How do you write the number 8 in cursive?

Draw a continuous figure-eight starting at the top, sweeping diagonally down through the centre, looping under and back up through the same crossing point, then closing both loops. The single crossing at the midline defines the digit.

Should I write cursive 8 as two circles or one motion?

One continuous motion is the proper cursive technique and produces a smoother, more elegant 8. Two stacked circles tend to look mechanical and are more likely to misalign.

Why does my cursive 8 look like a snowman?

You are drawing two separate circles instead of a figure-eight. The cursive 8 should have a single visible crossing point at the midline where the strokes pass through each other; a snowman shape lacks this crossing.

Is cursive 8 hard to learn?

Yes — 8 is rated hard because of the continuous figure-eight motion, the precise crossing point, and the need to balance the two loops. Most people develop a clean 8 only after deliberate practice with the flowing motion.

Vol. IV · Est. 2024

Cursive GenerationThe Art of Beautiful Writing

Hard Difficulty

How to Write 8 in Cursive

Cursive 8 is the most flowing of the numerals — two stacked loops drawn in a single continuous figure-eight motion. The traditional method begins at the top, sweeps diagonally down through the centre, and uses the natural crossing of the strokes to form the upper and lower loops. Done well, the 8 looks effortless; done poorly, it looks like a tangled scribble or two unrelated circles.

The Number 8 in 18 Cursive Fonts

See how the digit “8” (eight) looks across every cursive font in our collection. Each font gives the numeral a unique personality — from formal calligraphic scripts to casual handwriting styles.

Tangerine

Dancing Script

Great Vibes

Parisienne

Sacramento

Kaushan Script

Alex Brush

Caveat

Mr De Haviland

Satisfy

Allura

Yellowtail

Arizonia

Bad Script

Berkshire Swash

Marck Script

Petit Formal Script

Pinyon Script

Want to see full dates or numbers?

Try our Cursive Generator to type any digits or text and preview them in all 18 fonts instantly.

How to Form the Cursive Number “8”

Start near the top-centre of the numeral height. Sweep diagonally down and to the left to about the midline, then curve under and back up to the right, crossing the original stroke at the midline. Continue up and around to the top, then back down through the same crossing point and curve out to the left, closing the lower loop at the baseline before returning to the starting point.

Common Mistakes

✗ Drawing two separate circles stacked on each other instead of a continuous figure-eight
✗ Crossing the strokes off-centre, producing an unbalanced 8 with one loop larger than the other
✗ Making the lower loop smaller than the upper loop (the lower should be slightly larger for visual stability)
✗ Pressing too hard at the crossing point, producing an inky blob

Digits Often Confused with “8”

“8” vs “3”: If the left side of your 8 is open instead of closed, the digit reads as a 3. Make sure both loops fully close on the left. See cursive 3 →

“8” vs “0”: A single oval reads as a 0; the 8 must show two distinct loops connected at the midline crossing. See cursive 0 →

Where You'll Use the Cursive Number “8”

Real-world contexts where the digit 8 commonly appears in handwritten cursive.

Years like '2028', '1988', and '2080'
Times such as '8:00 AM' on event invitations
Anniversary milestones — '8 years', '80th birthday', '88th'
House numbers like '88 Magnolia Avenue'
Sports jersey numbers — '8', '18', '88'
Lucky-number references on greeting cards (especially in East Asian contexts)

Practice Tips for Cursive “8”

1Drill the figure-eight motion as a warm-up exercise — the same flow improves cursive l, e, and h.
2Aim for the crossing point to land exactly at the midline and exactly at the centre of the digit.
3Make the lower loop slightly larger than the upper one; equal loops look top-heavy.
4If you cannot draw 8 in one motion, practise two stacked closed loops and gradually merge the motion.

Ready to practise?

Generate a custom practice sheet including the digit “8” using our Practice Sheet Generator. You can also pair number drills with letter practice from our Cursive Letters A–Z guides for a complete cursive workout.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cursive 8

Frequently Asked Questions

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