Short answer
Base coat the rock black. Paint a white ghost with a rounded top and a wavy bottom edge, let it dry, and give it a second coat of white. Add two black oval eyes and an open mouth. A medium 1.8 to 2.5 mm white paint pen fills the ghost; an extra fine 0.7 mm black adds the face.
Choosing a stone for a ghost
Any stone works, but two shapes are especially good. A tall stone with a rounded top can become a ghost-shaped rock, painted white all over with just a face. A flat round or oval stone holds a ghost painted on a black background, which is the classic look.
Ghost painted rocks, step by step
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No. 01Easy
Classic ghost on black
- Level
- Easy
- Tips
- Medium, fine
- Colors
- Black, white
- Rock
- Flat round or oval
- Base coat the rock black and let it dry.
- Paint a white ghost with a rounded top and a wavy bottom edge.
- Let it dry, then add a second coat of white.
- Paint two black oval eyes and an open mouth.
Markers for this design: a white paint marker that covers on dark grounds, plus a black fine tip.
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No. 02Easy
Two little ghosts that say boo
- Level
- Easy
- Tips
- Medium, extra fine
- Colors
- Black, white, orange
- Rock
- Wide, flat
- Base coat black.
- Paint two small white ghosts near the top, one at each side.
- Letter “boo” in orange across the bottom; pencil it in first.
- Dot black eyes on the ghosts once the white is dry.
Markers for this design: rock painting markers in color, plus a white paint marker for highlights.
Ghost rock ideas to vary it
| Idea | How to paint it | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Ghost-shaped rock | Paint the whole upright stone white, add a face near the top | Medium, extra fine |
| Ghost with a pumpkin | A small orange pumpkin held in the ghost’s wavy arms | Medium, fine |
| Ghost family | Three ghosts on three stones, big to small | Medium, extra fine |
| Cute ghost | Round eyes set low, pink cheeks and a tiny smile | Extra fine |
| Ghost in the moonlight | Navy base, a yellow moon, a small ghost floating across it | Medium, extra fine |
| Glow ghost | Paint the ghost with glow-in-the-dark craft paint over the white | Brush, medium |
Getting white to cover on black
White is the color that makes or breaks a ghost rock. On black, most white paint pens look grey after one coat.
- Let the black dry fully
White over damp black turns grey and streaky. Give the base coat time.
- Prime the pen
Pump a pump-action marker on scrap paper until the tip is full of white, not watery.
- Thin first coat
Fill the shape in one light, even coat. Do not scrub back and forth.
- Second coat once dry
The second coat is what makes it bright. A third is fine on very dark stones.
- Face last
Add black eyes and mouth only when the white is completely dry.
Our white paint markers page compares the whites that cover best.
A ghost rock hunt
Ghosts are perfect for a Halloween rock hunt in your own yard or with a local rock group. The Kindness Rocks Project asks painters to skip googly eyes and stickers because they can harm animals, to seal rocks with a clear top coat, and to get permission before leaving rocks anywhere (project guidelines). Seal hunt rocks well; see how to seal painted rocks.
Supplies for ghost painted rocks
White and black markers plus a sealer, each listing checked by hand. More on paint pens for rock painting.
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Posca white fine pack: PC-1M, PC-3M and PC-5M
White in three widths: medium for the ghost, fine for small ghosts, extra fine for lettering.
- 0.7, 0.9 to 1.3 and 1.8 to 2.5 mm
- All white
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Posca PC-5M white, 3 count
Three medium whites, because ghosts use a lot of white and need two coats.
- 1.8 to 2.5 mm
- White
-
Posca PC-1M black, 3 count
Extra fine black for eyes and mouths.
- 0.7 mm
- Black
-
Artistro white extra fine paint markers, set of 2
A budget white for small ghosts and lettering. Its white was one of the most opaque pens in Sarah Renae Clark’s review.
- 0.7 mm extra fine
- White only
-
Krylon Crystal Clear acrylic coating spray
A clear acrylic spray top coat for ghost rocks left outside.
- Aerosol, 6 oz
- Clear finish
Each pick links to an Amazon listing we checked by hand. Prices, colors and pack sizes change on Amazon, so check the listing before you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
More Halloween rock ideas
Jack-o-lanterns, bats, webs and mummies are on Halloween painted rocks, and pumpkins on painted rock pumpkins. Every theme is on the rock painting ideas hub.
Questions people ask
Should I keep a painted ghost rock I find?
Usually yes. Most painted rocks left in public are kindness rocks, meant to be found, kept or re-hidden somewhere else. Check the back: many carry a group name or hashtag, and some groups ask finders to post a photo. Leave rocks that are clearly part of a memorial, a garden display or someone’s yard where they are.
What do I seal painted rocks with?
A clear acrylic spray sealer is the common choice, in gloss or matte. Spray two or three light coats once the paint is fully dry, outdoors or in a ventilated room, and let each coat dry. Spray rather than brush the first coat, since a brush can drag water-based marker paint. Outdoor rocks need sealing most.
Why do people hide painted rocks?
To surprise and cheer up strangers. The kindness rocks movement encourages people to paint upbeat designs or messages and leave them for others to find, and many towns have rock hunting groups where finders share photos. For kids, painting and hiding rocks, then hunting for others’ rocks, is a free outdoor game.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-10-14. Specs and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
