Isometric dot paper (free printable triangular dot grid)
A page of dots in a triangular lattice, each row offset by half a step, for drawing cubes, blocks and other three-dimensional shapes. Choose the spacing and print.
To save a PDF, choose Print, then “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints.
About this sheet
Isometric paper is the paper for drawing solids. The dots sit in rows that are each shifted half a step from the row above, so lines drawn from dot to dot make the three directions of a cube: up, and two sloping ways. Students can sketch a stack of cubes and have it read as a solid on the page, not a flat pattern. It is useful for volume work in upper elementary grades, for design and technology, for building plans, and for puzzles in which a student draws a shape from three views. The spacing is editable, and the grid is drawn to size and centered so that every dot is where a ruler expects it to be.
Grades: 4 to 10. Best in: October, November, January, February.
How to use it
- Choose the spacing and print at 100 percent, so the dots are at true distances. Turn the heading off for a full page.
- Show a cube drawn on the dots, joining dot to dot along the three directions. Ask students to build a stack of cubes and copy it.
- Give a challenge, such as draw a solid that is four cubes tall and two wide, and ask a partner to count the cubes.
Five ideas for class
- Build a model from linking cubes and draw it on the paper, then swap drawings and rebuild a partner's model from the picture.
- Draw the same stack of cubes from the front, top and side on regular dot paper, and compare the flat views with the 3D drawing.
- Find the volume of a solid by counting the cubes in the drawing, including the hidden ones, and discuss how to count them.
- Design a small building, a bench or a set of steps, and draw it on the paper as a plan for a model.
- Use it in art class for impossible shapes and optical illusions, where the lattice makes the lines easy to place.
Related
Questions
What does isometric mean?
Isometric means equal measure. In an isometric drawing, the three axes of a cube are drawn at equal angles and the edges at the same scale.
Do I need a special ruler?
No. A plain ruler works to join the dots. The dots do the job of the angles, and students rarely need a protractor.
Can I use it with square dot paper?
Yes. Use the square dot paper for flat shapes and views, and this page for the solids themselves.
How do I save it as a PDF?
Choose Print, then pick “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints: the page around it is hidden. You can also save a sheet as a PNG image under the preview.
Can I print it in black and white?
Yes. Switch to Black and white beside the sheet: fills turn white and lines turn black, so it saves ink and photocopies cleanly.
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