Whether you're into silly pumpkin faces or spooky looks, pumpkin carving is the ultimate fall activity—and it's been around for quite some time. In the early 20th century, Irish immigrants brought the tradition to the U.S. when they discovered pumpkins were better suited for carving than potatoes or turnips.
While everyone has their own style when it comes to carving a jack-o’-lantern, there are certain tips and tricks everyone should know to make the process a bit easier. Below, we've created a step-by-step guide on how to carve a pumpkin, even if you're a beginner.
All you need to do is pick your favorite pumpkin carving idea before getting started. And if you're looking for other ways to create your own fall decor, check out our Halloween crafts, homemade costumes, and DIY decoration ideas.
Step 1. Start with the right pumpkin.
The best ones to carve are fresh, have a sturdy stem, no bruises, and a flat bottom that won't roll around while you carve away.
Step 2. Begin cutting from the bottom, not the top.
Cutting your "lid" from the bottom of the pumpkins helps prevent the sides from caving in, according to Michael Natiello, pumpkin carving pro and creative director for The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze.
Step 3. If you do carve from the top, cut out the lid on an angle.
Prevent your lid from falling right into the pumpkin when you put it back on top by carving it at an angle. A boning knife should work well for this.
Step 4. Scoop out all the pulp (and then some).
You can buy a special "claw" for pumpkin gutting, but an ice cream scoop will do just fine. Thin the inner wall of the "face" area to be 1¼-inch thick, so it will be easier to pierce the shell.
Step 5. Sketch out the design on paper first.
If you draw your jack-o'-lantern face to size, Natiello says you can use it as a pattern: Just tape it to the front of your pumpkin and use a fork or pencil to poke holes along the lines you want to carve. Or, use a pumpkin carving kit, complete with a marker, scraper, cutting tools, and pre-made patterns.
Step 6. Hold the pumpkin in your lap.
It's easier to create features when the face is gazing up at you. Natiello suggests using a serrated kitchen knife or an X-Acto knife for carving, but to make intricate designs, you could try a small saw. Just don't cut on a slant—clean up-and-down slices look best.
Step 7. Start with simple rough cuts.
If you get the big pieces of pumpkin out of the way first, you can go back and clean up the edges of your design later.
Step 8. Use scraps creatively.
Make a tongue, pipe, or hair accessories out of a discarded piece of pumpkin shell, for example.
Step 9. Keep your pumpkin fresh.
Natiello recommends spreading petroleum jelly on the cut edges to seal in moisture, which helps make your carved pumpkin last. If your pumpkin still shrivels a few days later, you can revive it with a facedown soak in cold water for up to eight hours.
Step 10. Light it up.
Place a candle (or candles) into your pumpkin before lighting. If you don't want to use votives, try Christmas lights, especially those that blink for a spooky appearance. Or save yourself the stress and go with battery-operated votives instead.
Step 11. Create a chimney.
First, leave the lid on for a few minutes while the candle burns. Then make a small hole where the lid has blackened.
Step 12. Sprinkle cinnamon inside the lid.
That way, when you light the candle, your jack-o'-lantern will smell like a pumpkin pie. Yum.
Your Pumpkin Carving Toolkit
Heather Finn is the content strategy editor at Good Housekeeping, where she heads up the brand's social media strategy and covers entertainment news on everything from ABC's 'The Good Doctor' to Netflix's latest true crime documentaries.
Laura Millar (she/her) is the assistant lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC's TODAY.com, where she covered everything from entertainment news to pop culture updates.
