Carving pumpkins is one of the most fun and easy Halloween activities you can do. All you need is pumpkins and carving tools, and to invite your family or friends round for a pumpkin carving contest. It’s a great opportunity to get your hands a little dirty and show off your artistic side.
So what shape should you go for this year? The classic creepy grin has likely been overdone, but here we have a selection of 15 fun pumpkin carving designs to choose from to show your creativity and take the crown of the best pumpkin in the neighbourhood. From movie-inspired pumpkins to untraditional artsy pumpkins to haunted house pumpkins, this list has something for everyone, no matter your ability. Get carving this spooky season!

1 – Scared pumpkins
Source – Biancaa Ackermann via Unsplash
Not every pumpkin face has to be a mischievous grin. The spooky season can be a creepy time for everyone! Carve yourself a cute scared pumpkin face.

2 – Baby Yoda Pumpkin
Source – Etsy
Baby Yoda has well and truly overtaken the world. Yoda’s unique appearance is the perfect addition to your pumpkin carving repertoire and is the perfect choice for any Star Wars fans out there.

3 – Haunted House Pumpkin
Source – Brandon Goldman – Getty Images
If you’ve got some time on your hands this Halloween, you might want to take some time sketching out and carving this stunning haunted house pumpkin. This is certainly one to impress your neighbours, the best part about it being that the windows glow with the candle inside, giving it an eery aesthetic.

4 – Puking Pumpkin
Source – Navid Baraty – Getty Images
Who said you couldn’t put the inside scrapings of your pumpkin to use?! This puking pumpkin is a great idea for those who are maybe slightly lazy and want to put the guts on display for all the neighbourhood kids to “eww” at.

5 – Mad Cat Pumpkin
Source – CSABA TÖKÖLYI – Getty Images
This Cheshire Cat-inspired pumpkin is a great choice for those Alice in Wonderland fans out there and sticks with the Halloween theme due to the common ‘black cat’ motif often associated with witches.

6 – Heart Eyes Pumpkin
Source – Kathrin Raedel – Getty Images
This one’s for the lovers. Use a cookie cutter to get the perfect heart shape for the instantly adorable pumpkin, or, simply, cut out the heart eyes to your preference!

7 – Hungry Pumpkin
Source – T L – Getty Images
The hungry pumpkin is a great idea if you manage to find a large and small pumpkin. It’s creepy yet fun and extremely creative. Top tip – hold the two pumpkins together with toothpicks.

8 – Trick or Treat Pumpkin
Source – Pete Ark – Getty Images
This is a great idea if you’re living in a neighbourhood where kids often trick or treat, and you want to let them know that you have candy for them if they come knocking! The Trick or Treat Pumpkin is a fun spin on a classic pumpkin design.

9 – Polka Dot Pumpkin
Source – Whippberry
The Polka Dot Pumpkin is a great choice if you’re running low on time, or simply want a fun and simple design that still gives a Tim Burton aesthetic. If you don’t fancy cutting out the individual holes, simply paint them on!

10 – Hanging Bats Pumpkin
Source – Vector Designs, Canada – Etsy
A pumpkin with a simple flying bat design? That’s way too overdone and boring. Opt for this hanging bat design for a fun new spin on the classic.

11 – Racoon Pumpkin
Source – Vector Designs, Canada – Etsy
Racoons are known by many as ‘creatures of the night’, so what better animal to place on a pumpkin! Carve your racoon with an evil, menacing face to scare passers-by!

12 – Flickering Fire Pumpkins
Source – Country Living
These flickering fire pumpkins are a great addition if you’re carving as a family or a group of friends, and want to create a larger design altogether. Or, simply if you have a larger space such as a large fireplace for your Halloween display.

13 – Patterned Pumpkin
Source – Wit & Whistle
If you want to do something unique, but that will still look pretty when glowing, opt for a patterned pumpkin and carve whatever pattern and design you fancy into it, such as a zigzag pattern featured here.

14 – Skeleton Hands Pumpkin
Source – John Kernick
To create this fun and interesting pumpkin design, simply cut down the stem on the lower, larger pumpkin and stack a smaller one on top!