Halloween Pumpkin Carving Contest Β· Starts October 1st Β· $500 in prizes

10 Family Pumpkin Designs

10 printable family pumpkin designs β€” ready to download, trace, and light up the porch.

  1. 1. Plain Cross with Nine Rays

    Plain Cross with Nine Rays pumpkin carving stencil

    A plain cross stands at the center while nine tapered rays of light fan outward around it, like a sunburst breaking through. This shaded design is carved on a continuous wall, shaving the skin away so the cross and rays glow warmly with no pierced openings, which suits a reverent, softer look. Shave the cross to an even depth first, then taper each ray shallower toward its tip so the light appears to fade outward.

    See template β†’
  2. 2. West Virginia Heart Lettering

    West Virginia Heart Lettering pumpkin carving stencil

    Bold serif letters spell out I, a big solid heart, then W and V stacked below, the classic hometown-pride message carved in light. Each letter and the heart are cut fully through, glowing like marquee type against the dark pumpkin. Serif letters have thin corner strokes, so cut the serifs first with the knife tip before opening the thick strokes, and keep the wall between W and V at least a half inch wide.

    See template β†’
  3. 3. Staring Eyes and Eight Wedges

    Staring Eyes and Eight Wedges pumpkin carving stencil

    Two enormous staring eyes dominate this design, each with a pupil tab left attached at the bottom rim, a curved brow arcing above, and short wedge-shaped rays radiating around the outside like a nervous twitch of light. There is no mouth, which makes the gaze even more unsettling. In this medium carve the pupil tabs are the key detail; cut around each pupil carefully so its bridge to the lower eyelid stays at least a half inch wide.

    See template β†’
  4. 4. Fan Tail Fish with Low Notches

    Fan Tail Fish with Low Notches pumpkin carving stencil

    A plump fantail goldfish glides across the pumpkin as one big glowing silhouette, with a rounded body, sweeping double tail, and small notched fins along the belly. The entire fish is pierced through in a single connected shape, so it lights up like an aquarium at night. At medium difficulty the low fin notches are the detail work; cut the broad body and tail first, then nick out the small fin points with short careful strokes.

    See template β†’
  5. 5. Running Dinosaur and Long Tail

    Running Dinosaur and Long Tail pumpkin carving stencil

    A velociraptor sprints across the pumpkin in full silhouette, head low, clawed legs mid-stride, and its long tail sweeping behind for balance. The entire dinosaur cuts through as one glowing shape, with the narrow tail and slim legs providing the medium challenge. Carve the thin tail and leg sections first in short segments, then remove the large body last so the delicate extremities are never left unsupported.

    See template β†’
  6. 6. Wide Wings and Notched Tail

    Wide Wings and Notched Tail pumpkin carving stencil

    A bird bursts forward with both wings spread wide, every flight feather notched along the wing edges, above a fanned notched tail. The whole spread-wing shape is one dramatic cut-through, so the bird blazes as a single figure of light. Rated medium because of the many feather notches along the wingtips; cut the main body opening first, then nibble out each feather notch with short strokes so the points stay defined.

    See template β†’
  7. 7. Three Fish Above Two Waves

    Three Fish Above Two Waves pumpkin carving stencil

    Three fish swim in a loose diagonal school above two rolling wave bands, with a trail of round bubbles rising toward the stem. Every element is cut through: fish bodies with notched tails, the long curved waves, and the bubble dots all become glowing openings. The waves are the longest cuts, so brace the pumpkin and saw them in smooth continuous strokes; poke the bubbles out first with a round tool while the wall is solid.

    See template β†’
  8. 8. Seated Rabbit with Split Ears

    Seated Rabbit with Split Ears pumpkin carving stencil

    A seated rabbit in profile with two tall split ears, a rounded back, and tucked front paws, cut through as a nearly single silhouette with slim gaps defining the ears and feet. The shell around the bunny stays whole so the glowing shape reads crisply from a distance. Carve the narrow gap between the ears first; it is the finest cut on an otherwise smooth outline.

    See template β†’
  9. 9. Curled Dolphin Profile

    Curled Dolphin Profile pumpkin carving stencil

    A leaping dolphin caught mid-arc, its curved body, pointed snout, dorsal fin, and sweeping tail all glowing through one sculpted cut-through opening, with an intact rind island shaping the pectoral fin and belly. The interior island is the key feature: cut the outer outline in sections and leave the connecting bridges to the island untouched until the very end, then trim them carefully to final width.

    See template β†’
  10. 10. Eight Teardrops Around Circle

    Eight Teardrops Around Circle pumpkin carving stencil

    Eight teardrop petals radiate around a central circle cutout, like a glowing daisy or sunburst wheel. Every teardrop and the center are pierced clean through, turning the pumpkin into a lantern that throws petal-shaped light across the porch. Cut the center circle first as your anchor point, then work around the ring, alternating sides so the wall stays balanced as you go.

    See template β†’

That's our list of 10 family pumpkin designs. Print your favorite and tag us when you're done.

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10 Family Pumpkin Designs | PumpkinCarvingIdeas.com