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Graffiti Alphabet

The graffiti alphabet is a set of bold, connected letters that are deliberately distorted so they look fast, large and hard to copy. This page gives an A to Z reference, explains how graffiti letters are built in layers, and tells tags, throw-ups, pieces and wildstyle apart before you draw your own.

Graffiti tag alphabet

Rendered in the Sedgwick Ave Display typeface (an open-source font, not hand-drawn). Loose, fast marker-tag handwriting

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Marker alphabet

Rendered in the Permanent Marker typeface (an open-source font, not hand-drawn). A cleaner, more legible marker hand

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By Maya Chen, lettering designer and type educator · Checked by Jordan Hale · · How we review content

Key facts

  • Graffiti letters are bold, connected and deliberately distorted: they touch and overlap, proportions are pushed, and the outline matters as much as the fill.
  • The A to Z sheet is set in Sedgwick Ave Display and Permanent Marker, both open-source typefaces, so it is a reference to trace and not real street lettering.
  • Every graffiti letter is built in layers: skeleton, bar, outline, fill, highlight and shadow, then connectors such as arrows, tails and spikes.
  • The four main styles are tag (a quick signature), throw-up (round, usually two colours), piece (a planned multi-colour work) and wildstyle (twisted, interlocked letters).
  • Wildstyle is the hardest style because every letter is bent and interlocked, so beginners should start with a throw-up or a bubble-style piece.
  • Unicode has no true graffiti style, so the closest copy-and-paste options are gothic, bold and bubble text.

What makes a letter look like graffiti?

Graffiti lettering began as a way to be seen: names written fast, large and in a way that nobody else could copy easily. That purpose still shapes the letters. Strokes are thick, edges are exaggerated, and letters lean into one another instead of standing apart. Three habits separate graffiti from ordinary display lettering:

  • Letters touch and overlap. A tail from one letter tucks under the next, or two letters share a stroke.
  • Proportions are pushed. A tall T, a swollen O, or an A with a crossbar that sweeps out past the stems.
  • The outline matters as much as the fill. Most pieces have a bold outer line, an inner highlight and a shadow.

The graffiti alphabet from A to Z

The alphabet on this page is rendered in Sedgwick Ave Display, an open-source typeface modelled on marker handwriting, with Permanent Marker shown beside it for a heavier look. They are fonts, not hand-drawn graffiti, and we say so deliberately: a font repeats every letter exactly, while a writer varies each one. Use the sheet to study letter skeletons and spacing, then trace or redraw them in your own hand.

Where should I start?

  • New to the style? Start with a throw-up, built from the same rounded shapes as bubble letters, before attempting wildstyle.
  • Want a word as an image? Try the graffiti generator, which previews a name in graffiti-style display fonts and downloads a PNG.
  • Want to draw by hand? Follow the graffiti drawing guide.

What are the layers of a graffiti letter?

Every graffiti letter, however wild, is built from the same layers. Learning to see them is the quickest way to improve.

Layer What it is What to watch
Skeleton The thin single-line version of the letter Get the spacing and slant right here, before anything is thickened
Bar The skeleton thickened to full stroke width Keep thickness even; thin spots look weak
Outline The bold line drawn round the bar Leave the same gap all the way round
Fill The colour or pattern inside Keep it simple until the shapes are solid
Highlight and shadow A light streak and a dark offset Put the light source on one side and stay consistent
Connectors Arrows, tails, spikes, crowns Add them last, and only where they strengthen the shape

What are the main graffiti styles?

Tag

A stylised signature written in one fast motion. Letters are simplified, often joined, with a flourish at the end. It is the base layer of everything else.

Throw-up

Often called a throwie. Round, bubble-like letters with a thick outline and a quick fill, usually in two colours. If you have drawn bubble letters, you already know most of the construction.

Piece

Short for masterpiece. A full, planned work with a sketch behind it, several colours, highlights, shadows and background. The letters are still readable, and the effort goes into polish.

Wildstyle

Letters are twisted, interlocked and extended with arrows and spikes until they are hard for outsiders to read. It is the most technical style, built on a solid knowledge of how normal letters work.

Do graffiti letters have to be readable?

Graffiti plays with legibility on purpose, but the best pieces still hold together. When you draw a word, check three things: whether the first and last letters can be read on their own, whether each letter has a distinct silhouette, and whether the space inside counters (the holes in A, B, O) is still open. If any of these fail, simplify the connectors before you add more detail.

How do I draw, generate or copy graffiti letters?

To draw your own, follow how to draw graffiti letters, which walks through skeleton, bar, outline and fill. To put a word on an image, such as a banner, a wallpaper or a thumbnail, the lettering image maker renders text in several display fonts you can download as a picture. If you only want a graffiti-looking line of text to paste into a bio, remember that Unicode has no true graffiti style; the closest options are the gothic and bold styles and the bubble text generator. Once the graffiti alphabet feels familiar, what is lettering shows how graffiti, block, bubble and script styles relate.

Frequently asked questions

Basics

Are the graffiti letters on this page hand-drawn?
No. The A to Z sheet is rendered in Sedgwick Ave Display, an open-source typeface based on a marker hand, and in Permanent Marker. Real graffiti is painted by hand and no two letters match. Treat the sheet as a clean reference for proportions and as a starting point to trace, not as authentic street lettering.
What is the difference between a tag and a throw-up?
A tag is a quick stylised signature, usually one colour and a few seconds of work. A throw-up is bigger and rounder: usually two colours, an outline plus a quick fill, with bubble-like letters. A tag shows who you are; a throw-up covers more surface in less time than a full piece.
What is the graffiti alphabet?
The graffiti alphabet is the 26 letters drawn in graffiti style: thick strokes, exaggerated edges, letters that touch or overlap, and a bold outline with highlight and shadow. There is no single official alphabet, because every writer has a personal version. The sheet on this page is a clean reference to study and trace.
What does a piece mean in graffiti?
A piece, short for masterpiece, is a full, planned work with a sketch behind it, several colours, highlights, shadows and a background. The letters are still readable, and the effort goes into polish. It sits between a quick throw-up and the twisted, hard-to-read wildstyle.

Where it works

Can I use these letters for a logo or poster?
Check the licence of the typeface first. Sedgwick Ave Display and Permanent Marker are published under open licences that generally allow commercial use, but you should read the licence text for your own project. If you want something unique to you, draw the letters yourself using the guide linked on this page.
Can I copy and paste graffiti letters into a bio?
Not really. Unicode has no true graffiti style, so nothing pastes as graffiti. The nearest looks are the gothic and bold styles from the Old English text generator and the circled letters from the bubble text generator. For real graffiti letters, use a picture instead of text.

How it works

What tools do I need to start drawing graffiti letters?
A pencil, an eraser, a fine black pen and a marker or two are enough. Sketch the skeleton of the word first, then thicken it, outline it, and fill it. Use a sketchbook rather than loose paper so you can see your progress and compare early letters with later ones.
Can I turn my own word into graffiti letters?
Yes, as a picture. The graffiti generator previews a name or word in five graffiti-style display fonts and downloads a PNG you can use as a sketch or design base. The lettering image maker does the same with other fonts. Neither replaces hand-drawn lettering, so treat the result as a starting point.

Tips & limits

What is the easiest graffiti style for a beginner?
Start with a throw-up or a bubble-style piece. Both rely on simple rounded shapes and a thick outline, so you can focus on letter spacing and fill rather than on distorted structure. Wildstyle is the hardest because every letter is bent and interlocked, so leave it until your basic letters are even.
Why are graffiti letters hard to read?
Graffiti plays with legibility on purpose: letters overlap, bend and share strokes. The best pieces still hold together. Check that the first and last letters can be read alone, each letter has its own silhouette and the holes in A, B and O stay open. If not, simplify the connectors.
Which part of a graffiti letter should I draw first?
Start with the skeleton, the thin single-line version of the letter. Get the spacing and slant right there, before anything is thickened. Then thicken it into the bar, add the outline at an even distance, fill it, and put highlights, shadows and connectors on last, only where they strengthen the shape.