Color by Number for Kids: How It Works and Free Pages

Color by number is a coloring page where every space has a number and a key says which colour each number stands for, so the picture appears as a child follows the key. On coloringpark.com you can colour any page with shapes big enough for numbers this way, on screen with By number or on paper with a printed worksheet. Both are free, with no sign-up.

By ColoringPark · Updated October 29, 2026

What is color by number and what does it practise?

A colour-by-number page looks like an ordinary coloring page with small numbers inside the shapes. A colour key, usually along the bottom, matches each number to a colour: 1 is red, 2 is light blue, and so on. The child finds a number, checks the key and colours that shape.

Because it mixes a picture with a simple rule, it gives children practice with a few things at once:

• Recognising numbers and matching each one to a colour.
• Reading colour words, since the key names every colour as well as showing it.
• Following a key and checking their own work against it.
• Colouring one shape at a time and staying inside its outline.

None of this needs to feel like a lesson. For most children it is just a coloring page with a puzzle built in.

How do you do color by number online?

Any coloring page on the site can be coloured by number in the browser on a phone, tablet or computer, as long as it has shapes big enough to hold a number.

1. Open a coloring page and press Color it online, or start from the colour online page.
2. Choose By number in the tool's controls, next to Free colouring.
3. A colour key appears, showing each number with its colour and its name, such as red or light blue.
4. Pick a colour from the key, then tap every shape with that number to fill it.
5. When a shape is coloured with the right colour, its number disappears. Keep going until every number is gone.
6. Finish the picture and enjoy the celebration, then save, print or share it.

Shapes that touch each other always get different colours, so the finished picture stays clear. Shapes too small for a number are left free to colour any way you like.

If a number stays put, that shape is not the right colour yet. Check the key, or use Undo and try again.

More on the tool itself: how to color online.

How do I print a color-by-number worksheet?

You can turn the same page into a printable worksheet for crayons or pencils.

1. Open the page and press Color it online.
2. Choose By number.
3. Under the colour key, press Print worksheet.

The worksheet shows the picture with a number in each shape, and a colour key along the bottom with a colour sample, its number and its colour word. It fits on US Letter or A4 paper.

Before you hand it over, lay out crayons that match the key. If your box has no light blue, agree on a swap and write it next to the key. For printer settings, see how to print coloring pages.

Which color-by-number pages suit each age?

Match the page to how many shapes a child can comfortably keep track of. The coloring pages by age guide explains the three levels in more detail.

• Ages 2–4: try Easy coloring pages, which have one big shape and very few numbers. Do it together, say each colour name out loud, and point to the matching shape. Tapping to fill on a tablet is often easier than crayons at this age.
• Ages 4–6: pick simple coloring pages for kids with a handful of numbers. Read the colour words on the key together.
• Ages 6–8: busier Ages 4–8 pages with more shapes work well. Most children can now follow the key on their own and check their work.
• Ages 8 and up: Detailed pages have many numbered shapes plus small spaces left free for their own colour choices, which suits older children, teens and adults.

How can teachers use color by number in class?

In By number, press Teach this page to run the page on a whiteboard one colour at a time. Each step gives a clear instruction, such as "Colour every 2 orange", and Show me demonstrates it on the board. Use Next and Back to move through the colours at the class's pace.

From the same screen, Print worksheet gives every child a matching paper copy, so the class can colour along with the board. It works well with alphabet coloring pages and animal coloring pages for younger groups.

All pages are free for classroom use with no sign-up and no watermark, and you can print as many copies as you need. See for teachers, coloring activities for classrooms and the licence for what is covered.

Tips for an easy color-by-number session

A few small habits keep colour by number fun rather than fiddly:

• Start with a page that has only a few colours, then move to busier pages.
• Put out only the crayons on the key so there is nothing to search for.
• Colour one number at a time, then tick it off on the key.
• Let children colour the shapes without numbers however they like.
• Praise finishing, not neatness. A wobbly but complete picture is a success.

More guides

• How to Color Online for Free (Phone, Tablet or Computer)
• Coloring Pages by Age: What to Print for Toddlers to Adults
• How to Print Coloring Pages (Letter or A4, Settings and Paper)
• Best Paper for Printing Coloring Pages
• Coloring Pages in the Classroom: 12 Practical Ideas
• Benefits of Coloring for Kids: What Children Practise