Printable Checkers Board: Free PDF Templates

Print a checkers board, a set of pieces and the rules at home. Every file is a free PDF in US Letter and A4 sizes, with the board printed at 7.5 in (19 cm) across.

No printer nearby? You can play checkers online for free against the computer or a friend.

Download the printables

The 8×8, 10×10 and 12×12 boards come in a colour version and an ink saver version for black-and-white printers. Pick the paper size you load in your printer.

8×8 Checkers Board

Preview of the printable 8×8 checkers board in the starting position: 12 black men on the dark squares of the top three rows, 12 white men on the dark squares of the bottom three rows, and the two middle rows empty.

Two pages: the starting position, then a blank board. 7.5 in (19 cm) across with 0.9 in (2.29 cm) squares.

Checkers Pieces to Cut Out

Preview of the cut-out pieces sheet: 12 black men, 12 black kings marked with a crown, 12 white men and 12 white kings, each inside a dashed cutting circle.

12 men and 12 kings in each colour. Each piece is 0.75 in (1.91 cm) across and fits the 8×8 board's squares.

Checkers Rules Sheet

Preview of the one-page checkers rules sheet: the heading Checkers Rules, a starting-position diagram, and two columns of rules text.Checkers Rules

The rules of American Checkers on one page: setup, moving, capturing, kings, and how to win or draw.

10×10 International Draughts Board

Preview of the printable 10×10 draughts board in the starting position: 20 black men on the top four rows and 20 white men on the bottom four rows, all on dark squares.

Starting position and blank board. Same 7.5 in size with 0.72 in (1.83 cm) squares.

12×12 Canadian Checkers Board

Preview of the printable 12×12 checkers board in the starting position: 30 black men on the top five rows and 30 white men on the bottom five rows, all on dark squares.

Starting position and blank board. Same 7.5 in size with 0.6 in (1.52 cm) squares.

Chinese Checkers Board

Preview of the printable Chinese Checkers board: a six-pointed star of 121 holes joined by lines, with each 10-hole point tinted a different pale colour.

The 121-hole star with its six points tinted. Holes are 0.55 in (1.4 cm) apart, centre to centre.

How to print the board

  1. Download the PDF for your paper size: US Letter in North America, A4 almost everywhere else.
  2. Open it in a PDF viewer and choose Print.
  3. Set the scale to 100% or "Actual size". Do not use "Fit to page".
  4. For a mono laser printer, use the ink saver file. Its hatched dark squares stay easy to tell apart.
  5. Measure one square on the printed 8×8 board. It should be 0.9 in (2.29 cm).

How to make it last

  • Print on card stock rather than plain paper so the board stays flat.
  • Laminate the board, or slide it into a clear sheet protector, so it survives spills.
  • Glue the pieces sheet to thin card before you cut, so the pieces are easy to pick up.
  • To crown a man, swap it for a king piece of the same colour. With real checkers you stack a second piece on top instead.

Which board fits which game

The 8×8 board fits every 8×8 game here. These games use its dark squares with the board as printed:

These games use the mirrored orientation, with the double corner on each player's left. Turn the board a quarter turn so the near-left corner square is light:

Turkish Checkers and Arab Checkers use all 64 squares, so the square colours carry no meaning and either version works.

The 10×10 board is for International Draughts, and the 12×12 board is for Canadian Checkers. The star board is for Chinese Checkers. Compare every game on the checkers variants page.

Frequently asked questions

What size is the printable checkers board?

The 8×8 board is 7.5 in (19 cm) across, frame included, and each square is 0.9 in (2.29 cm). It fits on US Letter and A4 paper with room for home printer margins.

How do I print the board at the right size?

In the print dialog, set the scale to 100% or choose "Actual size". Options such as "Fit to page" or "Shrink oversized pages" change the size. After printing, measure one square to check it.

How many pieces do I need for checkers?

Each player has 12 men, for 24 pieces in total. The cut-out sheet also has 12 kings in each colour, so you can swap a man for a king when it is crowned.

How do you set up a checkers board?

Place the 8×8 board so each player has a dark square in their near-left corner. Each player puts 12 men on the dark squares of the three rows nearest them, which leaves the two middle rows empty. Black moves first.

Can I use the 8×8 board for other checkers games?

Yes. Every 8×8 game on this site fits it: Checkers (American), Pool Checkers, Spanish Checkers, Czech Checkers, Portuguese Checkers, Russian Checkers, Brazilian Draughts, Filipino Checkers, Moroccan Checkers, Italian Checkers, Turkish Checkers, Arab Checkers. For the mirrored games, turn the board a quarter turn so the near-left corner square is light.

Which printable is best for a black-and-white printer?

Choose the ink saver version. Its dark squares are hatched with thin lines instead of filled, so they stay clearly darker than the light squares on a mono laser printer and use less toner.

Play checkers online free