A bunting banner is the fastest, highest-impact Halloween decoration there is. Ten minutes, a printer, some scissors and a length of ribbon — and you've transformed a bare wall, mantel or doorway. This guide shows you exactly how, and the bunting maker does the design work for you.

1. What you'll need

  • A printer and paper — cardstock (110–250 gsm) makes banners that hang straight and last all month.
  • Scissors (or a paper cutter).
  • A hole punch (or the point of a pencil).
  • Ribbon, twine, or yarn — about 1 meter per meter of banner.
  • Optional: washi tape or binder clips for hanging.

2. The five-minute design step

Open the bunting banner maker and make three quick decisions:

  1. Message. "BOO" is the classic (one letter per flag, punchy). "HAPPY HALLOWEEN" works with two letters per flag. Single words like "WELCOME," "TRICK OR TREAT" and "EAT" (for the food table) are favorites.
  2. Style. Lettered flags, icon flags (pumpkins, bats, ghosts), or a mix. Icons-only banners are perfect for young kids who can't read yet — or for places where you want decoration without words.
  3. Colors. Pick one of the built-in themes (classic orange, gothic purple, toxic green, candy pink, harvest) or set your own two colors. Match your party palette — see our palette guide for ideas.

Hit print. The maker lays out flags on a sheet (typically 2–4 flags per page depending on size) and includes the fold line and the two punch dots on every flag.

3. Cut, punch, string — ten minutes

  1. Cut along the outline. Follow the printed flag outline; most designs are a pennant (triangle with a folded top edge) or a scalloped flag.
  2. Fold the top tab. The printed fold line at the top lets the flag wrap around the ribbon. Fold it over toward the back.
  3. Punch the dots. There are two punch guides on each flag. Punch through both layers of the folded tab.
  4. Thread the ribbon. Push the ribbon through both holes, front to back, on each flag. Slide flags along to space them evenly (a hand-width apart looks good).
  5. Optional glue: a dot of glue inside the folded tab keeps flags from sliding.
  6. Hang. Tape, tie or clip the ends. Done.

4. Where banners shine

  • Across a doorway — the classic spot. Eye-level, instantly read.
  • Mantel — a "BOO" banner above the fireplace is the photo everyone takes.
  • Kitchen table backdrop — hang behind the food table; "EAT" or "YUM" banners make guests smile.
  • Porch railing — weatherproof by laminating or using sheet protectors; "TRICK OR TREAT" greets visitors.
  • Classroom door — teachers, this is the 15-minute door decoration that looks like an hour. See classroom ideas for more.
  • Photo booth backdrop — a banner reading the party theme over the photo corner. See our photo booth guide.
  • Staircase bannister — a long banner wound along the rail makes a two-story house feel fully decorated.
  • Kids' room — a personalized banner ("JACK'S ROOM") turns a bedroom door into a statement.

5. Pro tips that make it look expensive

  • Double it up: two parallel strands (one lettered, one icon-only) read as a "design" instead of a craft.
  • Vary the length: cut the ribbon longer at the edges so the banner drapes slightly instead of hanging taut.
  • Layer with lights: a string of warm fairy lights threaded behind the flags makes the whole banner glow at night.
  • Match the icons to the theme: bat flags for a haunted house party, candy flags for a kids' party, elegant gothic letters for an adult event.
  • Print two sizes: one big banner for the main spot, a mini version (scale 60–70%) for the table or the door.
  • Reuse across years: cardstock banners stored flat in a folder survive for years. Make the banner once in the theme you'll want again.

6. Troubleshooting

  • Flags too small/large? The maker's size selector changes flag dimensions on the page — print a test sheet at the small size first and hold it up at the planned spot.
  • Ribbon showing through? Use double-sided flags (fold a second flag over the back) or a wider ribbon.
  • Banner drooping in the middle? Add a third anchor point at the center with a pin or small nail.
  • Outside and rainy? Laminate, or print on a water-resistant paper, and bring it in when not in use.

7. Beyond the classic pennant

Don't stop at pennants. The same maker produces:

  • Round banners — circle flags with icons (moon, bat, spider) for a modern look.
  • Scalloped banners — the classic "party" shape, great for kids' events.
  • Countdown bunting — one flag per day from 1 to 31 for an October countdown chain (see our countdown calendar for the calendar version).

That's the whole craft: design, print, cut, punch, string. In the time it takes to read this guide, you can hang a banner. Open the bunting maker, pick a message, and make your first strand tonight — then add the rest of the printable decor over the weekend.