Last Updated on October 24, 2026 by Dee
Here are 12 free printable polar bear templates, from a standing bear and a cub to a bear in a scarf, to trace, color or paint.
Get the 12 free polar bear templates 👇
Polar bears might be the coziest winter animal there is. Big, soft-looking, a bit clumsy, and white enough that a plain sheet of paper is already halfway there.
So I’ve put together 12 free polar bear templates in one printable PDF: standing, walking, sitting, a cub, a face for masks, a bear in a scarf, one on the ice and more. Trace them, color them, paint them or cut them out.
Quick answer: this is a free set of 12 printable polar bear templates (clean black outlines, one bear per page) as an A4 PDF that also prints on US Letter, plus the 12 pages as separate PNG files. They’re free for personal and classroom use, not for resale. Pop your email in the box at the top of this post and they’ll land in your inbox in a minute.
Print at 100% on A4 (or “fit to page” on Letter), then scroll down to see every template with an idea for using it.
Table of Contents
All 12 Polar Bear Templates at a Glance
Here’s the whole set on one page so you can see what you’re getting. Every template is a full page with a big, clear outline and plenty of white space, so it’s easy to cut out and easy to color.
Want a closer look? Here are four of the pages up close: the walking bear, mother and cub, the simple shape and the bear catching snowflakes.
How to Use These Polar Bear Templates
Quick answer: print at 100% on A4 or “fit to page” on Letter, use printer paper for coloring and 160–200 gsm card for cutting, and trace with a window or light pad.
Print size and scaling
Each template fills an A4 page. On US Letter, tick “fit to page” and you lose almost nothing. Want a smaller bear? Set the scale to 50% and you’ll get a bear about half the height, perfect for gift tags, cards and garlands. Want a giant one for a door or a display? Print the PNG at A3, or tile it across two sheets.
Which paper to use
Plain printer paper is fine for coloring and tracing. For anything you’re going to cut out and handle (masks, puppets, stencils, garlands) use thin card, around 160–200 gsm, so the bears don’t flop. If you want to paint, print onto mixed-media paper or a sheet from a watercolor pad like the Canson XL watercolor pad; most home printers will take it if you feed it one sheet at a time.
Trace, transfer or cut
The simplest way to trace is to tape the template to a sunny window and lay your paper on top. An LED light pad does the same job at the kitchen table and is a really handy little tool to have. To transfer onto thicker paper, scribble soft pencil over the back of the template, flip it, and go over the lines with a pencil. For cutting, cut a few millimeters outside the line first, then trim.
Coloring and painting polar bears
Here’s the secret: polar bears aren’t really white. Leave most of the paper bare, then add pale blue-grays and soft creams in the shadows: under the chin, the belly, between the legs and along the back. A black nose and eyes finish it off. Watercolor pencils are lovely for this because you can color lightly and then soften it with a damp brush.
1. Standing Polar Bear Template
The classic side view, all four paws on the ground. This is the one I’d reach for first for an Arctic animals wall display or a report cover, because it reads instantly as a polar bear: long neck, small ears, that lovely heavy back end.
Trace it onto white card, cut it out and you’ve got a sturdy stencil to draw around again and again.
2. Walking Polar Bear Template
A big bear plodding towards you at a three-quarter angle. It has a bit more fur detail than the standing bear, so it’s a good one for older kids and grown-ups who like something to shade.
Try it with colored pencils: leave the top of the back white and build up pale blue and gray underneath.
3. Sitting Polar Bear Template
A friendly bear sitting up straight with its paws together and a round tummy. It’s symmetrical, which makes it easy to cut out neatly and perfect for a puppet: tape a craft stick to the back and you’re done.
It’s also the one shown with a soft blue-gray wash further up, if you want to see how it looks with a simple bit of color.
4. Polar Bear Cub Template
The cute one. Big head, big eyes, fluffy edges and little paw pads. Younger kids love this cub, and it makes a sweet winter card if you cut it out and glue it onto pale blue card.
Shrink it to 50% on your printer and you can fit two on a page for gift tags.
5. Polar Bear Face Template
A simple front-facing polar bear head with round ears and a big muzzle. This is the template for masks, headbands, paper plate crafts and cupcake toppers.
For a mask, print on card, cut out the head, then carefully snip two eye holes just above the eyes and add elastic at the sides.
6. Polar Bear in a Scarf Template
A cozy bear wrapped up in a long knitted scarf with tassels. The scarf is the fun bit: it’s the one area where you can go bold with red, green or stripes while the bear stays snowy.
This one looks great on a winter bulletin board with a different scarf color for every child.
Enjoying these so far? All 12 are in the one PDF. Grab the free polar bear templates here and they’ll be in your inbox in a minute.
7. Polar Bear on an Ice Floe Template
A bear standing on a little floating ice floe with water lines underneath. It tells a tiny story, which makes it a nice starting point for talking about sea ice and where polar bears live.
Paint the water in deep blues and leave the ice white so the bear really pops.
8. Mother and Cub Template
A mother polar bear walking with her cub close beside her. It’s a gentle one for a winter nature page, a family-themed winter card, or simply because it’s lovely.
Cut them out as one piece; the cub overlaps mum’s legs, so leave a little white border around both.
9. Sleeping Polar Bear Template
A bear curled up asleep with its chin on its paws. Quiet, sweet and perfect for a bedtime story display or a hibernation-themed lesson (although, fun fact, it’s only pregnant polar bears that den up for the winter).
It’s a good one for watercolor because the shapes are big and rounded.
10. Simple Polar Bear Shape Template
The easiest template in the set: one chunky outline with very few inside lines. This is the one for preschool cutting practice, felt shapes, playdough cutters drawn around, or sponge-painting with white paint on blue paper.
Print it on card and it becomes a reusable stencil for a whole class.
11. Waving Polar Bear Template
A bear standing up on its back legs and waving hello. It’s full of character and works brilliantly as a classroom door greeter, a welcome sign or a winter party decoration.
Enlarge it to 141% on A3 if your printer can, and it makes a big, bold door bear.
12. Polar Bear Catching Snowflakes Template
A happy bear sitting on a snowy mound, looking up at five falling snowflakes. It’s the most wintry of the twelve and lovely for a December coloring session or a snowy window display.
Color the snowflakes with a white gel pen on blue paper for a frosty look.
Template Specs at a Glance
| Templates | 12 polar bear outlines, one per page |
| Pages in the PDF | 15: a cover, the 12 templates, a how-to-use page and a page about my Patreon |
| File types | PDF, plus a zip of the 12 templates as PNG files |
| Size | A4 portrait; prints on US Letter with “fit to page” |
| Resolution | 300 dpi (2480 × 3508 pixels per page) |
| License | Personal and classroom use; not for resale |
You’re welcome to use them at home, in your classroom, in a homeschool group or at a library craft session. Please don’t sell the files, print them for sale, or share them online as your own. If you’d like to share them, send people to this page instead. Thank you!
More Winter Printables
If your polar bears are looking for some friends, these winter posts will keep the season going:
- My polar bear coloring pages are full scenes to color in, rather than outlines to cut out.
- The free penguin templates pair perfectly with the polar bears for an Arctic and Antarctic display (yes, I know they live at opposite ends of the world).
- These winter coloring pages are lovely for a quiet afternoon.
- Stuck for what to draw next? Try my winter drawing ideas.
Love these? The full Arctic Animals set has 38 more templates: polar bear scenes, arctic foxes, snowy owls, seals, walruses, narwhals, reindeer and detailed showpiece scenes. £9
You’ll find all my printables in my Payhip shop.
Love Making These? Join Me on Patreon
If you love printing, cutting and making, come and join me on Patreon. It’s where my weekly watercolor template sets go out to members: printed outlines with painted references, so you can see where the color goes, plus Procreate stamps and palettes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get a free printable polar bear template?
Right here. Pop your email into the box at the top of this post and the PDF of all 12 polar bear templates comes straight to your inbox, along with a link to the 12 PNG files. You can also download it straight from the thank-you message.
What size are the polar bear templates?
Each template is a full A4 portrait page (2480 × 3508 pixels, 300 dpi). They print on US Letter too: just choose “fit to page” and the bear shrinks very slightly to fit.
How do I make a polar bear template bigger or smaller?
Use the scale setting in your printer dialog. 50% gives you a small bear (two fit on a page once you cut them out), and 141% enlarges an A4 page to fill A3. You can also print the PNG files in any size from your photo app.
Can I use these polar bear templates in my classroom?
Yes. Personal and classroom use are both fine, so print as many as you need for your class or homeschool group. Please don’t sell the files or share them online as your own.
Which polar bear template is easiest for preschoolers?
Template 10, the simple polar bear shape. It’s one chunky outline with hardly any inside lines, so it’s easy to cut along. The polar bear face (template 5) is a good second choice for masks and paper plate crafts.
Final Thoughts
Twelve bears, one PDF, endless snowy afternoons. Start with whichever one makes you smile, print a few on card and see where it goes. A garland, a mask, a painted bear on blue paper, or just a quiet half hour with some pencils.
If you’d like the templates, pop your email in at the top of the post and they’re yours.
For more art ideas, come and find me on YouTube (subscribe here so you don’t miss the next one) and on Pinterest, where I save all my winter craft ideas.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. I only recommend things I’d happily use myself.
Last updated 24 October 2026.
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Happy making!
Dee x