How to Draw a Zebra (Easy Step by Step)
A zebra is a fun animal to draw because its stripes do most of the work. This one starts with a round head and a tall ear, then adds a long back line, a short mane, a row of curved stripes, a swinging tail and four sturdy legs. Once the legs are in, your zebra is ready to color.
- Easy
- 15 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a zebra step by step
How to Draw a Zebra · 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 ear
Draw a big round head outline on the left, starting at the top and curving around to the bottom. Add a tall, pointy ear that rises from the top of the head.
Step 3: Neck and back line
Starting just behind the ear, draw a little step down for the neck. Then draw a long, gently curved line to the right along the top of the back.
Step 4: Cheek lines
Draw two short curved lines along the back edge of the head, near the bottom. They show where the cheek ends and the neck begins.
Step 5: Face and mane
Draw a small dot for the eye, a curved line near the front of the face for the mouth, and a tiny mark under it for the chin. Add two short stripes on the forehead and a few little curly tufts of mane behind the ear.
Step 6: Body stripes
Draw five long curved stripes hanging down from the back line, one next to the other. Let them all curve the same way and stop well above where the tummy will be.
Step 7: Tail and tuft
From the end of the back line, draw a curve that swings out and down for the tail. Finish it with a small oval at the bottom for the tuft.
Step 8: Hip curve and dashes
Draw a short curved line near the back end, just under the tail, for the hip. Then draw two pairs of short straight dashes below the body, side by side, to mark where the leg stripes will go.
Step 9: Legs and tummy
Draw a line from under the chin down the chest to the front leg, and a curved line down the back end for the back leg. Draw four rounded rectangle legs with a flat line for the tummy between them, and add two little stripes across each leg like socks.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your zebra? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a hippo or how to draw a kangaroo next.
Tips for drawing a zebra
- Draw the ear as part of the head outline so it grows out of the top of the head and does not float.
- Draw the body stripes one at a time, and let them curve the same direction so they look neat.
- Keep the four legs about the same width and height, and put the two stripes at the same spots on each one.
Free zebra coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this zebra 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 zebra drawing
Use black or dark gray for the stripes, the mane and the tail tuft, and leave the rest white or very light gray. For a creative twist, try a rainbow zebra with a different bright color in each stripe.
Zebra fun fact for kids
Every zebra has its own stripe pattern, just like people have their own fingerprints. No two zebras are exactly alike.
Questions about drawing a zebra
What shapes do I need to draw a zebra?
You need a round head with a tall pointy ear, a long curved line for the back, and four rounded rectangles for the legs. A small oval makes the tail tuft.
How do I make my zebra look cuter?
Make the head big and round, and keep the eye a small dot placed low on the face. Short, chunky legs also make a zebra look cuddly.
How do I draw zebra stripes that look good?
Draw the stripes as long curved lines hanging down from the back, and keep them roughly the same distance apart. They do not have to be perfect, because real zebra stripes are a little wobbly.
