Christmas Tree Outline: 8 Free Printable Templates
If you need a Christmas tree outline to print right now, this page has eight in one free PDF. There is no sign up and no watermark. Each Christmas tree outline is a plain black line on white paper, so it works for coloring, tracing, cutting and window decorations. Below you will find what each style is best for, how to print it at the right size, and seven ways to use it with kids.
Free Christmas tree outline printable
The PDF has nine pages. Pages 1 to 7 each hold one large Christmas tree outline, about 8 inches tall, drawn with a thick black line so it prints clearly and traces easily. Page 8 has six small trees in three sizes. Page 9 is a one page guide to printing, cutting and age tips.
Free download: Get the Christmas tree outlines
The file is free for your family, classroom or child care group. Please do not resell it, repost it or upload it to another site.
- Simple triangle: one big shape with a star and a trunk
- Tiered tree: three stacked layers
- Tall and slim tree: five narrow layers
- Scalloped tree: layers with curved edges
- Zigzag tree: one outline with jagged branches
- Baubles tree: a simple tree with nine circles to color
- Potted tree: a tiered tree in a pot
- Six small trees: three sizes, two of each
Which Christmas tree outline to pick
All eight work for coloring. The difference shows up when a child cuts, traces or glues on the shape. This table matches each Christmas tree template to an age and a job.
| Outline | Best age | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Simple triangle | 2 to 4 | Scribbling, stickers, torn paper |
| Baubles to color | 2 to 5 | Coloring ornaments one at a time |
| Tiered tree | 5 to 8 | Painting each layer a different shade |
| Potted tree | 5 to 8 | Cards and table decorations |
| Tall and slim | 6 to 9 | Cutting, since the layers are short straight lines |
| Scalloped tree | 9 and up | Careful cutting and detailed coloring |
| Zigzag tree | 9 and up | Felt or paper patterns |
| Six small trees | All ages with help | Cards, gift tags and ornaments |
The ages are my suggestions, not a standard. A 4 year old who loves scissors can try the tiered tree, and a 9 year old may still want the simple triangle for a quick card.
How to print a Christmas tree outline at the right size
A printed outline only works if it comes out at the size you expect. Follow these steps and the large trees print about 8 inches tall.
- Open the PDF and choose Print.
- Pick US Letter paper. For A4 paper, the trees still fit.
- Set the scale to 100 percent or Actual size. Do not choose Fit to page, since that can shrink the tree.
- For a smaller tree, print at 50 percent. A tree that is 8 inches tall becomes about 4 inches, which suits a card or an ornament.
- Use regular paper for coloring and tracing. Use cardstock if you will paint, glue or hang the tree.
Page 8 is already small. Its trees are about 3, 2 and 1.5 inches tall, two of each, so you can cut a few and glue them across a card.
Seven ways to use a Christmas tree outline
Each idea below lists the age, the time and what you need. The times are my planning estimates for one child with an adult nearby, not timed trials.
Color it
Ages 2 and up, about 10 to 20 minutes, no mess. You need a printed outline and crayons or markers. Eeshan would color his tree blue and Vihaan would scribble over the star first.
- Print the simple triangle or the baubles page.
- Lay out three or four colors, not a full box, so the choice stays easy.
- Let your child color any way they like, and write the date on the back.
Use the baubles page when a child gets bored of coloring one big green shape.
Sticker tree
Ages 2 to 4, about 10 minutes, no mess. You need the simple triangle and a sheet of round dot stickers.
- Peel the corner of each sticker for your child.
- Let them press stickers inside the outline as ornaments.
- Hang the finished tree on the fridge.
Take the leftover sticker sheet away when you finish, so it does not end up in a mouth.
Torn paper collage
Ages 3 to 6, about 20 minutes, low mess. You need the simple triangle, green and red paper and a glue stick.
- Tear the green paper into small pieces.
- Rub the glue stick on one patch of the tree at a time.
- Press the pieces on, then add small red pieces as ornaments.
Work in patches. A child who glues the whole tree at once runs out of patience before the paper runs out.
Sponge paint stencil
Ages 5 and up, about 30 minutes, medium mess. You need the tiered tree, a craft knife for an adult, a sponge, washable paint and plain paper.
- An adult cuts out the tree shape, keeping the paper with the hole.
- Tape the stencil over a clean sheet.
- Dab paint through the hole with a sponge and lift the stencil straight up.
Dab and do not brush. Brushing pushes paint under the edge and blurs the line.
Greeting cards and gift tags
Ages 6 and up, about 25 minutes, low mess. You need page 8, scissors, a folded card and a glue stick.
- Cut out two or three of the small trees.
- Color them or cover them with scraps of green paper.
- Glue them to the front of the card and write your message inside.
Cut one extra tree for the gift tag, so the card and the present match.
Felt tree pattern
Ages 8 and up, about 40 minutes, low mess. You need the zigzag or tall tree, scissors, felt, pins and a marker. Sewing is optional.
- Cut out the outline to make a paper pattern.
- Pin the pattern to felt and cut around it, or trace it and cut along the line.
- Glue or sew on small felt ornaments.
Use a pattern cut from cardstock if you plan to make several, since paper wears out at the edges.
Design your own ornaments
Ages 4 to 8, about 20 minutes, no mess. You need the baubles page and markers.
- Give each circle a theme, such as stripes, dots or a snowflake.
- Color the circles one at a time.
- Add a string of lights between them with a thin marker.
Hold up the finished page and let your child name each ornament. It takes a minute and children like it.
How to draw a Christmas tree outline
If you would rather draw your own, a Christmas tree outline takes about a minute. Here is how to draw a Christmas tree outline with a pencil and a ruler. These steps also show how to draw an outline of a Christmas tree for a child who wants to do it alone, and how to draw the outline of a Christmas tree on any size of paper.
- Draw a tall triangle in the middle of the page, with a flat bottom.
- Draw a short rectangle under the bottom for the trunk.
- Erase the line where the trunk meets the triangle.
- Add a star above the point.
- Go over the lines with a marker so the outline is clear.
That is the simplest way to draw a Christmas tree outline. For layers, branches and ornaments, our Christmas tree drawing tutorial walks through it step by step.
Christmas tree outline clip art, patterns and stencils
Many people searching for Christmas tree outline clip art, Christmas tree outline clipart, outline Christmas tree clipart or Christmas trees clipart want a file they can edit or send to a cutting machine. This printable is a PDF for printing. It is not editable clip art, and it does not come as an SVG or a transparent PNG.
If you need a clip art Christmas tree for a cutting machine, look for a download that lists DXF, SVG or PNG files. CraftStarters, for example, offers a free personal use ZIP with those formats. For printing, coloring and tracing, this PDF is quicker, since there is nothing to unzip.
As a Christmas tree pattern, the outlines work for paper, felt and cardstock. As a Christmas tree stencil, an adult can cut the inside out and keep the sheet with the hole. As an xmas tree printable template, print page 8 at 100 percent for small trees or page 1 at 50 percent for a card size tree.
More Christmas fun to pair with your tree outlines
Once the trees are colored, our Christmas tree decorating ideas page has ways to dress the real one. For a quiet table activity, try the Christmas word search or the 50 Christmas riddles. If you have a baby or toddler at home, our daycare crafts for infants and toddlers page has gentler ideas than scissors and glue.
Frequently asked questions about the Christmas tree outline
What is a Christmas tree outline?
A Christmas tree outline is the shape of a tree drawn as a line with no color inside. You can color it, trace it, cut it out or use it as a pattern or a stencil.
Where can I get a free Christmas tree outline to print?
The free PDF on this page has eight Christmas tree outlines. It needs no sign up, and it prints at 100 percent on US Letter paper. A4 paper works too.
How do I print a Christmas tree outline at a smaller size?
Print at 50 percent. The large trees are about 8 inches tall at 100 percent, so they come out about 4 inches tall. Page 8 also has six small trees in three sizes.
Can I use a Christmas tree outline as a stencil?
Yes. An adult cuts the inside of the tree out with a craft knife, tapes the sheet over clean paper and dabs paint through the hole with a sponge. Dab straight down and do not brush.
What is the easiest Christmas tree outline for toddlers?
The simple triangle or the baubles page. Both have big shapes with no small details. Skip beads and buttons for children under 3, and stay with the child.
Is the printable free for classroom use?
Yes, for your own family, classroom or child care group. Please do not resell, repost or upload the file to another site.
How do I draw a Christmas tree outline?
Draw a tall triangle, add a short rectangle for the trunk, erase the line between them and add a star on top. Go over the lines with a marker. Our Christmas tree drawing tutorial has the full steps for layers and ornaments.
Is this Christmas tree outline clip art?
No. It is a printable PDF, not an editable clip art file. If you need an SVG, a DXF or a transparent PNG for a cutting machine, look for a download that lists those formats.
Print one outline tonight and let your child pick the colors. Eeshan and Vihaan would argue over the red marker, and I would hand over a second copy of the tree. A tree with one missing branch still looks good on the fridge.
