Look at the color of the pumpkin to see if it has a uniformly medium orange shade and a hard rind. Immature pumpkins have a greenish-orange color and overripe pumpkins become dark orange.
Check for blemishes and bruises. Pumpkins begin to develop flaws as they become too ripe. However, this can also happen if a person drops and damages the pumpkin.
Hold the pumpkin to see if it's firm on all sides. An overripe pumpkin starts to become less firm with soft spots on the exterior.
Smell the pumpkin to see if you can sense any odors coming from it. Ripe pumpkins have a light sweet scent, but you may not smell anything (which is fine). Overripe pumpkins emit a faint foul odor that gradually intensifies as the pumpkin continues to ripen.
Check the pumpkin to make sure it has no signs of powdery mildew anywhere on the exterior. When a pumpkin becomes too ripe it can develop mildew as it starts to rot.