To learn how to draw a butterfly, draw a small circle for the head and a long oval for the body, add two antennae, then two big wings on top and two smaller wings below. A shape inside each wing, a few dots and body stripes finish it in six easy steps.
A butterfly is mirrored, so whatever you draw on one side you copy on the other. That makes it a great first drawing for kids and a calm, satisfying one for adults. The free PDF has the step sheet, a tracing page, a practice grid and a coloring page.
What’s in the free PDF
- Step-by-step sheet with 6 numbered steps; new lines are black, earlier lines are grey
- Tracing page with a large butterfly in light grey to trace over
- Practice sheet with a small reference and two boxes with a light grid
- Coloring page with the finished butterfly in bold outlines
How to draw a butterfly step by step
- Head and body. Draw a small circle for the head. Right under it, draw a long, thin oval for the body.
- Antennae. Draw two curved lines from the top of the head, one leaning left and one leaning right. Put a small dot at the end of each.
- Top wings. Draw a big rounded wing on each side of the upper body. Each wing starts at the body, swings up and out to a round tip, and comes back down to the middle of the body.
- Bottom wings. Under the top wings, draw two smaller rounded wings that hang down. Their top edge disappears behind the big wings.
- Wing patterns. Draw a smaller copy of the wing shape inside each of the four wings.
- Details. Add three small circles on each side of the wings, five curved stripes across the body, two dot eyes and a smile.
Draw one wing, then the matching wing on the other side right away. It is much easier to keep both sides the same size this way than to draw all of one side first.
Easy butterfly drawing: common mistakes and fixes
- The two sides don’t match. Lightly fold the paper in half before you start; the crease shows you where the body goes and helps you compare both sides.
- The bottom wings are as big as the top wings. Keep them about half the size, or the butterfly looks like a bow tie.
- The wings don’t touch the body. Start and end every wing line on the body outline.
- The body is too short. Let it run from the head all the way down past the bottom wings.
Trace, practice, then color
Trace it first
If drawing freehand feels hard, start with the tracing page. Go over the grey lines with a pencil, pressing lightly, and you learn the shapes and their order without worrying about mistakes. Then try again on the practice sheet.
Practice on the grid
The practice sheet has a small finished butterfly for reference and two boxes with a faint grid. Count how many squares wide and tall the reference is, then draw your butterfly the same way. The grid keeps the parts the right size next to each other.
Color the finished drawing
Butterflies look best with bright colors and a simple pattern: color the outer part of each wing one color and the inner shape another, like orange and yellow for a monarch look or blue and purple. Leave the circles white or fill them with a light color.
Butterfly drawing tips
- Use a ruler to draw a faint center line first; it keeps the body straight.
- Try different wing shapes: pointy top wings, long tails on the bottom wings, or heart-shaped wings.
- Add flowers or a few leaves around it to make a spring picture.
- Older kids can add patterns inside the wings: stripes, dots or tiny hearts.
Download the pages one by one
Prefer a single page? Click a link to open the full-size image, then print it or save it. The PDF with all pages and a cover is in the download box.
- How to draw a butterfly: step-by-step sheet (PNG)
- a Butterfly tracing page (PNG)
- a Butterfly practice sheet with grid (PNG)
- a Butterfly coloring page (PNG)
More to draw: 36 easy flower drawings, flower doodles, cute doodles and simple drawing ideas. Just want to color? Try our cute coloring pages.
FAQ
What is the easiest way to draw a butterfly?
Draw a long oval body, then two big rounded wings on top and two smaller ones underneath. Draw one wing and then its partner on the other side, so both sides match.
How do you draw butterfly wings that match?
Fold the paper in half to make a center line, draw one wing, then draw the other wing with its top and bottom at the same height. Checking the two sides against each other after every line helps a lot.
How many wings does a butterfly have?
Four: two forewings on top and two smaller hindwings below. In this drawing the top wings are bigger and overlap the bottom ones.
Is this butterfly drawing good for beginners?
Yes. It uses only circles, ovals and rounded curves, and the tracing page lets beginners learn the shapes before drawing on their own.
