21 Funny Pumpkin Carving Ideas for the Best Jack-o’-Lanterns

Collage of four funny carved pumpkins, including a pumpkin giving birth with a doctor, a Labubu pumpkin, a You are not the father pumpkin family and a woozy face emoji pumpkin, with the text 21 Funny Pumpkin Carving Ideas for the Best Jack-o'-Lanterns

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Halloween is almost here, and if your porch needs a few laughs this year, these funny pumpkin carving ideas will do just the trick. From goofy grins and silly faces to pumpkins with plenty of personality, there is a design here to make every trick-or-treater smile. Most of these jack-o’-lanterns need only a few simple cuts and a basic pumpkin carving kit, so they are easy for beginners and fun to make with the kids.

Pick a favorite, or carve a whole lineup of characters for a front porch that’s sure to get noticed! Underneath each of the images, you will find links to the sources for more details and inspiration.

Tell Us: Which one of these funny pumpkin carving ideas made you laugh the most? Let us know in the Comments below!

Be sure to also check out: 22 Quick and Easy Pumpkin Carving Ideas to DIY This Halloween and 18 Terrifyingly Fun Pumpkin Carving Ideas To Try This Halloween.

1. Pumpkin Delivery Room.

funny carved pumpkin giving birth to a baby pumpkin, with a pumpkin doctor in scrubs and a stethoscope

This pumpkin duo turns the front porch into a delivery room! Stack two pumpkins: the mom-to-be with squeezed-shut eyes and a panicked mouth on top, and a baby pumpkin face peeking out below. Use carrots for the arms and legs, apples and baby carrots for the feet, and a pile of pumpkin guts to finish the scene. The doctor comes ready in scrubs, a surgical mask, glasses, and a stethoscope. As the creator puts it, “One of my pumpkins gave birth, but thankfully, there was a doctor there ready to deliver.” (Photo Credit: @heybrooklynb / Instagram)

2. Fore! Golf Ball Pumpkin.

carved pumpkin with X-shaped eyes and a frown, a golf ball lodged in cracked skin and a golf cap on top

Somebody forgot to yell “Fore!” To recreate, carve X-shaped eyes and a frown, then cut jagged cracks spreading out from one spot near the top. Press a golf ball into the center of the cracks and finish with a golf cap. The perfect pumpkin for the golfer in your family. (Photo Credit: Crafty Morning / Facebook)

3. Candy Overload Pumpkin.

carved pumpkin with droopy bloodshot cartoon eyes, spilling candy corn, chocolate bars, candies and pumpkin seeds from its mouth

This poor pumpkin ate too much Halloween candy and got sick to his stomach! Fill the eye holes with droopy, bloodshot cartoon eyes, then carve a mouth near the bottom and spill out pumpkin guts, seeds, candy corn, and chocolate bars. (Photo Credit: @cspi_nutritionaction / Instagram)

4. Alien Chestburster Pumpkin.

two stacked pumpkins with a screaming carved face and plastic hands, with a toy alien bursting out of the bottom pumpkin and seeds spilling on the ground

Movie buffs will love this take on the chestburster scene from Alien. Stack two pumpkins with a screaming face on top, then push a toy alien head through a hole in the bottom pumpkin. Add plastic hands and spread seeds and pulp on the ground. TIP: No toy alien? Carve the head out of a turnip instead! (Photo Credit: @wreav / Instagram)

5. Messy Eater Pumpkin.

jack-o'-lantern with shredded pumpkin stuffed in its grinning mouth, cartoon glove hands holding a fork and a plate of shredded pumpkin in front

This hungry pumpkin is digging into a plate of pumpkin “noodles” with no manners at all! Carve a jack-o’-lantern face, shred leftover pumpkin flesh into thin strands, and stuff some into the mouth. Pile the rest on a plate, then add plastic cartoon hands, one waving and one holding a fork. (Photo Credit: @chrispalombi / Instagram)

6. Brainy Pumpkin Eating a Pumpkin.

carved pumpkin with an exposed brain under a tilted lid, peeled potato eyeballs and a toothy grin biting a small gourd

brainy carved pumpkin glowing orange at dusk, with peeled potato eyeballs and a gourd clamped in its toothy grin

This pumpkin combines two ideas. Cut the top off a smaller pumpkin to expose the pumpkin head’s top, revealing carved brain folds. Below, a toothy grin clamps down on a small gourd, and peeled potato eyeballs add a wild-eyed look. Illuminate with an LED light at night. For more ideas like this, see our terrifyingly fun pumpkin carving ideas. (Photo Credit: @craftbeerblogger / Instagram)

7. Labubu Pumpkin.

pumpkin carved like Labubu with bunny ears, a shaved face, glowing oval eyes and a toothy grin

Labubu fans, this one’s for you! Shave away the skin to create the face shape, then carve oval eyes under angled brows, a tiny nose, and jagged teeth. Cut two bunny ears from a second pumpkin and set them on top. A battery-operated LED pumpkin light inside makes the face glow. (Photo Credit: @dan_hoogkamp_art / Instagram)

8. Peekaboo Pumpkin.

large pumpkin with its lid propped open on skewers, a smiling white mini pumpkin with googly eyes inside and a skeleton bat wrapped around it

Look who’s hiding inside! Slice a large pumpkin all the way around, scoop out the inside, and prop the lid open with wooden skewers. Set a white mini pumpkin with googly eyes and a carved grin inside, then perch a skeleton bat on top with its bony wings wrapped around the pumpkin. (Photo Credit: @hayleys_passions / Instagram)

9. Baby Pumpkin With a Pacifier.

small red pumpkin carved with round eyes and a triangle nose, with a baby pacifier where the mouth would be

This pumpkin baby is a little sassy and a little sweet! Carve two big round eyes and a tiny triangle nose into a small pumpkin, then press a baby pacifier where the mouth would be. It’s one of the easiest designs on this list and is sure to give your trick-or-treaters a laugh! (Photo Credit: @marys.lieblingsstuecke / Instagram)

10. Mustached Slugger Pumpkin.

jack-o'-lantern with a black pipe cleaner mustache, a crooked grin and a baseball lodged in cracks around one eye

This dapper pumpkin sports a fuzzy pipe cleaner mustache and a baseball to the eye! Carve the pumpkin face to include a crooked grin and a triangle nose, add a few cracks around one eye, and press in a baseball. (Photo Credit: @webgemmedia / Instagram)

11. Winky the Pumpkin.

pumpkin sculpted into a character named Winky with a winking eye, puckered lips and twisting root-like arms, sitting on straw

Winky is a pumpkin character blowing a kiss with a cheeky wink! The artist shaved away the green skin of a large gourd to sculpt the face into the flesh, then added twisting, root-like arms and legs. It’s an advanced carving, but you can borrow the idea by shaving a simple winking face into your own pumpkin. (Photo Credit: @ludoroders / Instagram)

12. “You Are NOT the Father!” Pumpkins.

stacked pumpkin family parodying a talk show, with a silver-haired host holding a You are not the father sign, a crying mom, a laughing dad and a baby pumpkin with a pacifier

The pumpkin paternity results are in! Stack pumpkins to create a silver-haired host in glasses holding a “You are NOT the father!” sign, a sobbing mom in a wig, and a dad who couldn’t look happier. A tiny baby pumpkin with googly eyes and a pacifier is the finishing touch. (Photo Credit: @heybrooklynb / Instagram)

13. Silly Cow Pumpkin.

white pumpkin made into a silly cow with gourd horns, ears, snout and a tongue sticking out, topped with straw hair

This cow is made for a farmhouse porch! Carve two eyes and a grin into a white pumpkin, then screw on slices of a green gourd for the ears, snout, and tongue. Use two small gourds for the horns, and a tuft of straw for a messy hairdo. (Photo Credit: @fluffyfeatherfarm / Instagram)

14. Minion Pumpkin.

pumpkin carved like a Minion with mason jar lid goggles, googly eyes, a small O-shaped mouth and carved overalls

Bello! Kids and Despicable Me fans will love this Minion. Shave away the skin in layers to create the yellow face and orange overalls, then carve a little O-shaped mouth and pocket details. To make the goggles, use two mason jar lid rings with white and black cardboard paper eyes. (Photo Credit: @johnnygando / Instagram)

15. Say Cheese Pumpkin.

jack-o'-lantern with a huge toothy grin and peeled potato eyeballs with carrot pupils, sitting among white and striped pumpkins

Say cheese! This pumpkin looks like someone forced to smile for a family photo. Carve a big toothy grin, then add peeled potato eyeballs with carrot pupils for that slightly-too-excited look. (Photo Credit: @adambierton / Instagram)

16. Sneezy Pumpkin.

pumpkin with squeezed-shut eyes and a small round mouth, holding a tissue to its face with twisted vine arms, mid-sneeze

This poor pumpkin has a bad case of fall allergies. Carve two closed eyes and a small, round mouth, then attach dried vines for arms, and hold a tissue to its nose. Achoo! (Photo Credit: @adambierton / Instagram)

17. Buck-Toothed Pumpkins.

two pumpkins with tiny dot eyes and huge open mouths with two big buck teeth

You don’t need fancy carving skills for a big laugh! Poke two small holes for eyes, then carve an oversized open mouth, leaving two buck teeth hanging from the top. Kids can easily help with this one. (Photo Credit: @sad_dadd / Instagram)

18. The Pumpkin That Lost Its Face.

carved jack-o'-lantern face removed and propped in front of a hollow pumpkin, with shocked bloodshot paper eyes peering out from inside

Talk about a bad day! This pumpkin’s face has popped right off and sits propped in front, still smiling. Cut the face from the front of a pumpkin in one piece, set it in front of the hollow shell, and stick two clear plastic spoons into the pumpkin’s roof, then affix two bloodshot paper eyes to the front of each spoon. (Photo Credit: @sworefarms / Instagram)

19. Woozy Face Emoji Pumpkin.

pumpkin carved like the woozy face emoji, with one squinting eye, one wide eye and a wavy lopsided grin

Feeling a little woozy? This pumpkin copies the woozy face emoji 🥴 with one squinting eye, one wide-open eye, raised brows, and a wavy, lopsided grin. It only takes a few cuts, so it’s a great last-minute idea. (Photo Credit: @tom / Instagram)

20. His & Hers Pumpkins.

his and hers pumpkins, one lovestruck with heart eyes, lashes and a one-tooth grin, the other grumpy with angry eyes and a jagged scowl

These his-and-hers pumpkins capture every couple’s Halloween mood! She’s all heart eyes, toothpick lashes, and a one-tooth grin, while he scowls with angry slanted eyes and a jagged frown. Carve them together for a fun date-night project. (Photo Credit: Karly Robles / Instagram)

21. Screaming Pumpkin.

tall pumpkin with a huge screaming mouth full of seeds and pulp, carved fangs and potato eyeballs with carrot pupils, beside a sunflower

This is the face we all make when we realize Halloween is next week and we still haven’t carved the pumpkins! Carve a gaping mouth that runs nearly the length of the pumpkin, leaving the seeds and pulp inside. Add fangs along the top and bottom, then pop in peeled potato eyeballs with carrot pupils. TIP: Don’t want to carve teeth from potatoes? You can find pumpkin teeth ready to push right in. (Photo Credit: @adambierton / Instagram)

Funny Pumpkin Carving Tips

A few tricks to make your silly jack-o’-lantern the star of the porch

🎃Exaggerate the expression. Oversized mouths, tiny eyes, and lopsided grins read as funny from the sidewalk, so go bigger than you think.
🎃Leave the teeth attached. When carving a toothy grin, keep each tooth connected to the top or bottom of the mouth so it doesn’t fall out.
🎃Raid the kitchen for props. Potatoes, carrots, gourds, and leftover pumpkin pieces make great eyeballs, noses, tongues, and teeth. Toothpicks hold them in place.
🎃Add one silly accessory. A cap, glasses, a pacifier, or a tissue instantly gives your pumpkin its own personality.
🎃Keep it fresh. Carve two to four days before Halloween and rub petroleum jelly on the cut edges so your funny face doesn’t start frowning too soon.
🎃Light it safely. Battery-operated LED lights are safer than candles, especially with props and kids nearby.

Need a design? Grab our free printable with 6 easy funny pumpkin face stencils to trace and carve.

Download the Free Pumpkin Stencils

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