Paper Chain Template
Print strips for a paper chain. Choose a strip size (from ¾ × 6 in up to 1½ × 8 in, a 2.5 × 20 cm strip, or your own) and the template fills US Letter or A4 with strips edge to edge, turned whichever way fits more. Number the links as a countdown (tear off one link a day until the big day), count up, put a word or activity on each link, or print blank strips. Add a last link with a word for the day itself, pick a pattern (stripes, dots, zigzag, stars, plain colour or white to colour in) and a colour set, and every strip gets a grey glue end. Strips print in the order you make the chain, so the first link you tear off is the last one you add. Download a PDF, 300 DPI PNG or SVG. Nothing is uploaded.
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Print at 100% (Actual size). Cut on the solid lines. Make the links in the printed order: loop the first strip and glue the grey end, thread the next strip through it, and so on.
Strips
Links
Look
Runs in your browser with our own code and patterns: nothing is uploaded and nothing is saved. Strip counts per sheet and the number order are tested. The designs are our own drawings: you may use them and anything you make with them, including things you sell, with no credit needed.
How to make a paper chain
- Choose US Letter or A4 and a strip size.
- Choose countdown, count up, words or blank, and how many links (days) you need.
- Type a last link and words for the links if you like, then pick a pattern and colours.
- Download the PDF, print at 100% (Actual size) and cut on the solid lines.
- Make the links in the printed order: loop the first strip and glue its grey end, thread the next strip through, glue it, and carry on. Tear off one link a day from the end you finished at.
What you can use it for
- A countdown to a holiday, a birthday or a trip
- Days until the end of school or a new baby
- A kindness or activity chain with one idea per link
- Classroom counting and number order practice
- Party and holiday decorations
- A colouring craft for kids
Strip sizes and strips per page
| Strip | Size | Per US Letter page | Per A4 page | Glue end | Loop across (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¾ × 6 in (mini) | 19.05 × 152.4 mm | 14 (across) | 14 (across) | 15.2 mm | 44 |
| 1 × 8 in (classic) | 25.4 × 203.2 mm | 10 (across) | 7 (down) | 20.3 mm | 58 |
| 1 × 10 in (long) | 25.4 × 254 mm | 8 (down) | 7 (down) | 25 mm | 73 |
| 1½ × 8 in (wide) | 38.1 × 203.2 mm | 7 (across) | 5 (down) | 20.3 mm | 58 |
| 2.5 × 20 cm | 25 × 200 mm | 10 (across) | 7 (down) | 20 mm | 57 |
Strips sit inside a 6.35 mm (¼ in) printer margin. Across means the strips run across the page, down means they run top to bottom. Loop across is the width of a round link: the strip length less the glue end, divided by π.
Number order
| Chain | Printed (making) order | Tear-off order |
|---|---|---|
| Countdown, 24 links | 1, 2, 3, 4 … 24 | 24, 23, 22 … 1 |
| Countdown, 24 links + last link | Hooray!, 1, 2, 3 … 24 | 24, 23 … 1, then Hooray! |
| Count up, 10 links | 10, 9, 8, 7 … 1 | 1, 2, 3 … 10 |
The making order is the tear-off order reversed, so the link you tear off first is always the one at the free end of the chain.
Link options
| Numbers | What prints on each link |
|---|---|
| Countdown | Days left, highest number torn off first |
| Count up | 1 first, for counting days done |
| Words only | One line of your list on each link |
| Blank | Empty strips to write on |
| Words per link | Your word or idea next to the number |
| Last link | A word for the big day, the final link left |
Cut and glue key
| Mark | What to do |
|---|---|
| Solid black line | Cut |
| Grey end | Glue or tape here, under the other end of the strip |
| Number | Faces out when you loop the strip with the grey end inside |
More paper decorations
String flags with letters using the Bunting Template, count down to December with the Advent Calendar Template, and add a Paper Lantern Template or Paper Snowflake Template to the room.
More free tools
Decorating for a party or a holiday?
Printable decorations that run privately in your browser, with no sign-up and no watermark.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a paper chain?
Cut the strips, curl the first one into a loop and glue or tape its grey end over the other end. Thread the next strip through that loop, close it the same way, and repeat until every strip is used.
How does a countdown paper chain work?
Each link carries a number of days. Tear off one link every day, starting from the highest number, and the number left on the end tells you how many days are left. The strips print in making order (1 first), so the highest number ends up at the free end.
How many strips fit on a page?
It depends on the strip size: 10 classic 1 × 8 in strips fit on a US Letter page and 7 on A4. The table on this page gives the count for each size; strips share their cut lines, so there is no waste between them.
How many links do I need?
One link for each day until the big day, plus a last link if you add one. A 24-link countdown on classic strips needs 3 Letter sheets or 4 A4 sheets.
Can I put words on the links?
Yes. Type one word or idea per line and line 1 goes on link 1, line 2 on link 2 and so on, next to the number. Choose Words only to make a chain from your list without numbers.
What is the last link for?
It is an extra link for the day itself, such as a word for the holiday or the event. It is the first link you make and the last one left on the chain.
What paper should I use?
Plain printer paper is easy to loop and glue. Thin coloured card holds its shape longer. Print a test page first to check your printer takes the paper.
Can kids colour the strips?
Yes. Choose White (to colour in) and the strips print as outlines with the numbers and words in black.
Can I use these strips for things I sell?
Yes. The patterns are ours and you may use them in things you sell without giving credit. The note under the tool gives the full terms.
Is anything uploaded?
No. Everything is drawn by JavaScript in your browser and never leaves your device, and nothing is saved when you close the page.