Making the PDF…
About hexagon paper
Hexagon paper is covered with six-sided cells that fit together like a honeycomb. Each hexagon touches six others, so it is the favourite paper for game maps, chemistry drawings, quilt plans and mosaic designs.
This free tool makes hexagon paper as a PDF, ready to print. Pick the hexagon size, choose a colour, and print as many pages as you need.
Everything is made in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, and there is no sign-up.
Features
- Many hexagon sizes — 3, 5, 7 or 10 mm, 1/4 or 1/2 inch, or Custom… with your own spacing in mm or inch
- 5 line colours — light grey, blue, green, orange or black
- Thin, normal or bold lines
- Up to 50 pages in one PDF, on A4 or US Letter, portrait or landscape
- Space at the top for name and date, if you want it
- Other paper too — switch the Paper type to graph, dot grid, lined or isometric paper
- Live PDF preview — then Download PDF or Print
- Made in your browser — nothing is uploaded and there is no sign-up
Hexagon sizes
The size in the list is the length of one side of a hexagon. The hexagons stand with a point at the top. This table shows how big each one is on paper:
| Side length | Width (flat side to flat side) | Height (point to point) | Distance between rows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 mm | 5.2 mm | 6.0 mm | 4.5 mm |
| 5 mm | 8.7 mm | 10.0 mm | 7.5 mm |
| 7 mm | 12.1 mm | 14.0 mm | 10.5 mm |
| 10 mm | 17.3 mm | 20.0 mm | 15.0 mm |
| 1/4 inch | 11.0 mm | 12.7 mm | 9.5 mm |
| 1/2 inch | 22.0 mm | 25.4 mm | 19.0 mm |
The width is the side × 1.732 (√3), and the height is the side × 2.
Which size do I need?
- 3 mm — small hexagons for organic chemistry rings and fine patterns
- 5 mm — the default; a good size for notes, sketches and small maps
- 7 mm or 10 mm — bigger cells for children, colouring and pixel-style art
- 1/4 inch — a US size for tabletop maps and wargames
- 1/2 inch — big cells for quilt plans and mosaics
- Custom — any side length from 1 to 60 mm, or in inches
All the settings
- Paper type — hexagon paper is selected. You can switch to graph paper, dot grid, lined or isometric paper at any time
- Spacing — the side length of one hexagon. Choose Custom for any other size
- Line colour — light grey is easy to draw over. Blue, green, orange and black are there too
- Line weight — thin, normal or bold. Bold helps when the copy is printed on a weak printer
- Space for name and date — a header with two lines to write on, for class work
- A4 or US Letter, portrait or landscape, and up to 50 pages in one PDF
Printing at the right size
The hexagons are exact in the PDF. To keep them exact on paper, print at Actual size or 100%, not "Fit to page". "Fit" shrinks the page a little.
The pattern stays at least 13 mm from every edge, so even printers that cannot print near the bottom of the page print the whole grid.
The hexagons are always whole: the grid is centred, and no page ends in half a hexagon.
What people use it for
- Board games and role-playing games — hex maps for battles and journeys
- Organic chemistry — drawing benzene rings and other ring molecules
- Quilting — planning hexagon quilts and colour patterns
- Mosaics, tiles and beadwork designs
- Bullet journals — habit trackers in a honeycomb
- Maths and art lessons about shapes and tiling
How to use it
- Hexagon paper is already selected in Paper type
- Pick the spacing (side length) — 5 mm is the default — or choose Custom
- Set the line colour and the line weight
- Choose A4 or US Letter, the orientation and the number of pages
- Check the preview — it is the PDF itself
- Press Print, or Download PDF, and print at Actual size
Frequently asked questions
What does the hexagon size mean?
It is the length of one side. A 5 mm hexagon is 8.7 mm wide from flat side to flat side and 10 mm tall from point to point.
Is the hexagon paper free?
Yes. It is free, with no sign-up. Print as many pages as you like. The small web address at the bottom can be turned off with Print the web address at the bottom.
Why are my hexagons a little smaller on paper?
The printer was set to "Fit to page". Print again at "Actual size" or "100%" and the sizes will be exact.
Can I print hexagon paper in colour?
Yes. Choose blue, green, orange or black in Line colour. Light grey is the default because it is easy to draw over.
Can I use it for hex maps in games?
Yes. Choose 1/4 or 1/2 inch, or a Custom size to match your game pieces, and print several pages to tape together.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The PDF is made in your browser, on your own device.
Good to know
- The hexagons have a point at the top, and every second row moves half a hexagon to the right
- Rows of hexagons overlap, so the distance between rows is 1.5 × the side, not 2 ×
- The Darker line every and Red margin line settings are only for graph paper and lined paper
Related tools
- Printable Graph Paper — squares, for maths and drawing
- Printable Dot Grid Paper — dots for bullet journals
- Printable Lined Paper — ruled lines for writing
- Printable Calendar — a month or a year to write in
- Printable Checklist Maker — lists with tick boxes
