How to Draw a Tiger (Easy Step by Step)
A tiger is a friendly drawing project because it is built from a few simple shapes: a wide rounded head with two ears, an egg shape for the body, and ovals for the paws. The stripes are short lines, so you can add them one at a time. This cuddly cub has a curly tail, which makes it easy to draw and fun to color.
- Easy
- 12 minutes
- 8 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a tiger step by step
How to Draw a Tiger · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: Head and ears
Draw a wide rounded head with a round ear on each top corner. The ears are small bumps that blend into the top of the head, and the line runs down and around the cheeks to the chin.
Step 3: The body
Under the chin, draw two long curved lines that start at each side of the head. They bulge out and come back in, like a tall egg. The left line curls in at the bottom to start the tail.
Step 4: The front paws
At the bottom of the body, draw two oval paws side by side. Join them with a tiny straight line where they almost touch.
Step 5: The tail
On the right side, start at the body and draw a curve that swings out and up. Draw a second curve beside it so the tail is thick, and close the tip with a rounded top.
Step 6: The face
Draw two small dots for eyes. Add a little upside-down triangle for the nose, with a tiny w-shaped smile below it. Add a short whisker stripe on each cheek, and a second one just below it.
Step 7: Ear and forehead stripes
Inside each ear, draw a small curved line that follows the edge. Then draw three short straight lines on the forehead, with the middle one the tallest.
Step 8: Body and tail stripes
Draw short stripes along both sides of the body, and a curved line above each front paw. Finish with two little stripes across the tail.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your tiger? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a zebra or how to draw a hippo next.
Tips for drawing a tiger
- Draw the head first and make it wide. A wide head is what makes this tiger look like a cute cub.
- Keep the stripes short, and leave a little gap between them. Spacing them out looks neat.
- The tail is the trickiest part. Draw the first curve, then draw the second curve beside it, keeping the same distance all the way up.
Free tiger coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this tiger coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your tiger drawing
Color the tiger orange with black or dark brown stripes and a white tummy. For a creative twist, try a rainbow tiger with a different bright color for each stripe.
Tiger fun fact for kids
No two tigers have the same stripes. The pattern is like a fingerprint, and the stripes are on a tiger's skin too, not just its fur.
Questions about drawing a tiger
What shapes do I need to draw a tiger?
You need a wide rounded head with two ears, an egg shape for the body, two ovals for the paws, and a curved shape for the tail. The stripes are short lines.
How do I make my tiger look cuter?
Make the head big and wide, and keep the eyes small and far apart. Round ears and chubby oval paws also help.
How do I draw tiger stripes?
Draw short lines on the forehead, on the sides of the body and across the tail. Make some a little longer than others so they look natural.
