Learn how to draw a spider the easy way, from two body circles to eight even legs and a web. A beginner-friendly, step-by-step guide with no experience needed.
A spider is a great drawing to practice because it's all about counting and balance: two body parts and eight legs, four on each side. Get those even and you've got a spider. In this guide you'll learn how to draw a spider step by step, from the round body to the bendy legs, plus an easy web to put it in. No experience needed, and it works for a cute spider or a spooky one.
Keep your lines light at first so you can space the legs out evenly. Let's begin.
What you'll need
- A pencil and an eraser
- Plain paper
- Optional: a black pen for outlining, plus crayons or markers
How to draw a spider step by step
Step 1: Draw the two body parts
Draw a small circle for the head (the front body part), then a larger circle right behind it for the abdomen (the back body part). A spider's body is just these two rounded shapes joined together. Keep them light and close.
Step 2: Plan the legs
Lightly mark four small dots along each side of the body where the legs will attach. Eight dots total, four per side. Spacing these out now is the trick to getting even legs. They all connect near the front body part.
Step 3: Draw the first segment of each leg
From each dot, draw a line that goes up and out, then bends. Spider legs have a "bent knee" that points upward, higher than the body. Draw the first half of all eight legs reaching outward and up before you add the lower half.
Step 4: Finish the legs
From each bend, draw the second half of the leg angling back down toward the ground. The legs nearest the front reach forward; the legs nearest the back reach backward. Make the lines slightly thicker for a chunkier, friendlier spider, or thin and pointy for a creepy one.
Step 5: Add the face
On the front body part, add the eyes. A cartoon spider looks great with two big round eyes and a smile. For a more realistic look, add several small eyes in a cluster. Two little fangs under the eyes finish the face.
Step 6: Draw a simple web
In a corner, draw two lines that cross, then a few more spokes radiating from the center. Connect the spokes with curved lines that step inward toward the middle, like a spiral made of arcs. Hang your spider from a single thread of silk.
Step 7: Outline and color
Trace the lines you want to keep with a firmer stroke or a black pen, then erase the leg dots and guide marks. Color your spider black, brown, or a bright cartoon color. Add a red hourglass or colorful markings on the abdomen for detail.
Pro tips and common mistakes
- Count to eight. The most common mistake is drawing six legs (like an insect) or unevenly spaced legs. Mark your eight dots first.
- Four legs per side. Keep them balanced, with the same spacing on the left and the right.
- Give the legs a bend. Straight legs look stiff. The upward "knee" bend makes a spider look real.
- Keep the web light. Press softly so the web sits behind the spider instead of overpowering it.
Fun variations to try
- A cute spider: Big round eyes, a smile, and short chubby legs for a friendly Halloween character.
- A spooky spider: Long thin legs, a cluster of small eyes, and sharp fangs.
- A spider on a thread: Draw it dangling from a single line for a fun, dynamic pose.
- A jumping spider: Make the body rounder and the front eyes extra big and bright.
Frequently asked questions
How do you draw a spider easy? Draw two circles for the body, mark four dots on each side, then draw eight bent legs from those dots. Add eyes and fangs, and you have a spider. The dots keep the legs even.
How many legs does a spider have? Eight: four on each side. This is the main thing that makes a spider look like a spider instead of an insect, so always count them out.
How do you draw a spider web? Draw a few lines crossing at a center point, then connect them with curved arcs that step inward toward the middle. Keep the lines light so the web stays in the background.
Keep drawing and coloring
Spiders are perfect for spooky season. Pair yours with how to draw a butterfly for a bug collection, then print our free animal coloring pages to color creepy-crawlies and friendly critters alike.