Learn how to draw a bat the easy way, from a round head and body to spooky scalloped wings. A cute, beginner-friendly, step-by-step guide for all ages.
A bat is a fun animal to draw because it is mostly a round head, a small body, and two wide wings, perfect for a cute bat drawing or a spooky Halloween bat drawing. In this guide you'll learn how to draw a bat step by step, from the simple head and body shapes to those scalloped wings, pointy ears, and little feet. It works for an easy bat hanging upside down or a friendly bat in flight, and no experience is needed.
Keep your pencil light at the start so you can shape the wings before you outline. Let's begin.
What you'll need
- A pencil and an eraser
- Plain paper
- Optional: a black pen for outlining, plus crayons or markers in black, purple, or gray
How to draw a bat step by step
The easiest bats start with simple construction shapes. Kid-friendly tutorials at Arty Crafty Kids begin with a circle for the head and a simple teardrop or oval for the body before adding wings and details. Art teacher Betty Edwards, author of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, treats drawing as a learnable skill built from a few teachable component steps rather than an inborn talent. So let's learn it one shape at a time.
Step 1: Draw the head
Near the top center of your page, draw a circle for the head. This is the anchor for the whole bat, so keep it light and round. Leave room above it for the ears and plenty of room on both sides for the wings.
Step 2: Add the body
Right under the head, draw a small teardrop or oval for the body. Make it a little smaller than the head, since a bat's body is short and tucked under its big head. Let it connect smoothly to the bottom of the head.
Step 3: Add the ears
On top of the head, draw two pointy ears like soft triangles. Bats have tall, rounded-triangle ears, so make them a good size. Add a small curved line inside each ear for detail. The ears give your bat its alert, slightly spooky look.
Step 4: Sketch the wing guide
Now for the wings, the trickiest part. From each side of the body, draw one big arched line sweeping outward and up. Arty Crafty Kids suggests imagining "how the movement of a bouncy ball might be drawn" to get that bouncy curve. This single arc sets the top edge of both wings before you add the scallops.
Step 5: Draw the scalloped wings
Along the bottom of each wing, draw a row of connected semi-circles, like a string of bouncy bumps, to make the classic webbed bat-wing edge. Add two or three thin lines running from the body out to the points between the scallops. These are the wing "fingers" that give a bat wing its shape.
Step 6: Add the face and feet
Draw two round eyes on the head and a small curved smile underneath. For a spooky bat, add two tiny fangs. For a cute bat, keep big friendly eyes and skip the fangs. At the bottom of the body, add two little feet, which a bat uses to hang upside down.
Step 7: Outline and color
Trace the lines you want to keep with a firmer stroke or a black pen, then gently erase your guide arcs. Color your bat black, dark gray, or purple, with a slightly lighter belly. Add a moon and a few stars behind it for an instant Halloween scene.
What artists recommend (and common mistakes)
The most common beginner mistake is jumping into hard outlines and details before the big shapes are in place. In Figure Drawing for All It's Worth, illustrator Andrew Loomis teaches blocking in the form with simple masses first, drawn lightly, then refining and darkening only after the structure is correct. For a bat, that means getting the head, body, and wing arcs right before you draw sharp wing edges, fangs, or faces.
A few more tips for a clean bat:
- Block in lightly first. Sketch the head, body, and wing arcs softly. Only press down once the shapes look balanced.
- Match your wings. Try to make both wings the same width and the same number of scallops so the bat looks even.
- Use the bouncy line. A smooth arched guide line makes the scalloped wing edge much easier to draw evenly.
- Save details for last. Add eyes, fangs, and feet only after the big shapes are settled, or your bat will look stiff.
Fun variations to try
- A cute bat: Big round eyes, no fangs, short rounded wings, and rosy cheeks for a friendly Halloween buddy.
- A spooky Halloween bat: Sharp fangs, narrow eyes, and wide pointy wings against a full moon.
- A hanging bat: Flip the whole drawing upside down, tuck the wings in like a cloak, and add a branch for it to hang from.
- A flying bat in a group: Draw several small bats as simple "M" wing shapes across the sky behind your main bat.
Frequently asked questions
How do you draw a bat easy? Start with a circle for the head and a small teardrop body, add two pointy ears, then draw a big arched line on each side and edge it with semi-circle scallops for the wings. Finish with eyes, a smile, and little feet. Building the shapes first keeps it simple.
How do you draw a Halloween bat? Draw the same head, body, and scalloped wings, then add two tiny fangs and slightly narrower eyes for a spooky look. Color it black or dark purple and place a moon and stars behind it for a classic Halloween scene.
How do you draw bat wings? Draw one big arched guide line from the body, then add a row of connected semi-circles along the bottom edge. Add two or three thin "finger" lines from the body to the points between the scallops. The arc plus the bumps make a perfect bat wing.
Keep drawing and coloring
Bats are a Halloween favorite, so pair yours with how to draw a spider for a spooky-season pair, or try how to draw a mouse for another big-eared critter. For more ideas, browse our easy animal drawing ideas, then print free animal coloring pages to color your whole nighttime crew.