How to Make a Pepper’s Ghost Illusion for Halloween: Window, Doorway or Tabletop
A Pepper’s ghost is a theater illusion that makes a ghost appear to float inside a real scene. A clear sheet of plexiglass is propped at 45 degrees between the viewer and the scene, and a lit “ghost” hidden to one side reflects off the sheet while the background still shows through. Only the ghost is lit, and everything else stays dark.
This is the classic haunted-mansion trick, and you can build a small version with a sheet of clear plexiglass, a bright flashlight and a dark corner. It works best in a window or doorway, where trick-or-treaters see a pale figure drift through the room. If you want a ghost that moves on its own, compare it with our disco ghost build and our chicken wire ghost.
How does a Pepper’s ghost illusion work?
Jason Poel Smith, writing for Make:, describes the setup in three parts: the live scene in front of the audience, the ghost placed off to one side out of direct view, and a sheet of plexiglass at 45 degrees to both. The glass lets viewers see the background but also reflects part of the ghost, so the ghost seems to stand in the scene. The hidden space can be black or a mirror image of the background.
The vendor Two Way Mirrors, which sells two-way glass and film, describes the same idea and adds a second variant: in Dircks’ method the glass stands perpendicular to the stage floor and an actor below the stage is reflected. Because that page sells products, treat it as background rather than a build guide. Its practical points are consistent with Make’s: light the hidden space so the ghost shows up in the reflection, and dim the main room so the reflection stands out.
Which setup should you build?
| Setup | What you need | Cost note | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tabletop test | A small sheet of clear plastic, a shoebox-sized display, a small light | Cheapest; Two Way Mirrors suggests starting small | Learning the angles before you build big |
| Window | Plexiglass at least half the size of the window, a table, books or cardboard to level the sill, a lamp or flashlight | Make gives no figure | Porches and front rooms |
| Doorway | A 4 ft by 8 ft sheet, a darkened room, a lit ghost beside the door | Make says the sheet can cost several hundred dollars | Showpiece entrances |
How do you build the window version?
- Set up a table below the window. Use books or cardboard to bring its surface level with the sill.
- Prop the plexiglass. Stand it in the corner of the window at a 45-degree angle. A clamp is optional for holding it.
- Place the ghost. Put it just out of the viewer’s sight line. Make says the ghost can be a person in costume, an image on a computer monitor, or a picture.
- Light only the ghost. Use a lamp or flashlight on the hidden figure and keep the rest of the room dark.
- Check every angle. Make advises hiding the ghost from every viewing angle.
- Cut stray reflections. A black backdrop, or a darkened room with only the ghost lit, hides reflections. A black fabric backdrop is an easy fix.
How do you make the doorway version?
Put the ghost beside the door, prop the plexiglass in the frame at 45 degrees, darken the room and light the ghost. Make calls the doorway the most impressive option and recommends buying the largest sheet your hardware store carries. Plan the budget first, because a 4 by 8 foot sheet is the expensive part. Our budget haunt guide helps you decide where to spend.
What lighting makes the ghost show up?
Both sources agree on the principle: the ghost has to be the brightest thing, and the viewer’s side has to be dim. Two Way Mirrors adds that the hidden figure needs to stand in a dark area and be lit, and that adjusting the light changes how strong the apparition looks. For more on placing and aiming lights, see our home haunt lighting guide.
Safety note: neither source covers safety, so these are our precautions. Secure the sheet so it cannot tip onto viewers or pets, keep a hidden performer from tripping on cords, and mind sharp plastic edges when you cut or handle the sheet. Read our extension cord safety guide before running lights outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What angle does a Pepper’s ghost need? Both sources place the glass or plexiglass at 45 degrees between the viewer and the hidden ghost.
Do you need real glass? No. Make uses plexiglass, and Two Way Mirrors says acrylic or Plexiglas can be used instead of glass.
Can you do it without an actor? Yes. Make lists a person in costume, an image on a computer monitor, or a picture. Two Way Mirrors adds that projected animation can replace a live performer.
How big should the sheet be for a window? Make recommends a sheet at least half the size of your window.
Why can I see the plexiglass edges? Make’s fix is to darken the room so the edges disappear, light only the ghost, and use a black backdrop if needed.
Ready for more effects? Add a motion trigger to your next prop.
As an Amazon Associate we may earn commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
new in halloween animatronics
Lowe's cut 9 Haunted Living and Disney animatronics 30-55%. See which markdowns are the best value per foot, which to skip, and how to check price and stock.
Our honest Spirit Halloween Mr. Dark review: a black-robed skeleton that pops up to nearly nine feet on a scissor lift for $370.99. We score it 3.9 of 5.
Our honest Spirit Halloween Electrified Corpse review: a wire-wrapped torso that violently shakes and screams overhead for $149.99. We score it 3.4 of 5.
Find Haunted Houses in:
trending in haunt industry
Everything you need to know about East Coast Haunters Convention 2026 — dates, location, what to expect, haunt tours, seminars, and how to get tickets before prices increase.
HalloweenCostumes.com's 2026 Fan Design Program lets you design a real Halloween animatronic. Two winners get 10 props each plus 5% revenue. Submissions close April 30.
ShudderCon 2026 runs April 25–26 at Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge, TN. Tickets from $15–$75. Here's the full preview for horror fans, haunt pros, and scare actors.