Reindeer Coloring Pages – 38 Real Tundra Reindeer to Color

A reindeer is a real animal with a lot going for it: a crown of antlers, wide hooves made for snow, and a herd that clicks softly as it walks. This collection of 38 free coloring pages starts with the real tundra animal. It then moves on to herders and sleds, cute Christmas reindeer in scarves, and Santa’s team on Christmas Eve. Pick a quiet grazing calf or a detailed antler pattern and start coloring.

Browse the 38 Free Reindeer Coloring Pages

Every sheet here is free and printable. Click a picture to open the PDF, which is sized for A4 paper. The range runs from very easy outlines with bold lines, good for small hands, to detailed scenes and patterns for older kids and adults. Print as many copies as you like and color them your way.

The Real Reindeer

Smiling Reindeer Face with Antlers

A front-facing cartoon reindeer with a big round nose, a wide smile and two large black eyes. Two curly antlers with rounded tips rise above the head, and a few leafy sprigs sit at the bottom. The thick, open outlines suit younger colorers.

Two Reindeer with a Shed Antler on the Tundra

Two reindeer stand side by side on a snowy tundra, one with two slender antlers and the other with short antler stumps. A large fallen antler lies in the snow between them, with bare twigs, rolling hills and a round sun behind. The fine fur lines and layered landscape make it a detailed sheet for patient colorers.

Reindeer Hoof and Track in Snow

A close-up of a reindeer’s broad, split hoof pressed into the snow, seen from the front with a furry lower leg and two small dewclaws at the sides. Below it lies a deep hoof print with a scalloped snow rim, and rolling drifts run behind. The big open shapes are easy to color, and the shaggy fur edge above the hoof is the one finer detail.

Baby Reindeer Digging for Lichen

A young reindeer with two forked antlers and big ears lifts one front hoof to scratch at a snow pit. Inside the pit grow curly-edged lichen tufts, and three small motion dashes show the pawing. Smooth, bold outlines make this an easy sheet, and the plain body leaves wide areas for blending browns.

Resting Reindeer Beside Birch Trees

A reindeer lies in the snow with its legs tucked under its body and a small puff of breath at its nose. Two tall branched antlers rise above it. Two birch trunks with bark patches stand at left, and bare twigs and soft drifts fill the background. The shaggy chest fur and the birch bark are the finer parts, while the big body is easy to fill.

Young Reindeer Grazing by a Pond

Summer scene with a young reindeer bending its head down to nibble a tuft of grass, its two rounded antlers rising behind. A pond with ripple lines lies at right, bushes sit along the far bank, and two five-petal flowers with leaves stand in the foreground. The antlers, legs and flowers are all drawn as bold, open shapes with banded hooves.

Reindeer Rubbing Antler Velvet on a Birch Trunk

A smiling young reindeer with a round nose and closed eyes stands beside a tall birch trunk, its two antlers dangling strips of shed velvet. The trunk is marked with about ten oval bark patches and a jagged root base. Bold, simple outlines make it an easy sheet, and the white bark leaves a good place to try gray and pale blue.

Herd and Tundra

Reindeer Cow Licking Her Newborn Calf

On open spring tundra, an adult reindeer with two slender antlers bends down to lick a wobbly-legged calf standing beside her. Crocus buds, grass tufts, a boulder and a snow-streaked mountain fill the scene under three puffy clouds. The big bodies are plain, open areas, while the patchy ground takes more patience.

Three Reindeer Calves Walking Down a Hill to a Stream

Three young reindeer with round noses and small forked antlers trot in a line down a grassy slope toward a winding stream. Two tall fir trees stand on the hilltops, and rocks and grass tufts sit along the bank. The animals shrink in size toward the back, so the smallest one has the finest details.

Two Reindeer Swimming Across a River

Two smiling reindeer paddle through a river with only their heads, antlers and backs above the water. The larger one sits in front and the smaller one behind, and wavy ripple lines and a bumpy cloud-like treeline fill the background. The big heads and body shapes are wide open areas, so this sheet suits younger colorers.

Reindeer Meeting an Arctic Fox

A tall reindeer with two thin antlers lowers its head to touch noses with a small arctic fox sitting upright in the snow. A round low sun, rolling snowdrifts and four sets of paw prints lead across the foreground. The fox’s fluffy fur and bushy tail are drawn with short, feathery strokes.

Reindeer Shaking Snow off Its Antlers

A cheerful young reindeer with closed, smiling eyes and an open mouth shakes its head, sending four puffy snow clumps flying off its antlers. Curved motion lines and small oval snowflakes surround the head, and the animal stands on a thin ground line with banded hooves. The wide, open body shapes are easy to color.

Three Reindeer Calves Under the Northern Lights

Under two wide, wavy aurora ribbons and three small stars, a calf sits upright in the middle while two others lie down on either side. Each has curly forked antlers, big round eyes and a round nose, and low snow mounds run along the ground. The ribbons are huge open areas that take a blend of greens and purples well.

Reindeer Pair in Scarves Facing the Wind

An adult reindeer and a smaller calf stand side by side with their scarves streaming behind them in the wind. Three long curling gust lines and three six-armed snowflakes fill the sky, and both animals have curly antlers and round noses. The scarf ends are wide, simple shapes that suit a bold two-color pattern.

With the Herders

Reindeer Pulling a Child on a Sleigh

A smiling reindeer with a round nose and curly antlers trots forward in a harness with a round medallion, pulling a small sleigh. A laughing child in a pompom hat and long scarf sits inside, holding the reins, over a curved snowy ground line. The pompom and the scarf fringe are small areas, while the reindeer’s body is large and open.

Child and Reindeer at a Tent Camp

A smiling child in a pompom hat, scarf and mittens stands beside a young reindeer with a round nose and curly antlers. The reindeer is tied by a rope to a wooden post, and a tall pole tent rises behind them. The tent’s big triangular panels are open areas, while the hat and scarf are smaller sections.

Reindeer Herder with Dog and Three Reindeer

A bearded herder in a fur-trimmed coat and tall boots leans on a long staff while a fluffy husky-type dog guides three reindeer across a snowy tundra. A low sun, rolling hills and small spruce trees fill the background. The dog’s thick fur and the herder’s fur cuffs reward fine, careful strokes.

Cute Christmas Reindeer

Sitting Baby Reindeer in a Scarf

A baby reindeer sits upright on a snowy mound, facing forward with big shiny eyes, two small heart-tipped antlers and a wrapped scarf with fringe. Three six-armed snowflakes float around its head and the ground is marked by a few curved lines.

Boy Hanging Ornaments on Reindeer Antlers

A boy stands on tiptoe and reaches up to a hanging bauble, beside a smiling young reindeer with a round nose. Two more round baubles, a star ornament and a large bow hang from the wide, branching antlers. The large, open shapes such as the bow and the baubles are easy to color.

Girl Teaching a Reindeer Calf to Ice Skate

A smiling girl in a pom-pom hat, scarf and mittens holds the hoof of a wobbly young reindeer, and both wear ice skates. The reindeer has a surprised round mouth, two curved antlers and a fluffy tail, with small motion lines beside its legs. The fur tufts on its chest are the finest detail on the sheet.

Reindeer Riding a Wooden Sled

A cheerful young reindeer with a big round nose and open smiling mouth crouches on a slatted wooden sled, gripping two rope handles with its front hooves. Its two branching antlers, one floppy ear and a tufted tail are drawn in clean, bold outlines.

Reindeer Calves Having a Snowball Fight

Two laughing young reindeer stand on snowy ground, one holding a snowball in both hooves while the other winks and has just thrown one, with motion lines trailing behind it. Three more snowballs sit in the foreground, and each reindeer has two branching antlers and a fluffy chest tuft.

Reindeer Calf Tangled in Gift Ribbon

A startled baby reindeer with wide eyes and a small round mouth sits on an oval mat, hugging a gift box. Long ribbon winds around its antlers, neck, hooves and the box, and one loose end dangles at the right. The overlapping ribbon loops make the lower half the most detailed part.

Baby Reindeer Popping Out of a Gift Box

A smiling baby reindeer with big shiny eyes peeks over the rim of a large gift box and rests both hooves on the edge. The tilted lid, topped with a ribbon bow, balances behind its two small antlers. The wide box sides are plain and open, so they suit large areas of color.

Reindeer in Christmas Sweater at Mirror

A smiling reindeer with a round nose stands with its hooves on its hips and admires itself in a tall oval standing mirror. The knit sweater has a ribbed collar and cuffs, a big snowflake and a row of three fir trees. The mirror shows the same scene flipped, and the sweater stripes suit alternating colors.

Reindeer Stacking Up to Hang a Door Wreath

One young reindeer stands on another’s back to hang a bow-topped wreath on a log cabin door. The wreath has five round berries, and the door has tall wooden planks, a round knob and a rounded frame. The log ends on both sides are large ovals, so they suit wide, even coats of color.

Reindeer Making a Snow Angel

Seen from above, a laughing baby reindeer with closed eyes and a round nose spreads its arms and legs wide to make a snow angel. Curved sweep lines mark the motion around each limb, and a fluffy chest tuft and a tidy belly oval sit at the center. The large, open shapes of the belly and limbs are easy to fill.

Reindeer with Two Chicks Nesting in Its Antlers

A young reindeer with big shiny eyes and a small smile stands full-length while two round chicks sit in a woven nest between its curved antlers. A tuft of fur tops its head, and a fluffy tail curls up at the back. The nest’s overlapping twig lines suit a few shades of brown.

Three Reindeer Playing Hide and Seek by a Fir Tree

Three cartoon reindeer play hide and seek around a tiered fir tree. One covers its eyes with both hooves, one steps along with a glancing look, and a third peeks out from behind the trunk with only antlers, an ear and part of its head showing. The tree has four scalloped branch layers on a short trunk.

Sleigh and Christmas Eve

Reindeer with Jingle Bell Collar

The sheet shows a close-up reindeer head with a big round nose, wide shiny eyes and two forked antlers. Four round jingle bells hang from a collar at its neck, with short shine lines around them. Bold, open outlines keep it easy for small hands to fill.

Santa’s Sleigh with Eight Reindeer

A laughing Santa in a pointed hat with a pompom holds the reins of a curly-runner sleigh. Eight young reindeer in four pairs gallop ahead, linked by harness lines with round buckles. Their antlers branch into rounded tips, and every reindeer has a smiling face.

Two Young Reindeer, One Leaping Over a Hill

A young reindeer stands on a grassy hilltop and looks up, mouth open, while a second one jumps through the air above it with its eyes squeezed shut in a laugh. Both have round noses, fluffy tails and antlers with curly, rounded tips, and the standing one has a tuft of fur on its chest.

Children Feeding Carrots to a Red-Nosed Reindeer

A girl with long hair and a small boy kneel at a doorstep with a plate of carrots and a bowl of water for a young reindeer. The reindeer has a big round nose, two forked antlers and a fluffy tail. The large, open shapes suit careful coloring.

Boy at Window of Snowy House with Hoof Prints

A smiling boy leans on the sill of an open window with two shuttered panels, under a snow-covered roof. Four pairs of hoof prints cross the roof toward a brick chimney with a snow cap. The arched plank door has a round knob and two snowy steps. Snow mounds sit at both corners.

Two Reindeer Watching the Christmas Star

Seen from behind, a large and a small reindeer sit side by side on a hill and gaze at an eight-pointed star. Below them, a village with a church spire, two small houses and round bushes sits among rolling hills. The wide, open shapes of the reindeer suit thick crayons, while the village asks for a finer pencil.

Reindeer Patterns

Reindeer Head Wreath with Holly

Six smiling reindeer heads form a ring with an empty middle, each with round nose, big eyes and its own antler shape: wide curved, thin branched, short forked. The bottom reindeer has bows on its antlers, and holly leaves with berry clusters sit between the heads.

Standing Reindeer Calf with Star and Snowflake Patterns

A smiling reindeer calf stands in three-quarter view with big round eyes, a round nose and a fluffy tuft of fur on its forehead. Stars and hearts fill both antlers, and the body carries two snowflakes, two hearts and a star. The large, open shapes are easy to fill with broad strokes.

Nordic Sweater Pattern with Reindeer and Fir Trees

Horizontal bands in the style of a knitted Nordic sweater: two rows of four trotting reindeer with round noses, separated by zigzag lines, a row of fir trees and eight-pointed stars. The pattern repeats from top to bottom, and the stars at the bottom are smaller than the ones above. Each reindeer has striped hoof cuffs that suit a different color on every leg.

Getting to Know Reindeers

One Species, Two Names

Reindeer and caribou are the same species, Rangifer tarandus. In Europe and Asia the animals are called reindeer, and in North America they are called caribou. Some North American caribou herds make yearly journeys that rank among the longest known migrations of any land mammal. On the way they cross wide rivers, because reindeer are good swimmers. Their coat is made of dense underwool and hollow guard hairs, which keep them warm and help them float.

Antlers, Hooves and Eyes

The reindeer is the only deer species in which the females regularly grow antlers too. A cow’s antlers are smaller and thinner. A bull’s are large, wide and many pointed. Both have two long, swept-back beams, and a flat, shovel-shaped tine reaches forward over the face. The antlers grow back every year. While they grow, they are covered in velvet (also called bast), a soft skin full of blood vessels that is rubbed off later.

The calendar matters if you want a true to life picture. Bulls shed their antlers after the fall rutting season, so in winter they stand with bare stubs. Cows keep theirs until after calving in spring. A reindeer with antlers in December is therefore usually a female or a young animal. Our sheet with the cow in antlers and the bull without shows exactly that.

The hooves are broad and work like snowshoes and shovels at once. In summer the pads are soft and spongy for the springy tundra ground. In winter they shrink, so the hard rim of the hoof bites into ice and snow. Many reindeer also make a clear clicking sound when they walk. A tendon slides over a bone in the foot, and the herd can hear each other even when it is hard to see. Their eyes change too. The reflective layer behind the retina is golden in summer and deep blue in the dark winter, which helps in dim light. Reindeer can even see ultraviolet light.

Lichen, Calves, Herders and Santa’s Team

The main winter food is reindeer lichen (Cladonia rangiferina). Despite its other name, “reindeer moss,” it is a lichen and not a moss. Reindeer paw it free from under the snow. Calves are born in late spring and usually stand on their long legs after about an hour.

In northern Scandinavia, Finland and Russia, people have kept reindeer for centuries, among them the Sami. Tamed reindeer there traditionally pull sleds. The flying team of Santa Claus comes from the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (1823), also known as “The Night Before Christmas.” Eight reindeer pull the sleigh: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen. Early versions spelled the last two “Dunder” and “Blixem.”

Printing and Coloring Tips

Standard copy paper works well for crayons and colored pencils. For markers, gel pens or watercolor, use heavier paper or cardstock so the color does not bleed through. The PDFs are made for A4. If you print on US Letter, choose “Fit to page” in the print dialog so nothing is cut off at the edges. Otherwise print at actual size (100 percent). Do a quick preview first, and use the black and white or draft setting to save ink, since the outlines are already dark.

Choose the sheet by age and patience:

• Toddlers and preschoolers: the very easy outlines with a single reindeer, thick lines and plenty of empty space. Chunky crayons are the best tool.
• Early elementary: cute Christmas reindeer with scarves and bows, and simple herd scenes. Colored pencils and markers both work well here.
• Older kids, teens and adults: detailed tundra scenes, herders with sleds and the pattern sheets. Fine liners, gel pens and blending pencils bring out the fur and antler detail.

For a natural look, start with the lightest colors and add darker shades on top. Leave the neck, belly and rump lighter than the back, and shade the antlers from the base toward the tips.

Ideas for Your Finished Sheets

• Winter wildlife poster: hang the cow with antlers next to the bull without them and add a short caption that explains why. It makes a nice display for a classroom or a child’s room.
• Tundra scene: color the lichen digging sheet and the herd on the snow, then add a watercolor wash of pale blue and gray sky behind them.
• Christmas cards and gift tags: cut out small cute reindeer, glue them to folded cardstock and add a message inside.
• Santa’s team garland: color the sleigh-pulling reindeer, write one of the eight names from the poem on each, and string them across a mantel or window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these reindeer coloring pages really free?

Yes. Click any picture to open the PDF, then print it as often as you like for home use. You do not need to sign up for anything.

What age are the sheets for?

There is something for every age. The very easy outlines suit toddlers and preschoolers. The cute Christmas reindeer suit early elementary kids. The detailed tundra scenes and patterns suit older children, teens and adults who enjoy a longer project.

Which colors are correct for a real reindeer?

Use brown to gray brown for the body, with a cream white neck and a lighter belly and rump. Domestic reindeer are often paler, and some are almost white. Antlers in velvet are brown and soft looking. Once the velvet is rubbed off, they are light beige to brown. The Christmas reindeer may wear brightly colored scarves, sweaters and bows, but keep the nose dark.

Is a reindeer the same as a caribou?

Yes, they are the same species. People in Europe and Asia say reindeer, and people in North America say caribou. Domesticated herds in northern Europe are usually called reindeer, and wild herds in Canada and Alaska are usually called caribou.

Why do some reindeer have antlers in winter and others do not?

Bulls drop their antlers after the fall rut, while cows keep theirs until after the calves are born in spring. In December, a reindeer with antlers is usually a female or a young animal. That is why the winter pictures show the cow with antlers and the bull without.

Can I use the sheets in a classroom?

Yes. Teachers can print copies for a class, a library hour or a holiday activity. The sheets fit well with lessons on Arctic animals, migration or winter holidays. The facts above, such as antlers on both sexes and lichen as winter food, make good discussion starters.

Matthew Matthysen( Drawing and Painting Artist )

Matthew Matthysen is an educated multidisciplinary artist and illustrator. He successfully completed his art degree at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, majoring in art history and contemporary drawing. The focus of his thesis was to explore the philosophical implications of the macro and micro-universe on the human experience. Matthew uses diverse media, such as written and hands-on components, to explore various approaches that are on the border between philosophy and science.

Matthew organized various exhibitions before and during his years as a student and is still passionate about doing so today. He currently works as a freelance artist and writer in various fields. He also has a permanent position at a renowned online gallery (ArtGazette) where he produces various works on commission. As a freelance artist, he creates several series and successfully sells them to galleries and collectors. He loves to use his work and skills in various fields of interest.

Matthew has been creating drawing and painting tutorials since the relaunch in 2020. Through his involvement with artincontext.org, he has been able to deepen his knowledge of various painting mediums. For example, watercolor techniques, calligraphy and lately digital drawing, which is becoming more and more popular.

Learn more about Matthew Matthysen and the Art in Context Team.