Free printable tracing worksheets as PDF

Circle Tracing Worksheets

Big and small dotted circles to trace, with a start dot and an arrow on each one. Print it or save it as a PDF.

This free circle tracing worksheet maker creates printable circle tracing sheets in your web browser. There is no sign-up, and nothing you make is uploaded or sent to a server. The shape is already set to the circle, so you can start straight away. Choose a tracing style, a layout and a paper size, and the preview updates as you change each setting. You can then print the pages or download them as a PDF that prints at true size. Each page has a name and date line, plus an editable title. Use it for a circle trace worksheet at home or in class.

How to make a circle tracing sheet

The circle is already selected and the title reads “Trace the circles”. Work through these settings to build your sheet:

  1. Choose a tracing style: Dots (the default), Dashes, Grey line, or Solid black as a model to copy.
  2. Choose a layout: Big to small (the default), Rows of shapes, Shape mix, or Trace, then draw.
  3. Set the Size to Large, Medium or Small.
  4. Tick or untick Show shape names, First shape in each row is a solid model, Thick lines (to colour in), and One page per shape.
  5. Turn Green start dots and Direction arrows on or off.
  6. Edit the title, and switch the Name and Date line on or off.
  7. Pick Page direction (portrait or landscape) and paper size (US Letter or A4).

The preview updates after each change, so you can check the result before you print. With one circle selected, Big to small fits on a single page: one big circle and 14 smaller ones at Large or Medium size.

Use the buttons under the preview to finish. Print opens your browser’s print dialog with only the worksheet pages. Download PDF builds a vector file that prints at true size. Copy link copies a link that reopens the same settings, so you can return to your sheet later.

Which way should a child trace a circle?

A child should start at the top of the circle, at the 12 o’clock green dot, and trace counter-clockwise. That means going left, then down, round the bottom and back up to the start, closing the circle where it began. Each circle on this worksheet is one stroke that follows this path.

Counter-clockwise from the top is the same direction used for the letters c, o, a, d and g in school print. Practising the circle this way builds the same movement pattern that children use when they start those letters. For a large circle, let the child trace with the whole arm first. Smaller circles are easier to control with the fingers.

At what age can children draw a circle?

Most children can copy a circle at around age 3, according to the Beery developmental test. This age is often quoted for copying a circle after a child can imitate vertical and horizontal lines. Tracing comes before drawing: children usually trace large circles first, and then move on to drawing them freehand.

Ages vary from child to child, so treat 3 as a rough guide rather than a target. If a child is not ready to copy a circle yet, start with the Dots style on Big to small. The large top circle gives the most room for the arm movement, and the smaller rows can follow once the child feels comfortable.

Four ways to use a circle tracing sheet

The layouts give four different circle trace worksheets from the same page:

  • Big to small (default): one big circle, then rows of 2, 3, 4 and 5 smaller circles. Good for the first sessions, because the child moves from big arm movements to small finger movements on one page.
  • Rows of shapes: rows of circles of one size, with an optional solid model at the start of each row. Good for steady repetition once the movement is learned.
  • Trace, then draw: dotted circles on the left and empty boxes on the right with only the green start dot, so the child draws the circle alone after tracing it.
  • Shape mix with the oval added: a circle and an oval side by side with their names, which helps children see the difference between round and stretched shapes.

Whichever layout you use, check that each circle closes at the green dot. A circle that ends far from its start point, or one drawn clockwise from the bottom, is a sign to slow down and trace the big circle again.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make the circles bigger or smaller?

Use the Size setting and choose Large, Medium or Small. The Big to small layout already shows one large circle at the top, followed by rows of 2, 3, 4 and 5 circles that get smaller.

Can I add other shapes?

Yes. The Shapes setting includes 15 shapes, including oval, square and triangle. With more than one shape selected, the Big to small layout gives each shape its own page.

Is the circle tracing worksheet generator free?

Yes. It is free and needs no sign-up. It runs in your browser.

Is my worksheet uploaded to a server?

No. Nothing is uploaded or sent to a server, because the generator runs entirely in your web browser.

Which paper sizes can I print on?

You can choose US Letter or A4. Download PDF creates a vector file that prints at true size, so the circles keep their intended dimensions when printed.

Why does every circle start at the top?

Starting at the top and going counter-clockwise is how school print forms c, o, a, d and g, so the circle practice carries straight over to those letters. The green dot and the optional red arrow show the start and the direction on every circle.