The Best Pumpkin Carving Kits

There's a bit more rubber on these tools, making them less likely to slip as you carve. The contouring makes using them for long stretches rather comfortable. They cut adequately, considering their low cost. They're too similar though. I'd rather have another type of tool than the one with the non-pointed end, which makes puncturing the rind to start new holes hard.

Unlike most, this kit doesn't come with a spoon for removing the seeds and guts from the inside of the pumpkin. Instead, it has a non-handled scooper that looks more like a tool for cleaning cast-iron pans. Using it means going elbow-deep in pumpkin goo. You really have to get all the way inside the gourd since there's no handle on the scraper. Given the kit's low price, you could make do with a metal kitchen spoon or buy the Hyde and Eek Serrated Pumpkin Carving Spoon separately.

Note: This kit is out of stock as of publishing time, so check back to see whether it's available again.

Forget that it looks like a torture toolkit a Bond villain would unroll, the Antner scooper and knives cut powerfully, thanks to sharp edges and thick metal. I'd have preferred a straight blade on at least one of the knives, as the weird shapes make some carving tasks a bit awkward. The handles aren't as plump nor as contoured as the Messermeister's, so the grip isn't as secure, but they're longer, so small kids' hands may have a harder time holding them.

That said, this is a great set for adults looking to make detailed carvings thanks to the six Xacto-knife-sized precision tools. They have 12 varied cutting edges, giving you fine control for fancier designs.

Note: This kit is out of stock as of publishing time, so check back to see whether it's available again.

Despite its glowing reviews, I found this kit perfectly adequate. The semi-flat handles aren't as comfortable as the Messermeister tools, but they should be easier for tiny hands to use while still resisting slipping, due to the indentations. The blades and scooper performed well although a bit less impressively than the Messermeister and Antner, and the precision tools have less-useful heads than those of the Antner kit.

Hyde and Eek Silly Eyes Pumpkin Carving Kit for $5: Nothing about these tools stood out from the crowd of other $5 and $10 kits. The only real reason to buy this kit is for the googly eyes you stick into the pumpkin for a three-dimensional effect. But isn't the fun of carving a jack-o'-lantern the eyes?

Pumpkin Masters All-in-One 21-Piece Carving Party Kit for $24: This had a plastic scooper that didn't work as well as metal ones. The tools' handles also weren't as comfortable or secure-feeling as our favorite kits. It's pricey compared to the picks above. Despite the lofty claims of 21 pieces, only six of them are tools—seven if you count the crayon. The rest are stencil patterns. For outlining designs and fine details before committing to the cut, the other kits' precision tools worked better than the plastic-bladed hole puncher in this kit. It also goes in and out of stock, so it may not always be available.

Pumpkin Masters “Masters Collection” Pumpkin Carving Kit for $11: This kit was fine. The best thing I can say about this unremarkable kit is that the two knives' cutting performance was OK but didn't stand out. The V-cutter tool looks like an industrial piece that snapped in half when leaving the factory and felt clumsy compared to other precision tools. The only other fine-detail tool is a plastic poker. The scooper is unusually deep. It was useful for the initial steps of clearing out a pumpkin and moving masses of seeds efficiently. But once I got them out, it was more unwieldy to scrap away at the membrane with such a concave scoop. At least it’s metal.