Pumpkin Carving Ideas for an Epic Pumpkin Carving Night (2024)

FREE Pumpkin Stencils

Use this huge list of free pumpkin carving ideas to help you create an amazing pumpkin for Halloween this year! Certainly, with so many pumpkin patterns and stencils to choose from, you’ll find the inspiration you need!

But first, it may be helpful to learn how to actually CARVE a pumpkin successfully. So without further adieu…

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How to Carve a Pumpkin

To start your scary pumpkin carving, cut a circle around the pumpkin’s stem using a serrated knife. Pull off this piece and set it aside. Now, it’s time to get messy!

Remove all of the goop and guts so you can move on to the pumpkin stencil fun. Scrape along the inside of the pumpkin until you get all of the guts and seeds out. Now it’s time to choose your pumpkin template.

Scroll below to find the pumpkin carving stencils that fit your vision. Print the pumpkin stencils and hold it up to your pumpkin. Puncture the paper and pumpkin with a toothpick along the lines of the pumpkin template you chose. When you remove the paper, you will see a bunch of little dots where you can begin cutting with your pairing knife.

When you finish carving your pumpkin, put a tea light or candle inside and light it up!

Are you wondering what tools will work best for carving a pumpkin? We’ve got your back!

Here are some ideal carving tools we recommend:

• Serrated knife
• Pairing knife
• Scraper
• Pumpkin Template
• Tea Lights
• Toothpicks

Of course you can buy a pack ofpumpkin carving tools, but we linked utensils you probably already own.

75 Fun and Easy Pumpkin Stencil Patterns

This list hits all the major categories you want in pumpkin carving stencils! Below you will find:

By the way, all of the below stencils and pumpkin patterns print for FREE.

Pumpkin Template Ideas for Kids

These free pumpkin stencils are great for inspiring your own pumpkin carving ideas!

1. Amazing Spider-Man

All kids love Spider-Man, so help their dreams come true with this great carving pattern for pumpkins.

2.Superman

Superman is a classic when it comes to Halloween!

3.Rocket

Create this great rocket for your child’s pumpkin carving (if you don’t want to look at the whole slideshow, clickhereto just print the rocket).

4.Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse is a favorite for any kid. Carve this awesome pumpkin for your child!

5.Phineas (and Ferb)

Create this kid icon for your pumpkin carving party this year.

6.Kermit the Frog

Make this great Kermit the Frog pumpkin to help your Halloween be perfect.

7.Goofy

This list wouldn’t be complete without Goofy! He’ll make your Halloween carvings complete!

8.Olaf

Isn’t this Olaf Halloween carving design just amazing?Forget the kids, I want to carve this one!

9.Lightning McQueen

Go as fast as lightning with this great pumpkin carving pattern!

10.Tinkerbell

Everyone loves Tinkerbell! Turn your Halloween pumpkin into her great character!

11.Ferb

You can’t have Phineas without Ferb! Use this creative pumpkin pattern to make this great character come to life!

12.Minnie Mouse

Help Minnie come to life with this great carving pattern. You could even pair her with Mickey, up above, for a true match made in heaven.

13.Mike Wazowski

Bring a friendly monster to life with this awesome pumpkin carving pattern!

14.Ariel

Halloween wouldn’t be complete without adding a princess to the mix!

15.Toy Story Alien

Bring this funny and silly creature to life for Halloween with this amazing pumpkin carving pattern.

Classic Halloween Pumpkin Carving Ideas

You can’t have Halloween without some of the classics! Whether you are looking for spiders or witches, we have the free pumpkin patterns you need.

16.Spider

Our list just wouldn’t be complete without including a great, spider carving pattern ideas!

17.Spider Web

For those that are more adventurous, try this fantastic spider web carving pattern.

18.Black Cat

Halloween carving just wouldn’t be the same without this great cat-themed pumpkin pattern.

19.Bat

Bats are one of the most common Halloween themed creatures, so we had to include one in this great carving patterns list!

20.Skull

This pirate skull pumpkin is a perfect Halloween theme!

21.Witch Text

Instead of carving an actual witch, use this awesome, scary, text, carving pattern as a great alternative.

22.Witch’s Brew

This is a fantastic carving pattern if you are looking for a spooky witch!

23.Owl and Falling Leaves

This is a super creative, owl carving pattern to use this Halloween!

24.Pumpkin

Halloween is not Halloween without pumpkins! So use this great pumpkin carving stencil to transform your Halloween pumpkin into something amazing.(If you don’t want to look at the whole slideshow, clickhereto just print the pumpkin pattern.)

25.Jack-o-Lantern

These fantastic jack-o-lantern patterns are perfect to spice up your porch this Halloween.

26.Skeleton

Skeleton’s are an iconic symbol of Halloween which makes it an ideal, carving pattern for pumpkins!

27.Haunted House

Ooooooo! A scary haunted house is just what you need for a great pumpkin carving party!

28.Graveyard

This graveyard carving stencil is perfect for your Halloween pumpkin this year!

29.Howling Wolf

Channel your inner animal with this amazing carving pattern.

30.R.I.P.

What represents Halloween better than a gravestone? Nothing! So use this amazing pumpkin carving pattern in your Halloween plans this year.

Scary Pumpkin Carving Ideas

If you want a super spooky Halloween theme for your house this year, this is the list for you! These scary, free pumpkin stencils sure are people pleasers.

31.Ghostly Figure

This is the perfect picture if you are looking for a creepy pumpkin.

32.Medusa

This is a super, scary, pumpkin face that will make your pumpkin carving a hit!

33.Skull

Scare your neighbors with this great skull carving pattern.

34.The Grim Reaper

Seriously, this is a super scary, carving pattern…which I LOVE!

35.Scary Gargoyle

It doesn’t get much scarier than this scary gargoyle carving pattern.

36.Skull with Flames

Take the normal skull to the next ‘scary’ level with these flames coming out of the skull in this pumpkin stencil.

37.Glare Stare

This super, scary stare is just what you need to make your Halloween extra intimidating.

38.Hand Reaching

Easy enough for a beginner, but creepy enough to make it perfect for your Halloween pumpkin carving party!

39.Vampire

What’s Halloween without a vampire? Complete your Halloween with this wonderfully spooky vampire carving stencil.

40.Scary Clown

This Pennywise stencil is theperfect scary pumpkin carving pattern!

41.Freddy Krueger

This creepy classic is great for a scary pumpkin carving.

42.Scary Face

Ooooo…this creepy face carving pattern is super spooky and awesome!

43.Green Witch

There is just something super creepy about witches. This great carving pattern is no exception!

44.Monster Lady

This pumpkin pattern of a lady monster is cool and creepy!

45.Frankenstein Screaming

Use this super scary Frankenstein carving pattern on your Halloween pumpkin this year to get into the scaring spirit!

TV and Movie Themed Pumpkin Carving Templates

If you love movies and want your favorite characters turned into pumpkin patterns, we have all the free pumpkin stencils you’ll need! If you or your kiddos are dressing up as characters, it’s also super fun to carve a pumpkin to match their costumes!

46.Chewbacca

Talk about free pumpkin stencils that are sure to please! A Chewbacca pumpkin is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

47.C3PO

This is the type of Star Wars pumpkin carving pattern that is simple enough to complete, but hard enough that it will impress anyone who walks by!

48.Avengers

An Avengers pumpkin will certainly make your kids happy! This is an excellent pattern for mini pumpkins!

49.Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a classic movie character that is perfect for your carving pattern needs!

50.Darth Vader

Darth Vader is the most well-known character of the most popular movie series ever created! Have fun carving him into your pumpkin this year!

51.Harry Potter Text

So if carving a Harry Potter face in a pumpkin is sounding a little too hard, give this simple pumpkin pattern a try!

52.Jaws

Du-duh, du-duh, du-duh… Come on, you have to go along with me and hear the Jaws theme song when you read this opening. This Jaws pumpkin carving pattern is a great classic movie and had to be a part of this list!

53.Batman

Batman is an absolute classic. So it makes for the perfect free pumpkin carving stencil. Also – this would work great on mini pumpkins.

54.Joker

The perfect amount of creepy and cool. This is what free pumpkin stencils are all about!

55.Wonder Woman

Looking for the perfect pumpkin patterns for your girls to carve? Wonder woman is always a good choice.

56.Dory

Simple, sweet, and your kids will love how this pumpkin carving pattern turns out!

57.Back to the Future

So here’s a throwback I know you can get behind! Use this cool design for some serious nostalgia.

58.Olaf

Tell me your kids and neighbors wouldn’t love this free pumpkin pattern!

59.Dumbo

A Dumbo pumpkin would certainly be a cute addition to your doorstep!

60.Ghost Busters

This Ghost Busters pumpkin stencil is certainly on my pumpkin patterns to-do list!

Artistic, Free Pumpkin Carving Stencils

If you like some gorgeous and super creative, free pumpkin patterns, then this is the list for you! These pumpkins are literally works of art. I would put them on a tablescape!

61.Fairy House

Transform your Halloween pumpkin into an amazing fairy house with this great design!

62.Night Owl

This is a super, creatively designed pattern that would be beautiful when completed.

63.Galaxy Pumpkins

Wow! These are gorgeous and super creative carving pumpkin patterns!

64.Where the Wild Things are

This iconic book comes to life with an amazing pumpkin carving stencil!

65.Nightmare Before Christmas

If you don’t want to scroll through all the awesome patterns, clickherefor this specific free pumpkin stencil.

66.Gourd Owls

So these pumpkin owls are super unique!

67.Dog- O-Lantern

Use a good silhouette picture to help create these fun, pet carving stencils.

68.Haunted House

Choose from 1 of 3 free pumpkin patterns. The list of templates is on the side of the page.

69.Snake Pumpkins

Use these unique templates to create reptile pumpkins.

70.Fox and Bunny

Gorgeous, whimsical pumpkins with free carving templates!

71.Etched Silhouettes

These different Victorian styled Halloween pumpkin patterns are the perfect inspiration as Halloween pumpkin carving ideas.

72.Cat

Turn your pumpkin carvings into masterful art pieces this Halloween.

73.Mouse House

This strange mouse house is what you need to make your Halloween carving super unique!

74.Lace Patterned

These lace pumpkin patterns are so creative and just awesome!

75.Pattern Pumpkin

Make a pumpkin pattern that wraps around the whole pumpkin.

We hope you got all of the pumpkin carving ideas and inspiration you could dream of! For more ways to make this the best fall ever, click over to our:

• Pumpkin Designs
• Easy Family Halloween Costumes
• Bedroom Costume Ideas
• Pumpkin Patch Date
• Creative Halloween Food Names
• Pumpkin Party Games
• Halloween Games for Kids
• Family Reunion Activities