double-check your vehicle size before ordering.
Where to Find More Trunk-or-Treat Ideas
If you’re short on time or just want to see what’s out there, these spots are goldmines for inspiration (and supplies):
- Oriental Trading: Probably the #1 place for themed trunk-or-treat supplies. They don’t just have decorations — you can also grab matching handouts, and even costumes, so your whole setup feels coordinated. Themed collections (like outer space, Scooby-Doo, or faith-based displays) make it easy to mix and match without going over budget.
- Pinterest: Type in “easy trunk or treat ideas” and you’ll instantly see thousands of setups people have already pulled off. From simple Dollar Tree hacks to full-blown themed displays, it’s the fastest way to get inspired.
- Amazon: Quick shipping, tons of ready-to-go kits, and plenty of last-minute options if you’ve waited until the week of your event. Search by theme (Disney, monsters, Candyland, etc.) and you’ll find something that works.
- Dollar Tree: Great for cheap basics like balloons, streamers, plastic tablecloths, or buckets. These little fillers can stretch a kit further or make a DIY theme look more finished.
Tips for Choosing an Easy Setup
1. Match your vehicle:
- Cars work best with “face” themes (monster, shark, etc.)
- SUVs give you room for backdrops
- Trucks shine with big 3D props
2. Don’t reinvent the wheel: Pre-made kits are your best friend. They’re reusable, and most cost less than $30.
3. Keep it safe: It’s always better to be safe than sorry. So avoid open flames, sharp props, or anything kids can trip on. These usually require extra work anyway.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, trunk-or-treat doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive to be memorable.
The best setups are often the simplest ones – whether that’s a ready-made kit, a few Amazon finds, or just some balloons and a bit of creativity.
Pick a theme, keep it easy, and let the ooohs and ahhs roll in.