Rainbow Template
Print a rainbow template for free. Choose 7 bands from red to violet, 6 ending in purple, or 3, 4 or 5 for little hands, and a thin, medium or thick arch; every band is the same width. Print it as one piece with the band lines drawn in to colour, or with every band on its own cut line so you can cut the arches apart, trace them on coloured card and glue the rainbow back together. Label the bands with colour names, with numbers and a key for colour by number, or leave them blank. Add two clouds to glue over the ends and type names to print one on each cloud. Choose the width from 4 in to a full page, or a poster up to 36 in tiled over several sheets, and fill the sheet with small rainbows for a class. Print the outline to colour, or a colour version. A check square shows the print is true size. Download a PDF on US Letter or A4, an SVG cut file or a PNG. No sign-up, no watermark.
100% private — everything runs in your browser. Names stay in your browser; the PDF, SVG and PNG are made on your device.
Rainbow
Names on the clouds (optional)
Pattern
Lettering
Runs in your browser with our own code; names never leave your device, and nothing is saved. The rainbow and clouds are our own drawings; every band is the same width. The PDF is true size: print at 100% (Actual size) and check the square.
How to print a rainbow template
- Choose how many bands, the arch thickness and the width.
- Choose one piece or every band cut apart, and the labels.
- Optional: clouds, names on the clouds, the colour version or “Fill the sheet”.
- Download the PDF and print at 100% (Actual size); measure the check square. There is also an SVG (true size, for Cricut, Silhouette or laser cutters) and a 300 DPI PNG, one per sheet.
- Cut out the rainbow (and the clouds), colour the bands in order and glue a cloud over each end.
What you can use it for
- Spring and weather topics in class
- Colour-by-number and colour-order practice
- Layered paper rainbows from coloured card
- Bulletin boards and windows (poster sizes)
- Party and baby shower decorations
Rainbow sizes
| Width | Height | Band width (7 bands) | Band width (6 bands) | Cloud width | Rainbows per US Letter sheet | Per A4 sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in (10.2 cm) | 5.1 cm | 0.5 cm | 0.6 cm | 5 cm | 4 | 4 |
| 6 in (15.2 cm) | 7.6 cm | 0.7 cm | 0.9 cm | 7.5 cm | 2 | 2 |
| 8 in (20.3 cm) | 10.2 cm | 1 cm | 1.2 cm | 10 cm | 1 | 1 |
| 10 in (25.4 cm) | 12.7 cm | 1.2 cm | 1.4 cm | 12.5 cm | 1 (on 2 sheets with its clouds) | 1 (on 2 sheets with its clouds) |
Worked out by the tool for a medium arch with two clouds per rainbow, 4 mm gaps between pieces and the check square on the sheet.
Arch thickness
| Arch | Band width at 8 in wide (7 bands) | Cloud width |
|---|---|---|
| Thin arch | 0.7 cm | 6.6 cm |
| Medium arch | 1 cm | 10 cm |
| Thick arch | 1.3 cm | 13 cm |
A thick arch gives wider bands for small hands and big crayons; a thin arch looks lighter.
Poster rainbows
| Width | US Letter sheets | A4 sheets |
|---|---|---|
| 18 in (45.7 cm) | 8 | 5 |
| 24 in (61 cm) | 10 | 10 |
| 36 in (91.4 cm) | 20 | 20 |
Big rainbows are printed in pieces with overlap guides: trim, overlap and tape the sheets, then cut out the rainbow.
Rainbow craft ideas
- Look up bright colour codes for printing or paint with Rainbow Colors.
- String small rainbows on a line with the Bunting Template.
- Add hearts above the clouds with the Heart Template.
- Turn a photo of the finished rainbow into a page to colour with Photo to Coloring Page.
More free printables
More bright things to make?
Rainbow colour codes, bunting, hearts and colouring pages from photos: free tools that run in your browser, with no sign-up and no watermark.
Frequently asked questions
How many colours does a rainbow template have?
Seven by default, labelled red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Many people draw six (indigo left out, the last band purple), so that is an option too, and 3, 4 or 5 bands are there for younger children.
What order do the colours go in?
From the outside of the arch to the inside: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. The labels and the colour version follow that order.
Can I cut the bands apart?
Yes. Choose “Every band cut apart”: each band has its own cut line, so you can use the arches as patterns on coloured card and glue them back together.
What is colour by number?
Each band has a number instead of a name, and a key under the rainbow says which colour each number is.
What sizes can I print?
From 2 in up to about 10.4 in wide on one sheet of US Letter, and posters up to 48 in tiled over several sheets. The tables on this page show the band width and how many fit on a sheet.
How do I check the print is the right size?
Measure the check square on the first sheet: it must be exactly 1 in (or 2 cm with cm units) on each side. If it is smaller, print again at 100% or Actual size, not Fit to page.
Can I use it with a Cricut or Silhouette?
Yes. Download the SVG: it is true size in millimetres, with the cut lines on their own layer.
Can I sell things I make with this rainbow?
The designs are our own drawings: you may use them and anything you make with them, including things you sell, with no credit needed.