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M in Graffiti Letters

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

Capital M
Lowercase m

Rendered in the Sedgwick Ave Display typeface, an open-source font. It is a reference shape, not a hand-drawn letter.

M is the widest letter in most graffiti alphabets after W, and its width is both a problem and an opportunity. Two posts and a V in the middle give it a built-in rhythm of up, down, up. In a tag the M becomes a pair of humps, in a throw-up a fat arch, in a piece a sharp zigzag. The key is giving the middle enough space that it still reads as an M after outlining.

Outline version to colour or trace

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How to draw a graffiti capital M

  1. 1Draw two leaning posts and a V in the middle that dips about two thirds of the way down.
  2. 2Decide the peaks: sharp tops for an aggressive zigzag or rounded tops for a bubbly arch.
  3. 3Thicken the posts and the V to the same weight, with the V's two strokes slightly thinner than the posts.
  4. 4Outline the body and keep the two triangular gaps on either side of the V open and equal in size.
  5. 5Tip the top of one post with an arrow, fill, highlight the left of each stroke and add a block along the right edge.

Tip: Start with the two triangular gaps, drawing them as simple triangles, then build the strokes around them. If those gaps stay open, the M can take any decoration.

How to draw a graffiti lowercase m

  1. 1Draw a stem and two arches in a row, each arch the same width and height, leaning forward.
  2. 2Make the middle stem shared by both arches, so there are three legs in total.
  3. 3Thicken the stem and arches and keep the two gaps beneath the arches open.
  4. 4Outline and trim any inner corners to keep the gaps clear, then flick the last leg out at the bottom.
  5. 5Fill, highlight the tops of the arches and add a block along the right.

Tip: A lowercase m is a good place to practise rhythm, because two identical arches teach you to repeat a shape consistently.

What makes M awkward or easy

M has four strokes in a small area, and each one adds an outline. The two triangular counters close first, and the V in the middle often sinks to the baseline and makes the letter look like an N plus a line. The width also pushes the word out of balance, so M often needs to be slightly condensed. Its zigzag is a natural place for arrows, as every peak can point up or out.

Variations

A tag M is two quick humps with a small tail. A throw-up M is a wide arch with a pair of fat legs and a V in the middle. A piece M may have a V that stops halfway, arrows on the peaks and a deep block. Wildstyle M turns the V into a ribbon that loops through the legs of the neighbouring letters.

Common mistakes with graffiti M

  • The V drops to the baseline and the M looks like an N.

    Stop the V about two thirds of the way down so the middle remains a dip, not a stroke to the floor.

  • The two counters are different sizes without a reason.

    Draw both triangles to match, then decide whether to change them deliberately.

  • The M is much wider than the rest of the word.

    Condense the letter by moving the posts closer and shortening the V, or widen neighbours to match.

  • The V strokes are as thick as the posts and the middle clogs.

    Slim the V strokes to about two thirds of the post width so the gaps remain open.

Ideas for graffiti M

M starts names such as Mia, Max and Maya, and words such as Mad and Mural. For practice, draw a line of five Ms with five different peaks: sharp, round, arrowed, looped and split. The one that reads best at small size becomes your default.

Printable graffiti M sheet

Trace the outlines, then fill the empty rows with your own letters.

Graffiti M you can copy and paste

No graffiti alphabet exists in Unicode. For nearby copy-paste forms try bold gothic 𝕸 𝖒, the black square 🅼 or bubble Ⓜ ⓜ. They are single fixed glyphs, so you cannot repeat or bend the zigzag to fit your word.

Graffiti M: questions

How do you draw a graffiti letter M?
Draw two leaning posts and a V that dips two thirds of the way down. Thicken them, with the V slightly thinner, and outline. Keep the two triangular gaps open, then add arrows to the peaks, fill the body, highlight the left edges and add a block along the right.
Why does my M look like an N?
The V in the middle probably reaches the baseline. Stop it about two thirds of the way down so the centre remains a dip. Also check that the two outer posts are clearly separate strokes and that both triangular gaps are visible.
How is a lowercase m drawn in graffiti?
Draw a stem and two arches in a row, sharing the middle leg. Thicken everything evenly and keep the gaps under the arches open. Flick the last leg out for a tag, or finish with a block foot for a throw-up. Highlight the top of each arch.
How do I make an M narrower?
Move the outer posts closer together, shorten the V and make the strokes slightly thinner. You can also lean the letter to save width. Check the spacing against the neighbours, because an M that is only slightly wider than others reads more naturally.