Mermaid Coloring Pages
Half human, half fish and completely at home in the sea, mermaids have been part of sailors' stories for thousands of years. These free mermaid coloring pages include a mermaid resting on a rock, a mermaid swimming with dolphins, a merfolk family, an underwater castle and a close-up tail covered in scales. Every mermaid here is an original character, with different hairstyles and faces so each child can find one that feels like theirs.
New mermaids coloring pages are on the way. Check back soon!
Mermaid coloring pages you can print
- Mermaid on a rock: the classic pose, with waves breaking and seabirds overhead
- Swimming mermaid: gliding beside dolphins, sea turtles or a school of fish
- Baby mermaid: a small merchild with a short tail and a starfish in her hair
- Merman and merfolk family: parents and children together, because the sea has mermen too
- Underwater castle: towers of coral and shell with seaweed gardens
- Mermaid tail: a close-up of fins and scales for pattern practice
- Mermaid and treasure: an open chest, pearls and a sunken ship in the background
Mermaid legends and tail coloring tips
Mermaid stories are told all around the world, from ancient Syria to West Africa to Japan. The word comes from the old English mere, meaning sea, and maid. In 1493 a famous explorer wrote in his ship's log that he had seen three mermaids in the Caribbean and that they were less beautiful than the paintings. He was almost certainly looking at manatees. Scientists later named the manatee's animal group Sirenia, after the sirens of legend. Scottish and Irish folklore also has selkies, seals that shed their skins to walk on land as people.
The tail is the best part. Choose two or three colors that sit near each other, such as teal, blue and purple, and let them fade into one another from the waist to the fins. Color each scale with a small curved stroke, and leave a sliver of white on some for shine. Metallic or glitter gel pens over the top make the tail shimmer. Give each mermaid her own skin tone and hair color, since no rule says what a mermaid looks like. For water, light strokes of blue and green are enough.
Frequently asked questions
Are these mermaid coloring pages free?
Yes. All mermaid coloring pages are free to download and print for personal and classroom use.
What colors do I need for a mermaid tail?
Teal, turquoise, purple and pink are favorites, but any pair of colors that blend well will do. Try green into gold, or pink into orange for a sunset tail.
Do you have easy mermaid coloring pages for young kids?
Yes. The smiling mermaid with a starfish, the baby mermaid in a shell and the mermaid waving from a wave are Easy pages with large scales and few small details.
Are mermaids real?
No. They come from legends and stories. The sightings sailors reported were probably manatees, dugongs or seals seen from a distance.