How to Draw an American Flag (Easy Step by Step)
A waving American flag is a great drawing for beginners because it is mostly wavy stripes and little dots. You build it from a tall straight pole, a wavy rectangle, and a few matching wavy lines. Once you can draw one wave, you can draw them all.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 6 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw an American flag step by step
How to Draw an American Flag · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: The flagpole
Draw a tall straight line down the left side of the page. Put a small circle on the very top of the pole.
Step 2: The wavy flag shape
Start at the pole just below the circle and draw a wavy line across the top, going up and down like a gentle hill. Draw the right side straight down, then a matching wavy line along the bottom, and close it up at the pole.
Step 3: Star box and top stripes
Draw a short straight line down from the top wave to mark the edge of the star box. Then add three wavy lines to the right of it, copying the wave of the top edge.
Step 4: The lower stripes
Draw a wavy line from the bottom of the star box all the way across the flag to the right side. Add two more wavy lines below it, spaced evenly.
Step 5: First column of dots
In the star box, draw three little dots in a column along the left side. Space them evenly, one above the other.
Step 6: The rest of the stars
Add a second column of three dots beside the first. Then add a third column of three short slanted dashes, lined up with the dots.
All done!
Go over your lines with a marker, then color it in.
Finished your American flag? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw an Uncle Sam hat or how to draw a bald eagle next.
Tips for drawing an American flag
- Draw the top and bottom edges of the flag with the same wave, so the stripes look like they move together.
- Copy the shape of the top wave for every stripe line. Keep the gaps between stripes about the same width.
- Space the dots in the star box evenly, and line up each column with the one beside it.
Free American flag coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this American flag 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 American flag drawing
Color the stripes red and white and the star box blue. Leave the dots white, or color them yellow. For a creative twist, make a rainbow flag or design a flag for your own imaginary country.
American flag fun fact for kids
The American flag has 13 stripes for the first 13 colonies and 50 stars for the 50 states. This drawing uses fewer stripes and just a few marks for stars to keep it easy.
Questions about drawing an American flag
What shapes do I need to draw an American flag?
You need a long straight line for the pole, a small circle for the top, wavy lines for the flag and stripes, and little dots and dashes for the stars.
How do I make the flag look like it is waving?
Draw every stripe as a wavy line that goes up and down in the same places. When the waves match, the whole flag looks like it is blowing in the wind.
How do I fill the star box?
Draw three columns of three marks each. Keep the marks evenly spaced and lined up, so the box looks neat.
