31 Easy Pumpkin Carving Ideas for the Best Jack-o'-Lanterns (2024)

DIY Halloween Pumpkins and Other Spooky and Fun Seasonal Projects

Cactus Pumpkin Stencil

This cactus pumpkin is one of our easiest designs! All you have to do is transfer the design from our free printable stencil and carve away the indicated area, revealing a cactus silhouetted against a sunset. You can hollow out the pumpkin and place a light inside to make it glow from within, but it will last longer if you leave the gourd intact.

Frankenstein Face Pumpkin

Create a Frankenstein monster that's goofy and not too spooky. Our free stencil is easy and fun for all ages. A pumpkin carving knife is the only tool you'll need for this pumpkin carving idea.

Polka Dot Painted Pumpkin

If intricate carved designs aren't your strong suit, don't sweat it! You can create a clever carved pumpkin with one unexpected tool: a melon baller. To get the look, paint your pumpkin a solid color and let it dry. Then, carve out circles using the melon tool and pop them in backwards, so the bright orange flesh pops against the painted rind.

Deer Pumpkin Stencil

This deer pumpkin doesn't require any actual carving at all! First, transfer the stencil design to the surface of your pumpkin, then use an etching tool from a pumpkin carving tool kit to create the silhouette of the deer. When you're done, light the pumpkin from the inside for a subtle spooky glow.

Leaf Pumpkin Stencil

Make your carved pumpkins last longer by etching them rather than carving all the way through. This pretty leaf pattern is perfect for fall, and by etching it (and rubbing a little petroleum jelly on the surface) you can keep the pumpkin looking fresh from Halloween through Thanksgiving.

Peek-a-Boo Barn

This farm-theme pumpkin is all about using your imagination. Carve out a barn-shaped opening, filling it with mini bales of straw and wee gourd animals. The no-carve cow and pig come to life using outdoor acrylic paint, felt, and glue—customize them to look like your favorite critters. Turn kids loose with supplies; they may be inspired to create an entire barnyard menagerie!

Slithering Snakes

This pumpkin will definitely give you the creepy crawlies, but it's actually one of the easiest carving ideas ever. All you have to do is cut a hole in the bottom of the gourd and clean it out. Then, take a drill and add holes all over the pumpkin, threading faux rubber snakes through the holes as you go.

Scarecrow Pumpkin Stencil

Carve a spooky scarecrow to welcome trick-or-treaters to your front porch this Halloween. Our free printable pumpkin carving stencil will help you transfer the design. Carve out the large areas, then etch the smaller details like the scarecrow's mouth and straw hat.

Flame Pumpkin Patch

Whether you're carving a flame on a single pumpkin or assembling a DIY Halloween bonfire, we've got several free flame-shape stencils to choose from. You only need a big carving knife and a spoon to scoop out the insides for this simple pumpkin carving idea.

Easy Etched Pumpkins

No fancy carving tools or stencils needed for these pumpkins! To etch these simple floral designs, all you need is a simple etching tool. (If you don't have one, you can use a good old fashioned potato peeler instead.) Paint your pumpkin and let it dry, then freehand a floral pattern onto the surface; the simpler the better. Then, simply etch out the lines to reveal the orange pumpkin rind underneath.

Smiling Jack-o'-Lantern

Carve your biggest pumpkin with a broad, goofy smile to greet trick-or-treaters as they walk up to your front porch. This classic jack-o'-lantern just has four easy shapes, so you'll have a festive outdoor display completed in no time.

Cheese-and-Mice Pumpkin

The little ones will get a kick out of the cheeky (and cheesy!) pumpkin carving idea for kids. Coat a real or faux pumpkin with soft yellow paint, drill a few different-sized holes, and add plastic mice in various stages of entering and leaving. For safety, use battery-operated candles for illumination.

Zombie Pumpkin Stencil

Walking Dead fans rejoice—we've got the best pumpkin carving idea for you. Create a creepy zombie hand with a lit background for a shaded and spooky design. Use a lumpy and bumpy pumpkin to complete the undead look.

Cute Owl Pumpkin

This pumpkin design is anything but scary! The details of this stencil include leaves, flowers, and polka dots. Use a drill and traditional carving tools to bring this Halloween hoot owl to life.

Train Car Pumpkins

Choo–choo, choose pumpkins of a similar size and shape. Cut out wheels and windows, then paint the train cars. This cute-as-pumpkin-pie idea is more freight than fright—what a delight!

Batty Pumpkins

Felt wings and ears secured with toothpicks transform petite pumpkins into wicked-cute bats. Etch out the eyes, then stick red sewing pins through the center of each to create beady stares. A coat of black paint on the bodies makes the eyes appear to glow even during the day.

Dragon Pumpkin

This dragon pumpkin stencil breathes fire, which looks almost real once a candle is placed inside. This design plays with a mix of scraping and total carving for different amounts of light in different shapes.

Traditional Pumpkins with a Twist

One easy way to pump up a ho-hum pumpkin carving idea is to forget the orange and try a colorful gourd instead. Here, a green pumpkin transforms a traditional triangle face and crooked grin into an eye-catching focal point.

Angry Face Pumpkin

This angry pumpkin has teeth, pupils, and wobbly eyebrows, creating a spooky, seasonal decoration. Use a pumpkin saw and our carving template to get the look for your front entryway this fall. Don't forget to put a small votive candle inside to illuminate the face.

Pumpkin Trio

A new twist on traditional pumpkin jack-o'-lanterns comes courtesy of this loveable trio of pumpkin carving ideas. Monster-inspired but without the spook factor, these designs perfectly complement good-natured seasonal decorating. Create one to stand alone or group them to spice up your front entry for trick-or-treaters.

• Download the googly eyes stencil.
• Download the Cyclops stencil.

Grinning Pumpkin Grouping

If you have multiple carvers in your household, these silly pumpkin carving ideas are perfect. Each person can create a unique design. This grouping is forgiving of any flaws, with wide grins, big eyes, and goofy expressions—try one or all of our ideas for pumpkin faces to carve.

Monogrammed Pumpkins

To make these pretty monogrammed Halloween pumpkins, decide whether to use your family name initial or the initials of each family member's first name. Then, let each person pick their pumpkin in various colors and sizes. You can print letters in different fonts to mix things up. Trace them onto pumpkins and carve or gouge them out.

Pumpkin Luminarias

Light up your walkway for trick-or-treaters this Halloween with miniature pumpkin luminarias. Small-to-midsize pumpkins work perfectly for this pumpkin carving idea. Hang a series of these carved faces along a sidewalk using heavy-gauge wire and black shepherd's hooks. Skip the candles and use battery-operated lights instead.

Laughing Pumpkin

Your littlest ones will love the good-natured spirit of this easy pumpkin carving idea. The pattern isn't difficult to cut out with crooked teeth, oversized nose, and expressive eyebrows. For long-lasting light, consider battery-operated candles.

Sly Vampire

This smiling vampire stencil may seem scary at first, but he's a friendly monster. Just look at that grin! He's all fun and games with a hooked nose and dramatic eyebrows. To make this vampire, use our stencil as a guide.

Ghost Emoji Stencil

Boo, we see you! For this pumpkin carving idea, don't use just any ghost—use your favorite emoji instead! A playful emoji ghost will make an Instagram-friendly accent for your Halloween home. Bonus: Our ghost stencil is perfect for pumpkin decorators who would rather etch than carve their designs.

Flower-Power Pumpkins

Take any cheerful pumpkin carving pattern, add flowers and greenery, and voila: floral-enhanced jack-o'-lanterns! Happy faces are quick to carve, and bright colors add a light touch to this autumn duo. Attach accents with pins, toothpicks, or glue for adorable smiling pumpkins.

Pumpkin House Numbers

This personalized pumpkin carving idea is a great way to welcome visitors to your home this Halloween season. Start by removing the stems from the pumpkins (except for the top one). Trace number stencils onto pumpkins using a crafts knife, then chisel the pumpkin skin out of the stenciled numbers, revealing the lighter pumpkin flesh beneath.

Pumpkin for the Birds

Your kids will have fun helping pick out accents for this pumpkin carving idea that's for the birds. Transfer the pattern onto a pumpkin and cut it out. Make sure to cut the lid with a zigzag edge. Wind wire around the feet of artificial crows and position them as desired. Poke the wire ends into the pumpkin to secure the birds in place (you also could use fake mice or rats as other seasonal accents).

Mice Stencils

Give your cat pumpkin something to chase. Complete your display with a fun scattering of mice using our free printable pumpkin carving stencils. Group multiple mice on one large pumpkin or carve individual pumpkins for more flexibility.

Drilled-Face Pumpkins

Make quick work of easy pumpkin carving with everyone's favorite tool: a drill. Start with a quick sketch of your design and use a drill with a small bit to create evenly spaced holes in the pumpkin. Tuck in a strand of LED lights for constant illumination.