How to Draw a 3D Bus Step by Step
We will draw the front of the bus first (Steps 1–9), then zoom out and add the long body (Steps 10–16). Start your drawing on the right side of the page, because the body will stretch out to the left.
Step 1: Draw the Front Outline of the Bus
Draw a tall shape that is a little taller than it is wide. The left edge is almost straight. The top edge rises slightly toward the right and ends in a big, smooth curve. The right edge slopes outward as it goes down, then becomes straight near the bottom. Round off the bottom corners.
Tip: leave a small gap in the left edge near the top. A mirror will sit there in Step 3.
Step 2: Draw the Bottom of the Windshield
Just inside the left edge, draw a thin line running down from the gap. When it is a little more than halfway down, curve it to the right and continue across the front to the right edge. Add a small step in the line near the left and a gentle dip near the right.
Everything above this line is the big windshield. Everything below is the front panel.
Step 3: Add the Side Mirrors
Coach buses have tall mirrors that curve forward like rabbit ears. On the top-left, draw a small upside-down “U” over the gap. On the top-right, draw a long arm that reaches out to the right and hooks downward, like the handle of a walking cane.
Step 4: Draw the Mirror Glass
Under the left mirror, draw a small rounded rectangle hanging down. This is the mirror glass. On the right mirror, add one short line where the arm bends to show where the glass begins.
Step 5: Add the Roof Sign Band
Draw a curved line just under the top edge, then a straighter line a little lower. The space between them is where a real bus shows its route or destination. You can write your own destination here when you color it.
Step 6: Draw the Side Panel for a 3D Look
This is the step that turns a flat drawing into a 3D bus. From the top-left corner, draw a short line going left. Then draw a long line down, leaning very slightly outward. Finish with a short line at the bottom that joins the front’s bottom-left corner.
Tip: keep this panel narrow. If it gets too wide, the bus will look like it is turned too far.
Step 7: Add the Windshield Wipers
Draw two wipers resting on the bottom of the windshield. Each one is a slanted line with a short tick at the top end, like a tilted letter “T”. Also add a short horizontal line near the top of the side panel.
Step 8: Draw the Headlights and Bumper
Draw two small circles in the lower half of the front panel, one near each side. Under them, draw the bumper: a line that slopes down from the left, runs straight across, then slopes back up on the right.
Step 9: Draw the Front Grille
Between the headlights, draw a wide rounded rectangle that is slightly narrower at the bottom. The front of your bus is finished. Now it is time to give it a body.
Step 10: Extend the Roof to the Back of the Bus
In the picture we have zoomed out, so the front looks smaller. On your paper, nothing changes size. You simply need space on the left.
From the top of the side panel, draw a long line going left and gently downward. A bus is long, so make this line about two and a half times the width of the front. At the end, curve down slightly and draw a vertical line for the back of the bus.
Step 11: Draw the Bottom Edge and Wheel Arches
From the bottom of the rear edge, draw the bottom line of the bus back toward the front. Near the back, draw two small humps side by side for the double rear wheels. Closer to the front, draw one tall arch for the front wheel. Then join the line to the bottom of the side panel.
Tip: the bottom line should slope in the same direction as the roof line. If the two lines are not roughly parallel, the bus will look bent.
Step 12: Draw the Window and Body Lines
Draw three long lines from the back of the bus to the side panel:
- One just under the roof (the top of the windows)
- One about a third of the way down (the bottom of the windows)
- One lower down (a stripe on the body)
Step 13: Divide the Side Windows
Draw four lines across the window row to make separate windows. Lean every line slightly in the same direction. Windows closer to the front can be a little wider, which adds to the 3D effect.
Step 14: Draw the Wheels as Ovals
Draw two overlapping ovals inside the rear arches and one oval inside the front arch. Because the bus is turned, the wheels look like tall ovals, not circles.
Tip: keep the bottom of every wheel on the same slanted ground line.
Step 15: Add the Rims and Back Wheels
Draw a smaller oval inside each wheel for the rims. Under the front bumper, draw a half-circle. This is the front wheel on the far side of the bus, peeking out from underneath.
Step 16: Finish the Outline
Add a small half-wheel behind the rear wheels for the far side. Then trace all your final lines with a black marker. Wait a minute for the ink to dry, and erase any pencil lines that are left. Your 3D bus drawing is complete!
Step 17: Color Your Bus
Here are four color ideas:
- Coach bus: white body with a blue or red stripe, light blue windows, dark gray tires
- School bus: bright yellow body, black stripe, white or light blue windows
- London bus: classic red body with black windows — perfect if you later try a double-decker
- Truck-art style: go wild with bright patterns, flowers and borders, like the decorated buses of South Asia
Coloring tips: color the windows a light blue and leave a white diagonal streak on each one, which makes the glass look shiny. Make the tires darker than the rims so the wheels stand out.
Easy Bus Drawing for Kids (6 Steps)
Is the 3D bus too tricky for little hands? This simple side-view bus uses basic shapes that preschool and kindergarten kids can manage.
- Draw the body. Draw a long rectangle with rounded corners across the middle of the page.
- Add the front. On the right end, draw a small rectangle sticking out at the bottom for the hood.
- Draw the windows and door. Draw a row of squares near the top. Draw a tall rectangle near the front for the door.
- Add the wheels. Draw two circles at the bottom, one near the front and one near the back. Add a small circle inside each.
- Add the details. Draw a headlight on the front, a bumper line, and a stripe along the side.
- Color it. Yellow for a school bus, red for a city bus, or any color you like!
How to Draw a School Bus
A school bus is easy to draw from the kids’ version above. Make the body longer and boxier, give it a short hood at the front, and color it yellow with a black stripe. Add a small red stop sign on the side and the words “SCHOOL BUS” above the windows.
5 Common Mistakes When Drawing a Bus
- Drawing round wheels on a 3D bus. When a bus is turned, wheels become tall ovals. Perfect circles make it look flat.
- Making the roof and bottom lines go in different directions. These long lines should slope the same way. Otherwise the bus looks twisted.
- Uneven windows. Lean every window pillar in the same direction and keep the spacing similar.
- Making the body too short. A coach bus is long. Make the side at least two and a half times the width of the front.
- Pressing too hard at the start. Dark sketch lines are hard to erase. Sketch lightly and trace in black at the end.
How to Make Your Bus Look 3D
The secret is perspective: things that are farther away look smaller. In this drawing, the back of the bus is farther away than the front. That is why the roof line slopes down toward the back, and the rear edge is shorter than the front.
Try this: once you have finished, lay a ruler along the roof line and another along the bottom line. If you extend both lines to the left, they will slowly come closer together. Artists call the point where they would meet the vanishing point. You do not need to draw it, but knowing it is there helps every line point the right way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you draw a bus easily for kids?
Start with a long rectangle for the body and a small rectangle at one end for the front. Add square windows, a door and two circles for wheels. Finish with a headlight and a stripe, then color it. The easy 6-step version above takes about 10 minutes.
How do you draw a 3D bus?
Draw the front of the bus first as a tall box, then add a narrow side panel next to it. From that panel, draw long roof and bottom lines going back, both sloping the same way. Draw the wheels as ovals, not circles, to complete the 3D look.
How many wheels should I draw on a bus?
In a side or 3D view, you usually see one front wheel and two rear wheels on the near side. A coach bus often has double rear axles, so two rear wheels sit side by side. You can also show a small part of the far-side wheels underneath.
What color should I make my bus?
Any color works. School buses are usually yellow with a black stripe. City buses are often red, blue or green. Coach buses are commonly white with colored stripes. For a creative twist, try bright truck-art patterns.
How do you draw a school bus?
Draw a long, boxy body with a short hood at the front. Add a row of windows, a front door and two wheels. Color it yellow, add a black stripe, and write “SCHOOL BUS” above the windows. Our school bus tutorial has every step.
How long does it take to draw a bus?
The 16-step 3D bus takes about 25 minutes, including coloring. The easy kids’ version takes about 10 minutes. Take your time on the first few steps, because the front shape guides the rest of the drawing.
Can I print this bus drawing tutorial?
Yes. Our free PDF includes all the steps on one page, a tracing page and a coloring page. You can print it at home or in a classroom. No sign-up is needed.