The funniest carved pumpkins get their laughs from one of four tricks: an exaggerated expression, a gross-out gag using the pumpkin’s own guts, a mini pumpkin “interacting” with a big one, or a simple prop like plastic teeth or googly eyes. Below are 18 funny pumpkin carving ideas grouped by the type of joke, each with a picture, how hard it is and what you need to pull it off.
What makes a carved pumpkin funny?
Funny carved pumpkins work like a single-panel cartoon: one clear idea people get from the sidewalk. A few principles help:
- Exaggerate. Make the eyes huge or tiny, the mouth wildly lopsided, the expression extreme.
- Use the pumpkin itself. The stem, the seeds, the pulp and the lid are all props.
- Tell a mini story. Two pumpkins doing something to each other is instantly funnier than one.
- Keep it readable. Bold, chunky cuts read from a distance at night; fine detail disappears.
Which funny pumpkin faces are easiest to carve?
These funny pumpkin faces are basic jack-o’-lanterns with a twist, so they’re a good place to start if you’ve only carved triangle eyes before. Expect 30–60 minutes each after hollowing.
1. Shocked face
Carve two tall oval eyes, thin raised-eyebrow slits above them and a big round “O” mouth. Turn the pumpkin slightly toward the path so it looks like it’s reacting to every trick-or-treater who walks by.
Level: Easy · You’ll need: nothing extra
2. Derpy cross-eyed face
This is the classic goofy jack-o’-lantern. Carve two round eyes but leave a small circle of skin inside each one as a “pupil,” with both pupils pushed toward the nose. Add a gappy grin with a single tooth to finish the look.
Level: Easy · You’ll need: a small paring knife or detail saw for the pupils
3. Tongue-out raspberry
Carve a wide grin and squinting eyes, then cut a tongue shape from the lid, paint it pink if you like, and pin it with toothpicks so it sticks out of the mouth.
Level: Easy · You’ll need: toothpicks, pink craft paint (optional)
4. Snaggletooth grin
Carve a huge smile and leave just one lonely square tooth, set at an angle. It takes minutes and reads well from the street, which makes it a good one for kids to design.
Level: Easy · You’ll need: nothing extra
5. Stem nose
Pick a pumpkin with a long, curved stem. Turn it on its side so the stem pokes out like a big nose, then carve squinty eyes above it and a toothy grin below. A flat side helps it sit without rolling.
Level: Easy · You’ll need: a pumpkin with a long stem
Which gross-out pumpkin gags get the biggest laughs?
Kids especially love these. They use the stuff you’d normally throw away.
6. Sick pumpkin carving (spilling its guts)
The best-known funny pumpkin. Carve a scrunched-eye face with a wide-open mouth, then pull the seeds and stringy pulp out through the mouth so they spill down onto the step. Set it on a tray outdoors, because the pulp gets slimy and attracts critters within a day or two. Save this sick pumpkin carving for the night itself.
Level: Easy · You’ll need: the pumpkin’s own pulp, a tray
7. Sick pumpkin, party version
Indoors, swap the pulp for salsa or guacamole spilling into a bowl of tortilla chips. It’s a crowd-pleaser on a Halloween dinner party table. Line the mouth with plastic wrap so the dip doesn’t touch raw pumpkin flesh.
Level: Easy · You’ll need: plastic wrap, a dip, a bowl of chips
8. Exposed brain
Cut the top of the head off in a jagged zigzag line and stuff the opening with a coiled “brain” made from pulp or a clean, crumpled pink balloon. Give it wide, surprised eyes so it looks like it just noticed.
Level: Medium · You’ll need: a pink balloon or the pulp
9. Nose-picker
Carve a goofy face with one deep nostril hole and push in a carrot stick or a dollar-store fake finger so it looks like the pumpkin is picking its nose.
Level: Easy · You’ll need: a carrot or a fake finger
What are funny two-pumpkin ideas?
Pairing a big pumpkin with a mini one creates instant storytelling. Choose a mini that fits loosely in the opening you plan to carve. For tips on cutting the small ones, see our mini pumpkin carving ideas.
10. Pumpkin eating pumpkin
The most shared two-pumpkin gag. Carve a big, jagged mouth in a large pumpkin and wedge a small pumpkin halfway in, with a panicked face drawn on the small one. Cut the mouth a little smaller than the mini at first and widen it until the mini wedges in snugly.
Level: Medium · You’ll need: a large pumpkin, a mini pumpkin, a marker
11. Pumpkin jail
Carve a window of vertical bars into a big pumpkin and set a sheepish-faced mini inside, peering out. Leave the bars at least half an inch wide so they don’t snap.
Level: Medium · You’ll need: a large pumpkin, a mini pumpkin, a marker
12. Brain surgery
Cut the lid off a large pumpkin and set a tiny “patient” pumpkin inside, wrapped in a gauze bandage. A worried face drawn on the patient sells the joke.
Level: Easy · You’ll need: a mini pumpkin, gauze, a marker
13. Parent and kid
Carve a frazzled, exhausted face on a big pumpkin and a mischievous grin on a mini perched on top of its head. It’s a fun one for families to make together.
Level: Easy · You’ll need: a large pumpkin, a mini pumpkin
Which funny pumpkins use simple props?
Props do most of the work here, so these are the fastest funny pumpkin carving ideas when you’re short on time.
14. Glow-in-the-dark teeth
Carve a rectangle mouth just wide enough for a set of costume vampire or monster teeth and press them in. Add pushpins for beady eyes. This one comes from our original carving list and is still a five-minute win.
Level: Easy · You’ll need: costume teeth, pushpins
15. Googly-eye overload
Carve a simple mouth, then cover the top half of the pumpkin in dozens of googly eyes in mixed sizes. Low-temperature hot glue holds them on a dry pumpkin.
Level: Easy · You’ll need: googly eyes, a hot-glue gun
16. Cheese and mice
Paint a pumpkin yellow, drill holes of several sizes all over it and tuck plastic mice into a few. A drill makes this fast; see our pumpkin designs with a drill.
Level: Medium · You’ll need: yellow paint, a drill with hole saws or spade bits, plastic mice
17. Pun pumpkins
Carve or paint a short pun next to a simple face: “Gourd Vibes Only,” “Hey Pumpkin,” or “Rest in Pieces” with a crumbling face. Keep the lettering bold and blocky so it survives being cut.
Level: Medium · You’ll need: paint or a fine saw for lettering
18. Bean bag toss
Carve three or four open mouths of different sizes on a large, sturdy pumpkin and assign points to each. Kids throw bean bags into the mouths, so it doubles as a party game.
Level: Medium · You’ll need: a large pumpkin, bean bags
How do you carve a funny pumpkin step by step?
What you need
- A pumpkin with a flat base (large for two-pumpkin gags, around 12 inches or more)
- A small serrated carving saw or kit saw
- A large spoon or scraper
- A ballpoint pen or washable marker
- Toothpicks or bamboo skewers (for attaching tongues, ears and props)
- An LED light
- Props as needed: costume teeth, googly eyes, plastic mice, a mini pumpkin
Steps
- Sketch the joke on paper first. If you can’t tell what it is from across the room on paper, simplify.
- Cut a lid at the back or base and scoop out the insides. Save the pulp if you’re making a sick pumpkin.
- Draw the face on the pumpkin. Leave at least half an inch between openings so the wall stays strong.
- Carve the smallest details first, then the large openings.
- Attach props with toothpicks or skewers, pushing them in at a slight upward angle so they don’t slide out.
- Light it with an LED and check it from the sidewalk at night. Enlarge any feature that doesn’t read.
What safety tips matter for funny pumpkins?
- Saw with short strokes and keep your steadying hand well clear of the blade path. Kit saws are safer than kitchen knives.
- Kids can design the joke, scoop and stick on props; adults handle cutting, drilling and skewers.
- Prop-heavy pumpkins (googly eyes, plastic teeth, paper) can catch fire. Use battery lights; the NFPA recommends flashlights or battery candles in jack-o’-lanterns.
- Keep pulp-spilling pumpkins off walkways where someone could slip.
Where should you put your funny pumpkins?
Funny pumpkins land best at eye level near the door where trick-or-treaters pause. Work them into your Halloween front door decorations, or set a gag pumpkin somewhere unexpected, like the edge of the tub alongside your Halloween bathroom decorations. For a sweeter set beside them, add a few cute carved pumpkins, or browse our easy pumpkin ideas for no-carve fillers.
FAQ
What is the funniest thing to carve into a pumpkin?
The sick pumpkin spilling its own guts and a pumpkin eating a pumpkin are reliable crowd favorites, because the joke is obvious at a glance.
How do you make a goofy jack-o’-lantern?
Mismatch the features: one big eye and one small, a lopsided mouth, a single tooth, or crossed pupils. Exaggeration is what turns a plain face into a goofy one.
How long does a sick pumpkin with real pulp last?
The pulp gets slimy and moldy fast, often within a day or two outdoors. Set it up on Halloween itself, or use the salsa version indoors for a party. The carved pumpkin itself may last only a few days to a week, per Kansas State University’s extension.
Can I carve words on a pumpkin?
Yes. Use blocky, all-caps letters at least 1.5 inches tall and leave bridges in letters like O, A and B so the centers don’t fall out.
