How to print and cut out the protractor
- Choose 180° or 360°. A half circle is the classic school protractor; a full circle measures reflex angles over 180° in one go.
- Pick a size. Small and medium fit several on one sheet; the full page printable protractor is the most precise because the degree marks are furthest apart.
- Print at 100%, then check that a bank card fits the box on the page if you need true size.
- Cut along the outer line. For a sturdier tool, glue the print onto thin cardboard before cutting.
This free printable protractor needs no download or sign-up, and you can print as many copies as a class needs.
How to measure an angle
- Put the small cross at the center of the protractor exactly on the corner (vertex) of the angle.
- Turn the protractor until the baseline lies along one side of the angle.
- Follow the other side out to the scale. Read the row that shows 0 where your first side is: black numbers if it is on the right, red numbers if it is on the left.
To draw an angle, do the same in reverse: draw a line, put the center on one end, make a dot at the angle you need and join it to the center.
Which size to print
| Size | Radius | Distance between 1° marks | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 2 in (50.8 mm) | about 0.9 mm | Worksheets, pencil cases, several per page |
| Medium | 3 in (76.2 mm) | about 1.3 mm | Everyday school geometry |
| Full page | about 3.7 in (93 mm on Letter) | about 1.6 mm | Large printable protractor for crafts, woodworking and teaching |
The spacing follows from the circumference: one degree is 1/360 of 2π × radius, so a bigger protractor gives finer readings.
Does it have to be actual size?
People often look for a printable protractor actual size, but for angles it doesn't matter. If the printer shrinks the whole page evenly, every angle on this printable protractor is still correct, because scaling doesn't change angles. The radius is only true at 100% scale, so if you also use the edge as a size reference, check the card box first. Problems come only from uneven scaling, which is rare; if circles on the sheet look oval, print again without Fit to page. A printable ruler uses the same card check for lengths.
How we tested this tool
We printed the protractor to PDF with Microsoft Edge on Windows and measured the file: the page is exactly US Letter, one drawing unit equals 1 mm, the medium protractor's radius is 76.2 mm (3 inches), the 90° mark sits straight above the center and the 30° mark at the angle you'd expect from trigonometry. We also checked 180° and 360° in every size on Letter and A4, that each layout fits one page, the layout at a 375 px phone width and that Ctrl+P prints the protractor. We haven't yet printed it on a range of real printers ourselves. If you print some, tell us how it came out.
Frequently asked questions
How do I use a printable protractor?
Cut along the outer line and put the small cross at the center on the corner (vertex) of the angle. Line up the baseline with one side of the angle, then read where the other side crosses the scale. Use the scale that starts at 0 on the side where your first line is.
Why are there two rows of numbers?
The black outer numbers count from 0 on the right and the red inner numbers count from 0 on the left, like a school protractor. That lets you measure an angle that opens either way without subtracting from 180.
Does the protractor have to print at actual size?
Not for the angles. If the printer shrinks the page evenly, every angle stays correct. Only the radius changes, so if you also need true size, print at 100% and check that a bank card fits the box on the sheet.
How do I make it easier to use?
Print it on tracing paper or transparency film made for your printer so you can see the lines underneath, or glue a paper print onto thin cardboard and cut a small window at the center.
Can I get a printable protractor PDF?
Yes. Press Print protractor and choose Save as PDF as the printer. The PDF keeps the 1° marks and the size you chose.
Is it free?
Yes. It's free with no account, no download and no watermark, and nothing leaves your browser.