59 Free Monkey Coloring Pages (Print & Download)
Published on August 28, 2025

Monkey Coloring Pages: Unleash Your Inner Artist with Our Jungle Friends!

Welcome to the wonderfully wild world of Monkey Coloring Pages! If you're looking for an activity that combines creativity, learning, and a whole lot of fun, you've stumbled upon the perfect place. Monkeys, with their playful antics, curious expressions, and incredible diversity, make for fantastic subjects for coloring. Whether you're a parent seeking engaging activities for your little ones, an educator looking for new resources, or an adult searching for a relaxing way to unwind, these pages offer a delightful escape into the jungle. Grab your crayons, markers, or pencils, and let's swing into action!

59 Free Monkey Coloring Pages to Print or Download

Benefits of Monkey Coloring Pages

Coloring is more than just a pastime; it's a powerful tool for development and relaxation. Monkey Coloring Pages, in particular, offer a range of unique advantages:

  • For Children:
    • Fine Motor Skills Development: Holding crayons and staying within lines helps children develop crucial fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity – essential for writing and other daily tasks.
    • Color Recognition and Creativity: Exploring different shades of brown, green, and even fantastical colors encourages children to recognize colors and express their unique artistic vision. They might learn that not all monkeys are brown; some have golden fur, while others are black!
    • Animal Recognition and Learning: As they color, kids become familiar with different monkey species, their unique features (like long tails, different facial structures, or varied sizes), fostering an early appreciation for wildlife and biodiversity. For more animal-themed fun, check out our animal coloring pages collection.
    • Focus and Patience: Completing a coloring page requires concentration and can help extend a child's attention span, teaching them the value of patience and seeing a task through to completion.
    • Stress Reduction: Even for children, the rhythmic act of coloring can be calming, providing a quiet moment for self-expression and emotional regulation.

  • For Adults:
    • Stress Relief and Mindfulness: Coloring offers a meditative escape from daily pressures. Focusing on the intricate details of a monkey's fur or the surrounding jungle can quiet a busy mind, promoting a sense of calm and mindfulness. Our adult coloring pages are specifically designed for this purpose.
    • Creative Outlet: For many adults, coloring pages provide an accessible way to engage in artistic expression without the pressure of drawing from scratch. It's a wonderful way to rekindle a childhood passion or discover a new hobby.
    • Improved Focus: The concentration required for detailed coloring can enhance cognitive function and improve focus, similar to how puzzles or meditation can sharpen the mind.
    • Nostalgia and Connection: There's a wonderful sense of nostalgia in returning to coloring, connecting adults back to simpler times and offering a gentle, rewarding activity.

As an expert who has seen countless individuals benefit from coloring, I've noticed that the playful nature of monkeys on these pages often brings out a unique sense of joy and relaxation, making them particularly effective for unwinding.

Craft Ideas for Monkey Coloring Pages

Once your Monkey Coloring Pages are bursting with color, don't just put them away! Transform them into exciting crafts and activities. Here are some creative ways to give your masterpieces a second life:

  • DIY Bookmarks: Cut out a colored monkey character and glue it onto a strip of cardstock. Laminate or cover with clear tape for durability. Perfect for marking your place in your favorite adventure book!
  • Greeting Cards: Fold a piece of cardstock in half. Cut out a favorite colored monkey and glue it onto the front. Add a simple message inside for birthdays, thank-yous, or just to brighten someone's day. "Swinging by to say hi!"
  • Wall Art or Room Decor: Frame your completed pages or mount them on colorful construction paper to create an instant gallery wall in a child's bedroom or play area. You can even cut out several monkeys and string them together to create a playful garland.
  • Handmade Gifts: Turn a beautifully colored page into the cover of a handmade journal or a personalized gift tag for a present. A monkey-themed gift for an animal lover is always a hit!
  • Educational Activities or Games:
    • Monkey Matching Game: Print two copies of several different monkey designs. Color them identically, cut them out, and glue them onto cardstock for a fun memory matching game.
    • Story Prompts: Use a colored monkey as a character inspiration. Ask children to tell a story about where the monkey lives, what it eats, or what adventures it goes on.
    • Fact Cards: After coloring, research a fact about that specific type of monkey and write it on the back of the colored page. These can be collected and shared.
    • Scrapbooks or Collages: Combine multiple colored monkey pages with other jungle-themed elements (leaves, vines, other animals) to create a vibrant scrapbook page or a large, collaborative wall collage. This is especially fun for groups.
  • Simple Craft Techniques:
    • Pop-Up Art: Cut out a monkey and use a small folded paper spring to make it pop out from the page for a 3D effect.
    • Glitter and Textures: Add glitter to highlights, cotton balls for fluffy fur, or textured paper behind the monkeys for an extra sensory experience.

My personal trick is to use slightly thicker paper (like 65lb cardstock) when printing the pages if I know they're going to be turned into crafts. It makes them much more durable and easier to work with.

Fun Facts About Monkey for Coloring Time

As you color, let's learn some fascinating facts about our primate pals. Sharing these tidbits can make coloring time even more engaging and educational! If you enjoy learning about animals while coloring, you might also love our cute animal coloring pages.

  • What's the Difference? Not all primates are monkeys! Monkeys usually have tails, while apes (like gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans) do not. Some monkeys have prehensile tails, which means they can use them like an extra hand to grab things or swing!
  • Old World vs. New World Monkeys: Monkeys are broadly divided into two groups. "New World monkeys" live in Central and South America and often have prehensile tails and side-facing nostrils. "Old World monkeys" live in Africa and Asia, have non-prehensile tails (or no tails at all), and downward-facing nostrils.
  • Banana Lovers? While monkeys do eat bananas, they also enjoy a varied diet of fruits, leaves, insects, flowers, and even small animals. In the wild, they typically eat wild bananas, which are much smaller and contain seeds, unlike the sweet, cultivated ones we enjoy.
  • Social Animals: Most monkeys are very social creatures, living in groups called "troops." They communicate through various sounds, facial expressions, and body language. Some species even groom each other to strengthen their bonds.
  • Amazing Swings: Many arboreal (tree-dwelling) monkeys are incredible acrobats, swinging through the trees with remarkable agility. This is called brachiation. Imagine coloring a monkey mid-swing – how dynamic!
  • Diverse Species: There are over 260 known species of monkeys, ranging in size from the tiny Pygmy Marmoset (which can fit in your hand!) to the large Mandrill. Think about what kind of monkey you're coloring – is it a playful capuchin, a majestic howler, or a brightly colored mandrill?
  • Colorful Faces: Some monkeys, like the Mandrill, have incredibly vibrant facial markings that can include bright blues, reds, and purples. This is a great opportunity to use a wild palette when coloring!

During my own coloring sessions, I love to put on a nature documentary about monkeys. It adds an immersive element to the activity, making the facts come alive!

What are the best colors to use for coloring a Monkey Coloring Page

Choosing colors for your Monkey Coloring Pages can be an exciting part of the creative process. While there are no strict rules, here are some ideas to help you get started and make your monkey truly stand out:

  • Natural Tones for Fur:
    • Browns: A variety of browns are essential. Think light beige, tan, medium brown, reddish-brown (like a marmoset), and dark brown. Using different shades adds depth and realism to the fur.
    • Grays/Blacks: Some monkeys, like certain macaques or colobus monkeys, have gray or black fur. Don't be afraid to use charcoal gray or deep black for dramatic effect.
    • Golden/Cream: For species like golden lion tamarins or some spider monkeys, golden yellow or creamy white hues can be beautiful.
    • Layering: For a realistic fur texture, start with a lighter base color, then layer darker browns or grays on top in short, feathery strokes to mimic individual hairs.

  • Facial Features and Skin:
    • Skin Tones: For exposed skin on faces, hands, and feet, consider light pinks, peaches, or very light browns, depending on the monkey species.
    • Vibrant Accents: If your page features a Mandrill, unleash bold blues, reds, and even purples for their striking facial and backside markings.

  • Background and Environment:
    • Greens: Lush greens are perfect for jungle foliage. Use a mix of light lime green, emerald green, and deep forest green for leaves, vines, and trees.
    • Blues: Sky blue or a deeper cerulean can be used for the sky peeking through the canopy or for water elements.
    • Browns/Greys: Tree trunks and branches can be colored with various browns and grays.
    • Yellows/Oranges: For a sunny jungle feel or to add ripe fruit to the scene.

  • Creative Freedom:
    • Fantasy Colors: Don't limit yourself to realistic colors! If you want a rainbow monkey or a blue monkey, go for it! Coloring is about imagination. You might enjoy our rainbow coloring pages for more colorful inspiration.
    • Shading and Highlights: Use a slightly darker shade of a color to add shadows under limbs or where fur overlaps, and a lighter shade or white for highlights where light would hit. This adds a fantastic 3D effect.

My advice is to experiment! Try out different color combinations on a scrap piece of paper first, especially if you're aiming for a specific look.

How to Print and Use Monkey Coloring Pages

Getting your Monkey Coloring Pages from your screen to your hands is simple. Here's how to ensure the best printing and coloring experience:

  1. Downloading Your Pages: Most coloring pages online are available as PDF or JPG files. PDF is generally preferred for printing as it maintains resolution and sizing well. Once you've found a design you like, click the download button. For a wide variety of options, browse our printable coloring pages collection.
  2. Choosing the Right Paper:
  • Standard Printer Paper (20-24lb): This is perfectly fine for casual coloring with crayons or colored pencils. It's affordable and widely available.
  • Cardstock (65-110lb): If you plan to use markers (which can bleed through thinner paper), watercolors, or want to turn your page into a craft project, cardstock is an excellent choice. It's thicker, more durable, and prevents colors from soaking through.
  • Specialty Paper: For really vibrant results with specific mediums, you could try drawing paper (for colored pencils) or watercolor paper (for watercolor paints), though these are usually more expensive.

Printer Settings:

  • "Fit to Page" or "Printable Area": Always select this option in your printer settings. This ensures the entire design prints without getting cut off, regardless of your paper size.
  • "Grayscale" vs. "Color": For black and white line art, "grayscale" is usually sufficient and might save on color ink. If the page has faint gray lines or hints of color, "color" mode might provide a slightly clearer print.
  • Quality Settings: For best results, choose a "Normal" or "High" quality setting. "Draft" mode might print too lightly.

Appropriate Coloring Tools:

  • Crayons: Ideal for young children due to their ease of use, non-toxic nature, and ability to cover large areas quickly.
  • Colored Pencils: Offer more control for intricate details, blending, and layering colors for texture. They're great for both kids and adults.
  • Markers: Provide vibrant, bold colors and smooth coverage. Opt for washable markers for younger children. Be mindful of bleed-through on thinner paper.
  • Gel Pens: Excellent for adding sparkly details or outlining specific elements.
  • Watercolors or Watercolor Pencils: For a more artistic approach, these can create beautiful, soft washes of color. Use thicker paper to prevent warping.

Before you begin, I always recommend making a test print, especially if it's an important project or you're trying new paper. This ensures everything looks right before you use up valuable ink and paper.

Frequently Asked Questions About Monkey Coloring Pages

Here are some common questions you might have about using Monkey Coloring Pages:

Q1: What age group are these coloring pages suitable for? A1: Monkey Coloring Pages are incredibly versatile!

  • Toddlers (2-4 years): Look for simpler designs with large, open areas for easy coloring, like a cartoon monkey face or a very basic monkey shape.
  • Preschoolers (4-6 years): They can handle slightly more detail, perhaps a monkey swinging on a single vine. Our preschool coloring pages are perfect for this age group.
  • School-Aged Children (7-12+ years): More intricate designs with detailed fur, jungle backgrounds, or multiple monkeys interacting are perfect for this age group.
  • Adults: Many complex "adult coloring book" style monkey pages exist, offering intricate patterns and detailed realistic depictions for stress relief and mindfulness.

Q2: What's the best resolution for printing these pages?

  • A2: For optimal print quality, aim for images that are at least 300 DPI (dots per inch). Most downloadable PDF coloring pages are already optimized for good print resolution. If you're printing a JPG from a website, ensure it's a large file size to avoid pixelation.

Q3: Can I use these coloring pages for commercial purposes or in a classroom setting?

  • A3: Generally, downloaded coloring pages are for personal and non-commercial use only. This means you can print as many copies as you like for your family, friends, or a classroom, but you cannot sell the colored pages, the uncolored designs, or use them in products you intend to sell. Always check the specific usage rights or terms of use provided by the website or artist where you downloaded the pages. If no explicit permission is given for commercial use, assume it's for personal use only.

Q4: I'm having trouble printing. What should I do?

  • A4:
  • Check Ink Levels: The most common issue! Ensure your printer has enough ink for all colors, even if you're printing in grayscale, as many printers require all cartridges to be present and functional.
  • Printer Connection: Make sure your printer is properly connected to your computer (USB or Wi-Fi).
  • Paper Jam: Check for any paper jams.
  • Printer Driver: Ensure your printer driver software is up to date. You can usually find updates on your printer manufacturer's website.
  • File Type: Try printing a different file type if available (e.g., if you have a JPG, see if a PDF version is available, or vice versa).

Share this Coloring Page

Create Unique Coloring Pages with Your Words

What would you like to create in seconds?

About the Author

Written by the AI Colouring Page team.