What You Need to Know Before You Buy the Big Skeleton

Believe it or not, it’s been just over three years since Home Depot first introduced its giant skeleton—and the 12-foot decoration, which went viral on social media during the lockdowns of 2020, has now taken the central spot in many homeowners’ Halloween displays.

That said, a $299 Home Depot skeleton that’s the size of two adults stacked on top of each other isn’t exactly an impulse buy—which means that if you’re thinking about buying one, you probably have a few questions. How much space do you need to set it up, and how difficult is it to put together? Is the big skeleton likely to fall over? How can you keep your giant skeleton from scaring the younger children in your neighborhood? Most importantly, what do you do with a 12-foot skeleton after Halloween ends?

We asked the experts—including The Home Depot designer who helped launch the trend in the first place—and here’s what you need to know.

How much space does a big skeleton take up?

If you’re going to put a giant skeleton in your yard, it’s a good idea to make sure you have enough space before you get started. Lance Allen, Senior Merchant of Decorative Holiday at The Home Depot, recommends setting aside nearly 7 feet of width—and, of course, enough vertical space for your skeleton to reach its full height!

"Our big skeleton—or, as we like to call him, Skelly—towers at an impressive 12 feet tall and is around 6 ½ feet wide," says Allen, who led the design and development of Home Depot’s first oversized skeletons and remains one of their most enthusiastic champions. "So, whether you opt to keep him as a friendly outdoor companion or set him up indoors, it’s essential to allocate sufficient space for his setup."

How much work does it take to set up a big skeleton?

Kathryn Emery, a home and lifestyle expert with a  popular advice site, Be The Best Home, recently bought a 12-foot skeleton for her own front yard—and found the setup process to be both easy and intuitive. "Setup was easier than expected," says Emery. "I was anticipating breaking some of my own bones trying to put up the second half of the skeleton on a ladder, but Home Depot made it very easy."

These kinds of skeletons come out of the box almost ready to go, but you’ll want to set aside some time to read the directions—and you’ll probably need another adult to help you put the skeleton together.

"The assembly will take at least an hour," Allen explains. "For the best display experience, we strongly advise a minimum of two adults during the setup process and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions."

How can you make sure your big skeleton stands securely?

Some Halloween decorations have the potential to topple over, especially if you live in an area that gets wet, windy Octobers—which means you might want to put a little extra effort into anchoring your 12-foot skeleton in place.

"The key is putting the skeleton on a sturdy surface to begin with," Emery advises. "The flatter the better! I propped my skeleton on a wooden stand and put sandbags on the base, so the wind couldn’t knock my skeleton down."

Many 12-foot skeletons come with stand extensions and stakes that can be used for additional stability. It’s also a good idea to ask your family members to leave the skeleton alone once it is in its secure upright position. While kids and adults may enjoy repositioning the arms, redecorating the skull, giving the skeleton high-fives and so on, every interaction with the skeleton is an opportunity to nudge it out of balance.

"Once your giant skeleton is assembled," says Allen, "please refrain from allowing anyone to climb on him!"

Does the big skeleton scare small children?

If you have small children in your neighborhood—or if you anticipate a large number of tiny trick-or-treaters on Halloween—you might be wondering whether a 12-foot skeleton will be too much for some kids to handle.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to make your big skeleton silly instead of scary. You could securely attach a fun costume component, for example—a pirate hat, a feather boa or a pair of brightly-colored shorts. You could give your skeleton its own pumpkin-shaped trick-or-treat bag. You could even deck your skeleton out in friendly purple and orange lights instead of frightening red ones.

"Updating your giant skeleton is a creative way to put a fresh spin on this Halloween superstar," Allen argues. "It's also a fantastic way to make him more playful and approachable, as well as attract trick-or-treaters with his bright light."

If you’d prefer to take the scary route, take a tip from Emery, who chose a giant skeleton that came with moving eyes and a glowing chest cavity; so far, her neighbors have been thrilled. "Our skeleton has added excitement to the neighborhood," she told us. "We've already become the walking path for many families."

In fact, Emery has seen so much success with her 12-foot skeleton that she’s already thinking about next Halloween. "Of course I’m planning to put it up again," she says. "Why spend $299 on something that you’re only going to use once?" That said, she’s going to find a way to store the 12-foot skeleton that doesn’t involve putting it back into its original packaging. "I’m hoping to wrap the skeleton in black garbage bags to prevent damaging him. Then I will tuck him into two or three medium-sized boxes that I can stack in my outdoor shed until spooky season rolls around again!"

Top illustration by Malachy Egan

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