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how to draw a computer

How to draw a computer - a free computer drawing guide

Draw a computer step by step using simple shapes; add a screen, keyboard, mouse, and shading while learning proportions and basic perspective.

Table of contents

Drawing Apps

Photos of computer drawing examples

Step-by-step guide to draw a computer

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How to Draw a Simple Computer - Easy Tech Fun for Kids!

What you need

Plain paper, pencil, eraser, ruler, colouring materials for finishing (optional)

Step 1

Place your paper flat in landscape (horizontal) so the screen will fit nicely.

Step 2

Lightly draw a large rectangle near the top-center that is about twice as wide as it is tall to be the computer screen.

Step 3

Add thickness to the screen by drawing short lines offset to the right from the screen edges and connecting them to form a thin side and top edge.

Step 4

Draw a slim rectangle centered under the screen to make the stand.

Step 5

Draw a wide flat oval or rectangle under the stand to make the base that the screen sits on.

Step 6

Draw a rectangle below the base angled a little toward the right to be the keyboard.

Step 7

Inside the keyboard rectangle lightly draw horizontal rows and a few vertical lines to make the keys and a longer bottom line for the spacebar.

Step 8

Draw an oval to the right of the keyboard for the mouse and add a short curving line in front if you want a cord or a small center line for the buttons.

Step 9

Draw a smaller rectangle inside the screen rectangle to be the display area leaving a thin border as the bezel.

Step 10

Trace over the lines you want to keep with a slightly darker pencil so your computer looks clean.

Step 11

Erase extra sketch lines and stray marks so only the final shapes remain.

Step 12

Choose a light source (for example top-left) and lightly shade the opposite sides and the undersides of the screen stand and base with soft pencil strokes.

Step 13

Add darker shading between the keys and draw a faint shadow beneath the whole computer to make it sit on the page.

Step 14

Share your finished computer drawing on DIY.org

Help!?

What can I use if I don't have a soft pencil or eraser for this computer drawing?

If you don't have a soft pencil or eraser, use a regular HB pencil for the light sketch lines and a clean cloth or vinyl eraser to remove stray marks when erasing extra sketch lines.

My screen looks lopsided after I add the short offset lines to give it thickness—how do I fix it?

If the screen looks lopsided when you add thickness with short lines offset to the right, lightly redraw those offset lines parallel to the screen edges and connect them straight before tracing over the lines you want to keep.

How can I adapt the steps for different ages so it's fun but doable?

For younger kids, have them trace and color a pre-drawn large rectangle for the screen and a simple oval mouse, while older kids can add detailed keys, beveled edges, and the shading between the keys and the faint shadow beneath the whole computer.

What are some ways to personalize or extend the finished computer drawing?

To enhance the drawing, add icons or a scene inside the smaller display rectangle, color or pattern the bezel, base, and keyboard, draw a cord on the mouse, and then share your finished computer drawing on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to draw a computer

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Simple Computer Drawing Tutorial for Kids | Easy Drawing For Kids | Fun & Easy Art For Children

4 Videos

Facts about drawing and perspective

🖥️ The first general-purpose electronic computer (ENIAC) was so big it filled a room — drawing a tiny computer is a fun contrast!

⌨️ The QWERTY keyboard layout was created for 19th-century typewriters and is still the most common layout today.

🖱️ The very first computer mouse, invented in 1964 by Douglas Engelbart, was made of wood and had one button.

📐 Linear perspective (using vanishing points) was popularized during the Renaissance to make flat pictures look 3D.

🎨 Adding simple shading and a cast shadow can instantly make a flat drawing look like a solid computer sitting on a desk.

How do I teach my child to draw a computer step by step?

Start by drawing a large rectangle for the monitor, then draw a slightly smaller inner rectangle for the screen. Add a narrow rectangle or trapezoid for the monitor’s base and a thin stand. For the keyboard, draw a wider shallow rectangle in front and mark rows of small rectangles for keys. Draw an oval or rounded rectangle beside it for the mouse and a thin cord if you like. Use light guidelines to keep proportions, then add simple shading along one side to show depth and perspective.

What materials do I need to draw a simple computer with my child?

You only need basic, kid-safe supplies: paper or a sketchbook, a soft pencil (HB or 2B), eraser, pencil sharpener, and a ruler for straight edges. Add colored pencils, markers, or crayons for finishing, plus a blending stump or cotton swab for gentle shading. Optional items: tracing paper, a light box, or digital drawing app on a tablet. Choose non-toxic materials and supervise younger children as needed.

What ages is this step-by-step computer drawing activity suitable for?

This activity suits many ages: preschoolers (4–6) can trace and use simple shapes with adult help; early elementary (7–9) can follow step-by-step shapes, add keys and a mouse, and practice proportions; older kids (10+) can work on basic perspective, accurate proportions, and more detailed shading. Adjust complexity, time, and supervision to match the child’s fine motor skills and attention span.

What are the benefits of drawing a computer and how can I vary the activity?

Drawing a computer builds spatial awareness, proportion sense, fine motor control, and visual observation skills. It also teaches basic perspective and shading. Variations include drawing a laptop, tablet, or vintage desktop, making a cartoon-style computer, or creating a scene with a desk and background. Encourage creativity by changing angles, adding stickers, or letting kids design their own screen content. Use non-toxic materials and remind children to sit with good posture.

Ready to create?

All Activities

how to draw a computer

How to draw a computer - a free computer drawing guide

Draw a computer step by step using simple shapes; add a screen, keyboard, mouse, and shading while learning proportions and basic perspective.

Table of contents

Drawing Apps

Photos of computer drawing examples

Step-by-step guide to draw a computer

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How to Draw a Simple Computer - Easy Tech Fun for Kids!

What you need

Plain paper, pencil, eraser, ruler, colouring materials for finishing (optional)

Step 1

Place your paper flat in landscape (horizontal) so the screen will fit nicely.

Step 2

Lightly draw a large rectangle near the top-center that is about twice as wide as it is tall to be the computer screen.

Step 3

Add thickness to the screen by drawing short lines offset to the right from the screen edges and connecting them to form a thin side and top edge.

Step 4

Draw a slim rectangle centered under the screen to make the stand.

Step 5

Draw a wide flat oval or rectangle under the stand to make the base that the screen sits on.

Step 6

Draw a rectangle below the base angled a little toward the right to be the keyboard.

Step 7

Inside the keyboard rectangle lightly draw horizontal rows and a few vertical lines to make the keys and a longer bottom line for the spacebar.

Step 8

Draw an oval to the right of the keyboard for the mouse and add a short curving line in front if you want a cord or a small center line for the buttons.

Step 9

Draw a smaller rectangle inside the screen rectangle to be the display area leaving a thin border as the bezel.

Step 10

Trace over the lines you want to keep with a slightly darker pencil so your computer looks clean.

Step 11

Erase extra sketch lines and stray marks so only the final shapes remain.

Step 12

Choose a light source (for example top-left) and lightly shade the opposite sides and the undersides of the screen stand and base with soft pencil strokes.

Step 13

Add darker shading between the keys and draw a faint shadow beneath the whole computer to make it sit on the page.

Step 14

Share your finished computer drawing on DIY.org

Help!?

What can I use if I don't have a soft pencil or eraser for this computer drawing?

If you don't have a soft pencil or eraser, use a regular HB pencil for the light sketch lines and a clean cloth or vinyl eraser to remove stray marks when erasing extra sketch lines.

My screen looks lopsided after I add the short offset lines to give it thickness—how do I fix it?

How can I adapt the steps for different ages so it's fun but doable?

What are some ways to personalize or extend the finished computer drawing?

Watch videos on how to draw a computer

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Simple Computer Drawing Tutorial for Kids | Easy Drawing For Kids | Fun & Easy Art For Children

4 Videos

Facts about drawing and perspective

🖥️ The first general-purpose electronic computer (ENIAC) was so big it filled a room — drawing a tiny computer is a fun contrast!

⌨️ The QWERTY keyboard layout was created for 19th-century typewriters and is still the most common layout today.

🖱️ The very first computer mouse, invented in 1964 by Douglas Engelbart, was made of wood and had one button.

📐 Linear perspective (using vanishing points) was popularized during the Renaissance to make flat pictures look 3D.

🎨 Adding simple shading and a cast shadow can instantly make a flat drawing look like a solid computer sitting on a desk.