20 Free Printable Pumpkin Carving Stencils for a Happy Halloween
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Whether it’s in our outdoor Halloween decor or inside our living rooms in the fall, pumpkins are everywhere! Of course, you can display them in any way you’d like, but there’s nothing that beats the Halloween tradition of carving jack-o’-lanterns. These little gourds mark the turn of the season, and carving pumpkins for Halloween is one of the most fun fall activities you can do together. If you’re intimidated by the idea of coming up with a unique jack-o’-lantern design, you don’t have to worry about that anymore! We put together the best free pumpkin carving stencils to make the process easier than ever.
We’ve included all sorts of ghoulish characters, from spooky to friendly. There are bats, cats, haunted houses, Frankenstein monsters, and even simple pumpkin stencils like witch hats and classic jack-o’-lantern faces. With these printable pumpkin carving templates, your favorite fall activity will be easier then ever. Pick out a few different templates, or download our entire collection at the last link in our list for enough pumpkin carving fun for everyone.
We also wrote up a handy guide for how to print your stencils and how to use them when carving your jack-o’-lantern, so there’s no guessing games along the way. Your new fall-themed front porch friend will be ready to display in no time!
Note: As with any pumpkin carving activity, parents should be present to supervise.
How to Print Our Free Pumpkin Stencils
- Go through our list of stencils below, and click the DOWNLOAD NOW buttons for those you’d like to print out. A new browser window or tab will open for each stencil you click on.
- Navigate to the stencil browser window or tab, and find the printer icon on the top bar of the page. It should be between the download icon and the three dots.
- After you click the printer icon, a page will pop up with your print settings. Be sure the “Destination” printer is correct, and then click the “Print” button at the bottom right corner of the pop-up.
- Your stencil is now printed and ready to use!
How to Use Jack-O’-Lantern Stencils
In order to carve a pumpkin using a stencil, you’ll need a couple extra tools aside from your regular carving materials. Be sure you have tape or pins to adhere your stencil onto your pumpkin, a pen to map it out, and stencil carving tools to help get into the more detailed areas. With that, here’s how to carve a pumpkin using our free pumpkin stencils:
- Print out your stencils according to the directions above.
- Depending on how complex your design is, you have a couple different options for marking your stencil:
- For more detailed stencils (such as monsters, animals, or landscapes), adhere your stencil securely onto your pumpkin with pins or tape. Then, use a pushpin to poke small holes into your pumpkin following the stencil design. This will create a guide for later, when you take the stencil off and start carving.
- For simpler stencils (such as classic jack-o’-lantern faces), cut out the individual stencil shapes with scissors and use a marker to trace the cutouts onto the pumpkin.
- Once you have the stencil complete on your pumpkin, you can finally start carving! Use our handy pumpkin carving guide to make yours look like a pro’s.
01
Frankenstein Monster
Frankenstein’s monster just got a whole lot cuter. Pair this with a Halloween movie night and a DIY pillow fort and you’ve got the perfect family night in.
02
Haunted House
Style this one alongside the black cat and the potion bottles below, and you’ll have a whole scene of eerie jack-o’-lanterns.
03
Silly Face
Sometimes, you want your pumpkins to be a little more “treat” than “trick.” This silly pumpkin face will make a welcome addition to any front porch or window display.
04
Happy Pumpkin
Pair this goofy jack-o’-lantern stencil with the one above for a whole crew of jolly pumpkins to welcome in your crowd.
05
Spider Web
For the pumpkin carving artists who are up to the challenge, this could be a great one to hone in on those skills and make your jack-o’-lantern impressively detailed.
Note: We recommend this one for adults, since there’s lots of precision needed with carving here.
06
Witch Shoes
Play on the scene from the Wizard of Oz with one bigger pumpkin carved as a house and another smaller one donning these witch shoes!
07
Wolf Howling at the Moon
If you live in the countryside or the West where there’s plenty of mountains nearby, why not have your pumpkin stencils match your scenery? This wolf howling at the moon will cast the perfect spooky shadow.
08
Zombie Hand
Place a few of these completed pumpkins on your lawn for a haunted graveyard effect that will look positively frightful.
09
Classic Jack-O’-Lantern Pumpkin
You can’t go wrong with this option! It’s a simple, easy Halloween stencil that never goes out of style.
10
Kitty Cat
Black cats and Halloween are a purr-fect match. Give this furry friend the spotlight it deserves on your front porch.
11
Spooky Ghost
While a tidge spookier than Casper, this ghost stencil still feels friendly enough for children and adults.
12
Owl in the Moon
Isn’t this owl a “hoot”!? Kids may need some help navigating the smaller details, but it’d make a sweet addition to your outdoor Halloween decor.
13
Classic Sinister Jack-O’-Lantern
This strikes a nice balance when it comes to the fear factor, and it’s still easy enough for beginners to master.
14
Puppy Dog
If you’re a big dog person, this four-legged BFF is a no-brainer. Don’t forget to give it a name when you’re finished.
15
Halloween Bats
Attack of the (friendly) bats! This is a classic pumpkin stencil that’s appropriate for kids and adults, no matter their carving level.
16
Witch Hat
It’s all a bunch of hocus pocus! You can’t go wrong with a witch-inspired pumpkin on Halloween.
17
Potion Bottles
Double, double, toil and trouble… these are so fun, you may want double! Is that how the saying goes?
18
Skull
Those looking for a simpler stencil may want to try their hands at this skull. It doesn’t have any ultra-tricky details and still makes a spooky statement.
19
Dragon
Those expert-level pumpkin carvers will enjoy tackling this fearsome dragon. It may take you awhile, but it’ll be worth it when everyone’s complimenting it on Halloween.
20
Scary Jack-O’-Lantern
If you prefer your house be more scary than cutesy, look no further than this creepy jack-o’-lantern. It’ll be an eerie way to greet trick-or-treaters.
21
Print All of Our Free Pumpkin Stencils!
Want to try out all of our free printable pumpkin stencils? You can! Just click the button below to download them all.
Megan Stein
Megan is the Senior Director of Editorial and Content Marketing for DrewandJonathan.com. She has over a decade of experience in the home and lifestyle industry, with previous roles at The Pioneer Woman, Country Living, and People magazine. She loves to inspire readers with beautiful, approachable design ideas, as well tips on how to bring their visions to life. She’s also shopping obsessed, and is dedicated to discovering the best products to make life easier, whether it’s testing a top-rated vacuum or the finding the perfect rug to complete your room.
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Emily Gioacchini
Bree Pulver O'Hagan
Bree is the Senior Digital Editor at DrewandJonathan.com. In the past, she’s worked for publications focused on home improvement and sustainable living. Bree’s Pinterest board is filled with cozy textures; vintage patterns; sculptural furniture; and moody, warm-toned colors. She has a degree concentrated in the intersection of writing and architecture, which influences her passion for exploring creative solutions to unusual home layouts and stylish renter-friendly decor. She’s a self-proclaimed pro at finding the best antique furniture in the most unlikely of places (but her cat Blue can certainly back these claims).
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