Pumpkin carving tips

Updated October 2026

Safety first

• Adults do the cutting. Children can draw the design and scoop out the insides.
• Use a small serrated knife or a carving kit, not a big kitchen knife.
• Work on a stable, dry surface and cut away from yourself.

Step by step

1. Cut the lid at an angle, so it rests on the rim instead of falling in. Or cut a hole in the base instead, so the pumpkin sits over a candle or light.
2. Scoop out the seeds and stringy pulp. Scrape the inside of the front wall to about 2–3 cm thick where you’ll carve. It’s much easier to cut through.
3. Draw your design with a washable pen, or tape a paper template on and prick round it.
4. Carve the small details first, then the big shapes.

Making it last

Carved pumpkins start to soften within days. Carve close to Halloween, keep the pumpkin somewhere cool, and use an LED tealight instead of a real flame. That’s safer, and the pumpkin won’t cook from the inside.

Afterwards, see what to do with your pumpkin after Halloween.