Your jack-o'-lanterns will make the Pumpkin King jealous.
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Halloween curb appeal is no joke, and pumpkin decorating is one of the best ways to show off your love for the season. Carved pumpkins are a crucial part of any autumn decor arsenal. Whether you want yours to be the cutest, spookiest, or most intricate jack-o'-lantern on the block, we found the pumpkin carving kits to help you create your masterpiece (including tools that are kid-friendly and ones that are right for competitive carvers!).
You can buy a simple single-use pumpkin-carving kit or invest in something more long-lasting if pumpkin carving is a part of your yearly tradition. While the markers you use to draw your design might be harmless, working with the resistant ribs of a pumpkin and sharp serrated knife calls for extreme caution. The skin of the pumpkin can be tough to break through, so you want to avoid flimsy plastic tools that can cause more harm than good. And sometimes a kitchen knife, excuse the pun, just won't cut it. Stainless steel tools are among your best bets for pumpkin carving.
Not only have we rounded up the best carving tools for your project, we've also got some carving design inspiration lined up. Try adding glowing teeth to the mouth of your pumpkin for an extra creepy touch. Carved pumpkins tend to last three to five days, but there are ways to help them last longer through the season. Even if you're working on winter, acorn, or spaghetti squash, carving the gourd will be even easier with these sturdy, precise pumpkin carving kits.
1
Best Simple Set
Messermeister 3-Piece Pumpkin Carving Set
Pros
Professional grade- Multi-use
- Good for removing seeds in other squashes
Cons
- Smaller set of tools
Sometimes you just want to take the guesswork out of pumpkin carving and work with a simple set. From the knife manufacturer Messermeister, this pumpkin carving kit includes durable stainless steel carvers and etchers. You can put these high-quality tools to use in your kitchen all year long.
2
Best Stainless Steel
OWUDE Professional Pumpkin Carving Kit
2
Best Stainless Steel
OWUDE Professional Pumpkin Carving Kit
Pros
- Durable
- Sharp blades
- Sturdier handles
Cons
- Meant for adults; not safe for children
Stainless steel pumpkin carving sets can stand up to the moisture inside the pumpkin, allowing you to enjoy the delicious seeds without losing your tools in the process. Several double-sided detail carving tools help you create intricate designs with clean cuts from the steel blades.
Pros
- Sharp blades
- Variety of blades for different cuts
Cons
- Scoop is flat and difficult to maneuver
Cutting through tough pumpkin skin is much easier with the three sets of saws that come in this kit. The handles are made of ergonomic soft-grip rubber, so long hours at the kitchen table etching out the perfect design won't wear as much on your hands. Reviewers praised the curved blades for their ability to cut smooth circles.
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4
Best for Kids
Funny Bones Skeleton Pumpkin Carving Kit
4
Best for Kids
Funny Bones Skeleton Pumpkin Carving Kit
Pros
- Repositionable skeleton bones
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Might require extra tools for rib cage
This set might not have the widest array of tools for cutting detailed designs, but this posing skeleton can give your pumpkin just the touch of spooky whimsy it needs. With nine skeleton pieces that are easy to push in, you simply drill a hole for each one.
5
Best Budget
FunWorld Ultimate Pumpkin Carving Kit with 10 Pop-Out Stencils
5
Best Budget
FunWorld Ultimate Pumpkin Carving Kit with 10 Pop-Out Stencils
Pros
- Cheap
- Easy to use
- Sturdy scooper
Cons
- Not as many tools included
Need inspiration for your jack-o'-lantern carving? This pumpkin carving kit comes with 10 different stencils to give design ideas to you and the whole family. Plus, the design of this scooper allows you to dig out pumpkin pulp without worrying about breaking the handle.
6
Best Non-Pumpkin Tool
Speedball Linoleum Cutter Kit
6
Best Non-Pumpkin Tool
Speedball Linoleum Cutter Kit
Pros
- Great for etched designs
- Very sharp
- Wide size assortment
Cons
- Blade tips annoying to change out
Look outside the Halloween aisle for high-quality pumpkin carving tools. A linoleum cutter set from the art-supply section makes an excellent pumpkin carving kit. Linoleum cutters typically are used for making stamps, but their small, sharp design makes them great for detail touches on gourds too. If you want to create designs that remove only the outer skin of the pumpkin and let light shine through, cutters like these are a must.
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7
Largest Set
Comfy Mate Pumpkin Carving Kit
Pros
- Comes with LED candles for lighting pumpkins
- Includes carving design e-book
Cons
- Knives may bend if used to pry
The six double-sided detail tools in this set effectively give you 12 tools to create the most realistic designs on your pumpkin, from a witch's hair to a vampire's teeth. The pumpkin carving competition is in the bag.
Janae McKenzie
Associate Shopping Editor
Janae McKenzie covers all things shopping for House Beautiful. As an associate shopping editor, she’s constantly scoping out the best finds for every part of your home. Janae holds an MA in journalism from the University of Missouri and has been published in Glamour, Food Network and Vox Magazine.
