Holiday Planning & Ideas Halloween Halloween Projects & Crafts Halloween Pumpkin Ideas 15 Creative Pumpkin Carving Stencils for an Elevated Halloween Display Download our pumpkin carving stencils that go beyond the simple, toothy grin. By Alexandra Kelly Alexandra Kelly Alex is the senior home editor for Martha Stewart. She has over 10 years of experience producing digital content in the home and lifestyle space, ranging from cleaning and organizing to etiquette and home design. Editorial Guidelines Published on September 20, 2023 Close Photo: Zachary Zavislak, Ngoc Minh Ngo, Lucas Allen Halloween is on our doorsteps, and so is everything we love about it: frightening decorations, trick-or-treating, and spooky jack-o'-lanterns. Whether you're a pro at carving pumpkins or just starting out, it's almost always easier to have a stencil for your design instead of free-handing your carving. We rounded up our favorite pumpkin carving stencils that range from delightfully magical to downright scary to get you started on your pumpkin carving projects this year. 11 Pumpkin Carving Mistakes That Are Shortening the Lifespan of Your Jack-o'-Lantern 01 of 15 The Fox and the Hare Ngoc Minh Ngo Not all pumpkin carvings need to be scary—some can be whimsical, like these fox and hare pumpkins. Get the Fox Stencil Get the Hare Stencil 02 of 15 Fairy House Ngoc Minh Ngo If your Halloween decor tends to skew more magical and mysterious than eerie, this Fairy House pumpkin carving stencil adds just the right touch of fairy magic to your Halloween porch display. Get the Fairy House Stencil Everything You Can Do With Pumpkin Seeds After Carving a Jack-O'-Lantern for Halloween 03 of 15 Glowing Moth Ted Cavanaugh This glowing moth pumpkin carving is enchanting, giving your carved pumpkin a more elevated Halloween look. Get the Glowing Moth Stencil 04 of 15 Starry Night Constellation Ted Cavanaugh Look to the stars for inspiration for your next pumpkin carving. This starry night constellation gives your Halloween decor a celestial feel. Get the Constellation Pumpkin Stencil 05 of 15 Snakes and Frogs Lucas Allen Slimy snakes and frogs take center stage with this woodland-themed carved pumpkin set. Get the Snake Stencil Get the Frog Stencil 06 of 15 Haunted Houses Lucas Allen A haunted house high up on a hill is the spookiest in the neighborhood. For the most dramatic effect, use tall pumpkins for this project. Get the Haunted House Stencil Part 1 Get the Haunted House Stencil Part 2 10 Ways to Use Pumpkin Guts After You Carve Your Jack-o'-Lantern 07 of 15 Scaredy Cat This scaredy cat pumpkin carving hisses at passerby who dare to disturb it. Turn your pumpkin on its side for more space to carve the full cat. Get the Cat Stencil 08 of 15 Happy Witches Johnny Miller Not all witches are frightening, like these happy witch pumpkin carvings with jolly smiles. Paint your pumpkins black before carving for a dramatically witchy effect. Get the Witchy Pumpkin Stencil 12 Halloween Door Decorating Ideas That Will Bewitch Anyone Who Visits Your Home 09 of 15 The Devil ZACHARY ZAVISLAK What would Halloween be without a devilish grin? This devil pumpkin carving will spook any goblin or ghoul that dares to cross your threshold. Get the Devil Stencil 10 of 15 Wicked Witch ZACHARY ZAVISLAK A wicked witch flying off into the Halloween night makes for an appropriately chilling pumpkin display. Get the Wicked Witch Stencil 11 of 15 Jumping Goblin ZACHARY ZAVISLAK Jumping goblins and mushrooms offer a mischievous twist on traditional Halloween pumpkin carvings. Get the Goblin Stencil 16 Spooky Houseplants Perfect for Halloween, From Brain Cactus to Black Bat Flower 12 of 15 Giant Troll ZACHARY ZAVISLAK Straight out of a fairy tale, this giant troll guards the front door with a menacing look. Get the Troll Stencil 13 of 15 Glowing Vampire ZACHARY ZAVISLAK Perfectly ominous and downright frightening, carve your pumpkin into the likeness of this glowing vampire. Get the Vampire Stencil 14 of 15 The Headless Horseman ZACHARY ZAVISLAK The Headless Horseman rides through the night in this depiction of folklore's spookiest midnight rider. Get the Headless Horseman Stencil 15 Halloween Doormats That Will Delight Trick-or-Treaters 15 of 15 Frightening Ghosts ZACHARY ZAVISLAK Boo! Scary ghosts bound to cause a fright grace these carved pumpkins. Get the Ghost Stencil Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit