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.
Our Original Fonts: 8
Preview our original downloadable typefaces first. The samples show decorative numeral shapes, not handwriting instruction.
Public Google Fonts
Then compare the numeral across public cursive and calligraphy fonts, from formal scripts to casual handwriting.
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
Italianno
Niconne
Quintessential
Style Script
Carattere
Ephesis
Luxurious Script
Bilbo Swash Caps
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.
- ✗ 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”
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.
Keep practising on paper
The Dancing Script pack includes five numeral lessons as well as the alphabet. Start with the free 0-9 reference if you only need a model beside your paper.
- Complete Alphabet & Numbers - Modern Cursive (Dancing Script)$6 · 35 pages
- Cursive Numbers 0-9 Reference - Modern Cursive (Dancing Script)Free · 1 page
Browse all free printables (no account needed), or see the paid packs in our shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cursive 8
How do you write the number 8 in cursive?
Should I write cursive 8 as two circles or one motion?
Why does my cursive 8 look like a snowman?
Is cursive 8 hard to learn?
Learn More
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Practice Sheet Generator
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Calligraphy Alphabet Guide
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