How to Write the Heart ♥ in Cursive
The heart is the most-loved decorative symbol in calligraphy and hand-lettering. From dotting an 'i' in a love note to replacing the word 'love' in 'I ♥ NY', the heart is shorthand for warmth, affection, and personality. In cursive it appears in everything from wedding stationery and Valentine cards to children's birthday signs and tattoo lettering. A well-drawn heart is symmetrical, with two equally rounded humps and a clean, sharp point at the bottom.
The Heart (♥) in 30 Cursive Fonts
See how the heart looks across every cursive font in our collection. Each font gives the symbol a unique personality — from formal calligraphic scripts to casual modern 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 Write the Heart (♥) Step by Step
Start at the centre top with a small dip. Sweep up and around to the right to form a rounded hump, then curve down to a sharp point at the bottom centre. Without lifting (or as a second stroke), curve back up and around to the left to form a second matching hump, ending at the centre dip where you began. Both humps should be the same size, and the bottom point should sit directly below the centre dip.
- ✗ Drawing humps of unequal size, which makes the heart feel lopsided
- ✗ Letting the bottom point drift off-centre to the left or right
- ✗ Making the bottom point rounded instead of sharp, so the heart looks like an apple
- ✗ Closing the centre dip into a smooth curve, losing the iconic heart silhouette
- ✗ Drawing the heart too tall and narrow — most well-formed hearts are slightly wider than they are tall
Stylistic Variations of the Heart
- Solid heart (♥) — filled, the most common form for emphasis
- Outline heart (♡) — hollow, used in delicate lettering and tattoo design
- Brush heart — bold organic strokes with slight asymmetry, popular in modern hand-lettering
- Doodle heart — quick scribbled hearts for journaling and casual notes
- Sacred heart and anatomical heart — illustrative variants used in tattoos and religious imagery
Where the Heart (♥) Is Used
Real-world contexts where this symbol earns its place in cursive lettering.
- ♥Valentine and love-themed greeting cards
- ♥Wedding signage and stationery ('Bride ♥ Groom')
- ♥City and place merchandise ('I ♥ NY', 'I ♥ Paris')
- ♥Tattoo lettering and band logos
- ♥Children's birthday cards and party signs
- ♥Replacing the word 'love' in journaling and Instagram captions
Practice Tips for the Cursive Heart
- 1Drill the two-hump motion symmetrically — many beginners draw the right hump larger than the left.
- 2Lightly sketch a vertical guide line first; the centre dip and bottom point should both fall on it.
- 3Practise hearts at three sizes (small accent, medium inline, large centrepiece) to see how proportions shift.
- 4Try both solid and outline versions to see which suits your lettering style.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cursive Heart
How do you draw a perfect cursive heart?
Why do we use a heart symbol for love?
Can I use a heart instead of the word 'love' in lettering?
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