Free Garfield Coloring Pages: 48 printable PDF designs featuring the lazy, lasagna-loving cat and his friends. Each page can be downloaded as a PDF to print or colored online in the browser.
Garfield first appeared in newspapers on June 19, 1978, created by cartoonist Jim Davis and named after his own grandfather. What began as a strip running in just 41 U.S. newspapers grew into a genuine record holder: Guinness World Records recognizes Garfield as the most widely syndicated comic strip in the world, appearing in more than 2,000 newspapers and read by an estimated 200 million people. The character built that popularity on a simple, relatable formula: an orange tabby cat defined by his laziness, his love of lasagna, and his open hatred of Mondays, living alongside his owner Jon Arbuckle and their dog Odie. This Garfield Coloring Pages collection covers that world, from quiet everyday moments to seasonal and costume scenes.
The set spans 48 designs, ranging from simple solo portraits to more detailed scenes with Odie, Jon, and other characters.
What Is Inside This Collection
The 48 pages fall into four recurring groupings.
Garfield’s Everyday Moments
A large number of designs capture Garfield in a familiar, low-key moment, lounging, eating, or thinking. These pages lean into the character’s laid-back personality that defines much of the original comic strip.
Garfield with Odie and Friends
A group of designs pairs Garfield with other characters from the strip, including Odie, Jon Arbuckle, and his toy Pooky. These scenes capture the relationships that drive much of the comic’s humor.
Seasonal and Themed Garfield
Some designs place Garfield in a specific holiday or costume setting, including Christmas, Thanksgiving, and a pirate scene. These pages give colorists a chance to work with a more specific seasonal palette.
Simple Outlines for Younger Colorists
A number of pages use a bold, large outline with minimal detail. These suit younger colorists who are still building control over a crayon or marker.
What Garfield Coloring Pages Do
Fine motor development. The American Academy of Pediatrics identifies fine motor skill development as a core benefit of structured coloring for children ages 2 through 7, and the mix of simple solo portraits and more detailed scenes in this set lets a child progress as their control improves.
A concrete connection to real comic strip history. Because Garfield holds an actual, documented place in publishing history as the world’s most widely syndicated comic strip, coloring his page gives fans a hands-on way to engage with that history alongside the character’s personality.
Calm, familiar focus. A 2005 study in the Art Therapy Journal documented measurable reductions in anxiety following structured coloring sessions. This benefit fits naturally into a relaxed coloring session built around a character famous for his own laid-back attitude.
A shared source of humor across generations. Because Garfield’s jokes about Mondays and food have stayed relevant across decades of newspapers, these pages give families a character both kids and adults can recognize and talk about together.
How to Color Garfield Pages Well
- Fur: A warm Sunglow Orange base with darker Burnt Orange stripes captures Garfield’s classic tabby pattern.
- Odie: A soft Cream or Tan base works well, with a lighter shade around the muzzle and ears.
- Facial expressions: Keep eyebrows and mouth lines bold and dark so Garfield’s trademark smirks and unimpressed looks stay clearly readable.
- Pooky: A muted Tan or Brown suits his stuffed teddy bear, with a slightly darker shade for the stitched details.
- Seasonal scenes: Classic Scarlet Red and Forest Green work for Christmas designs, while warm Burnt Orange and Sunglow Yellow suit Thanksgiving scenes.
- Backgrounds: Keep household backgrounds, like furniture or kitchen counters, in muted tones so Garfield’s bright orange fur stays the clear focal point of the page.
5 Creative Craft Ideas With Garfield Coloring Pages
1. Lasagna Lover’s Card
Color a Garfield page featuring food, cut it out, and glue it onto a folded piece of cardstock to make a card, playing on his famous love of lasagna. Writing a food-themed pun or joke inside personalizes the card for a specific friend or family member. This works well as a lighthearted birthday or thank-you card.
2. Draw Your Own Comic Strip
Color a Garfield page and use it as the first panel of an original three or four-panel comic strip, drawing the rest yourself. Writing simple dialogue in speech bubbles turns the coloring page into a creative writing project. This works especially well as a classroom activity introducing kids to how comic strips are structured.
3. Monday Motivation Poster
Color a Garfield page and mount it on a poster board with a short, funny caption about Mondays, playing on the character’s famous dislike of the day. Hanging the finished poster near a calendar or desk gives it a daily, relatable joke. This works well as a lighthearted addition to a home office or classroom.
4. Framed Keepsake
Color a detailed Garfield scene, trim it, and mount it in a simple frame for a bedroom or playroom wall. A neutral-colored mat keeps the focus on the illustration itself. Swapping in a new design every so often keeps the display feeling fresh.
5. Garfield Bookmark
Trim a simple Garfield design to bookmark size and laminate or cover it with clear tape for a durable, everyday bookmark. Punching a hole at the top and threading a short ribbon through makes it easy to spot inside a stack of books. Making a small set with different designs gives a reader several to rotate through.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Garfield coloring pages?
They are printable illustrations of Garfield, the lazy, lasagna-loving comic strip cat, shown alone and alongside characters like Odie and Jon Arbuckle. This collection has 48 designs available as free PDF downloads or for coloring directly online.
Who created Garfield, and when did the comic strip begin?
Cartoonist Jim Davis created Garfield, and it first appeared in newspapers on June 19, 1978, running in just 41 U.S. newspapers at launch.
Is Garfield really the most widely syndicated comic strip in the world?
Yes. Guinness World Records recognizes Garfield as the most widely syndicated comic strip in the world, appearing in more than 2,000 newspapers and read by an estimated 200 million people.
Who are the other characters shown alongside Garfield?
The collection includes Odie, Garfield’s dog housemate, Jon Arbuckle, his owner, and Pooky, Garfield’s stuffed teddy bear.
What colors work best for these designs?
A warm, sunglow orange with darker burnt orange stripes suits Garfield’s classic tabby pattern, while soft cream or tan works well for Odie.
Are Garfield coloring pages suitable for young children?
Yes. The designs use friendly, non-graphic character art with no frightening content, making them appropriate for preschool through elementary-age children.
Can this collection be used for a classroom activity about comic strips?
Yes. Because Garfield has a well-documented publishing history, this collection pairs well with a classroom lesson on comic strips, syndication, or the history of newspaper cartoons.
Can this collection be paired with other classic cartoon collections?
Yes. Since this collection sits within the site’s broader classic and vintage cartoon content, these pages pair naturally with other classic cartoon coloring collections for a larger nostalgic coloring session.
Start Coloring
Download any page by clicking the design. No account, email, or payment is required. Pages print directly from the browser at full resolution or open in the online coloring tool for screen use. Share finished pages on Facebook or Pinterest with the share buttons at the top of each design page.
