Pinwheel Template
Print a pinwheel template at the exact size you want: the classic 4-blade square, or 6- and 8-blade pinwheels, from 4 to 12 in or 10 to 30 cm across, or any size from 80 to 320 mm. Every cut is marked from its corner towards the middle and stops on a dashed centre circle, and every pin hole sits on the tip that curls in. Choose from 8 patterns in your colours, from two-tone and rainbow blades to stripes, dots, checks and stars, or a blank template to colour. Add a back colour or pattern, placed so it lines up when you print two-sided, and print the test page once to check your printer. Big pinwheels split over 2 or 4 sheets with a 10 mm overlap and alignment crosses. Download a PDF, a 300 DPI PNG or an SVG cut file. Nothing is uploaded.
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Print at 100% (Actual size). Light card (about 120 to 160 gsm) holds its shape best; printer paper spins more easily in a light breeze.
Pinwheel
Front
Back
Marks
Runs in your browser with our own code: nothing you choose is uploaded, and nothing is saved. Print at 100% (Actual size); with a back, print two-sided with the same flip setting you chose here. You may use what you make here, including commercially, with no credit needed.
How to make a paper pinwheel
- Choose US Letter or A4, the size across and 4, 6 or 8 blades.
- Pick a pattern and colours for the front, and a back if you will print two-sided.
- Download the PDF and print at 100% (Actual size), two-sided if you added a back.
- Cut out the shape, then cut each line from the corner towards the middle, stopping at the dashed circle.
- Curl each tip with a pin hole to the centre, push a pin through all of them and the middle, add a bead and fix it to a pencil eraser, dowel or paper straw.
What you can use it for
- A windy-day craft for kids
- Party and garden decorations
- A science lesson on wind and motion
- Classroom crafts in one size for everyone
- Two-colour pinwheels for national days and sports teams
- Cut files for a cutting machine
Pinwheel sizes and sheets
| Size across | In mm | US Letter sheets | A4 sheets | Each cut (4 blades, medium centre) | Centre circle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in (10.2 cm) | 101.6 mm | 1 | 1 | 56.6 mm | 30.5 mm |
| 5 in (12.7 cm) | 127 mm | 1 | 1 | 70.8 mm | 38.1 mm |
| 6 in (15.2 cm) | 152.4 mm | 1 | 1 | 84.9 mm | 45.7 mm |
| 8 in (20.3 cm) | 203.2 mm | 2 | 2 | 113.2 mm | 61 mm |
| 10 in (25.4 cm) | 254 mm | 2 | 2 | 141.5 mm | 76.2 mm |
| 12 in (30.5 cm) | 304.8 mm | 4 | 4 | 169.8 mm | 91.4 mm |
| 10 cm | 100 mm | 1 | 1 | 55.7 mm | 30 mm |
| 15 cm | 150 mm | 1 | 1 | 83.6 mm | 45 mm |
| 20 cm | 200 mm | 2 | 2 | 111.4 mm | 60 mm |
| 25 cm | 250 mm | 2 | 2 | 139.3 mm | 75 mm |
| 30 cm | 300 mm | 4 | 4 | 167.1 mm | 90 mm |
Shapes up to 195.9 mm across on Letter and 190 mm on A4 fit on one sheet with 10 mm clear at the edges. Bigger ones split over 2 or 4 sheets that overlap by 10 mm, with blue crosses to line up.
Blades and shapes
| Blades | Shape | Angle between cuts | Each cut (6 in, medium centre) | Tips curled in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Square | 90° | 84.9 mm | 4 |
| 6 | Hexagon | 60° | 53.3 mm | 6 |
| 8 | Octagon | 45° | 59.6 mm | 8 |
The square is measured along a side, the hexagon from corner to corner and the octagon from flat side to flat side, so each fits in a square of the size you choose.
Centre circle and cut length
| Centre circle | Diameter (6 in) | Cut, 4 blades | Cut, 6 blades | Cut, 8 blades |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small centre | 30.5 mm | 92.5 mm | 61 mm | 67.2 mm |
| Medium centre (classic) | 45.7 mm | 84.9 mm | 53.3 mm | 59.6 mm |
| Large centre | 61 mm | 77.3 mm | 45.7 mm | 52 mm |
The cuts stop on the dashed centre circle. Every cut length here is worked out from the shape and printed exactly as listed.
What you need
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Pin or thumbtack | Holds the curled tips and turns as the axle |
| Small bead | Keeps a gap between the pinwheel and the stick so it spins freely |
| Pencil with an eraser, dowel or paper straw | The stick to hold |
| Scissors and a ruler | For straight cuts to the circle |
| Glue stick (optional) | To stick two printed sheets back to back |
Making party decorations? Add a Bunting Template, a Party Hat Template or a Paper Crown Template, or fold a Paper Airplane Template for another flying craft.
Tips for a pinwheel that spins
- Print at 100% (Actual size) so the cuts stop on the circle.
- Curl the tips gently: a crease stops the blades catching the wind.
- Push the pin through from the front, through every tip, the centre and a bead, then into the stick, and leave a small gap.
- Light card lasts longer outside; printer paper spins in a lighter breeze.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you make a pinwheel from a template?
Print the template at 100%, cut out the shape and cut along each line from the corner to the dashed circle. Curl every tip that has a pin hole to the middle without creasing it, push a pin through the holes and the centre, add a small bead behind, and press the pin into a pencil eraser or the side of a dowel.
How far do you cut a pinwheel?
Cut from each corner towards the middle and stop at the centre circle. On the classic 6 in square with the medium centre, each cut is 84.9 mm long and stops 22.9 mm from the middle. A small centre gives longer cuts and floppier blades; a large centre gives short, stiff blades.
What size should a pinwheel be?
6 in or 15 cm is the classic size for a pencil and fits on one sheet. 4 in or 10 cm suits small hands and cupcake toppers. 8 in and bigger make garden or party pinwheels; this template splits them over 2 or 4 sheets that you tape together.
What paper is best for pinwheels?
Light card of about 120 to 160 gsm (about 44 to 59 lb cover) holds its curl and lasts outside. Printer paper spins in a lighter breeze but bends more easily. For two colours, print a back on the same sheet or glue two sheets back to back.
How do I print a two-sided pinwheel?
Choose a back colour or pattern and your printer’s flip setting. Each back is placed where it lands when the sheet turns over and runs 1.5 mm past the cut, so a small shift shows no white. Print the two-sided test page once; if the outlines do not line up, type the gap in Back shift.
Why does my pinwheel not spin?
Usually it is pinned too tight: leave a small gap and add a bead between the pinwheel and the stick. Check that every curled tip is on the pin and that the blades are curled, not creased flat.
What are the 6- and 8-blade pinwheels?
They work like the square one but start from a hexagon or an octagon, with a cut from every corner. More blades catch more air and look like a flower; the cuts are shorter, so they suit light card.
Can I use the SVG with a cutting machine?
Yes. The SVG is at true size, with the art, the outline, the cuts and the pin holes in separate layers, so you can print the art and cut the lines.
Is it free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The template is drawn by JavaScript in your browser and nothing leaves your device. Nothing is saved when you close the page.