How to draw a pentagon - a free pentagon drawing guide
Draw a regular pentagon using a ruler, compass, or paper folding. Practice measuring angles and symmetry to learn geometric precision.
Photos of regular pentagon examples
Step-by-step guide to draw a regular pentagon
How to draw a Pentagon step by step for beginners
Step 1
Pick the compass + protractor method for a precise regular pentagon.
Step 2
Put your paper on a flat table and set your compass to a comfortable radius.
Step 3
Use the compass to draw a neat circle and lightly mark its center with a small dot (call it O).
Step 4
Put a dot on the circle to be your first vertex (call it P1).
Step 5
Place the protractor with its center on O and align zero with the line OP1 then mark where the 72° ray meets the circle; repeat marking at 72° increments to get four more points (72° 144° 216° 288°).
Step 6
Use the ruler to lightly connect each consecutive marked point around the circle to draw the five sides of the pentagon.
Step 7
Measure each side with the ruler to check they are all the same length.
Step 8
Trace over the pentagon edges with a darker pencil or marker to finish the shape.
Step 9
Erase the circle and extra construction marks so only the clean pentagon remains.
Step 10
Decorate or color your pentagon symmetrically to practice symmetry and neatness.
Step 11
Share a photo of your finished regular pentagon on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have a compass or protractor?
If you don't have a compass, use a round lid or coin to trace the circle, and if you lack a protractor use a printable protractor or a protractor app to mark the 72° increments.
My marked points don't line up and the sides look uneven — what should I check?
If your 72° marks look off because the protractor slips, press the protractor center on O, re-align zero with OP1 before each mark, and make light tick marks so you can correct them before connecting with the ruler.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages?
For younger kids, skip protractor steps by giving a pre-drawn circle and five evenly spaced stickers for vertices to connect with a ruler, while older kids can precisely set the compass radius, check equal side lengths in step 6, and experiment with tracing symmetry in step 9.
How can we extend or personalize the pentagon once it's drawn?
To enhance the project, turn the traced pentagon from step 8 into a star by connecting every second vertex, or make multiple pentagons, color them symmetrically per step 9, and create a garland to photograph for DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to draw a regular pentagon
How to Draw a Pentagon Freehand | Easy Drawing Tips for Beginners / Step by Step Tutorial
4 Videos
How to Draw a Pentagon Freehand | Easy Drawing Tips for Beginners / Step by Step Tutorial
How to draw a Pentagon the easy way. Fast
How to Draw a Pentagon | Learn Shapes | How to draw Shapes for kids
How to Draw a Perfect Pentagon and Pentagram - Step by Step Tutorial
Facts about geometry for kids
📐 A regular pentagon has interior angles of 108° each — wider than a right angle!
✨ The diagonals of a pentagon create the golden ratio (about 1.618), a number famous in art and nature.
🔁 A regular pentagon has 5-fold rotational symmetry and five mirror lines (the dihedral group D5).
🧭 You can construct a perfect regular pentagon using only a compass and straightedge — a classic Euclidean construction.
📄 Clever paper folding (origami) techniques can produce an accurate pentagon without rulers or compasses.
