Unicorn color by number: 12 free printables

Choose a level by the spaces, not just age

The first four unicorn pages use six colors and mostly broad spaces. They are a useful starting point for children who can recognize numbers 1–6, with help reading the key if needed. The next four use ten colors and add objects around the unicorn. The final four use twelve colors in fuller scenes: a castle, space, a picnic and a cupcake cart. Each is a different drawing, rather than another palette on the same picture.

Look at the preview before downloading. A child who enjoys a longer picture may prefer the detailed set; someone who is still learning to keep a pencil inside a line may want the easy set. Color count is only one part of difficulty. The number of spaces and their size matter too, so each card tells you both the color count and the space count. There is no need to finish a whole page in one sitting.

Print the worksheet and keep the answer for later

Choose A4 for 210 × 297 mm paper or Letter for 8.5 × 11 inch paper. Both files include the numbered worksheet on page one and its matching colored answer on page two. Print only page one for the activity, then use page two on screen or print it separately for checking. Select portrait orientation and actual size / 100% in your print dialog. If your printer clips an edge, use fit to printable area and check that the smallest numbers remain readable.

The drawing is black and white, but the key uses color swatches plus written color names. A color printer makes the swatches easier to match. With a black-and-white printer, read the names and make a small test mark with each pencil beside the key. Put markers on scrap paper first to see whether they show through. Plain printer paper works with pencils; use the paper recommended for your markers if you want to avoid bleed-through.

Match, color and check one number at a time

Start by finding one number in the key and choosing that pencil. Point to the same number in the picture before coloring. Search for all spaces carrying that number, including separate strands of mane and tail, then move to another color. Keep the key beside the page. The same number always means the same color within a worksheet; check the key again when you start a new page.

When a number is difficult to see, open the large PNG preview. Leave the outside background and white eye highlights white. After coloring, compare one area at a time with the answer. If a color was mixed up, circle the corresponding swatch or put the correct pencil beside it before continuing. A different shade of pink is fine: aim for a recognizable match to the color name, rather than an exact printer color.

Make a second version your own

After trying the numbered version, print another copy and replace the color names in the key with your own choices. Keep one chosen color per number so repeated spaces still match. Compare the two pictures and describe what changed: a warmer mane, a cooler moon or a brighter garden. For a picture with completely free color choices, try the linked unicorn coloring collection. For construction with a pencil, use the separate unicorn drawing lesson.