Best Pumpkin Carving Kits

Buying guide for Best pumpkin carving kits

Written by Kyle Schurman

Updated October 2023

Creating a fun or scary jack o’lantern at Halloween is quite a bit easier when you use a quality pumpkin carving kit. The most basic of these kits provide tools that make cutting through the wall of the pumpkin an easier process while also helping you scoop out the pulp and seeds.

If you have a complex design for your jack o’lantern in mind, an advanced pumpkin carving kit with specialty tools to scrape away parts of the pumpkin wall is helpful. Some kits have stencils that resemble cookie cutters. You then can skip using knives and saws, which may result in a safer process if the kids want to help.

To scoop seeds and pulp from the interior of the pumpkin, make a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin rather than the top. A hole here does not affect any design plans you have for the pumpkin.

What tools come with a pumpkin carving kit?

Pumpkin scooper

A pumpkin scooper, sometimes called a fleshing tool, resembles a large spoon. This utensil makes it easy to remove pulp and seeds from the interior of the pumpkin. Some scoopers have small teeth to help you cut through the stringy pulp fibers. 

Knives

Pumpkin carving kits often contain knives of varying sizes so you can make both large cuts and small, precise cuts. Blade length and width vary.

Keyhole saw

After the knife penetrates the wall of the pumpkin, you may want to use a saw tool to make the rest of the job easier. Whereas a knife may stick as you cut through the pumpkin wall, a saw tends to create a smoother cutting motion.

Precise cutters

When you want to peel away part of the pumpkin wall to make it thinner, precise cutting tools like paring knives, etchers, and linoleum cutters are ideal. 

Thinning the wall of the pumpkin can greatly change the way the light looks as it shines through the pumpkin. It provides some color variation in the jack o’lantern’s design, from light orange to dark orange. This technique can also give your carving a three-dimensional look.

Punching tools and awls

If you want to place a small hole in the wall of the pumpkin, look for a kit with an awl or a punch. Some kits have punch tools of varying diameters.

Key features for pumpkin carving kits

Beyond primary cutting tools, pumpkin carving kits may have a few other extras to help you create the perfect jack-o’lantern.

Carrying case

Some kits include a case with a space for each tool. A carrying case makes it easier to keep track of all tools in the kit. 

Design ideas

Some pumpkin carving kits include pre-made drawings of jack o’lanterns you can apply to your pumpkin. These art stencils give you a headstart on creating a funny or scary design for your jack-o’lantern. Just stick the art stencil onto the pumpkin or trace the art stencil, and you can begin carving.

Cookie cutter stencils

If you want to avoid using knives for your carving project, look for a pumpkin carving kit with metal stencils that look like cookie cutters. Simply place the cookie cutter stencil on the pumpkin at the desired location and gently use a hammer to tap it through the pumpkin wall.

Dishwasher safe

To simplify the cleanup of your carving tools, look for a kit with machine-washable elements. 

Some people use a keyhole saw to create the large hole necessary to reach inside the pumpkin and pull out seeds and pulp.

How much do pumpkin carving kits cost?

Inexpensive

The cheapest pumpkin carving kits cost $3 to $8. Such kits typically have up to eight tools. The tools may be made of plastic at this price range, although a few tools in these inexpensive kits may have stainless steel blades.

Tools in inexpensive kits may be quite small, making them difficult to control. 

Mid-range

The average cost for a pumpkin carving kit is $8 to $15. Expect to find six to 12 tools in these kits. With this quantity, you’d probably have enough tools for two people to carve jack-o’lanterns at the same time.

Some of the tools in these kits have quite specific purposes, allowing you to create specialized designs. 

These kits also may include art stencils and other design ideas that can help you create the perfect jack-o’lantern.

Expensive

The priciest pumpkin carving kits cost $15 to $30. Expect to find 10 to 24 tools in these sets, including some specialty tools and cookie-cutter stencils. The blades and scoops may be made of stainless steel, and the handles may be more comfortable to hold. Often, kits in this price range include a carrying case for convenience. 

Tips for safe pumpkin carving 

Because most people only carve jack-o’lanterns once a year, it’s easy to forget about the safety rules. Follow these tips to avoid injuries.

• Supervise the kids. The tools in a pumpkin carving kit are sharp. Do not allow children to use the tools without adult supervision. Better yet, allow the child to draw the desired design of the jack-o’lantern, and have an adult cut it.
• Wipe the handles. The pulp from inside the pumpkin can cause tool handles to get slippery. Keep paper towels handy to wipe down the handles for a sure grip.
• Cut away from yourself. Never drag the pumpkin carving knife toward your body or the hand that’s holding the pumpkin. Rotate the pumpkin so you always cut away from your body.
• Don’t oversharpen the knives. When carving a jack-o’lantern, an extremely sharp knife is not necessary. The tools do not need maximum sharpness to penetrate the pumpkin wall. In fact, extremely sharp tools could lead to greater injury in case of an accident.
• Remove the pulp carefully. Digging the pulp and seeds out of the pumpkin can cause injuries, too. If the scooper gets stuck and slips free suddenly, you could strike a child looking into the pumpkin. Keep everyone at a safe distance while scooping and cutting the pumpkin
• Have plenty of light. Don’t try to carve the pumpkin in a dark room. You want excellent lighting so you can see the blade’s position relative to the thickness of the walls of the pumpkin.

Use a washable marker to create lines on the pumpkin for your carving design. If you change your mind, you can easily wash the ink off and start again.

FAQ

Q. What are the most important tools for carving pumpkins?

A. Many of the best pumpkin carving kits contain a small paring knife. This type of knife allows you to make precise cuts. A paring knife works well to score the surface of the pumpkin before you go deeper with a bigger knife. It helps when you want to etch the pumpkin, too.

Q. How should I clean the tools in my pumpkin carving kit?

A. Many tools made to carve pumpkins consist of metal and plastic, meaning most of them are safe to place in a dishwasher or wash by hand with dish soap. Clean them as you would clean silverware. Avoid using harsh cleansers, and allow them to dry completely before placing them in storage.

Q. Are pumpkin carving kits safe for kids?

A. If you want to allow small children to carve their own jack-o’lanterns, avoid carving kits with knives and sharp tools. Instead, look for kits with metal stencils that look like cookie cutters. They have different shapes for eyes, noses, and mouths for the jack o’lantern. Just press or hammer the stencils into the surface of the pumpkin until they fully penetrate the shell. Then, pull out the loose piece inside the stencil.

Q. Do I need a jack-o’lantern carving kit with multiple tools in it?

A. Kits for carving pumpkins may contain anywhere from a few tools to dozens of tools. Each tool offers specific benefits. Generally, if you plan to create a simple jack o’lantern design, a kit with only a few tools should do the job. If you have complex design plans in mind, you probably need a larger kit with multiple specialty tools.