Free Printable Venn Diagram (2 and 3 Circle)
What is a Venn diagram?
A Venn diagram uses overlapping circles to compare two or three things, with differences in the outer parts and shared traits in the overlap. Students write one topic above each circle and fill in each part. It works for characters, texts, animals, historical events, number sets and more.
On this page:Free sheetDesignsWhat goes whereHow to use itFAQ
Print a blank Venn diagram now
Two blank, letter-size sheets: a two-circle Venn diagram and a three-circle Venn diagram, each with a line above every circle for the topic. Print either one free, right from this page.
Free downloads for educators coming soon
Venn diagram sheets · 2 pages (two-circle and three-circle) · US Letter (8.5 × 11 in)
Free to print and copy for classroom use · Free Use Terms
Venn diagram designs
Within each type, every design is a different look. Open any design to see it larger.
- Autumn Harvest
- Watercolour Edge Splashes
- Rainbow Ribbon Stripes
- Duotone Coral Teal
- Rainbow Ribbon Stripes
- Recording Studio
- Narrative Ink
- Bold Cut Paper
- Green Chalkboard Classic
- Train Track Lines
- Rainy City
- Laboratory Glass
- Recording Studio
- Alpine Glacier
- Quiet Linen
- Clockwork Workshop
- Geometric Blocks
- Cosmic Expedition
- Storybook Meadow
- Rainy City
- Spring Rain
- Thin Black Line
- Stone Courtyard
- Orchestral Stage
- Laboratory Glass
- Bead String Lines
- Clay Studio
- Colour Pop Plaques
- Woodland Trail
- Prairie Grasslands
- Dark Academia
- Civic Forum
- Bamboo Lines
- Storybook Meadow
- Washi Patch Frame
- Minimal Mono
- Whiteboard & Markers
- Architectural Drafting
- Stitched Thread Lines
- Leaf Vine Lines
- Editorial Grid
- Botanical Field Notes
- Coastal Tidepool
- Cork and Colour Pinboard
- Chalk Stroke
- Scalloped Bulletin Board
- Minimal Mono
- Tropical Canopy
- Cork and Colour Pinboard
- Printmaking Studio
- Bold Cut Paper
- Winter Birch
- Technical Blueprint
- Duotone Coral Teal
What goes where on a Venn diagram
Two-Set Venn Diagram
Compare two topics: show what is different in each and what they share.
LayoutTwo overlapping circles.
- Topic 1Write the topic above its circle, then what is true only of it, outside the overlap.
- Topic 2Write the second topic above its circle, then what is true only of it, outside the overlap.
TipWrite traits both topics share in the overlap. Ask students to give evidence for each trait.
Three-Set Venn Diagram
Compare three topics: what is unique to each, what two share, and what all three share.
LayoutThree overlapping circles.
- Topic 1Write the topic above its circle, then what is true only of it, outside the overlaps.
- Topic 2Write the second topic above its circle, then what is true only of it, outside the overlaps.
- Topic 3Write the third topic above its circle, then what is true only of it, outside the overlaps.
TipTraits shared by two topics go where those two circles overlap. Traits shared by all three go in the center.
Step by step
How do you use a Venn diagram?
- Before
Choose two things that share something but also differ, such as two animals, two characters or two kinds of numbers. For three things, use the three-circle sheet.
- Before
Write one topic on the line above each circle.
- During
Fill in the outer parts first. Traits that belong to only one topic go in that topic’s own part of its circle.
- During
Fill in the overlap. Traits that topics share go where their circles overlap.
- During
On a three-circle sheet, the center holds what all three share, and each two-way overlap holds what only those two share.
- After
Turn the diagram into a sentence: “X and Y are both ___, but X ___ while Y ___.”
What does a completed Venn diagram look like?
| Part of the diagram | What students write |
|---|---|
| Frogs only (left circle) |
|
| Toads only (right circle) |
|
| Both (the overlap) |
|
| Sentence | “Frogs and toads both hatch as tadpoles, but frogs have smooth, moist skin and toads have dry, bumpy skin.” |
In science, toads are a kind of frog; this example uses the everyday labels.3
Benefits
What is a Venn diagram used for? When should you use it?
It shows similarities and differences at a glance
Students see what is shared and what is not.
It builds compare-and-contrast writing
A filled-in diagram turns straight into sentences.
It works with words, pictures and numbers
Use it for characters, animals, time periods or number sets.
Use it when what two or three things share is the point. If you only need to list facts about each side, a T-chart is simpler. To compare many features in rows, try a compare-and-contrast chart.
Variations
What are the variations of the Venn diagram?
- Two circles compare two things.
- Three circles compare three things. The center is what all three share.
- Picture labels let younger students put an image or object in each circle.
- Math sets use circles for numbers or shapes with a given property, such as even numbers and multiples of three.
By grade
How do you use a Venn diagram in each grade band?
Grades K–2
Use two circles with real objects or pictures. Sort a few things together before students try it alone.
Grades 3–5
Add a sentence frame: “Both ___, but ___ while ___.” Compare two animals, or two versions of a tale.
Grades 6–8
Try three circles to compare three sources or characters, and ask for evidence in each part.
Grades 9–12
Compare arguments, historical periods or data sets, then require a written analysis of the overlap.
Compare
Venn diagram or T-chart: which should you use?
Use a Venn diagram when you want to see what two or three things share. Use a T-chart when you only need to list facts about each side by side.
| Feature | Venn diagram | T-chart |
|---|---|---|
| What it looks like | Two or three overlapping circles | Two columns under a T |
| Where things go | Unique traits in the outer parts, shared traits in the overlap | Facts about each topic in its own column |
| Best for | Finding what things share and how they differ | Listing and sorting: pros and cons, facts and opinions, before and after |
| Limits | Little room to write | Does not show what the two sides have in common |
Can you print a Venn diagram at 24×36?
Print it at 24×36. Any sheet here prints poster-size too. Printed poster-size, a Venn diagram becomes a class anchor chart everyone can see and add to throughout the unit. A school poster maker prints it for as low as $1.30 per 24×36 poster.
Questions
What do teachers ask about Venn diagrams?
How to create a 3 circle Venn diagram?
Draw three circles so that each one overlaps the other two, then label each circle with one topic. Write traits unique to one topic in the outer part of its circle, traits shared by exactly two topics in the overlap of those two circles, and traits shared by all three in the center. Or print the three-circle sheet above.
What are the four types of Venn diagrams?
There is no official list of four types of Venn diagrams. They are usually described by how many sets they show: two, three, four or more. Most classroom tasks use two or three circles.
Is there a Venn diagram template in Word?
Yes. Word can build a Venn diagram from SmartArt: on the Insert tab, choose SmartArt, then Relationship, then a Venn layout such as Basic Venn.1 You cannot type into the overlapping parts from the Text pane, so add text boxes there instead.1 Or print the sheet above and write on it.
What is better than a Venn diagram?
Nothing is better in every case: the right organizer depends on the task. A T-chart is faster for listing facts about each side. A compare-and-contrast chart handles many features in rows. A Venn diagram is best when the shared traits are the point.
How do I make a Venn diagram in Google Docs?
In Google Docs, choose Insert, then Drawing, then New, and use the editing tools to draw two or three circles and add text.2 The sheets on this page are also print-and-write: print one and fill it in by hand, or project one and fill it in together.
Sources
- Microsoft Support, “Create a Venn diagram” (applies to Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 and earlier versions): https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/create-a-venn-diagram-d746a2ce-ed61-47a7-93fe-7c101940839d
- Google Docs Editors Help, “Learn how to use drawings & markups” (Insert > Drawing > New, then insert shapes, lines or text with the editing tools): https://support.google.com/docs/answer/179740
- Frog and toad differences (skin, legs, eggs in clusters or long strings): Ohio State University, Ohio 4-H STEM, “Eco April’s: Freaky Frogs”: https://u.osu.edu/ohio4hstem/2021/04/23/freaky-frogs/ · both are amphibians, and toads are technically frogs: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, “Frogs and Toads in Tennessee”: https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/amphibians/frogs-and-toads.html · tadpole larvae and an insect diet: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, “Background for Teachers: Amazing Amphibians”: https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/resources/keep-texas-wild/amazing-amphibians/background-for-teachers