Free tool
Convention Checklist: What to Bring
Built by cosplayers who learned the hard way. Emergency repair kit, sewing survival, wig and makeup essentials, hotel prep, and the stuff you always forget until you are in the parking lot. Check items off as you pack, then share your list with your con group.
What to bring to a convention
Packing for a convention comes down to three things: your costume, a repair kit for when it breaks, and the essentials that keep you comfortable across a long day on the con floor. Here is what to bring to a convention, whether it is your first anime con or your tenth Comic-Con:
- Costume and backup pieces — your full outfit plus spares for anything that pops, tears, or falls off mid-day.
- Emergency repair kit — super glue, safety pins, hot glue sticks, a needle and thread, and gaffer tape for fast fixes.
- Comfortable shoes and blister protection — you will walk miles, so moleskin and broken-in shoes are non-negotiable.
- Water and snacks — con food is expensive and lines are long. A refillable bottle and protein bars save your day.
- Cash and cards — for artist alley, the dealer hall, and vendors who do not take cards.
- Phone, portable charger, and cables — your schedule, maps, and group chat all live on a battery that drains fast.
- Badge or tickets plus photo ID — needed for badge pickup and any age-gated events.
- Wig and makeup touch-up kit — a small brush, setting spray, and blotting sheets keep your look sharp for photos.
- Deodorant, wipes, and a mini first-aid kit — long days in costume get sweaty, so stay fresh and patched up.
- A bag that fits the con policy — check the bag size and clear-bag rules before you pack.
Check each item off in the interactive tool below as you pack, then share the list with your con group so nobody forgets the glue gun.
Never scramble before a convention again
Track your materials, timeline, and budget from first sketch to con floor. Reference boards, build logs, and your packing checklist all in one workspace.
Join CostumaryRelated guides
Deep dives and cost breakdowns for this topic.
More free tools for makers
What Should I Cosplay?
Not sure what to build next? Answer 5 quick questions and get cosplay ideas matched to your skill, budget, and timeline. Real build plans, no signup.
Budget Calculator
Estimate your build cost before you start. Add materials, track spending, and stay on budget from first sketch to con floor.
Commission Pricing Calculator
Figure out what to charge. Factor in materials, labor hours, complexity, and overhead so you never underprice a commission again.
Prop Scaling Calculator
Scale any weapon, staff, or accessory to your height. Input the character's canon dimensions and your measurements, get cut-ready numbers.
Prop Weight Estimator
Estimate how much your prop will weigh before you build it. Choose material, enter dimensions, and check comfort for all-day convention carry.
Spray Paint Color Matcher
Upload a reference image or paste a hex code, then find close spray paint matches for props, helmets, 3D prints, and model kits.
Miniature Paint Matcher
Upload box art or paste a hex code to find the closest miniature paint from Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter, and 21 more brands. For Warhammer, Gunpla, and scale models.
Fur Color Matcher
Pick a color from your reference sheet and find the closest faux fur matches from Howl Fabrics and other suppliers. Validated against Pantone codes with ΔE 3.6 average accuracy.
Full Fur Palette Database
Browse real faux fur colors from 14 suppliers, build a palette for your fursuit, and start a project with your color picks pre-loaded.
Fursuit Price Calculator
Estimate what a fursuit will cost. Pick your type, complexity, fur quality, and features to get a price range based on real maker data.
Convention Budget Calculator
Know what your next con will actually cost. Badge, hotel, travel, food, and shopping breakdown with per-person split for groups.
Commission Tracker
Track commissions from inquiry to payment. See your pipeline, pending payments, and total earnings at a glance. No signup, runs in your browser.
Convention Profit Tracker
Was your show worth it? Estimate break-even before a craft fair, log actual sales after, and compare which shows actually make you money.
Cosplay Material Wizard
EVA foam, Worbla, or 3D printing? Answer 4 questions and get the right material with thickness guides, glue charts, and paint compatibility.
Fabric Yardage Calculator
How much fabric do you need? Pick a build type, enter your measurements, and get yardage estimates with stretch and waste factors for cosplay and sewing.
Circle Skirt Calculator
Enter your waist and skirt length to get cutting radius, yardage, and waistband fabric for full, half, quarter, and 3/4 circle skirts.
Army Cost Calculator
See what your Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, or Kill Team army will actually cost. Add units, adjust paint and supply budgets, and compare retail vs. discount pricing.
Paint Scheme Planner
Plan your miniature paint scheme before you open a pot. Pick Citadel, Vallejo, or Army Painter colors for each role, preview on a silhouette, and save multiple schemes.
Carousel Composer
Drop your slide templates, overlay photos on each one, crop and rotate, then export everything as a zip. Runs in your browser, nothing uploaded.
What are you building next?
Start with a template, customize the milestones and materials, and build without losing track.
Qifrey
~5wQifrey's elegant white-robed silhouette is built around three signature elements: the tall pointed hat with the bent tip and black ribbon, the flowing white cape with the brass brooch closure, and the asymmetrical pince-nez glasses with one dark lens hiding his scarred eye. This is an intermediate build that needs more structural crafting than sewing. The hat and glasses demand the most attention, while the cape is a manageable garment project. The glasses and the hat are the make-or-break details, and this template walks you through both. Includes 7 components, 15 materials with cost estimates, a 12-step build plan, and a realistic 5-week, $95 to $280 budget.


Momo Ayase
~3wMomo Ayase from Dandadan in her signature school uniform: pastel pink sweater, white shirt with red bow tie, and navy pleated skirt. This is a beginner-friendly build that comes together fast, with most pieces thriftable, but three details make it read as Momo: the wig bangs, green earrings, and the exact sweater shade. The wig styling is the hardest part, the earrings are a fun DIY, and the rest is shopping. Includes 8 components, 12 materials, a 10-step plan, and a 3-week, $85 to $225 budget.


Douma
~8wUpper Moon Two from Demon Slayer: the layered kimono with lotus and fan motifs, paired rainbow war fans, a long blonde wig with iridescent tips, and multicolored stained-glass eyes. This is a multi-discipline advanced build combining garment sewing, prop construction, wig gradient styling, and theatrical makeup. The rainbow gradient on the fans and the painted kimono patterns are what separate a memorable Douma from a costume-shop purchase. 7 components, 14 materials, about 8 weeks, $180 to $420.


Raiden Shogun
~8wGenshin Impact's Electro Archon, built around a layered kimono-bodysuit hybrid, EVA foam armor, a 105cm braided purple wig, and the Musou no Hitotachi sword. This is an advanced build mixing garment construction, foam shaping, LED work, and heavy wig management. The make-or-break detail is purple color matching across fabric, paint, and wig. Includes 7 components, 15 materials, a 14-step plan, and a realistic 8-week, $250 to $550 budget.


Used by makers from r/cosplay, The RPF, Cosplay.com, r/Gunpla, and r/minipainting
