Doodle ideas
Tiny, easy doodles you can draw in a notebook margin in under a minute. The picker below pulls a random doodle from this list.
96 ideas. Tap any idea to load it into the picker above.
Notebook margins
- a vine climbing the edge of the page
- a row of tiny houses along the bottom
- a chain of paper dolls
- a caterpillar crawling across the page
- arrows twisting into knots
- a cloud border
- a string of bunting flags
- an ant parade
- a train track running across the page
- a snake wrapped around the page number
- a rocket trail looping around
- a banner with today's date
- tiny planes flying in a line
- bubbles rising from the corner
- a ladder up the margin
- a fence with a cat walking on it
Patterns
- fish scales
- a checkerboard
- zigzag stripes
- circles inside circles
- stacked waves
- polka dots in different sizes
- a honeycomb grid
- triangles filled with lines
- a woven basket pattern
- a spiral in every square of a grid
- a tiny maze
- leaves in a repeating row
- a scalloped lace border
- plaid made of crossing lines
- hearts in a diagonal row
- a starburst of lines
Funny faces
- a face with only eyes peeking over a line
- a surprised face with a tiny mouth
- a sleepy face with drool
- a face with a curly mustache
- a face laughing so hard it cries
- a grumpy face with big eyebrows
- a face blowing a bubble
- a face in thick glasses
- a face sticking its tongue out
- a grumpy raincloud
- a nervous sweating face
- a face with stars for eyes
- a face whistling
- a shy face with blushing cheeks
- a monster face with one tooth
- a face slurping a noodle
Tiny food
- a dumpling with a face
- a tiny burger
- a carton of french fries
- a kawaii-style rice ball
- a smiling peanut
- a cup of instant noodles
- a blueberry muffin
- a slice of cheese with holes
- a pile of jelly beans
- a popsicle with a bite missing
- a piece of toast with a pat of butter
- a sliced kiwi
- a boiled egg in an egg cup
- a pickle in a jar
- a macaron
- a waffle with syrup
Tiny icons
- a mini planet with a ring
- a tiny envelope
- a little flag on a pole
- a lock and key
- a battery that is almost empty
- a magnifying glass
- a pushpin
- a paperclip
- a little anchor
- a four-point sparkle
- a tiny camera
- a check mark in a box
- an hourglass
- a thumbs up
- a compass rose
- a puzzle piece
Cute critters
- a worm in an apple
- an ant carrying a crumb
- a bird with a worm
- a blob monster
- a tadpole
- a bean-shaped cat
- a pill bug curled up
- a puppy with dot eyes
- a fish skeleton
- a bunny made of two ovals
- a sleepy bat
- a bee with a dotted flight path
- a seahorse
- a sheep that is mostly fluff
- a bug-eyed alien
- a pebble with a face
How to doodle when you think you can't draw
Doodling is not about making a perfect picture. It is about letting your pen move. Start with a shape you already know, like a circle, and ask what it could become: a face, a planet, a cookie, a bug.
Repeat things. A row of ten tiny cats looks charming even if each one is a little wobbly. Patterns are the easiest win of all, because the repetition does the work for you.
Doodle tips for notebooks and journals
- Use a fine pen. A 0.3 to 0.5 mm black pen makes small doodles look crisp.
- Keep them tiny. Most doodles look best around the size of a fingernail.
- Add one color. A single highlighter or colored pen ties a whole page together.
- Fill gaps. Use patterns to fill leftover space between notes or around headings.
Bigger ideas live on our easy things to draw page.
Keep going
- Easy Things to Draw96 easy things to draw for beginners, grouped into animals, food, objects, nature, vehicles and simple shapes.
- 50 Cute Drawing Ideas50 cute drawing ideas: kittens, pandas, food with faces and cozy little scenes.
- 100 Things to Draw When Bored (Quick and Easy)100 easy things to draw when you are bored: two-minute doodles, objects around you, little stories, practice…
- Sketchbook Ideas58 sketchbook ideas and art journal page prompts: observation pages, practice drills, memory maps,…
- Aesthetic Drawing Ideas70 aesthetic drawing ideas: cottagecore, soft pastel, moody night, retro, vintage, celestial and cozy rooms.
Questions
What are easy things to doodle?
Stars, clouds, hearts, little faces, flowers, arrows, simple patterns and tiny food are the easiest doodles. They take seconds and look good even when a little messy.
What should I doodle when I'm bored?
Try filling a margin with a pattern, drawing a row of tiny faces with different moods or turning random scribbles into critters. Our things to draw when bored page has more.
What is the difference between a doodle and a drawing?
A doodle is a quick, small and often unplanned sketch, usually made while doing something else. A drawing is more planned and finished.
Is doodling good for you?
Many people find doodling relaxing, and some studies suggest it can help you stay focused while listening. It is also an easy way to practice drawing every day.