There’s plenty to love about these Halloween pumpkins.
We have everything from kid-friendly smiley faces to spooky bats and ghouls.
Your whole family will find plenty to love about these pumpkin carving ideas for Halloween decorations.
Credit: Adam Albright
Our freepumpkin carving stencilsmake these designs super easy to create.
Checkerboard Pumpkins
Jim Franco
Place these checkerboard pumpkins around your house for stylish fall decor.
To make the design, trace squares onto a pumpkin, and cut the squares away.
Credit:Jim Franco
Incorporate different sizes to make a unique pattern, or use the same square stencil for aclassic checkerboardlook.
Friendly Vampire Pumpkin
Adam Albright
Vampires don’t have to be scary.
Carve a cute vampire face on your pumpkin using our free stencil as a guide.
Credit:Adam Albright
Use a craft or wood-cutting knife to carve the solid lines to create the friendly vampire face.
Cactus Pumpkin Stencil
This cactus pumpkin is one of our easiest designs!
Frankenstein Face Pumpkin
Create a Frankenstein monster that’s goofy and not too spooky.
Credit: Carson Downing
Our free stencil is easy andHalloween funfor all ages.
Apumpkin carving knifeis the only tool you’ll need for this pumpkin carving idea.
Rainbow Pumpkin
Create a whimsical pumpkin instead of a spooky one this Halloween.
Credit: Adam Albright
Place the pumpkin on your front porch alongside white pumpkins andbrightly-colored mumsto complete the look.
Candy-Eating Pumpkin
Paul Brissman
This carved pumpkin doubles as both Halloween decor and a candy dish.
Simply carve out two holes for eyes and a wide smile for a mouth.
Credit:Paul Brissman
Craft eyes out of paper and fill the pumpkin’s mouth with your favorite candy.
Set outside for trick-or-treaters to enjoy, or keep thecandy stash for yourself!
Create different designs to give your pumpkins fun expressions.
Credit:Jason Donnelly
it’s possible for you to 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.
Deer Pumpkin Stencil
This deer pumpkindoesn’t require any actual carvingat all!
Credit: Michael Piazza
When you’re done, light the pumpkin from the inside for a subtle spooky glow.
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.
Credit: Carson Downing
Turn kids loose with supplies; they may be inspired to create an entire barnyard menagerie!
All you have to do is cut a hole in the bottom of the gourd and clean it out.
Scarecrow Pumpkin Stencil
Carve a spooky scarecrow to welcome trick-or-treaters to your front porch this Halloween.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
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.
Easy Etched Pumpkins
No fancy carving tools or stencils needed for these pumpkins!
Credit: Adam Albright
To etch these simple floral designs, all you need is a simple etching tool.
Then, simply etch out the lines to reveal the orange pumpkin rind underneath.
Thisfun jack-o'-lanternjust has four easy shapes, so you’ll have afestive outdoor displaycompleted in no time.
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Rub Vaseline on the carved areas of your pumpkin to make it last longer.
Cheese-and-Mice Pumpkin
The little ones will get a kick out of the cheeky (and cheesy!
)pumpkin carving idea for kids.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
For safety, use battery-operated candles for illumination.
Zombie Pumpkin Stencil
Walking Deadfans rejoicewe’ve got the best pumpkin carving idea for you.
Create a creepy zombie hand with a lit background for ashaded and spooky design.
Credit: Blaine Moats
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.
Credit: Michael Piazza
Use a drill and traditional carving tools to bring this Halloween hoot owl to life.
Train Car Pumpkins
Choochoo, choose pumpkins of a similar size and shape.
Cut out wheels and windows, then paint the train cars.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
This cute-as-pumpkin-pieidea is more freight than frightwhat a delight!
Batty Pumpkins
Felt wings and ears secured with toothpicks transformpetite pumpkinsinto wicked-cute bats.
Etch out the eyes, then stick red sewing pins through the center of each to create beady stares.
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
A coat of black paint on the bodies makes the eyes appear to glow even during the day.
This design plays with a mix of scraping and total carving for different amounts of light in different shapes.
Here, a green pumpkin transforms a traditional triangle face and crooked grin into an eye-catching focal point.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Use a pumpkin saw and our carving template to get the look for yourfront entrywaythis fall.
Don’t forget to put a small votive candle inside to illuminate the face.
Pumpkin Trio
A new twist on traditionalpumpkin jack-o'-lanternscomes courtesy of this loveable trio of pumpkin carving ideas.
Credit: Brie Passano
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 fortrick-or-treaters.
Grinning Pumpkin Grouping
If you have multiple carvers in your household, these sillypumpkin carving ideasare perfect.
Credit: Adam Albright
Each person can create a unique design.
Then, let each person pick their pumpkin in various colors and sizes.
you’re free to print letters in different fonts to mix things up.
Credit: Adam Albright
Trace them onto pumpkins and carve or gouge them out.
Pumpkin Luminarias
Light up your walkwayfor trick-or-treaters this Halloween with miniature pumpkin luminarias.
Small-to-midsize pumpkins work perfectly for this pumpkin carving idea.
Credit: Brie Passano
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.
Credit: Helen Norman
For long-lasting light, considerbattery-operated candles.
Just look at that grin!
He’s all fun and games with a hooked nose and dramatic eyebrows.
Credit: Brie Passano
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 ghostuse your favorite emoji instead!
Credit: Adam Albright
A playful emoji ghost will make an Instagram-friendly accent for your Halloween home.
Bonus: Our ghost stencil is perfect forpumpkin decoratorswho would rather etch than carve their designs.
Happy faces are quick to carve, and bright colors add a light touch to this autumn duo.
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
Attach accents with pins, toothpicks, or glue for adorable smiling pumpkins.
Start by removing the stems from the pumpkins (except for the top one).
Transfer the patternonto a pumpkinand cut it out.
Credit: Alexandra Grablewski
check that to cut the lid with a zigzag edge.
Wind wire around the feet of artificial crows and position them as desired.
Mice Stencils
Give yourcat pumpkinsomething to chase.
Credit: Andy Lyons
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.
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
Tuck in astrand of LED lightsfor constant illumination.
Credit: Adam Albright
Credit: Diane Starkey
Credit: Blaine Moats
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Jay Wilde
Credit: Jay Wilde
Credit: Steven Randazzo
