Color by number is the perfect mix of a puzzle and a coloring page. Kids practice matching numbers to colors, and at the end there’s a finished picture they can be proud of. Adults like it too, because it’s relaxing without needing any decisions.
These free color by number printables are 8 pages I designed with big, clearly numbered spaces and a color key on every sheet. Six are easy pages for kids, one is a medium page, and there’s a geometric quilt design for older kids and adults. Answer keys are included at the end of the PDF.
What’s in the color by number pack
The PDF has 11 US Letter pages: a cover, 8 color by number pages and 2 pages of colored answer keys. Every space has its number printed right in the middle, sized to fit the space, and every page has its own color key at the bottom with the color names written out.
- Hot Air Balloon (easy): striped balloon, basket, clouds and a sunny sky.
- Rainbow & Clouds (easy): six rainbow stripes, fluffy clouds and green grass.
- Sailboat (easy): striped sails, a little boat with portholes and two shades of sea.
- Flower Pot (easy): three flowers in different colors with leaves and stars.
- Ice Cream Cone (easy): three scoops, a waffle cone and a cherry on top.
- Rocket in Space (medium): a rocket with flames, a striped planet and stars on a dark blue sky.
- Butterfly (medium): spotted wings and little flowers underneath.
- Pinwheel Quilt (for adults): 72 triangles that form colorful pinwheels, like a patchwork quilt.
Easy pages for kids
The easy pages use big spaces and up to eight colors, so they’re a good fit for preschool and early elementary kids. Big areas like the sky have the number printed in several places, so kids always know what color goes where.
Medium and adult pages
The rocket and butterfly have smaller details, and the pinwheel quilt is the most challenging one: you’ll need a steady hand and sharp colored pencils for all those triangles. The finished quilt looks great framed or used as a card front.
See all 8 color by number pages and the answer keys
Every page is shown on its own below. Click a page or its download link to open the full-size printable, then print it or save it. The PDF in the download box has all of them together.
Answer keys
The last two pages show every picture colored in. They’re handy for checking work in a classroom, or for younger kids who like to see the finished picture before they start.
How to use these color by number pages
- Print at Actual size / 100% on US Letter, or “Fit to page” on A4.
- Lay out crayons, markers or colored pencils that match the color key. Exact shades don’t matter.
- Find a number on the key, then color every space with that number before moving to the next color.
- For “white” spaces, you can leave the paper as it is.
- Compare with the answer key at the end, if you like.
Tip for younger kids: color a dot of each color next to the key’s number first. It makes matching much easier.
Why kids (and teachers) love color by number
- It practices number recognition and color names at the same time.
- It builds fine motor control as kids color inside the lines.
- It’s a calm, screen-free activity for quiet time, rainy days, waiting rooms and travel.
- It works well as an early-finisher or center activity in class.
Frequently asked questions
Are these color by number printables free?
Yes, free for personal and classroom use. Print as many copies as you need. Please don’t sell them or share the PDF directly; link to this page instead.
What ages are they for?
The easy pages work for kids from around 4 to 8, the medium ones for about 6 and up, and the pinwheel quilt suits older kids, teens and adults.
More free printable activities
If your kids enjoy these, try my free Christmas coloring pages, the free printable crossword puzzles or the free cursive handwriting worksheets.
Save it for later
Want to come back to these pages? Save this image to your Pinterest board.
Happy coloring!
