The most popular styles of wood carving tools are: straight chisel, with a straight flat edge; straight gouge, with a curved cutting edge which will range in depth; short bent, with a small spoon-like dip used for quick deep cuts; long bent, which will make a long deep cut; straight skew, with a diagonal cutting edge.

Carving is often used to create details and features on a sculpture, such as facial features or clothing. In order to produce a well-carved sculpture, a sculptor must have a good understanding of the characteristics of different types of stone and the way that different tools work.