Similar pumpkin stencils
View all stencils →About this stencil
This free Rocket and Stars pumpkin stencil is a printable PDF pattern you can print at home, tape to your pumpkin, and trace. A retro rocket ship blasting diagonally upward through a field of five-pointed stars fills this easy pumpkin stencil. The rocket body is a large solid pierce-through with a small circular porthole cut from its center, and two swept fins angle beneath it; six stars of varying sizes are scattered across the field. Lit from within, the rocket and stars all glow as bright cut-out shapes. Cut the small circular porthole in the rocket body before removing the rocket silhouette itself, since that circle is far easier to score cleanly while the surrounding wall has full support. Use it as a carving template for your Halloween jack-o'-lantern. It is rated Beginner-friendly. Estimated time: 60-90 minutes. Actual time varies with preparation, pumpkin size and experience. Larger shapes and shorter cuts. An adult should handle sharp carving tools.
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 60-90 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
- Cut the six stars first. Start with the scattered stars, smallest first. Cut into each star point from both sides and meet at the tip; twisting the saw at a point will tear the shell.
- Cut the exhaust flame pieces. Remove the jagged flame shapes below the rocket's tail. Their spiky points are fragile, so cut each spike from both directions.
- Cut the two swept fins. Carve the curved fin on the upper left and the swept fin on the lower right. Each is a separate plug; leave a small tab on the long edge until the rest is cut.
- Release the rocket body last. The body is the biggest plug. The white streak running from the round porthole up through the nose tip is a bridge, so keep it intact; it anchors the window. Leave a tab on one long edge, then slice it and ease the body out with a hand supporting it.
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 beginner-friendly carve like this you'll want a paring knife, spoon / scoop, marker, and led pumpkin light. 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 ↗
Reviews from carvers
Every rating comes from a written review by someone who downloaded this stencil.
Carved this one?
Reviews are open to carvers who downloaded the stencil. Grab the free PDF, then come back and tell everyone how it went.
Community Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Carving ideas that use stencils like this one.
Related stencils
More patterns with a related subject. Compare their skill levels before you choose.
Beginner-friendlyBlast Off Pumpkin Stencil
A chunky rocket blasts diagonally upward with a flickering flame bursting from its tail and three round dots floating alongside like distant planets. The rocket body, fins, flame, and dots are each cut fully through, and the gap between the ship and its flame creates a fun sense of motion. Cut the flame's wavy points carefully with short strokes, since those narrow tips are the most fragile part.
Beginner-friendlyQuiet Crescent Pumpkin Stencil
A broad crescent moon curving across the pumpkin with two small round stars punched into the sky beside it. The crescent and both dots are cut cleanly through, creating a calm celestial lantern that suits the whole autumn season, not just Halloween. This is a true beginner pattern; cut the inner curve of the crescent first, then the outer curve, and the piece pops free easily.
Beginner-friendlyGalaxy Swirl Pumpkin Stencil
Two sweeping comma-shaped curves swirl around a round central core, suggesting a spiral galaxy spinning across the pumpkin. Just three openings are cut through the wall, so the design comes together quickly yet looks striking and modern when lit. Keep the tapered tails of each curve narrow as you saw; cutting from the wide end toward the thin tip gives you the most control over those graceful points.
Beginner-friendlyMoonlit Drift Pumpkin Stencil
A thick crescent moon anchors the left side of the pumpkin while four five-pointed stars drift across the remaining space. All five elements are clean cut-through openings, so the pumpkin becomes a night-sky lantern with the untouched rind acting as the dark sky between them. It is an easy carve overall; the only care point is the star tips, so cut each star point-to-center in single strokes rather than trying to steer around the whole outline at once.
Beginner-friendlyStarry Crescent Pumpkin Stencil
A large crescent moon curves down one side of the pumpkin while three five-point stars of different sizes float beside it. All four shapes are cut cleanly through the wall, turning the pumpkin into a glowing night sky that is simple enough for a first-time carver. Since this easy design relies on smooth curves, trace the crescent's inner arc slowly and pop each star out point by point rather than in one piece.
Beginner-friendlySingle Crescent Moon
A single oversized crescent moon curves up the side of the pumpkin, cut clean through so it glows like a slice of night sky. The whole design is one smooth opening with no interior details, which makes it a relaxing carve for any skill level. Cut the outer curve first, then the inner curve, and pop the crescent out in one piece for the cleanest edges.