Moo! A cow is one of the friendliest animals to draw, and it is built from simple ovals and straight lines. This guide shows how to draw a cow standing in a field, step by step.
The free PDF has a step-by-step sheet, a tracing page, a practice sheet with a grid and a coloring page. Once you know the shapes, you can draw a whole farm: a calf, a bull or a cow with a bell.
What’s in the PDF
- Step-by-step sheet with 6 numbered steps; new lines are black, earlier lines are grey
- Tracing page with a large cow in light grey to trace over
- Practice sheet with a small reference and two boxes with a light grid
- Coloring page with the finished cow in bold outlines
How to draw a cow step by step
- Draw the head. Make an oval for the head, then draw a wider oval across the bottom for the muzzle.
- Add the ears and horns. Draw two flat ovals on the sides of the head for ears and two small curved horns on top.
- Draw the body. Draw a big oval behind the head. Stop the line where it meets the head so the head stays in front.
- Add the legs. Draw four straight legs under the body. Add a line near the bottom of each leg for the hooves.
- Add the tail and udder. Draw a long curved tail with a little tuft at the end, and a small round udder between the legs.
- Finish the cow. Draw a few round spots on the body, two eyes, two nostrils on the muzzle and a happy smile.
Keep the body much bigger than the head; that is what makes it look like a cow. If the legs look too thin, draw them a little wider.
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 will learn the shapes and the order without worrying about mistakes. Then try again on the practice sheet.
Practice on the grid
The practice sheet has a small finished cow for reference and two boxes with a faint grid. The grid helps with size and spacing: count how many squares tall the cow is in the reference, then draw it the same way.
Color the finished drawing
Classic cows are white with black or brown spots and a pink muzzle and udder. Color the horns cream and the hooves dark gray.
Drawing tips for kids
- Draw the ovals lightly first, then trace the final lines darker.
- Make every spot a different shape; real cow spots are never round.
- Turn it into a calf by drawing a smaller body and skipping the horns.
- Draw a fence, a barn and some grass to make a farm scene.
Download the pages one by one
Prefer a single page? Click a link to open the full-size PNG, then print it or save it. The full PDF with all pages and a cover is in the download box.
- How to draw a cow: step-by-step sheet (PNG)
- a Cow tracing page (PNG)
- a Cow practice sheet with grid (PNG)
- a Cow coloring page (PNG)
More drawing guides: how to draw a lion, how to draw a cat and how to draw a car.
FAQ
What is the easiest way to draw a cow?
Start with an oval head and a wide oval muzzle, then add a big oval body behind it. Four straight legs and a few spots finish the cow.
How do I draw cow spots?
Draw wobbly, uneven shapes on the body. Make them different sizes and let some spots run off the edge of the body.
What paper should I print it on?
Plain US Letter printer paper works. Use cardstock if your child will color with markers or wants to keep the drawing.
Can I use it in my classroom?
Yes. The pages are free for personal and classroom use. Print a copy for every student, and link to this page instead of sharing the PDF file.
