How do giant pumpkins manage to float instead of sinking?
Giant pumpkins float because they're hollow and less dense than water, even when weighing over 900 kilograms.
Despite their massive size, giant pumpkins are naturally buoyant. They're roughly 90% water and contain a large air-filled cavity inside. This hollow space lowers the pumpkin's overall density below that of water, allowing it to stay afloat. This remarkable property is so reliable that people carve out enormous pumpkins to use as boats in annual rowing races around the world.
Nerd Mode
The buoyancy of giant pumpkins perfectly demonstrates Archimedes' principle, which states that any object wholly or partially immersed in a fluid experiences an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. Since a pumpkin's total mass is less than the mass of water it would displace if fully submerged, it floats.Giant pumpkins, particularly the Atlantic Giant variety (Cucurbita maximus), reach extraordinary sizes. In 2023, Travis Gienger set a world record with a pumpkin weighing 1,247 kilograms. Despite this enormous mass, the fruit is approximately 90% water and features a thick rind surrounding a vast central cavity filled with air and seeds. This internal void significantly reduces the fruit's average density.Fresh water has a density of approximately 1 gram per cubic centimeter. Most pumpkins have a density between 0.7 and 0.9 grams per cubic centimeter. This difference is why they bob on the surface rather than sink. This physical property has sparked the creation of "pumpkin regattas" across the globe.One of the most famous events is the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta in Tualatin, Oregon, which began in 2004. Competitors hollow out pumpkins weighing 270 to 450 kilograms to create a cockpit for a human pilot. Because the thick walls are water-resistant and the wide base provides stability, these organic vessels can support a person's weight while remaining remarkably stable on the water.
Verified Fact
FP-0002734 · Feb 17, 2026