These Frightful & Delightful Jack-o-Lantern Templates Make Carving the Perfect Pumpkin a Breeze

Let’s be real: Pumpkin-carving can be tear-inducing. Sure, it’s all in the name of good fun, but when kids dive in and just can’t seem to pull off the great artistic vision they have in their heads, they get frustrated — which, in turn, can rub off on us. Frustration for the whole family, yay! What may exist in a little mind’s eye as a perfectly executed jack-o’-lantern face can turn into a major mess with one false move.

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While this cold dose of reality is quite common, don’t fret. Pumpkin-carving can still be fun — and worthy of an Instagram snap — when you prepare by printing off a few simple templates in advance. We’ve got bats, monsters, ghosts, skulls, happy pumpkin faces and plenty more printables to impress your (and everybody else’s) kids this Halloween.

(Need even more ideas? How about Pikachu, Donald Duck, and jack-o-lantern faces both sweet and spooky? Or iconic characters from some of your kids’ favorite movies? Or even adorable dog breeds? We’ve got you covered.)

Originally published September 2015. Updated October 2023.