How to Draw a Snail for Kids – Easy Guide + Free PDF

Slow and steady wins the race, especially when drawing a charming snail! These little garden friends carry their homes on their backs and leave a sparkly trail wherever they go. This simple guide will show you how to draw a super cute cartoon snail, complete with its swirly shell and happy face. Let’s get drawing!

Plus, don’t miss out on the free PDF practice worksheet at the end, which includes space for kids to practice and add their unique touches.

How to draw a snail


Follow these six simple steps to draw a cute cartoon snail!

  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
  • Our Snail Drawing Guide PDF Worksheet (optional)

Start by drawing lightly so that you can easily erase if you make any mistakes.

Step 1: Draw the Snail’s Head Outline

Start by drawing a simple circle for the snail’s head.

Draw the head outline of the snail

Step 2: Draw the Body Shape

From the bottom of the head, draw a long, curved line that tapers gently to form the snail’s soft body.

Draw the snail's body outline

Step 3: Draw the Snail’s Shell

On the back of the snail’s body, draw a large oval or spiral shape for the shell. Make sure it’s big enough to look like a cozy home!

Erase any part of the body outline where the shell attaches to make it look connected.

Draw the snail's shell

Step 4: Add the Swirl on the Shell

Draw a spiral inside the shell, starting from the center and curling outward, then place a tiny circle right in the middle. This simple detail makes the shell look extra fun and realistic!

Draw the swirl on the shell

Step 5: Add Face Details and Eyestalks

Let’s give our snail a cute face!

  • Draw two large dots for the eyes and a friendly smile on the face.
  • Above the head, draw two short, curved lines with small circles at the top for the eyestalks (like little binoculars!).
  • Finish with two tiny dots for rosy cheeks.
Draw the snail's eyestalks and face details

Step 6: Color Your Slow and Steady Snail!

It’s time for color! Snails can be many colors, but a yellow body and an orange shell look really cheerful. Color the body yellow and the shell orange. You can also add a touch of pink to its cheeks!

Color your cute snail drawing

Free Snail Drawing Practice PDF Worksheet!

Download the FREE “How to Draw a Snail” PDF below! It includes all the steps and a space at the bottom for kids to draw their own adorable snail. This worksheet is perfect for young artists to practice anytime and have fun getting creative.

Click below to get your printable worksheet and have fun drawing!

How to draw a snail printable PDF practice worksheet

Terms of Use: You can print as many copies as you need for your kids, students, or groups. To share, please link to this page. Please don’t sell, email, post, or share these files in any other way. Thank you!

snail drawing worksheet pdf

Explore Our 20 Snail Coloring Pages

Want more snail-themed activities? Check out our 20 snail coloring pages for endless coloring fun! These pages are a great way to spend time with your favorite cute insect animals.

three snail coloring pages with pencils and crayons on a beige background
grab our snail coloring pages

5 Ways to Make Your Snail Drawing More Fun!

Add Leaves: Draw your snail slowly crawling on green leaves.

Snail drawing crawling on green leaves

Draw a Trail: Add a sparkly, wavy line behind the snail to show its slime trail.

Snail drawing with a slime trail

Give It a Cap: Draw a tiny, cute nightcap on its head!

Snail drawing with a nightcap

Add a Raindrop: Draw a few raindrops around the snail, as they love wet weather.

Snail drawing surrounded by raindrops

Add Patterns: Draw small spots along the shell to give it more texture.

Snail drawing with spots on its shell

How to Fix Common Snail Drawing Mistakes

  • Body Shape: The body should be long and gently curved, not too stiff or straight, as shown in Step 2.
  • Shell Size: Make sure the shell in Step 3 is large enough to cover a good portion of the body, looking like a cozy home.
  • Spiral Detail: The spiral in Step 4 is key! Practice drawing a smooth, continuous spiral inside the shell.
  • Eyestalks: The eyestalks should have a small circle at the very top, like little eyes on stalks, as shown in Step 5.

Helpful Snail Drawing Tips and Tricks For Kids

  • Smooth Curves: Snails are all about curves! Practice drawing smooth, flowing lines for the body and shell to make your snail look natural.
  • Shading the Shell: When coloring the shell, use a slightly darker shade on the bottom edge to make it look round and give it depth.
  • Sparkly Trail: After coloring, you can use glitter glue or a silver marker to draw a shimmering trail behind your snail for extra magic!
  • Garden Background: Draw some grass, small flowers, or a mushroom around your snail to create a lovely garden scene.

Snail Fun Facts for Kids

  • Two Sets of Tentacles: Snails have two pairs of “antennae” or tentacles. The upper pair has eyes at the tips, and the lower pair is used for smelling and feeling.
  • Slow but Steady: Snails are known for being very slow, but they are great at sticking to surfaces, even upside down!
  • Mobile Homes: Their shells are part of their bodies and grow with them, providing protection from predators and the sun.
  • Hibernation: In cold weather or during dry spells, snails can seal themselves inside their shells and go into a deep sleep called hibernation (or estivation in warm weather).

Explore our How to Draw a Butterfly for Kids

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Looking for more fun animal drawings? Check out our How to Draw Animals Tutorials for more easy step-by-step guides to drawing animals.