Printable graph paper axes (x and y axis)
Graph paper is used to plot different points for mathematical equations (Khan Academy has a great video on how to find each point on the graph). While you can draw the graph yourself, it makes it so much easier to have one that you can just print out!
Want to download the above graph paper as a PDF? Click here.
Traditional graph paper has an X axis and a Y axis. This refers to the two lines you see on the image above. The X axis runs left to right, and the Y axis runs top to bottom.
Want to download the above graph paper as a PDF? Click here.
To tell someone where a point is in the graph, you write its location (X, Y). This gives the number of spaces from the center on the X axis, and the number of spaces from the center on the Y axis. The point is located at the intersection of those values.
To download the above graph paper as a PDF, click here.
Each quarter (or quadrant) of the graph has a positive or negative X value, and a positive or negative Y value. Many simple equations only deal with the top right quadrant, which is where all values are positive.
Top Right: (+, +)
Top Left: (-, +)
Bottom Right: (+, -)
Bottom Left: (-,-)
To download the above image as a PDF, click here.
If you need more information on how to plot points on an X/Y graph, check out this post.
Do you want a different size of graph? Check out this post. We also have polar graph paper, with explanations of how it works!

Elizabeth Hampson is a freelance artist, graphic designer, and copywriter living in Edinburgh. Elizabeth received her Masters Degree at University of Edinburgh, She decided to stay in the Edinburgh, where she lives with her cat.
Elizabeth enjoys trying out new techniques and media in design and has enjoyed working with PrinterFriend.ly. Her media of choice is papercutting art, and quarantine forced her hand into starting a business selling her pieces. Check out Elizabeth’s full author bio profile here.