Similar to This
View all stencils →About this stencil
Maine's craggy outline fills the pumpkin as a single glowing cutout, from the pointed northern crown down to its famously jagged coastline. The entire state interior is removed while the rind around it stays solid, so the border reads crisply once lit. The ragged coastal edge is what makes this a medium carve: trace it slowly with a fine saw and do not worry about tiny inlets, since the overall shape sells the design from a few feet away. This design is rated Intermediate and takes most carvers around 75 minutes from trace to glow. Comfortable knife handling required. Small details and curves.
Pumpkin size guide
- 🎃 Small (5–7") — print at 80%
- 🎃 Medium (7–10") — print at 100% (recommended)
- 🎃 Large (11–13") — print at 130%
- 🎃 Giant (14"+) — print at 150% on tabloid paper
Frequently asked questions
Can I resize this stencil?▾
Yes. The PDF is vector so it scales cleanly. Print at 100% for a 7–10 inch pumpkin, 130% for 11–13 inch, or 150% for a giant. Use your printer's "Fit to page" or "Custom scale" setting.
What kind of paper works best?▾
Standard 20 lb letter or A4 printer paper is fine. Heavier paper is harder to bend around the pumpkin curve. If your printer supports it, set the quality to 'best' so the lines are crisp.
How long will the carved pumpkin last?▾
Usually 5–10 days. Coat all cut surfaces with petroleum jelly and store the pumpkin somewhere cool overnight. Avoid direct sun. Battery LED pumpkin lights produce no heat and double the lifespan.
Can I sell pumpkins carved with this stencil?▾
Yes, the carved pumpkin you make is yours. The license covers personal and small-scale commercial carving (selling carved pumpkins, photographing them, posting on social). You may not resell the PDF file itself.
What if my printer doesn't print the whole stencil?▾
Set 'Page scaling' to 'Fit' in the print dialog and uncheck 'Auto-rotate'. If it still cuts off, the design includes 0.25" of safe-area margin so a small crop won't ruin it.
How to carve this stencil
- 1Print it
Download the PDF and print at 100% scale on letter or A4 paper.
- 2Prep the pumpkin
Cut the lid at an angle, scoop the guts, thin the wall to ~1 inch.
- 3Tape it on
Snip darts in the paper so it lies flat against the curve.
- 4Transfer the design
Poke along every line — about one dot every 1/8 inch.
- 5Carve it
Connect the dots with short straight cuts. Center first, work outward.
- 6Light it up
Drop in a battery LED pumpkin light and you're done.
Tools you'll need
For a intermediate carve like this you'll want a x-acto knife, poker tool, ribbon scoop, and painter's tape. Here's the kit we reach for — start with whatever you already own.
Elmchee Pumpkin Carving Kit
13-piece kit with carrying case
Saws for the larger cutouts, plus a scoop for hollowing. Covers both jobs in one kit.
View on Amazon ↗
HOME MOST LED Pumpkin Lights
4-pack, battery operated, with remote + timer
Orange glow made for jack-o'-lanterns. The remote and timer light the pumpkin every evening without reaching inside.
View on Amazon ↗
Speedball 4131 Lino Cutter Set
Handle + 5 interchangeable cutters
Interchangeable cutters for peeling and shading the face. Useful for the finer details.
View on Amazon ↗
Community Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Carving ideas that use stencils like this one.
Related stencils
Carvers who liked this one also downloaded these.
IntermediateNew Hampshire State Shape
The unmistakable tall, tapering outline of New Hampshire, cut fully through as one glowing state silhouette. Everything inside the border comes out, leaving the surrounding rind as the dark frame that defines the shape. This medium carve is one large opening, so work in short, connected saw strokes around the jagged northern border and remove the piece in two or three sections instead of forcing out one big slab, which can tear the notched edges.
IntermediateOklahoma State Shape
Oklahoma's distinctive silhouette, from the long skinny panhandle to the notched southern border, cut fully through so the entire state shines as a single lit shape. The interior is removed in one large piece while the rest of the pumpkin stays solid. Because the panhandle is a narrow strip, this medium design carves best if you cut that section last and support it with your free hand as you finish.
IntermediateCalifornia State Shape
The unmistakable outline of California cut fully through the pumpkin wall, glowing as one tall golden silhouette. The entire state shape is removed while the surrounding rind stays intact to frame it. The long straight eastern border and the jagged coastline meet at narrow angles, so take the coast in short, connected strokes rather than one continuous pull to avoid cracking the point at the southern tip.
IntermediateTexas State Shape
The unmistakable outline of Texas, panhandle and all, cut clean through the pumpkin wall so the whole state glows as one bold window of light. Everything inside the border is removed and the surrounding skin is left untouched, making the shape pop from across the yard. At medium difficulty, take the jagged Rio Grande border slowly in short strokes so the wiggly southern edge stays recognizable.
Beginner-friendlyFour Diamonds and Eight Dots
Four diamonds run in a straight column down the front of the pumpkin, flanked by a staggered row of round dots on each side, turning a tall pumpkin into a modern lantern. All twelve openings are cut through, and their regular spacing is what sells the design. Mark the vertical centerline first and measure each diamond's position before cutting, since even spacing matters more here than fancy knife work.
Beginner-friendlyBroad Star and Two Ovals
One broad five-point star dominates the center of the pumpkin, flanked by a single round opening on each side. All three shapes are cut fully through, so the star throws bright, even light while the two dots add a playful balance. It is a quick, satisfying carve for beginners; saw each point of the star from the outer tip inward toward the center so the corners meet cleanly without overcuts.