Ghost Pumpkin Carving Stencils
Free, simple ghost stencils for your jack-o'-lantern. Tap one, choose your pumpkin size, print and carve a cute or spooky ghost.
- ✓Free, no sign-up
- ✓Carve-checked
- ✓Prints to fit your pumpkin
- ✓Step-by-step carving mode
Easy: a few big shapes, kids 6+ help, about 20 min. Medium: more parts, ages 10+, about 45 min. The pictures of carved pumpkins are AI-made examples.
All 10 ghost stencils as one PDF: US Letter · A4
Make Your Own Jack-o'-Lantern Face
Pick eyes, a nose and a mouth. Every mix is carve-checked: the parts always stay at least ⅝ in (15 mm) apart, so nothing breaks or falls out.
Every stencil prints at the right size for your pumpkin, with numbers that show the carving order.
How to Carve a Ghost Pumpkin with a Stencil
- Pick a stencil and your pumpkin size. We scale the print so the ghost fits the smooth front of your pumpkin.
- Open and scoop the pumpkin. Cut the lid in the back, not on top. Scrape the front wall to about 1 in (2.5 cm) thick.
- Tape the stencil on. Small snips in the paper edge help it lie flat on the round pumpkin.
- Poke the outline. Push a pin tool through the lines about every ⅛ in (3 mm). Take the paper off and connect the dots with a marker.
- Carve in number order. The numbers on the sheet show the order: small parts first, the big shape last. Saw straight in and don't twist.
- Light it up. An LED tea light is bright and safe. A ghost silhouette shows best in front of a glowing moon.
Carving with a phone next to you? Open a stencil and tap Carve along. Your phone shows one piece at a time and the screen stays on. Too young for a saw? Kids under 6 can poke the dots, or tap Color it and color the ghost online.
Moon Window, Silhouette or Ghost Face?
Moon window
A big round moon glows and the ghost stays as dark pumpkin skin. It looks amazing from the street.
Silhouette
The whole ghost glows. You cut only one or two big shapes, so it is the easiest kind to carve with kids.
Ghost face
Eyes and a spooky or smiling mouth go right on the pumpkin. The pumpkin becomes the ghost's head.
Measure your pumpkin from the bottom to the stem before you print, so the stencil fits the smooth front.
What Size Stencil Fits My Pumpkin?
The stencil should cover about two thirds of your pumpkin's height. Every stencil here is checked at each size: if a bridge would get too thin, that size is not offered.
| Pumpkin height | Stencil size | Stencils that fit |
|---|---|---|
| Small: about 8 in | 5.1 in | 9 of 10 |
| Medium: about 10 in | 6.4 in | 10 of 10 |
| Large: about 12 in | 6.7 in | 10 of 10 |
| Giant: 13 in and up | 6.7 in (one sheet) | 10 of 10 |
Most carving problems come from thin bridges, a soft pumpkin or a stencil that is too big.
Questions and Answers
How do I put a ghost stencil on a pumpkin?
Print the stencil at the size for your pumpkin and tape it to the smooth front. Push a pin tool or a thumbtack through the lines about every ⅛ inch (3 mm). Take the paper off and connect the dots with a washable marker. Then carve along the dotted lines in number order.
Why did a piece fall out of my pumpkin?
A piece of pumpkin skin falls out when nothing holds it, or when the strip holding it is too thin. Carvers recommend bridges of at least ¼ inch (6 mm) at the printed size. Our software checks every stencil at every size we offer: if a bridge or a strip between two cut-outs would get thinner than that, the size is not offered or the stencil is not published.
Are ghost silhouettes easy to carve?
Yes. A floating sheet ghost is one of the easiest designs. You only cut a few large shapes. This makes it a great choice for family carving sessions.
Can I paint a ghost pumpkin instead of carving?
Yes. If your kids are too young for carving, you can paint a white ghost on the pumpkin. You can also paint the whole pumpkin white and draw a black ghost face on it.
How do I make my carved ghost glow?
Use an LED tea light inside your pumpkin. It is bright, safe, and will not blow out in the wind. LED lights are much safer than candles, especially around kids and pets.
How do I carve small details on a ghost face?
Start with the small details first. The numbers on our stencils show you the best order. Always cut straight in with your saw. An adult should always handle the saw for young kids.