Free Tracing Worksheets Maker

How to make a tracing worksheet

1. Choose a starting point. Pick one of the six templates under “Start from a template”, or keep the default page, which has a title, a row of waves, a row of shapes, the words “cat sun hat”, the sentence “I can trace.” and an empty writing row.
2. Click “Add a block” to add new blocks. You can choose from nine types: Lines, Pre-writing stroke, Shapes row, Big shape, Words, Sentence, Writing rows, Drawing box and Instruction text.
3. Open a block to change its settings, such as the number of rows, the row size or the shapes it contains.
4. Move blocks up or down to set their order from top to bottom, or remove any block you do not need.
5. Set the page-wide settings: tracing style (Dots, Dashes, Grey or Solid black), Green start dots, Direction arrows, Row size for words and sentences, title, Name and Date line, and paper size (US Letter or A4).
6. Check the preview. It updates as soon as a setting changes. Blocks that do not fit flow onto a second page.
7. Click Print, Download PDF or Copy link.

“Clear page” empties the page so you can start again. Print opens your browser’s print dialog with only the worksheet pages. Download PDF builds a vector PDF that prints at true size.

You can use the worksheets at home, in class or in products you sell, such as Etsy printables, Teachers Pay Teachers packs or KDP workbooks.

What should a tracing worksheet include for a preschooler?

A preschooler’s worksheet should be short, with large rows and few blocks. Start with lines and shapes, then add a small number of short words.

Use Extra large or Large row sizes for words and sentences, and use a Big shape block for a single large circle or square. Give the child one clear task per page, such as one row of waves and one row of shapes, so the page does not feel crowded.

What age should children start tracing?

Children vary, but the usual pattern is clear. Around age 2 to 3, children scribble and copy simple lines. Three-year-olds usually do best with big lines and circles. Four- and five-year-olds can move on to shapes and first words, and kindergarten children can trace words and short sentences.

If a child finds a row frustrating, go back one step. A simpler line or a bigger shape is not a failure. It is the right next step.

What is the difference between dots, dashes and grey tracing?

Dots are the classic tracing style, with a clear guide that a child can follow. Dashes are lighter, so they suit older children who no longer need such a strong guide.

Grey is a solid light line that the child writes over. It is a good choice for first tries, because the child can see the stroke clearly. Solid black prints a model for the child to copy, not a guide to trace. Green start dots and Direction arrows can be added to any style to show where to begin and which way to move.

Do tracing worksheets help with handwriting?

Tracing gives a child practice with the movements that handwriting needs: starting in the right place, moving in the right direction and keeping strokes steady. Repeating a shape or letter makes the movement easier to control.

Tracing works best alongside writing. Add Writing rows after a tracing block so the child copies the same word without a guide. The top line, dashed midline, baseline and descender line in each row help the child keep letters the same size and sitting in the right place.

Which tracing worksheets can you make here?

This page mixes everything on one sheet. Each of the other generators makes one kind of tracing worksheet in more depth:

• Lines: 14 line types from straight lines to zigzags, waves, loops and spirals, each row from a green dot to a star — tracing lines worksheets, and the nine developmental strokes on pre-writing worksheets.

• Shapes: 15 shapes, big to small, in rows, in a named grid or “trace, then draw” — shape tracing worksheets and circle tracing.

• Words and sentences: ready word lists (CVC words, colours, animals and more), the Dolch sight word lists and three levels of sentences, or your own text — words, sight words, sentences.

• Cursive: joined cursive letters, joins, words and sentences — cursive tracing sheets.

• Ready packs: a whole tracing book in one PDF for 3-year-olds, preschool and kindergarten.

• Pictures: about 190 of our own drawings as dotted pictures — things to trace, animal tracing, Christmas tree tracing, pumpkin trace and color and trace worksheets; or turn your own photo into an outline with the image tracer.

• Scissors: cutting practice worksheets with dashed lines, spirals and shapes to cut out.

The dot dot font page turns any text into dotted letters and offers a free dotted font for Word.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free?

Yes. The generator is free to use, and there is no sign-up step.

Does it need a sign-up or upload my files?

No. Everything runs in your web browser, and nothing is uploaded or sent to a server.

Can I save or share my worksheet?

Yes. Copy link creates a link that holds the whole page, including every block, so anyone who opens it gets exactly the same worksheet.

Will long words fit on a row?

Words never shrink to fit. A long sentence wraps onto the next row, so check the preview and change the row size if the layout looks crowded.

How do I print tracing worksheets as a PDF?

Click Download PDF under the preview. The file is a vector PDF made in your browser, so the dots stay sharp and the rows print at their true size when you print at 100 %. Print opens your browser’s print dialog straight away if you do not need a file.

Which paper sizes are supported?

You can choose US Letter or A4 in the page-wide settings. The preview updates to show the chosen paper size.

What if my page is very long?

Blocks that do not fit flow onto a second page. A very long page may not fit inside a shareable link, but you can still print it or download it as a PDF.

Can I sell tracing worksheets I make here on Etsy or in a KDP book?

Yes. The worksheets you make are royalty-free for personal, classroom and commercial use, including Etsy printables, Teachers Pay Teachers, KDP workbooks and print-on-demand. No credit is required, and the only thing you may not do is copy the generator itself to run a competing service.

Related tools

In season now: pumpkin and Halloween tracing sheets, then Christmas tree tracing.

• Tracing lines worksheets: use these for early line and curve practice.
• Shape tracing worksheets: use these when your child is ready to trace circles, squares and triangles.
• Tracing words worksheets: use these for practice with short, familiar words.
• Sentence tracing worksheets: use these once your child can trace words without help.
• Preschool tracing pack: use this ready pack for a full set of preschool practice.
• Kindergarten tracing pack: use this ready pack for words and short sentences at kindergarten level.
• Tracing for 3 year olds: use this for big lines and circles for young beginners.
• Dot dot font: use this to make text in a dotted style for tracing.
• Cursive tracing sheets: use these when your child is learning joined letters.
• Sight word tracing: use these to practise common words children need to recognise quickly.