Free Printable 12 Days of Christmas Pictures – Looking for free printable 12 days of Christmas pictures you can download and print at home? This guide explains what those pictures usually include, how American families and teachers use them, and where to find legitimate free files—without paying a marketplace fee or guessing whether a download is actually free.
The best printables show each gift from the carol: a partridge in a pear tree, two turtle doves, three French hens, and so on through twelve drummers drumming. You can use them as coloring pages, wall art, gift tags, or a simple after-Christmas calendar.
What “12 Days of Christmas Pictures” Usually Means?
People searching this phrase are rarely looking for random holiday clip art. They want a matching set of twelve days of Christmas pictures—one image for each verse.
Common formats include:
- Coloring pages of each gift
- Watercolor or vintage-style art prints
- Gift tags with a picture of that day’s present
- Cut-and-stick calendar pictures for days 1–12
In the United States, the traditional 12 Days of Christmas run from December 25 through January 5, with Epiphany on January 6. That matters if you are using the pictures as a countdown after Christmas instead of an Advent calendar.
How to Spot a Legitimate Free Printable
Before you download anything, check three things:
- The page clearly says the file is free for personal (and, if needed, classroom) use.
- You can reach a real download page or form—not a vague “buy now” listing.
- The pictures actually match the carol, not generic Santa clip art labeled “12 days.”
Many sites ask for an email before sending a PDF. That can still be a legitimate free printable. Instant, no-email downloads are simply easier.
Print most files on standard U.S. Letter (8.5 x 11 inch) paper. Use cardstock for tags, wall art, and anything kids will color with markers.
Free Printable 12 Days of Christmas Pictures
Trusted Places to Get Free Printable Pictures
These sources were checked for current, free 12 Days of Christmas picture printables. Always read each site’s terms before you print extra classroom copies or post a file online.
1. Picture calendar kit (no email required)
WhyChristmas.com’s 12 Days of Christmas calendar kit is one of the most straightforward free options. The PDF includes numbered spaces plus a sheet of pictures you cut out and attach each day. It also explains what each day in the song represents.
This works well for homeschool, Sunday school, or a family display that starts on Christmas Day rather than December 1.
2. Full set of coloring pictures (U.S. Letter, no email)
Simply Love Coloring’s 12 Days of Christmas coloring pages include a picture for every gift in the carol, from the partridge to the drummers. The pages are sized for U.S. Letter paper and can be printed one at a time or as a full set.
The site states the files are for personal use. You may print copies for your kids, students, or church group, but you should not resell or upload the PDFs elsewhere.
3. Watercolor pictures on gift tags (direct PDF)
If you want small printable 12 days of Christmas images for wrapping, Aubree Originals’ free gift tags include a traditional set with watercolor pictures of the twelve gifts. There is also a simpler numbered version.
No email is required. Print on white cardstock at 100% scale, then punch a hole and add twine.
4. Framed-style art prints of each day
Once Upon a Printable’s 12 Days of Christmas art prints are made for decorating, not just coloring. The free collection includes full-size 8.5 x 11 prints plus 5 x 7 mini prints—one picture for each day of the song.
Access is free for email subscribers. That is a common setup for printable libraries. Confirm the current terms on the download page before printing extras.
5. Classroom-friendly coloring sheets
Mrs. Merry’s 12 Days of Christmas coloring pages are 8.5 x 11 PDFs at 300 dpi, with one picture page per gift. The site allows personal and classroom use, not commercial use.
You will need to fill out the form on the page to get the high-resolution files. Do not save the tiny preview images; they will print poorly.
Easy Ways to Use the Pictures at Home or School
Once you have a set of free 12 days of Christmas printables, you can do more than tape them on the fridge.
- Color one page a day from December 25 to January 5.
- Frame the mini prints as inexpensive holiday wall art.
- Attach matching picture tags to neighbor gifts or classroom treats.
- Build a simple calendar: number 1–12, then add that day’s picture.
- Practice counting and vocabulary with younger kids (“four calling birds”).
- Use the pages as a quiet activity after Christmas, when many Advent supplies are already packed away.
If you teach in the U.S., print a class set on regular copy paper and keep one cardstock set for display.
Printing Tips for Better Pictures
A free file still looks cheap if it is printed too small or on thin paper.
- Choose “Actual size” or 100% in your printer dialog. Do not use “Fit to page” unless the file is slightly oversized.
- Use U.S. Letter paper unless the download says otherwise.
- Pick matte photo paper or 65–80 lb cardstock for wall art.
- Let marker pages dry before hanging them.
- If colors look dull, switch the printer from “Draft” to “Best” or “Plain paper / Normal.”
Keep the original PDF. Preview images on blogs are almost always too small to print well.
What Each Picture Usually Shows?
Use this list when you are checking that a printable set is complete:
- A partridge in a pear tree
- Two turtle doves
- Three French hens
- Four calling birds
- Five golden rings
- Six geese a-laying
- Seven swans a-swimming
- Eight maids a-milking
- Nine ladies dancing
- Ten lords a-leaping
- Eleven pipers piping
- Twelve drummers drumming
Some artists change the style—vintage, watercolor, cartoon, or folk art—but the gifts should still be recognizable.
FAQ
Are these printables really free?
The five sources above offer free files for personal use. Some ask for an email. None of the links above are paid Etsy listings presented as free.
Can I use them in a classroom?
Often yes, if the site says “personal and classroom use.” Mrs. Merry and Simply Love Coloring both allow classroom copies. Do not assume commercial or public-sharing rights.
What paper size should I use in the USA?
U.S. Letter, 8.5 x 11 inches, is the standard for the coloring pages and most home printers.
When should we start the 12 days?
The traditional season begins December 25. If you want a before-Christmas countdown, label that clearly so kids are not confused.
Can I sell crafts made from these pictures?
Usually no. Most free Christmas printables are limited to home and classroom use. Check the license on each download page.
A Quick Note Before You Print
Free printable sites change forms, file names, and terms. If a button leads to a paid bundle, back up and use one of the sources listed here instead. Save the official download page—not a random PDF copied onto another blog—so you stay within each creator’s rules.
With a complete set of pictures, a stack of Letter-size paper, and a home printer, you can put the whole carol on the wall without buying a commercial activity pack.