How to Draw a Ladder (Easy Step by Step)
Learn to draw a ladder easily by starting with the legs and adding steps one at a time. You'll practice drawing slanted lines and nice round ends.
- Start your ladder drawing with the front leg.
- Add the second leg to complete the frame.
- Draw the ladder steps one at a time.
- Use this drawing to practice slanted lines.
- Focus on creating nice round ends for the sticks.
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A ladder looks tricky, but it is really just tall rounded sticks and flat bars. You will start with the front leg, add a second leg, and then draw the steps one at a time. It is a great drawing for practicing slanted lines and nice round ends.
- Easy
- 10 minutes
- 7 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a ladder step by step
How to Draw a Ladder · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Left edge of the front leg
Draw a long, slanted line that leans a little to the left, from the top down to the bottom, with a tiny curl at the bottom. Then draw two short flat dashes close together to the right of it, about halfway down.
Step 2: Finish the front leg
Start at the top of your long line and curve over a round top. Then draw a slanted line down the right side to a round bottom, so the leg looks like a tall, skinny rounded stick.
Step 3: The back leg
To the right of the first leg, leave a gap and draw a second tall rounded stick. Give it a round top and a round bottom, and let it slant down toward the right.
Step 4: The top step
Near the top, draw a short flat bar that connects the front leg to the back leg. Make the right end round, like a hot dog bun.
Step 5: The middle step
Draw another flat bar with a round right end, lower down and across the middle. It also goes from the front leg over to the back leg.
Step 6: The bottom step
Near the bottom, draw one more flat bar with a round right end between the two legs. Keep it running the same way as the other two steps.
Step 7: Inside of the front leg
On the left, draw a slanted line from near the top of the front leg down to a round bottom, so the leg gets a second side. Then draw a short flat bar across from this line to the front leg, near the bottom.
All done!
Go over your lines with a marker, then color it in.
Finished your ladder? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a rocket or how to draw a shooting star next.
Tips for drawing a ladder
- Draw the legs with a light pencil first, so you can fix any wobbly lines before you go over them.
- Make the three long steps about the same distance apart. Lightly mark where each one starts on the front leg before you draw it.
- The round ends of the steps are the trickiest part. Draw them like the end of a hot dog bun, curving in one smooth line.
Free ladder coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this ladder 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 ladder drawing
Try bright wood-brown legs with yellow steps, or color it blue and red like a fire truck ladder. For a creative twist, draw a cat or a bird sitting near the top.
Ladder fun fact for kids
The steps of a ladder are called rungs, and the long side pieces are called rails.
Questions about drawing a ladder
What shapes do I need to draw a ladder?
You need tall rounded sticks for the legs and flat bars for the steps. Round the ends of each one so they look soft and smooth.
How do I make my ladder look straight?
Use a ruler to draw light guide lines for the legs, then draw over them by hand. Keep the steps running the same way so they look neat.
How do I make my ladder look like it is standing up?
Draw the bottoms of both legs at about the same level near the bottom of the page. Slant the legs a little so the ladder leans like a real step ladder.
