How to Draw a Tiger: Easy Tiger Drawing for Kids

Tigers are the perfect big cat to draw first: a pear shaped body, a round head with two little ears, a thick curvy tail and a few bold stripes. This is an easy tiger drawing for kids ages 4 to 8, and every line is a simple shape or a gentle curve, so even the youngest artists can roar with pride.

Follow the twelve steps below on paper, or tap "Draw it live" and DrawAlong will guide your child through every line on screen, checking each stroke, cheering them on, and letting them color the finished tiger at the end.

How to draw a tiger, step by step

1. 1Draw the big sitting body with an arch between the front paws

   Start with a big pear shape for the sitting body. Along the bottom edge, draw a small upside-down U in the middle so your tiger has two front paws.

2. 2Draw a big round head with two little ears on top

   On top of the body, draw a big round head in one line, adding a little rounded ear on each side as you go over the top.

3. 3Add a thick curvy tail on the side

   Give your tiger a thick, curvy tail sweeping out from the right side of the body and curling back down to the ground.

4. 4Draw the left eye

   Draw a small circle inside the head for the left eye.

5. 5Draw the right eye

   Draw another small circle for the right eye. Tigers have excellent eyesight, so make them nice and round.

6. 6Add a little triangle nose

   Add a tiny triangle nose in the middle of the face, pointing down.

7. 7Draw an oval muzzle under the nose

   Draw a little oval under the nose. That is the tiger’s muzzle, where the whiskers live.

8. 8Draw a stripe curving across the forehead

   Now for the best part, the stripes! Draw a shallow stripe curving across the forehead, from one ear to the other.

9. 9Draw a slim stripe on the left side

   Draw a slim stripe on the left side of the tummy, like a little leaf lying on its side.

10. 10Draw a matching stripe on the right

    Draw a matching stripe on the right side.

11. 11Add a lower stripe on the left

    Add one more stripe lower down on the left.

12. 12Add the last stripe on the right. A real tiger!

    And a last stripe lower down on the right. Now it really is a tiger!

Frequently asked questions

What age is this tiger drawing tutorial for?

It’s designed as an easy tiger drawing for kids about 4 to 8 years old. Younger kids can do it with a little help, and older kids can use it as a warm-up before adding extra stripes and whiskers of their own.

What if my child’s lines are wobbly?

Wobbly is wonderful! In the live DrawAlong version, lines just need to roughly follow the guide. The app tidies each accepted line so the finished tiger always looks great, which keeps kids confident and coming back to draw more.

Do I need any special materials?

On paper: any pencil, crayon or marker. On screen: nothing at all. The live tutorial runs free in your browser on a tablet, phone or computer, and little fingers work great.

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