Instagram Grid Maker
FreeSplit one photo into a 3x3 Instagram grid so a single image spans nine posts, and preview how your feed will look before you publish.
instagram grid maker
Free online grid maker - no signup, no watermark
Free Online Grid Maker for Drawing & Painting
A free online grid maker that puts a precise drawing grid on any photo in seconds.
Upload a reference image, choose your rows, columns, line color and opacity, then download a print-ready gridded photo as PNG or JPG. It is the fastest free grid drawing tool online for artists, art students and teachers - everything runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded to a server and no account is needed. Trusted by 40,000+ artists worldwide.
- 8,100
- monthly searches for "grid maker"
- 12 sizes
- from 2x2 to 50x50 cells
- PNG + JPG
- print-ready, up to full resolution
Drag & drop your reference image here
Supports JPG, PNG, GIF, WEBP
Grid Settings
Pro guidesPRO
Unlock with the free Pro trial →Sign in or create a free account to save your grids.
How Our Grid Drawing Tool Improves Your Art
Professional grid drawing tools that run entirely in your browser - free, private and fast - so an artistic grid, a photo grid or a printable grid is always one upload away.
Perfect Proportions
Divide any reference into equal squares and copy shapes square by square. This is the classic grid method used by portrait artists for centuries - and the reason proportions suddenly click.
Scale with Precision
Move a drawing from a small sketch to a wall-sized mural, or from a large photo down to a miniature, without losing a single proportion. Scale factor changes; the grid does the maths.
Custom Grid Density
Choose anything from a 2x2 grid to a 50x50 grid. Start coarse for simple shapes, then switch to a finer grid for faces, hands and detailed textures.
Artistic Grid Styles
Change line color, line width and opacity to build the artistic grid you actually want to draw from: a subtle overlay on a photo, or dark high-contrast lines for tracing.
Printable Grid Exports
Download your gridded reference as PNG or JPG at full resolution. Print it on A4, Letter or any custom paper size, then draw a matching grid on your own sheet.
Grid Overlay on Photos
Upload a reference photo and lay the grid straight over it. No measuring, no ruler marks on your print - the grid overlay is generated for you.
A1-Style Cell Labels
Optional cell labels mark every square as A1, B2, C3 and so on, so you always know exactly which section you are working on - a lifesaver on large drawings.
Composition Guides
Overlay the rule of thirds or the golden ratio on top of your grid to plan a composition before you commit to a single line.
Get Started in 3 Easy Steps
No download, no signup and no watermark. The grid drawing tool below is the whole workflow - most artists finish their first grid in under a minute.
- 1
Upload Your Reference Image
Drag and drop a photo onto the grid maker, or click Upload Image to browse your files. JPG, PNG, GIF and WEBP are all supported.
- 2
Customize Your Grid
Set rows and columns, pick the line color and line width, and dial the opacity until the grid reads clearly over your image. Turn cell labels on if you want A1-style references.
- 3
Download or Print Your Grid
Click Download PNG or Download JPG to save the gridded image, then print it or keep it on screen next to your drawing surface while you work.
Who Uses Grid Drawing?
The grid method works at every level, from a first sketchbook to a commissioned mural. These are the artists who use our grid maker most.
Beginners
Stop guessing at proportions. A grid breaks a frightening subject into small, copyable squares so beginners can finish a recognizable drawing on the first try.
Art Students
Train your eye to measure. Grids build the observational accuracy art schools grade - and give you a reliable way to check work you have already drawn.
Art Teachers
Create custom grid worksheets in seconds: print a gridded reference with a matching blank grid, and every student in the class can start from the same place.
Portrait Artists
Faces fail on proportion, not on shading. Use a finer grid over the head to lock in eyes, nose and mouth placement before you touch the detail.
Muralists
Scale a sketch to a wall without a projector. A numbered grid on the reference and a chalk grid on the wall transfer any design at any size.
Use the mural scaling calculator to get the exact cell size for your wall.
Tattoo & Illustration Artists
Transfer a client concept onto skin or paper precisely, and reproduce the same design at a different size for a second placement.
What Is the Grid Method?
The grid method is a drawing technique that copies a reference image square by square instead of shape by shape. It has been used for centuries - Albrecht Durer documented the drawing grid in 1525, and it is still the fastest way to get proportions right.
- 01
Divide the reference
Draw or generate an even grid over the reference photo. Equal squares are the whole trick: each square holds one manageable piece of the image.
- 02
Divide your surface
Draw the same number of squares on your paper or canvas, at whatever size you need. A 10x10 grid on a 20 cm drawing and a 10x10 grid on a 2 m mural both work.
- 03
Copy square by square
Work one cell at a time and compare the shape inside it, not the whole subject. Proportions stay locked because every square keeps its position.
- 04
Refine and erase
When every square is filled in, erase the grid lines, check the silhouette from a distance and finish the drawing normally.
How to draw with a grid
Set up a grid on a reference photo and on your drawing surface, then copy the artwork one square at a time.
- 1
Generate a grid over the reference
Upload the reference photo to the grid maker, choose a grid density (8x8 for simple subjects, 12x12 or finer for portraits) and download the gridded image.
- 2
Draw the matching grid on your surface
Measure the same number of columns and rows on your paper or canvas with a ruler and a light pencil. Keep the cells square.
- 3
Copy each cell in order
Starting top-left, copy the content of one cell at a time into the matching cell on your surface. Use the second half of the grid to double-check placement as you go.
- 4
Erase the grid and refine
Once the whole image is transferred, erase the pencil grid, step back to compare proportions, and finish with shading and detail.
Is the grid method cheating?
No. Master artists including Leonardo da Vinci and Albrecht Durer used drawing grids, and art schools still teach the technique today. A grid does not draw for you - you still judge shape, value and edge inside every square. What it removes is careless proportion error, which is exactly what beginners need to eliminate first.
Grid Maker Use Cases
The same free grid drawing tool covers very different jobs. Pick the one closest to your project.
Draw a portrait from a photo
Grid a headshot at 12x12 or finer, transfer it, then erase the grid before shading. The standard portrait workflow, done in a browser.
Scale a small sketch to a mural
Grid the sketch, grid the wall with chalk at the scale factor you need, and copy it square by square - no projector and no guesswork.
Print grid paper for class
Generate and print blank grid paper or a gridded reference at A4, Letter or custom sizes for an art lesson.
Plan an Instagram grid
Slice one image into nine squares so a single photo spans your whole Instagram feed, and check the layout before you post.
Practice with drawing worksheets
Build a grid drawing worksheet from any photo, print a matching blank grid, and practise accuracy with a ready-made exercise.
Transfer a design onto canvas
Overlay a grid on the reference, transfer to canvas at the size you are painting, then paint over it without losing the composition.
Grid Drawing Tools, Calculators & Printable Grids
Every grid tool Gridify ships, free to use in your browser - from a photo grid maker and drawing grid generator to aspect ratio, proportion and canvas size calculators, printable grid paper and specialist Pro tools for murals, posters and art projection.
Grid Generator →
Create a custom grid of any size - from 2x2 up to 50x50 - and place it over any photo or blank canvas. The fastest free grid maker online.
grid maker online
Photo Grid Maker →
Add a precise drawing grid to any reference photo, then download the gridded image ready to trace or print.
picture grid maker
Drawing Grid →
Built for artists: split any reference into equal squares so you can copy proportions onto paper or canvas, square by square.
grid for artists
Grid Overlay →
Lay a transparent adjustable grid over a reference image - change line color and opacity to match your drawing surface.
grid drawing tool
Printable Grid →
Export a gridded photo or blank grid as a high-resolution PNG or JPG and print it at any paper size.
printable grid paper
Perspective Grid Generator
FreeGenerate 1-point, 2-point and 3-point perspective grids with adjustable vanishing points for architecture, interiors and environment studies.
perspective grid
Aspect Ratio Calculator
FreeResize width and height without distorting an image - solve any aspect ratio instantly and copy the exact canvas dimensions.
aspect ratio calculator
Proportion Calculator
FreeSolve proportions and scale any drawing or reference up or down while keeping every element in the right relationship.
proportion calculator
Canvas Size Calculator
FreeWork out the canvas or paper size you need, plus the matching grid cell size, before you start drawing or ordering materials.
canvas size calculator
Mural Scaling Calculator
FreeScale a small sketch to a wall-sized mural: enter both sizes and get the exact grid density and cell measurements to mark out.
mural scaling
Grid Drawing Worksheet Maker
FreeTurn any photo into a grid drawing worksheet for art class - print a gridded reference with a matching blank grid for students.
grid drawing worksheet
Grid Method Guide
FreeLearn the centuries-old grid method step by step: what it is, how to set up a grid, how fine it should be and how to draw from it.
grid method drawing
Pro Tools for Bigger Projects
The grid maker stays free forever. Gridify Pro adds the specialist tools for murals, posters, portraits and tracing - free for 14 days, no card required.
Paint by Number Generator
ProTurn any photo into a paint by number template with numbered regions and a matching color key. Pro tool.
paint by number generator
Coloring Page Generator
ProConvert a photo or drawing into clean printable line art for coloring pages. Pro tool.
coloring page generator
Art Projector
ProProject an image from your screen straight onto canvas or paper, then trace it at the exact size you need. Pro tool.
art projector
Poster Splitter
ProSplit one large image across multiple A4 or Letter pages and print a giant poster on a normal home printer. Pro tool.
poster splitter
Portrait Proportions Guide
ProRecommended grid densities and landmark measurements for portrait drawing, so faces stay in proportion. Pro tool.
grid for portrait drawing
Grid Maker FAQ
What is a grid maker?
A grid maker is an online tool that divides a reference photo or a blank canvas into equal squares. Artists use a grid maker to transfer proportions accurately from a reference to a drawing surface - which makes scaling artwork, copying complex images and keeping faces in proportion far easier. Gridify is a free online grid maker that runs entirely in your browser.
Is this grid maker free to use?
Yes. Gridify is a 100% free grid maker with no registration, no watermark and no export limit. Upload an image, customize the grid and download your gridded PNG or JPG without creating an account. Pro tools have a 14-day free trial; the core grid drawing tool never expires.
What image formats are supported?
Upload JPG, PNG, GIF or WEBP reference images, and export the gridded result as PNG (lossless, best for printing) or JPG (smaller file size, best for sharing).
Is the grid method cheating?
No - it is a professional technique, not a shortcut. Leonardo da Vinci and Albrecht Durer both used drawing grids, and the grid method is still taught in art schools. You still make every decision about shape, value and edge; the grid simply removes proportion errors while you are learning to see them.
Can I print the grid?
Yes. Export at full resolution and print the gridded reference on A4, Letter or any custom paper size, then draw a matching grid on your own sheet. If you only need blank grid paper, use the printable grid option to generate a blank grid at the exact density you want.
What grid size should I use?
For beginners, an 8x8 or 10x10 grid is a good starting point. Use a finer grid - 12x12 or more - for detailed subjects such as portraits and hands. Use a coarser 5x5 or 6x6 grid for simple compositions, still lifes and landscapes where shapes are large.
How do I work out the aspect ratio or a scaled size?
Use the free calculators alongside the grid maker: the aspect ratio calculator solves width and height without distortion, the proportion calculator scales any measurement up or down, the canvas size calculator picks paper or canvas dimensions, and the mural scaling calculator converts a sketch into wall-sized grid measurements.
Does the grid maker work on my phone?
Yes. The grid drawing tool is fully responsive, so you can upload a photo, adjust the grid and download the gridded image from a phone, tablet, laptop or Chromebook - whichever device is next to your sketchbook.
Are my images uploaded to a server?
No. Your image is processed locally in your browser with the HTML canvas API, so the reference photo never leaves your device, and nothing is stored on our servers. That also means the grid maker keeps working if your connection drops mid-edit.
Why use a grid instead of tracing or a projector?
Tracing copies an image without teaching you to see it, and an art projector needs hardware, power and a dark room. A drawing grid is free, portable and trains proportion judgement you keep for the next drawing. Many artists use a grid to plan a composition and a projector only for large murals - Gridify Pro includes both workflows.
Start Grid Drawing Today
The free grid maker needs no signup and no download - upload a photo and get a printable, perfectly proportioned drawing grid in seconds. When your projects outgrow it, Gridify Pro adds the mural scaling calculator, 2K/4K and transparent perspective exports, an on-screen art projector and print-ready studio sheets, free for 14 days.