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50 Easy Pumpkin Carving Ideas for This Halloween

Brian Gregory

By Brian Gregory
Updated October 13, 2023

No outdoor fall display is complete without pumpkins. We’ll show you some do-it-yourself (DIY) creative pumpkin carving ideas, including a spider, a scarecrow and a lantern design.

Two carved jack-o'-lanterns sitting on a sidewalk.

What Shape Are Pumpkins?

An orange pumpkin sitting outside on a wood table.

Pumpkins are available in many different sizes, colors, and textures. The most familiar shape is the traditional round pumpkin. This profile makes it instantly recognizable while also making them ideal for carving into jack-o'-lanterns or decorative canvases for Halloween or Fall decorations. If you are thinking of using pumpkins to decorate, there are many options and color choices to select from. One option is to use oblong or oval-shaped pumpkins for free-form pumpkin carvings to compliment traditional jack-o'-lanterns.

Traditional Jack-o’-Lantern

A traditional jack-o’-lantern face carved on a pumpkin sitting on a doorstep.

If the traditional look is what you’re going for, you can’t go wrong with a spooky, carved jack-o’-lantern. You’re only limited by your creativity. You can use a template or carve a face freehand. There are a lot of tool options. For a safe, fun pumpkin carving activity children can do with supervision, a pumpkin carving kit is the perfect choice as it allows you to create countless designs without overly sharp instruments. Just score the outside of the pumpkin, use a crayon to trace your design, cut it out and then clean up the edges.

Get Creative With Fun Carving Ideas

If you’re stuck thinking of ideas for a pumpkin carving design to display on your porch this Halloween, we’ve got some DIY designs to take your pumpkin from ordinary to outstanding. Whether you want to create a spooky face or a stylish piece of décor, these Halloween pumpkin carving ideas and stencils will help get you started.

Punk Rock and Angry Pumpkins

Punk Rock Pumpkin

This pumpkin has a handle nose, hinge ears and a lock earring. Wire hair completes the effect. Download the face patterns.

Angry Pumpkin

This pumpkin has a toothy grin. But what’s behind those eyes? Carve one of these pumpkins with our patterns.

Two images of a punk rock carved pumpkin and an angry carved pumpkin

Frightened and Nervous Pumpkins

Frightened Pumpkin

Strands of wire show this pumpkin witnessed a frightful sight. Create your own pumpkin with our patterns.

Nervous Pumpkin

This pumpkin seems nervous with wide eyes and chattering teeth. Try this design with our face patterns.

Two images of a frightened carved pumpkin and a nervous carved pumpkin.

Curly-Haired and Happy Pumpkins

Curly-Haired Pumpkin

To create this look, wrap a dowel with wire and insert the wire into holes in the top of the pumpkin. Start with our patterns.

Happy Pumpkin

This stitch-mouthed pumpkin looks content as it waits for Halloween to arrive. Try this grin with our patterns.

Two images of a curly-haired carved pumpkin and a happy carved pumpkin.

Gourd Goblin and Stacked Scarecrow Pumpkins

Gourd Goblin

To make this goblin, drill out the sides for the arms. Add gourds as arms, a nose and eyes, then finish the pumpkin with a goofy grin.

Stacked Scarecrow

Add height to your display with stacked pumpkins. Carve out center holes for a thick dowel to hold the pumpkins in place.

A gourd goblin carved pumpkin and a scarecrow made from stacked pumpkins

Try Pumpkin Designs With Etching and More

If you want decorating ideas that are a bit different than a traditional carved pumpkin, we’ve got some designs you can try. From etching to creating pumpkin lanterns, these ideas can give you a perfect porch for the season.

Tip

With etched designs, the pumpkin’s glow depends on the thickness of the flesh. For less light, leave the skin thick. For a lot of light, scrape the skin until it’s thin. You can speed up the process with an oscillating tool.

Gingko Garland and Fall Leaf Pumpkin

Ginkgo Garland

Wrap a pumpkin in carved leaves. Get the free stencil, trace the pattern and cut away the outer skin with pumpkin carving tools.

Fall Leaf Pumpkin

Try a fall leaf design. Outline the downloadable stencil with holes about 1/4 inch apart, then scrape out the design, removing the top layer of skin. Accent with a mini pumpkin or two.

A ginkgo garland etched pumpkin and a fall leaf etched pumpkin.

Owl Pumpkin and Star-Gazing Cat Pumpkin

Owl Pumpkin

Create an owl face. Outline the pattern with holes about 1/4 inch apart. Create grooves for the thin lines. With the blade at an angle, carve both sides of the outline to create a V-channel.

Star-Gazing Cat Pumpkin

A cat is perfect for the season. Outline the pattern with holes and then scrape out the sky around the cat and stars.

An owl etched pumpkin and a star-gazing cat pumpkin.

Bat Pumpkin and Textured Designs Pumpkin

Bat Pumpkin

Use a bat for facial features. Outline the stencil with holes about 1/4 inch apart. Scrape off the top layer of the pumpkin. Leave a thin layer for a two-toned look.

Textured Design

Try detailed designs with a Dremel rotary tool. An etching bit outlines the design, and a sanding bit removes the pumpkin skin for texture or depth.

A bat design etched pumpkin and a pumpkin with boo etched into it.

Street Address Pumpkins and Pumpkin Path Lights

Street Address Pumpkin

Paint a large pumpkin as a background for your address. A white pumpkin will work well. Now, just attach house numbers with nails.

Pumpkin Path Lights

Make outdoor lanterns. Bore holes in painted pumpkins and add finials. An opening in the back lets you add LED tea lights. Use eyebolts to suspend them from shepherds hooks.

A white pumpkin with the numbers 418 and three black pumpkin path lights hung on shepherds hooks.

Mum Planter Pumpkin and Spooky Spider Pumpkin

Mum Planter

A medium or large pumpkin is a perfect planter for an autumn arrangement. Scoop out the pumpkin, drill drainage holes, and add potting soil and live mums.

Spooky Spider

With paint, dowel rods and wood glue, you can create this imaginative spider. Make a web for your pumpkin spider by tying together some simple white yarn.

A mum planter pumpkin and a spooky spider pumpkin.

More Pumpkin Carving Design Ideas

Think of your pumpkin as a blank canvas and let your imagination help you create your own designs. You can choose to carve, etch and paint your Halloween pumpkin with whatever you may like for a spooky, funny, or trendy jack-o’-lantern. We have listed some popular themes to help get you started.

A man using a Dremel tool to etch a design on a pumpkin.

Classic Halloween Icons

  • Witch riding a broomstick
  • Skeletons
  • Tombstones

A pair of classic designed Halloween pumpkins.

Halloween Creatures

  • Ghosts
  • Vampires
  • Zombies
  • Black cats

A pumpkin carved with the image of a ghost on a step.

Fantasy and Mythology

  • Dragons
  • Fairies
  • Unicorns

Cute and Funny

  • Animals
  • Cartoons
  • Funny faces

A pumpkin carved with an owl image.

Pop Culture

  • Movie characters
  • TV shows
  • Musical acts
  • Song lyrics

Hobbies and Sports

  • Sports team logos
  • Sports equipment
  • Musical instruments

Food and Drink

  • Halloween candy
  • Pumpkin spiced items
  • Coffee
  • Cupcakes and ice cream

Nature

  • Pets
  • Autumn leaves
  • Sunflowers and other fall flowers
  • Animals

A pumpkin carved with flower designs.

Letters and Words

  • Monograms
  • Spooky phrases
  • Children’s names
  • Use multiple pumpkins to spell out words

Four pumpkins carved to spell out fall with a leaf.

Use Paint and Decorations

If carving isn’t on your to-do list but you still want a decorated jack-o’-lantern, there are many more ways to get a great Halloween item. You can paint your pumpkin in a solid color, with a spooky or fun design, and use twine, wire and other home items to make a unique addition to your Halloween décor.

A pumpkin painted silver and decorated with dark brown tacks.

Using Clorox® Regular Bleach2 With CLOROMAX® to Keep Pumpkins Fresh

A bottle of Clorox Regular Bleach.

To keep your pumpkin masterpieces looking freshly carved for longer, try mixing three teaspoons of Clorox® Regular Bleach2 with CLOROMAX® in 3 gallons of water. Add the solution to a labelled spray bottle and liberally mist the inside of your pumpkin after you’re done carving. This smart tip works for pumpkins of any size.

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