How to Make Floating Witch Hats for Halloween: Fishing Line, Hooks and Lights
Floating witch hats are black hats hung from the ceiling on clear fishing line so they seem to hover. One published build uses six to twelve hats, fishing line and a staple gun, and lists a cost of about $15 and a time of 15 minutes. A porch version adds command hooks and a small light inside each hat.
The whole effect depends on cheap parts: a pack of black witch hats, a spool of clear monofilament fishing line and a way to hang them. Hang them over a porch, hallway or dining table, and they set the mood before anyone sees a prop. Pair them with the lighting ideas in our home haunt guide or build a bigger scene around our witch cauldron scene.
What do you need for floating witch hats?
| Item | Used for | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| 6 to 12 black witch hats | The floating display | Hometalk lists a 12-pack or Dollar Store hats; Polka Dot Chair says inexpensive black hats work |
| Clear fishing line | Hanging each hat | Hometalk prices a spool at under a dollar |
| Staple gun or outdoor hooks | Fixing the line overhead | Hometalk staples the line; Polka Dot Chair uses one hook per hat |
| LED light sticks, flameless tea lights or glow sticks | Lighting the hats from inside | Polka Dot Chair’s options; her pick is clip-on LED sticks |
| Long needle and safety pins | Threading line and attaching lights | Polka Dot Chair |
| Ladder | Reaching the ceiling | Polka Dot Chair |
How do you hang them in 15 minutes?
Hometalk’s Eliscia calls this an easy project that takes about 15 minutes for about $15, and the steps are short:
- Tie the line. Double-knot the fishing line at the tip of a hat.
- Measure and cut. Measure about 12 inches of line from the hat, then cut it. Repeat for every hat.
- Carry them over. Take the tied hats to the hanging spot.
- Fix the line. Staple the line to the ceiling, then tie another knot around the staple for security.
The hanging length is up to you. Her tip is to add that second knot, and she suggests a backdrop so trick-or-treaters can take photos.
How do you add lights and hang them outdoors?
Melissa Mortenson of Polka Dot Chair builds a porch version that glows. Her steps are:
- Plan the layout. Lay the hats on the porch floor to decide how many to use and how far apart.
- Attach hooks. Put one outdoor command hook on the ceiling at each spot, and let it set for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Thread the line. Use a needle to pull 2 to 3 feet of fishing line through the hat’s point from the outside, leave the rest outside, then tie the line to a safety pin.
- Add the light. Clip the safety pin to the light stick inside the hat.
- Hang. Tie a loop at the end of the line on top of the hat and hang it on the hook. Adjust the height by lengthening or shortening the line.
Her notes: most LED lights will not run for 30 days straight, so she turned them on and off nightly; LED light pucks held up less well to weather than light sticks, so she recommends sticks outdoors; and lightweight lights matter. She also says the hats could work indoors.
Which method is better for your space?
Staples are fast and cheap but leave holes, which is our observation rather than either source’s. Hooks are removable and suit a porch ceiling. If you rent or hang over a finished ceiling, use hooks; if you are decorating a garage or basement, staples are quicker. Either way, keep the line short enough that the hats are not hit by a door and check the weather: our weatherproofing guide covers keeping outdoor decor dry.
Safety note: neither source gives safety guidance, so these are ours. Have someone hold the ladder, use flameless lights only inside fabric or paper hats, and keep fishing line out of the walking path where it is hard to see.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many witch hats do you need? Hometalk uses six to twelve. Polka Dot Chair decides the number by laying hats out on the porch floor.
How long should the fishing line be? Hometalk cuts about 12 inches per hat but says length is optional. Polka Dot Chair starts with 2 to 3 feet so she can adjust the height.
Can you light the hats? Yes. Polka Dot Chair clips a battery LED light stick inside each hat, and also lists battery tea lights or glow sticks.
Will they work outdoors? Polka Dot Chair hangs them on a porch with outdoor command hooks and says light sticks held up better than pucks in the weather.
How much does it cost? Hometalk lists about $15 for hats and line. The Polka Dot Chair post gives no total cost.
Want a bigger entrance? Start your first home haunt with this beginner guide.
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