Koala Drawing Ideas
Sixteen koala drawings you can copy straight onto paper, from a plain sitting koala to a koala clinging to a branch. Every one is a clean pencil outline drawn by hand, with no shading and no colour. Pick one, keep it next to you, and copy it line by line.
How to draw a koala step by step
A koala is friendlier to draw than most animals, because the shapes are all round and there is almost no neck to worry about. The head sits nearly on top of the body.
- Draw a large circle for the head. Keep the line light so you can adjust it.
- Add two big, round, fuzzy ears on top of the head. Koala ears are large and rounded, much bigger in proportion than a bear or a dog.
- Draw a big rounded nose in the centre of the lower face. A koala nose is large, dark and takes up a good part of the face, which is what makes it instantly recognisable.
- Add a rounded oval body directly under the head, with barely any neck showing between them.
- Add short, stubby legs and thick paws last. Koala arms are often shown gripping a branch, a leaf or a prop.
Darken your final lines at the end and rub out the guide shapes. That last step is what makes a drawing look finished rather than sketched.
Which koala should you start with
If this is your first koala
Start with the simple sitting koala or the standing koala front view. Both face you squarely with nothing else on the page, so you are only thinking about one shape at a time.
If you have drawn animals before
Try the koala wearing a scarf, the koala wearing a hat or the koala with a backpack. The koala stays simple and you are adding one small prop, which is a good way to make a drawing feel finished without more difficulty.
If you want a challenge
The koala clinging to a branch and the koala hugging a tree trunk are the hardest here, because the body wraps around another shape at an angle. Draw the branch or trunk first as a light guide line, then build the koala around it.
What you need
An HB pencil, plain paper and an eraser. A 2B pencil helps if you want darker final lines. Nothing on this page needs a tablet, a light box or special paper, and none of these were drawn with any.
Three things that make a koala look like a koala
- The ears are too small. Koala ears are large, round and fuzzy looking, sitting on top of the head rather than the sides like a dog or a fox.
- The nose is too small. A koala has a big, rounded, dark nose that takes up a noticeable part of the face. A tiny nose makes it look like a bear instead.
- There is a visible neck. Koalas barely have a neck at all. The head should sit almost directly on the round body.
Ways to use these drawings
Copy any of these by hand, or download and print them for yourself, for your children or for your classroom. They work as colouring sheets, tracing practice, a warm up before a bigger drawing, or line art for a card. The party hat, the balloon and the flower drawings all suit birthday cards. If you want to use one in something you sell, write to us first.
Questions people ask
What is the easiest koala drawing on this page?
The simple sitting koala for beginners. It faces forward, has no props and is built from a few rounded shapes with big round ears. The standing koala front view is just as quick.
Are these koala drawings free to download?
Yes. Every drawing here can be downloaded and printed for personal use, school use or classroom use at no cost. For commercial use, please contact us first.
Can young children draw these?
Most of them. The sitting koala, the standing koala, the party hat koala and the koala with a balloon all suit children around five and up. The clinging to a branch and hugging a tree trunk drawings suit older children and adults.
Why does my koala look like a bear?
Almost always the ears and nose. Koala ears are larger and rounder than a bear's, and the nose is bigger and takes up more of the face. Enlarge both and remove any visible neck between the head and body.
How do I draw a koala sitting down?
Draw the head first, then a rounded oval body directly under it with barely any neck. Tuck the legs in at the sides and add short, stubby paws. A prop like a leaf or a book finishes it.
How do I draw a koala on a branch?
Draw the branch first as a light guide line, then build the koala's body around it, wrapping the arms and legs to grip the branch. Add a few small leaves for detail.
What pencil should I use?
An HB for the light guide shapes and a 2B for the final lines. If you only have one pencil, an HB is fine. Press lightly at the start so the guides rub out cleanly.
Are these drawings made by hand?
Yes. Each one was drawn in pencil on plain paper and photographed. They are not computer generated or traced from photographs.