Draw beautiful mandalas online
This free mandala maker turns every line you draw into a perfectly symmetrical pattern. Draw a single curve near the centre and it blooms into a flower; add a ring of dots and it becomes lace. Because the symmetry does the hard work, anyone can make something that looks intricate and balanced within a minute, and there is no limit to how detailed you can go. It is the digital version of the radial patterns found in art, architecture and colouring books around the world.
How to make a mandala
- Pick the number of slices (the ✳️ menu). 8 or 12 is a great place to start.
- Keep mirror on for the classic kaleidoscope look, or switch it off for spinning, pinwheel shapes.
- Start in the middle with a small motif, such as petals, a star or a tiny circle.
- Work outwards in rings. Add petals, then a ring of dots, then waves, then bigger leaves.
- Add colour with the marker for soft shading or switch to the rainbow colour for a gradient that changes along your line.
- Download your mandala as a PNG, on white, cream or a night-sky background.
Tips for better mandalas
- Use the guides. The faint dashed lines show each slice and the circles help you keep rings even. They are never included in your download.
- Draw inside one slice. Short strokes that stay between two guide lines give the cleanest results; long strokes across slices create dense overlaps.
- Vary the brush size. Thick outlines with thin details inside look striking. Use [ and ] to change size quickly on a keyboard.
- Mix symmetries. Draw the centre with 6 slices, then switch to 12 or 24 for the outer rings for a more complex design.
- Try the dark background. Bright colours and the rainbow brush glow on the night background.
- Undo freely. Experiment: if a ring does not work, undo it and try again.
Why drawing mandalas is relaxing
Mandala means "circle" in Sanskrit, and circular designs built around a centre appear in many cultures, from Buddhist and Hindu art to rose windows in Gothic cathedrals. Many people find drawing them calming: the repetition is soothing, the symmetry makes every stroke look intentional, and there are no mistakes, only new patterns. It is a popular mindful activity for adults and a fun way for children to explore shapes, colour and symmetry without worrying about drawing "well".
Ideas to try
- Snowflake: 6 slices, mirror on, thin white pen on the night background. Draw short branches with little side twigs.
- Sunflower: 16 slices, yellow petals with the marker, a brown dotted centre and a green outer ring.
- Stained glass: 8 slices, thick black pen outlines first, then fill the spaces with marker colours.
- Spirograph-style rings: 24 slices with mirror off and the rainbow pen, drawing small loops near the edge.
- Your own colouring page: draw a black outline mandala, download it, and print it out to colour in by hand.
Mandala maker features at a glance
Four brushes (pen, marker, dots and eraser), ten preset colours plus a rainbow colour and a full custom colour picker, brush sizes from 2 to 60, symmetry from 4 to 24 slices, mirror mode, optional guide lines, three backgrounds, unlimited-feeling undo and redo, automatic saving in your browser and one-click PNG download. Keyboard shortcuts: B pen, M marker, D dots, E eraser, [ and ] for size, Ctrl+Z to undo and Ctrl+Y to redo.
More creative drawing tools
Want a blank canvas instead? Open the free online drawing board. Or test your precision with Draw a Perfect Circle and thePerfect Shapes Gauntlet.
Mandala Maker FAQ
How does the mandala maker work?
Everything you draw is copied around the centre of the canvas. With 12 slices, one line becomes 12 lines arranged in a circle, and with mirror switched on each copy is also reflected, giving the kaleidoscope look of a traditional mandala.
How many slices can I use?
You can choose from 4 up to 24 slices. Fewer slices give bold, flower-like shapes; more slices give delicate, lace-like patterns. You can change the number at any time, even halfway through a drawing, to layer different symmetries.
Can I save my mandala?
Press the download button to save a high-resolution PNG image (1024 × 1024 pixels) with your chosen background. Your drawing is also autosaved in your browser, so it is still there if you close the tab and come back later on the same device.
What do the brushes do?
The pen draws smooth solid lines, the marker draws see-through strokes that are great for shading, the dots brush stamps evenly spaced dots (perfect for decorative rings), and the eraser rubs out with the same symmetry as everything else.
Does it work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Draw with your finger or a stylus on any phone or tablet; the toolbar wraps to fit small screens. On a computer you can use a mouse, trackpad or drawing tablet, plus keyboard shortcuts.
Is the mandala maker free?
Yes, completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and nothing to install. Your artwork stays on your device unless you choose to download and share it.