Print a complete Quarto-style set on two sheets: a 4×4 board and 16 cut-out pieces. Both are free, fit A4 and US Letter at 100% scale, and work in black and white. Each piece shows its four traits as a picture (size, fill, corners, ring) and in words, so no one has to guess which piece is which. Cut, glue to card if you like, and play.
About us: we make Quads, a game built on the same mechanic as Quarto. These sheets are our own drawings, free to print and share. Quarto itself is a game by Gigamic, and we're not affiliated with them.
Sheet 1: the board
Sheet 2: the pieces
How to print and make it
- Download both sheets and print them at 100% scale ("actual size", not "fit to page"). The board prints 19 cm square and each piece box is 4.4 by 5.4 cm. In a hurry? Your browser's print button on this page prints just the two sheets, scaled to the width of your paper.
- Use thick paper or card if you can. On plain paper, glue the pieces sheet to a cereal box before cutting.
- Cut along the dashed lines to get 16 square tiles, one piece each.
- Optional: colour the dark pieces with a marker if your printer is low on ink. The words under each piece still tell you its traits.
Want something sturdier? Our guide to making a Quarto set from paper, blocks or bottle caps has three methods and a checklist.
Reading the pieces
Real Quarto pieces stand up, so you can see their height and whether the top is hollow. A flat sheet has to show the same four traits from above. We use the same drawing rules as the Quads app:
| Trait | On the printed piece | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Height: tall or short | Tall pieces are drawn bigger | tall, short |
| Colour: dark or light | Dark pieces are filled, light ones white | dark, light |
| Shape: square or round | Square or circle | square, round |
| Top: solid or hollow | Hollow pieces have a ring in the middle | hollow, solid |
Each trait appears on exactly 8 of the 16 pieces, and no two pieces are the same. The full chart of the 16 pieces lists every combination.
How to play
- Put all 16 pieces next to the board. They belong to both players.
- The first player chooses a piece and hands it to the second player.
- Place the piece you were handed on any empty cell, then choose a piece for your opponent.
- Whoever places the fourth piece of a row, column or diagonal whose four pieces share a trait wins, for example four tall pieces or four hollow ones. Agree before you start whether 2×2 squares also count. In Quads they always do.
- If the board fills with no winner, it's a draw.
The complete rules have diagrams. When you're ready for a challenge, try our 12 Quarto puzzles, or play against the computer in the free browser version.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print a Quarto board?
Yes. The board on this page prints 19 cm square on A4 or US Letter at 100% scale, and the pieces sheet holds all 16 pieces to cut out.
Do I need a colour printer?
No. Dark pieces are filled in, light ones are white, and every piece has its four traits written underneath.
How do you show tall and hollow pieces on paper?
Tall pieces are drawn bigger than short ones, and hollow pieces have a ring in the middle, the same way the Quads app draws them.