Holidays & Entertaining Holidays Halloween 19 Pumpkin Carving Stencils for the Best Jack-o'-Lanterns on the Block Fear not—these easy pumpkin carving templates are nearly fool-proof. By Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 18, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Getty Images What's Halloween without a carved jack-o'-lantern-style pumpkin? The problem is that most of us don't know how to carve a pumpkin freehanded and need a little extra help getting the job done. So take a shortcut and print out one of these simple pumpkin carving stencils—no design degree required. Here's how to get started: Print the stencil.Hollow out your pumpkin.Cut out the black pieces using scissors or a craft knife.Tape the stencil onto the pumpkin and use a black marker to trace the lines.Use a sharp paring knife to cut lines onto the pumpkin according to the stencil instructions. If you're still intimidated by your knife-carving skills or have young kids, no-carve pumpkin ideas are also an easy win (and they tend to last longer than carved pumpkins). 01 of 19 Ghost Emoji Pumpkin Carving Stencil RealSimple.com Take your pumpkin carving to the 21st century with this template, which is more funny than frightening—and completely adorable. Print This Stencil 02 of 19 Witch on a Broomstick Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com Nothing says Halloween like a witch. Carve this wicked lady onto your pumpkin for a super spooky effect. Print This Stencil 03 of 19 Classic Jack-o'-Lantern Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com If you're looking for a classic, easy-to-carve design, this stencil is your best bet. The face won't scare young children—even though it has a slightly ominous grin. Print this stencil 04 of 19 Witch's Magic Wand Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com Go more magical than wicked with this cute pumpkin design. Bonus: It should be pretty easy to carve. print this stencil 05 of 19 Vampire Ghost Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com Somehow, the fangs just make this ghost pumpkin design more adorable. Use this template with kids who like the idea of pumpkin carving but are not masters just yet. print this stencil 06 of 19 Bats Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com Here's hoping the only cloud of bats you see on Halloween night are the ones carved into the pumpkins on your front stoop. print this stencil 07 of 19 Spider Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com This eight-legged monster—and some fake cobwebs—will turn your porch into a haunted house. print this stencil 08 of 19 Ghost Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com While we're used to seeing ghosts roaming the streets on Halloween, there's no reason they can't take their place on a pumpkin, too. With this stencil you can carve out a ghoulish ghost that will give off a spooky glow. print this stencil 09 of 19 Cat Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com Easily spooked by ghouls, goblins, and all things Halloween? Opt for this cat stencil, which is more cute than creepy. print this stencil 10 of 19 Witch's Profile Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com For intermediate pumpkin carvers, this template poses a few challenges, but the final result—a perfect witch pumpkin—is worth the effort. print this stencil 11 of 19 Classic Ghost Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com Go classic with this simple pumpkin design: The ghost is cute and creepy in equal measure. print this stencil 12 of 19 Skull Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com If the jack-o'-lantern design is just too tame, try this grimacing skull for an extra eerie effect. print this stencil 13 of 19 Tombstone Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com The best way to decorate your house for Halloween is to pick a theme and stick to it. Turn your porch or lawn into a graveyard by using this stencil to carve tombstones onto a few pumpkins. print this stencil 14 of 19 Fiery Ghost Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com If you want to take the spooky route, try this fiery skull, which is plenty spooky—and a good challenge for anyone looking to upgrade their pumpkin carving abilities. print this stencil 15 of 19 Witch's Brew Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com Witch-themed and easy, this template offers an alternative to the classic witch imagery without leaving Halloween territory all together. print this stencil 16 of 19 Spooky Ghost Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com Consider this an intermediate pumpkin design: This ghost pumpkin is dark and spooky but will make any visitor or passerby remark on your carving skills. print this stencil 17 of 19 Witch's Hat Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com The straight lines in this witch design make for an easy pumpkin carving experience. The spider may pose some challenges, but you can always leave it out for a simpler jack-o'-lantern. print this stencil 18 of 19 Surprised Ghost Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com Kids will love the shocked expression on this ghost pumpkin design. Take extra care when carving out the fingers—and if they seem too challenging, you can always forgo the arms all together for a more classic ghost silhouette. print this stencil 19 of 19 Witch's Shoes Pumpkin Carving Stencil realsimple.com Subtle and a little artsy, this witch pumpkin design has some major Wizard of Oz vibes. Best of all, it's relatively simple to carve. print this stencil Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit