65 Free Pumpkin Carving Templates to Transform Your Porch
You’re about to discover the ultimate collection of free pumpkin carving stencils that’ll make your front porch the neighborhood’s Halloween hotspot.
From spooky skeletons to adorable animals, these 65 templates offer something for every skill level and style preference.
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned carver, these designs will help you create show-stopping jack-o’-lanterns that perfectly complement your fall decor.
01. Spooky Skeleton Face Design
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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You’ll love how this bone-chilling skeleton stencil creates the perfect eerie atmosphere on your porch.
Simply carve out the eye sockets and jawline using the template, then enhance the spooky factor by adding realistic skeleton hands from your local Halloween store for an extra frightening touch.
02. Cheerful Grinning Jack-O’-Lantern
Credit: Jason Donnelly
This delightfully cheesy grin with playful freckles will make your pumpkin absolutely photo-ready for all your Halloween memories.
Print the stencil, carefully carve along the dotted lines, and get ready to snap some amazing selfies with your new toothy companion lighting up your front steps.
03. Mischievous Horned Pumpkin Face
Credit: Jason Donnelly
You’ll find this devilishly charming stencil surprisingly easy to carve, despite its impressive mischievous appearance.
Those dramatic fangs and oversized eyes will captivate every trick-or-treater who approaches your porch, creating the perfect balance between spooky and approachable for your Halloween display.
04. Slithering Snake Carved Design
Credit: Adam Albright Photography Inc.
Create this mesmerizing snake pattern by mastering the simple etching technique that brings the serpent’s body to life.
Once you’ve perfected this method with our free template, you can craft multiple snake pumpkins to build an incredibly eerie and sophisticated Halloween arrangement.
05. Strategic Chess Piece Template
Credit: Jason Donnelly
You’ll achieve the perfect checkmate with this sophisticated chess piece design that celebrates your inner strategist.
This template offers a unique alternative to traditional Halloween faces, making your porch decor stand out with an elegant touch that’s both classy and festive.
06. Elegant Feline Silhouette Stencil
Credit: Illustration by Glenda Aldrich
This adorable cat stencil is so charming, you might find yourself wanting to snuggle with your finished jack-o’-lantern creation.
As the sophisticated upgrade to basic cat designs, this template provides an enjoyable carving challenge that results in a beautifully detailed feline masterpiece for your display.
07. Ominous Crow Carving Pattern
Credit: Jason Donnelly
This haunting crow stencil creates such a spine-chilling effect that guests might actually hesitate before approaching your front door.
If you’re ready to embrace creative freedom with your pumpkin templates, this dramatic bird design will transform your porch into a truly memorable Halloween experience.
08. Farmhouse Chicken Design Template
Credit: Adam Albright
You’ll love creating a charming farmhouse-inspired pumpkin display with this delightfully detailed chicken stencil that’s easier than it looks.
Simply etch the background shape and use your carving tools to add realistic details for the feet and feathers, achieving a rustic countryside aesthetic.
09. Trendy Houseplant Carving Stencil
Credit: Adam Albright
Why stick with typical fall flowers when you can showcase your favorite houseplant on your autumn front steps instead?
Transform your beloved indoor greenery into carved pumpkin art using our versatile stencil, choosing between fully cutting out shapes or leaving elements etched for stunning detail.
10. Silent Skeleton Face Design
Credit: Jason Donnelly
This speechless skeleton stencil features perfectly wide eyes, a sharply pointed nose, and a mysteriously thin smile.
You’ll create an hauntingly beautiful jack-o’-lantern that captures the essence of Halloween’s spookiest characters while maintaining an approachable charm for your porch visitors.
11. Classic Happy Face Template
Credit: Illustration by Glenda Aldrich
A cheerfully smiling pumpkin instantly gets everyone into the festive Halloween spirit you’re trying to create.
This wonderfully goofy design will have every trick-or-treater smiling right back at your welcoming jack-o’-lantern, setting a friendly tone for your entire Halloween display.
12. Creative Word Mouth Design
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Can you guess which holiday this clever pumpkin face absolutely loves most of all?
Spell out your genuine enthusiasm for Halloween by carving the word directly into your pumpkin’s mouth opening with this brilliantly creative and conversation-starting design template.
13. Beginner-Friendly Wide Grin
Credit: Jason Donnelly
You’ll find this beginner’s Halloween stencil of a broadly grinning face makes the perfect starting point for creating multiple amusing jack-o’-lanterns.
Arrange several of these happy pumpkin faces around your front porch to build a welcoming and cheerful Halloween display that delights visitors.
14. Friendly Vampire Face Pattern
Credit: Illustration by Glenda Aldrich
Even with his dramatically long fangs, this adorably goofy Dracula looks surprisingly friendly and approachable.
You can create this easy last-minute Halloween design by using cookie cutters for the eyes, then simply carve a cheerful grin and two fantastic fangs.
15. Colorful Sugar Skull Template
Credit: Carson Downing
Carve a classic sugar skull motif onto a brightly-colored pumpkin to celebrate this beautiful cultural tradition this Halloween season.
Enhance your finished creation by adding a stunning crown made of dried flowers or decorative paper flowers for an authentic and respectful tribute.
16. Bone-Chilling Skull Carving
Credit: Adam Albright
Create an absolutely bone-chilling Halloween jack-o’-lantern using this incredibly detailed free skull pumpkin stencil for maximum spooky impact.
Carve the main face features and use simple etching techniques for the teeth, then add a truly creepy finishing touch by threading rubber snakes through the eyes.
17. Sparkling Word Pumpkins
Credit: Marty Baldwin
‘Eek’ perfectly speaks to the Halloween season and will glisten beautifully in your porch light when spelled out with multicolor beads.
This colorful pumpkin design easily adjusts to spell any Halloween phrase you prefer; just add more pumpkins for longer words and phrases!
18. Classic Frank-O’-Lantern Monster
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Primitive stitching, rough stem details, and the eerie glow of undead eyes give this monster the authentic Halloween look we all adore.
Choose a partially green pumpkin with plenty of dried growth on top, because Frankenstein’s original monster was assembled with beautifully mismatched parts and wonderfully minimal precision!
19. Simple Beginner Bat Template
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Trace this beginner-friendly bat template onto your pumpkin, and it just might inspire you to create an entire spooky bat colony.
Carry this exciting theme throughout your home by making additional bat-inspired Halloween crafts that you can proudly display alongside your carved creation.
20. Challenging Cat Moon Design
Credit: Illustration by Glenda Aldrich
A mysteriously creeping cat keeps careful watch for all the spooky creatures wandering through your Halloween neighborhood.
This intricate design will definitely challenge even the most experienced pumpkin carvers, so bring your absolute best stenciling skills and plenty of patience to the project.
21. Guardian Scarecrow Template
Credit: Jason Donnelly
This expertly carved design creates an evil-eyed, mysteriously glowing creature who’ll faithfully guard your front porch throughout the entire Halloween season.
You’ll love how this intimidating yet charming scarecrow face adds the perfect rustic Halloween touch to your outdoor autumn decorating scheme.
22. Detailed Halloween Greeting Stencil
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Ready to tackle a challenging pumpkin template that’ll truly impress your neighbors and trick-or-treaters this Halloween?
Use this wonderfully detailed design to carve special Halloween wishes for everyone who passes by your beautifully decorated yard and admires your handiwork.
23. Laughing Round Face Design
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Display this infectiously smiley pumpkin face long enough and you’re guaranteed to get as many laughs from neighbors as trick-or-treaters.
This delightfully cheerful pumpkin template works perfectly for beginners who want to carve their very first Halloween design with confidence and stunning results.
24. Blockhead Frankenstein Pattern
Credit: Carson Downing
Let’s be completely frank: this guy might be a total blockhead, but we absolutely love him anyway for his charming personality.
Simply print this easy template, size it on your copier if needed, tape it to your pumpkin, and use pins to poke the outline before carving.
25. Creepy Slithering Snake Display
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Ranking among the creepiest designs ever, this incredibly realistic snake display is surprisingly easy to create with basic household tools.
Cut a bottom hole in your pumpkin, clean it thoroughly, drill random holes, then weave realistic rubber snakes in and out for maximum spine-chilling effect.
26. Moonlit Deer Silhouette Stencil
Credit: Carson Downing
Don’t be caught like a deer in headlights when searching for the perfect pumpkin face to etch this Halloween season.
Imagine a bright full moon illuminating a majestic buck’s peaceful stroll through autumn woods with this easy stencil requiring just simple etching techniques.
27. Fanged Vampire Face Template
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Sink your teeth into this brilliantly clever design that isn’t a pain in the neck to carve at all.
Our detailed pumpkin face template guides you through creating a menacing vampire complete with dramatic fangs and a truly frightening glare that’ll captivate Halloween visitors.
28. Rising Zombie Hand Design
Credit: Jason Donnelly
These spine-chilling zombie pumpkins provide one incredibly spooky way to greet all your Halloween guests this year.
Cut a simple circle around the hand stencil, then complete the scary scene by etching grass below, giving the terrifying appearance of rising from the grave.
29. Delicate Honeycomb Pattern
Credit: Kelsey Hansen
This buzz-worthy gathering of petite pumpkins creates the sweetest possible Halloween display for your front porch.
Choose firm pumpkins that’ll hold their intricate shape, avoid enlarging the design, and use etching techniques for bee shapes while leaving stripes unetched for beautiful contrast.
30. Spooky Haunted Tree Stencil
Credit: Jason Donnelly
When this terrifically scary tree came to life, even the bats were completely spooked away from their usual perches.
Carve this incredibly detailed design with intricate branches reaching around your pumpkin, then top it off with fluttering artificial bats for a truly haunted forest effect.
31. Mischievous Laughing Face Pattern
Credit: Jason Donnelly
This playful jokester definitely prefers tricks over treats, making it perfect for your Halloween porch display.
Carve out the eyes, nose, and mouth completely, but use a scraping tool to etch the tongue area so the lighter rind shows through beautifully.
32. Sneaky Critter Collection
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Rubber rodents are absolute Halloween staples, making them incredibly easy to find during the spooky season for your creative projects.
Clean out pumpkins, carve smiling faces, drill large holes, then position faux critters to look like they’re actively chewing through the openings for maximum creepy effect.
33. Graveyard Skeleton Template
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Transform your front porch into a realistic graveyard scene with this wonderfully detailed bony pumpkin carving stencil.
Start with intricate detail work on the skeleton’s face, then work your way down to arms and outward, creating the perfect complement to your existing skeleton decorations.
34. Sweet Puppy Face Design
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Use our adorable grinning Pomeranian stencil to carve the sweetest puppy pumpkin that’ll melt hearts this Halloween.
Simply print the stencil, gently trace it onto your carefully selected pumpkin, then carve and etch to create this irresistibly charming finished dog design.
35. Watchful Big Eyes Pattern
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Trick-or-treaters will definitely feel like someone’s watching them with these slightly spooky yet captivating pumpkin eyes.
Hollow out pumpkins carefully, leaving iris outlines intact, paint smaller white pumpkins to tuck inside, and add painted lashes or black wire for the ultimate ghoulish gaze.
36. Green Succulent Plant Stencil
Credit: Adam Albright
Head to the pumpkin patch specifically searching for a perfectly green gourd to showcase this beautiful succulent design.
This succulent stencil carves easily, and the etched center details make your simple carved pumpkin look surprisingly intricate and professionally done throughout the season.
37. Advanced Trick-or-Treat Message
Credit: Jason Donnelly
This welcoming “trick-or-treat” stencil will have you completely ready with a perfectly carved pumpkin for Halloween night festivities.
Since this design is specifically meant for advanced carvers, be absolutely sure to print out the detailed template before starting your ambitious carving project.
38. Festive Stacked Character Pumpkins
Credit: Marty Baldwin
These zany characters are absolutely ready to party on your porch, setting the perfect stage for fright-night fun and memorable festivities.
Pick pumpkins that stack easily in varying sizes, draw details with washable markers, paint over lines, and use poster board bat wings for amazing 3-D effects.
39. Predatory Vampire Face Template
Credit: Jason Donnelly
This menacing vampire has clearly set its sights on its next prey—and it’s definitely eyeing your delicious Halloween candy corn stash.
Choose this dramatic template when brainstorming pumpkin faces to carve, celebrating all the shadowy figures that make Halloween nights so mysteriously exciting and thrilling.
40. Bewitching Witch Face Design
Credit: Jason Donnelly
A truly bewitching pumpkin stencil will transform your yard into the absolute perfect hangout spot for all the neighborhood ghouls.
Display this glowing witch face on your front porch, surrounded by complementary witch-themed Halloween decorations for the ultimate haunted house atmosphere that everyone will remember.
41. Goofy Missing Teeth Smile
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Who really needs a completely full set of chompers when you’ve got a grin this wonderfully goofy on your Halloween pumpkin?
This cheerfully grinning stencil will light up your Halloween display beautifully, and luckily, fewer teeth mean significantly fewer difficulties when you’re carving your masterpiece.
42. Enchanting Cottage House Stencil
Credit: Adam Albright
Create an absolutely enchanting Halloween display using our detailed printable cottage pumpkin stencil for a whimsical fairy-tale effect.
Simply etch and carve two charming windows and a welcoming door, then finish your display with a carved mushroom pumpkin and several realistic faux bugs.
43. Cheerful Rainbow Arc Template
Credit: Adam Albright
Spread genuine cheer throughout your neighborhood with this delightfully uplifting rainbow pumpkin stencil that works beautifully on any color pumpkin.
The clever combination of carving and etching techniques makes this colorful design truly pop, creating a welcoming alternative to traditional spooky Halloween decorations.
44. Beautiful Fall Leaves Collection
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Capture the natural beauty of gently falling autumn leaves with our collection of free pumpkin carving stencils.
Etch these lovely designs onto your pumpkins, then coat the finished products with Vaseline to help extend the life of your beautifully detailed etched creations.
45. Spooked Black Cat Design
Credit: Jason Donnelly
This Halloween scaredy cat looks exactly like it just crossed its own path and got completely spooked by the experience.
While this black cat stencil proves a bit tricky to carve properly, it’s definitely a wonderful treat for all the kids in your welcoming neighborhood.
46. Howling Wolf Moon Silhouette
Credit: Jason Donnelly
A bright full moon provides the absolutely perfect dramatic backdrop for this striking howling wolf pumpkin template design.
You’d be completely barking mad not to try this incredibly clever pumpkin carving design for your Halloween decorating scheme this year!
47. Playful Impish Character Faces
Credit: Jason Donnelly
These mischievous ghouls just want to have fun and bring joy to your Halloween celebration.
Trace the goofy grins using our templates, carve them out carefully, then tape off stems and spray-paint surfaces before removing cutouts for colorful finishing touches.
48. Sparkling Bead-Decorated Witch Set
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Every witch absolutely needs her magical cauldron, and this matching set shows off its sparkle with beautiful bead-encrusted decorative elements.
Gouge out pot and mouth outlines, brush on decoupage, add colorful beads, use etching tools for steam tendrils, and drill bubbles for realistic effects.
49. Mystery Disguised Character Template
Credit: Jason Donnelly
If there’s a mystery that needs solving in your neighborhood, invite this cleverly disguised pumpkin into your Halloween yard display.
We’re absolutely loving the cool sunglasses and mustache combination on this delightfully not-so-spooky jack-o’-lantern that’ll make everyone smile and guess the character.
50. Adorable Bucktooth Grin Stencil
Credit: Jason Donnelly
This charming pumpkin is all grins—even though he only has two prominent teeth to show off.
Use our free stencil to transfer this hilariously funny face onto a festive jack-o’-lantern, then choose from our other printable templates for your ultimate porch display.
51. Giggly Silly Face Design
Credit: Jason Donnelly
This wonderfully goofy pumpkin carving design will have kids laughing and giggling all night long during trick-or-treat festivities.
Use our completely free stencil to create your own silly-faced jack-o’-lantern that brings pure joy and laughter to your Halloween decorating scheme.
52. One-Eyed Cyclops Template
Credit: Jason Donnelly
He’s definitely got his single eye focused directly on you and everyone who approaches your Halloween display.
Carve this simple ghoul that’s guaranteed to attract curious stares, and beginners will love not worrying about getting eyes symmetrical for this unique cyclops face.
53. Romantic Rose Flower Stencil
Credit: Adam Albright
Will you accept this beautifully carved pumpkin rose as a romantic gesture for your fall decorating?
Add a lovely floral element to your gourd collection by carving this pretty rose-inspired stencil, then accent with real seasonal flowers for the full romantic effect.
54. Spooky Tombstone Graveyard Design
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Create a mysteriously ghostly graveyard scene by carving this free pumpkin stencil into a group of pumpkins.
Decorate them as Halloween’s favorite classic monsters to build a comprehensive spooky display that tells a complete story and captivates every visitor to your home.
55. Fierce Snarling Face Pattern
Credit: Illustration by Glenda Aldrich
Absolutely no one would dare steal candy while this intimidating snarling pumpkin is keeping careful watch over your Halloween treats.
Young pumpkin carvers will genuinely enjoy working with this easy stencil that creates maximum impact with minimal carving complexity and impressive finished results.
56. Desert Cactus Sunset Stencil
Credit: Adam Albright
This simple cactus shape ranks as one of our easiest pumpkin carving stencils because it’s just one large, manageable shape.
Etch or carve the background shape to reveal a majestic cactus standing tall against a beautiful setting sun for a southwestern Halloween aesthetic.
57. Majestic Lion King Template
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Roar onto the Halloween scene with a pumpkin that’ll clearly show you’re the undisputed king of your neighborhood carving competition.
If this free animal stencil becomes a favorite, you can start planning an entire amazing zoo of carved pumpkins for next year’s Halloween celebration.
58. Trendy Monstera Plant Design
Credit: Kelsey Hansen
Transform your favorite houseplants into hip carved pumpkins using our free monstera stencil that captures this popular plant perfectly.
An eye-catching variety of pumpkin colors increases the drama of these leafy silhouettes, and you can choose between full carving or subtle etching techniques.
59. Welcoming Fall Quote Display
Credit: Kelsey Hansen
Greet all visitors throughout the season with this friendly gourd that shares your love of autumn.
If etched on an uncut pumpkin, the design shows during daylight and lasts longer, but you can add battery-operated lights for nighttime visibility and ambiance.
60. Beautiful Flower Bouquet Collection
Credit: Kelsey Hansen
Late-season blooms last even longer when expertly carved into bright, colorful pumpkins using our detailed flower stencils.
Choose the type, number, and placement of flowers based on your gourd’s unique size and shape, creating a carved bouquet that celebrates autumn’s natural beauty.
61. Painted Flying Bat Design
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Our free pumpkin stencils aren’t just for carving—they work beautifully for painting projects too!
Create a collection of spooky flying bats by tracing this stencil onto orange or white pumpkins and filling them in with black outdoor paint for lasting results.
62. Realistic Cat Portrait Stencil
Credit: Jay Wilde
Create a Halloween pumpkin that looks exactly like your favorite feline family member using this detailed cat stencil.
Our template outlines precisely how to etch realistic-looking fur textures, and adding a battery-operated tea light makes the cat design glow beautifully from within.
63. Eerie Forest Scene Templates
Credit: Adam Albright
Plant an absolutely eerie Halloween forest directly on your front porch with these detailed crow and tree pumpkin carving stencils.
Complete your spooky display with a strategic scattering of artificial crows and carefully stacked pumpkins to create an immersive woodland Halloween experience for visitors.
64. Harvest Gather Welcome Stencil
Credit: Carson Downing
Pumpkin carving isn’t just for ghosts and goblins—you can create beautiful welcoming messages too!
Use our free stencil to add a sweet note of welcome to your front porch pumpkin, and painted designs last longer than carved ones throughout Thanksgiving.
65. Wise Owl Night Design
Credit: Adam Albright
Carving with this charming Halloween stencil is guaranteed to be an absolute hoot for the whole family.
This easy stencil calls for minimal carving since you’ll mostly be etching around the image, creating a wise owl that watches over your Halloween display beautifully.
Final Thoughts
These 65 free pumpkin carving stencils give you endless possibilities to create a Halloween display that perfectly reflects your personal style and decorating vision.
From beginner-friendly designs to advanced masterpieces, you now have everything needed to transform your front porch into the neighborhood’s most talked-about Halloween destination.
Remember to have fun with the process, and don’t be afraid to mix and match different techniques to create your own unique carved pumpkin masterpieces this season.
