Christmas Tree Drawing: 20 Easy Ideas + How to Draw a Christmas Tree Step by Step

A Christmas tree drawing is the first holiday drawing almost everyone learns, and for good reason. It’s three triangles, a star and a trunk, yet it can turn into a cozy living room scene, a snowy forest or a detailed pencil sketch once you get comfortable. Looking for a Christmas drawing? Christmas tree ideas are the best place to start. A tree is also the drawing you’ll need most this month, for cards, gift tags, window art and kids’ coloring time.

Below you’ll learn how to draw a Christmas tree in six easy steps with our Star-Stack Method, how to draw a realistic Christmas tree with real-looking branches, and 20 Christmas tree drawing ideas from cute and simple to realistic. Each idea has a level, a time estimate and three quick steps, and all 20 are in a free printable PDF you can trace or color.

Christmas tree drawing ideas at a glance

Pick your Christmas tree drawing by level. Start with an easy one, then move to the sketch and realistic trees once the Star-Stack shapes feel natural.

Christmas tree drawing idea	Level	Time	Best for
1. Classic three-tier tree	Easy	10 min	Learning the method
2. Kawaii tree with a face	Easy	5 min	Kids, cute art
3. Minimalist triangle tree	Easy	5 min	Cards, gift tags
4. Tree with presents	Easy	15 min	Christmas cards
5. Tree with string lights	Easy	10 min	Coloring with markers
6. Garland and candy cane tree	Easy	15 min	Kids
7. Zentangle doodle tree	Medium	30 min	Relaxing doodles
8. Whimsical curvy tree	Easy	10 min	Funny cards
9. Snowy pine tree sketch	Medium	20 min	Winter scenes
10. Living room tree scene	Medium	30 min	Storybook art
11. Tiny sapling tree	Easy	5 min	Minimal art
12. Tree made of gifts	Easy	10 min	Kids
13. Truck carrying a tree	Medium	25 min	Farmhouse-style cards
14. Tree in a snow globe	Medium	15 min	Ornaments, crafts
15. Cat climbing a tree	Medium	20 min	Cat lovers
16. Spiral tree	Easy	3 min	Fast doodles
17. Tree with a ribbon banner	Easy	15 min	Hand lettering
18. Realistic decorated tree	Hard	45 min	Sketchbooks
19. Snowy pine forest landscape	Hard	40 min	Shading practice
20. One-line tree	Easy	2 min	Tattoos, minimal art

How to draw a Christmas tree: the Star-Stack Method

The easiest way to draw a Christmas tree is to start at the top and stack the shapes downward: a star, a center line, three triangle tiers, then the trunk. We call it the Star-Stack Method, and this Christmas tree drawing tutorial walks through it in six steps. Because the star and the center line come first, your tree stays straight and even, which is the part most beginners struggle with.

What you need: a pencil, an eraser and paper. A black fine-liner makes the final outline crisp, and green, red and gold colored pencils or markers bring it to life. A gold or white gel pen is perfect for the star and the light dots.

Learning how to draw Christmas tree shapes takes one or two tries. Keep these four rules in mind:

• Keep each tier wider than the last: the bottom tier should be about twice as wide as the top one.
• Overlap the tiers: tuck each new tier slightly under the one above, so the tree looks full instead of stacked.
• Draw the garland as smiles: curves that dip in the middle make the tree look round, not flat.
• Keep the trunk short: a tall trunk makes the tree look like it’s floating.

How to draw a realistic Christmas tree

A realistic Christmas tree drawing skips the triangles and builds the tree the way a real fir grows: one trunk line, then layers of branches that droop down and out. Popular real trees like Fraser fir, Douglas fir and Scotch pine (see the National Christmas Tree Association tree varieties guide) all grow in a cone shape, with short branches at the top and longer ones at the base. Draw them in that order and your Christmas tree sketch will look like a real tree.

• Use a cone guide: sketch a light, tall cone first and keep every branch inside it.
• Draw branches as tilted V shapes: short and upward at the top, long and drooping at the bottom.
• Texture with short flicks: quick, short strokes along each branch look like needles. Don’t outline every needle.
• Shade under each layer: a little darker hatching under every branch row makes the tree look 3D.

New to shading? Our 3D drawing for beginners guide explains light and shadow in simple steps.

Easy Christmas tree drawing ideas

Want a Christmas tree drawing easy enough for kids? These simple Christmas tree drawings use the same basic shapes as the Star-Stack Method, so each one is a quick Christmas tree to draw in under 15 minutes. If you want to know how to draw a Christmas tree easy and fast, start with idea 1 or 3.

1. Classic three-tier tree

This is the tree from our step-by-step guide and the best simple Christmas tree drawing to start with. This Christmas tree easy drawing uses only triangles, circles and a rectangle. Draw it once and every other idea on this list gets easier.

• Level: Easy | Time: 10 minutes

1. Follow the six Star-Stack steps above.
2. Make the zigzag edges a little uneven so the tree looks natural.
3. Color the ornaments in two or three colors only for a clean look.

2. Kawaii tree with a face

A cute Christmas tree drawing with a face is a hit with kids and looks adorable on gift tags.

• Level: Easy | Time: 5 minutes

1. Draw one rounded triangle tree with a soft, bumpy edge.
2. Add two dot eyes, a small smile, rosy cheeks and tiny stick arms.
3. Top it with a star and add three or four ornaments.

3. Minimalist triangle tree

The simplest Christmas tree drawing on the list: one triangle, a few zigzags and a star. This xmas tree drawing looks modern on cards and wrapping paper.

• Level: Easy | Time: 5 minutes

1. Draw one tall, narrow triangle.
2. Fill it with three or four zigzag lines from side to side.
3. Add a tiny star and a short trunk.

4. Tree with presents

Presents make any Christmas tree drawing look like Christmas morning. Boxes are just squares and rectangles, so they’re easy to add.

• Level: Easy | Time: 15 minutes

1. Draw a classic tree, leaving space under the bottom tier.
2. Draw three or four overlapping boxes of different sizes at the base.
3. Add a ribbon cross and a bow to each present.

5. Tree with string lights

This Christmas light drawing is all about the wire: one looping line with bulbs hanging off it. Color the bulbs with bright markers for a glowing effect.

• Level: Easy | Time: 10 minutes

1. Draw a tree outline with a star.
2. Draw one wavy wire looping down the tree from top to bottom.
3. Hang small teardrop bulbs along the wire, all pointing down or outward.

6. Garland and candy cane tree

Bead garland and candy canes give a classic, old-fashioned feel. It’s a great coloring page for kids.

• Level: Easy | Time: 15 minutes

1. Draw a three-tier tree with a star.
2. Draw a curved row of small circles across each tier for bead garland.
3. Hang a few J-shaped candy canes and round ornaments between the garland.

7. Zentangle doodle tree

A relaxing Christmas tree drawing for teens and adults. Split the tree into sections and fill each one with a different pattern.

• Level: Medium | Time: 30 minutes

1. Draw a tree outline and divide it into five or six bands.
2. Fill each band with one pattern: swirls, dots, stripes, hearts or scales.
3. Leave the star plain so it stands out.

8. Whimsical curvy tree

A wobbly, storybook-style tree that leans and curls at the top. There’s no wrong way to draw it, which makes it perfect for beginners.

• Level: Easy | Time: 10 minutes

1. Draw a tall tree shape that bends to one side near the top.
2. Curl the tip into a little spiral and add a crooked star.
3. Add mismatched ornaments in different sizes.

Drawing with kids? Our easy Christmas drawings and cute drawing ideas for kids have more simple holiday ideas.

Christmas tree drawings with scenes and decorations

Once you can draw the tree, put it somewhere. These Christmas tree pictures to draw add a scene, a story or a fun twist, and they make great Christmas cards.

9. Snowy pine tree sketch

An outdoor pine with snow resting on every branch. It’s a great first step toward realistic sketches of Christmas trees.

• Level: Medium | Time: 20 minutes

1. Draw a trunk line and drooping branch layers, short at the top and long at the bottom.
2. Draw soft, bumpy snow shapes on top of each branch.
3. Add light hatching under the snow and a few falling snowflakes.

10. Living room tree scene

A cozy scene with the tree beside a fireplace and stockings. It looks like a page from a holiday storybook.

• Level: Medium | Time: 30 minutes

1. Draw a fireplace rectangle on one side and a tree on the other.
2. Add a mantel with three hanging stockings.
3. Finish with a rug, a few presents and garland on the mantel.

11. Tiny sapling tree

A small, sparse tree with one ornament bending a branch. It’s sweet, a little funny and very quick.

• Level: Easy | Time: 5 minutes

1. Draw a thin trunk in a small pot.
2. Add five or six short, sparse branches.
3. Hang one big ornament that makes a branch droop.

12. Tree made of gifts

A Christmas tree shape built from stacked presents. Kids love decorating each box with a different pattern.

• Level: Easy | Time: 10 minutes

1. Draw a row of four boxes at the bottom, then three, two and one above.
2. Add a ribbon cross to each box.
3. Top the stack with a big bow instead of a star.

13. Truck carrying a tree

The farmhouse classic: a vintage pickup bringing the tree home. It’s one of the most popular Christmas tree pictures to draw for cards.

• Level: Medium | Time: 25 minutes

1. Draw a rounded truck cab and a rectangle truck bed with two big wheels.
2. Lay a tree in the truck bed with the tip sticking out the back.
3. Add a wreath on the grille and a rope across the tree.

14. Tree in a snow globe

A snow globe frames the tree perfectly. Cut it out and it becomes a paper ornament.

• Level: Medium | Time: 15 minutes

1. Draw a large circle on a curved base.
2. Draw a small decorated tree inside, sitting on a snowy mound.
3. Scatter dots and tiny snowflakes inside the glass.

15. Cat climbing a tree

Every cat owner knows this scene. It’s funny, relatable and a great card for friends with pets.

• Level: Medium | Time: 20 minutes

1. Draw a classic tree, slightly tilted.
2. Draw a cat’s head and paws peeking out from the middle tier.
3. Add an ornament swinging from the cat’s paw.

Love cat art? See our cat drawings for more.

16. Spiral tree

The fastest Christmas tree drawing there is. One loose spiral winds upward into a cone, and a few dots become lights.

• Level: Easy | Time: 3 minutes

1. Start at the bottom and draw a wide loop.
2. Keep looping upward, making each loop smaller.
3. Add a star at the tip and dots along the spiral.

17. Tree with a ribbon banner

A ribbon banner across the tree gives you space to write a name or a holiday greeting. It’s perfect for handmade cards.

• Level: Easy | Time: 15 minutes

1. Draw a classic tree with a star.
2. Draw a wavy ribbon banner across the middle with folded ends.
3. Add holly leaves and berries at the base, then write your message.

Realistic Christmas tree drawing and sketch ideas

Ready for a challenge? These realistic Christmas tree drawings use the four-step branch method above and some light shading. Take your time and build them in layers. They’re also great practice if you want to sketch a Christmas tree from life, at home or at a tree farm.

18. Realistic decorated tree

A realistic Christmas tree drawing with real-looking branches, glass ornaments and a garland. Use the cone guide so it stays balanced.

• Level: Hard | Time: 45 minutes

1. Sketch a light cone and a trunk line, then layer drooping branches.
2. Add short needle flicks and round ornaments with a small shine mark.
3. Shade under each branch row and around the ornaments.

19. Snowy pine forest landscape

Three pines of different heights, a hill and a small cabin. It’s great shading practice and makes a beautiful winter card.

• Level: Hard | Time: 40 minutes

1. Draw a gentle hill line and place a tall, medium and small pine on it.
2. Add snow on the branches and a small cabin behind them.
3. Shade the shadow side of each tree and add falling snow.

20. One-line tree

A single unbroken line that forms the tree and the star. It’s a popular tattoo idea and looks elegant on cards.

• Level: Easy | Time: 2 minutes

1. Start at the trunk and zigzag up one side.
2. Loop a small star at the top without lifting your pen.
3. Zigzag back down the other side and finish at the trunk.

Love minimal line art? Try our doodle ideas and mandala drawing guides.

How to color your Christmas tree drawing

Coloring is where a Christmas tree drawing really comes alive. A few simple choices make it look polished.

• Use two greens: a light green for the tree and a dark green under each tier for depth.
• Limit ornament colors: pick two or three, like red and gold or blue and silver, for a clean look.
• Leave white spots: a tiny uncolored dot on each ornament looks like a shine.
• Make lights glow: color each bulb, then draw a soft yellow ring around it.
• Finish with a gel pen: white or gold dots for snow and lights add instant sparkle.

Common Christmas tree drawing mistakes

These fixes work for all xmas trees. Drawing lightly first solves most of them.

• A leaning tree: draw the center line first and keep the star right on top of it.
• Tiers that are all the same size: each tier should be wider than the one above.
• Straight garlands: flat lines make the tree look flat. Curve them like a smile.
• Too many ornaments: leave some green showing. Eight to twelve ornaments is plenty for a simple tree.
• Pressing hard too early: sketch lightly, then go over the final lines with a pen.

Christmas tree drawing FAQ

Prefer coloring to drawing? Print our free Christmas coloring pages for 2026, including three Christmas tree coloring pages.

Keep drawing

Print the free PDF, draw one Christmas tree a day and you’ll have a full set of handmade cards by Christmas. Looking for more holiday ideas? Try our angel drawing guide for a tree-topper angel, our Christmas window painting ideas, or our gingerbread house ideas. Want a break from drawing? Play a few Christmas games or our Christmas bingo printable, or browse more easy things to draw and things to draw when bored.