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This free New York pumpkin stencil is a printable PDF pattern you can print at home, tape to your pumpkin, and trace. New York's iconic silhouette is the subject of this hard state pumpkin stencil. The broad rectangular upstate body tapers down on the left into the Hudson Valley, then Long Island extends as a long narrow arm reaching to the right, while the Adirondack notch creates a jagged step on the upper-right edge. Carved as a single large open cutout, the state glows against the dark pumpkin with Long Island's thin tail as the most structurally fragile element. Cut the main body first and leave the Long Island peninsula for the final stroke to prevent it from snapping during earlier passes. Use it as a carving template for your Halloween jack-o'-lantern. It is rated Advanced. Estimated time: 45-60 minutes. Actual time varies with preparation, pumpkin size and experience. Fine details and narrow supports need careful planning. Follow the cutting and shading key in this design’s PDF.
Pumpkin size guide
- 🎃 Small (5 to 7"): print at 80%
- 🎃 Medium (7 to 10"): print at 100% (recommended)
- 🎃 Large (11 to 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 the pattern at 100% for a 7 to 10 inch pumpkin, 130% for 11 to 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 to 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 help it last longer.
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
This is a cut-through stencil: the gray areas on the printable pattern are the pieces you remove, and everything white stays attached. The steps below give you the safest carving order. Plan on about 45-60 minutes from print to candle.
Set up first. Print the PDF at 100% scale on letter or A4 paper. Cut the lid at an angle, scoop the pumpkin clean, and thin the carving wall to about 1 inch where the design will sit. Tape the pattern on (snip small darts in the paper so it hugs the curve) and transfer every outline by poking dots along the lines, about one every 1/8 inch. Peel the paper away and carve dot to dot with short, straight strokes.
Carving order
- Start along the smooth western edge. Begin on the long diagonal edge at the lower left of the state. Establish a steady saw rhythm on this simple stretch before tackling the detailed borders.
- Trace the jagged northeastern border. Work slowly along the stepped notches on the upper right edge. Cut into each corner from both directions instead of dragging the blade around the sharp turns.
- Save Long Island for last. The narrow arm reaching to the lower right is the most fragile part of the outline. Cut both of its long sides with light strokes and never lever the blade against the thin point.
- Release the plug. Leave a small tab attached along the flat southern edge until every other cut is done. Support the large plug with your free hand, slice the tab, and push the piece out gently from inside.
Clear loose fibers out of each opening as you go, and never twist or pry the blade against the shell; back it out and recut instead. When every piece is out, wipe the cut edges dry and drop in a battery LED puck.
Tools you'll need
For a advanced carve like this you'll want a fine-detail pumpkin saw, spoon / scoop, pin transfer tool, and small gouge if the pattern includes shading. Here's the kit we reach for, but 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 ↗
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Oklahoma's silhouette stretches wide in this state pumpkin stencil, showing the long panhandle arm extending to the left, a nearly rectangular main body, and the jagged stepped southern border that traces the Red River. The interior is cut as one open shape, making the panhandle the defining visual element that distinguishes Oklahoma from any other state design. Because the panhandle is long and narrow, cut it first while the surrounding pumpkin skin is still firm, using a thin blade and steady outward strokes to keep the arm from cracking.
AdvancedCarbon Element Pumpkin Stencil
A periodic-table tile for carbon (element 6) fills the stencil: a rounded-corner square border frames a large bold letter C with an interior negative crescent carved away, the atomic number 6 in superscript at the upper right, and the word "carbon" in lower-case across the bottom. The border, the C glyph, the numeral, and the text letters are all pierced through. Lit from within, the design reads as a glowing science reference card. Leave the thin horizontal shelf of pumpkin skin between the C body and the "carbon" text block intact until all the letter-O counters in "carbon" are punched out.
IntermediateThe Daisy Wheel Pumpkin 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.
IntermediateBadge of Honor Pumpkin Stencil
A six-point badge star shines above two stacked chevron stripes, with three small dots arcing over the top like a crest. Every shape is cut fully through the wall, giving the design the crisp look of a service badge or rank insignia glowing on the porch. Cut the chevrons from their outer ends toward the center points, and keep the rind strip between the two stripes intact for a clean military edge.
IntermediateHexagon Hive Pumpkin Stencil
Seven hexagonal honeycomb cells of slightly different sizes cluster together, each one a glowing six-sided window separated by thick shared walls. Every cell is cut fully through, and those chunky connecting walls are what keep the pumpkin strong, so resist the urge to slim them down. Cut each hexagon side as its own straight stroke, finishing the corners cleanly with the knife tip, and start with the center cell to anchor the layout.
IntermediateSeaside Fan Pumpkin Stencil
A fan-shaped scallop shell spreads seven glowing ribs from a hinged base, crowned by three small round dots floating above like sea spray. Each rib is its own cut-through opening separated by strips of intact wall, so the shell keeps its elegant ridged look when lit. Cut the center rib first and work outward symmetrically, keeping the dividing strips at least a finger-width so the fan stays strong.