How to Draw a Hexagon in ShapeArena
The regular hexagon has six equal sides and six 120-degree angles. Found throughout nature from honeycombs to crystal structures, the hexagon is a satisfying but challenging shape to draw accurately in ShapeArena.
Geometry & Properties
| Sides | 6 equal sides |
|---|---|
| Interior Angles | 6 equal angles (120° each) |
| Symmetry | 6 axes of symmetry (3 vertex-to-vertex, 3 edge-to-edge) |
| Difficulty | Hard |
Difficulty Assessment
The hexagon is comparable to the pentagon in difficulty. While the 120-degree angles are slightly easier to visualize (each turn is one-third of a full turn), the six sides mean more opportunities for cumulative error. Keeping all six sides equal while maintaining the overall shape is a real challenge.
Drawing Tips
These tips are specific to drawing the hexagon in ShapeArena. Practice each one individually before combining them for your best attempt.
- Think of a honeycomb cell — this is the most familiar hexagon in daily life and can help you visualize the proportions.
- Place vertices at clock positions: 12, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. This gives perfect hexagonal spacing.
- The hexagon is essentially six equilateral triangles joined at a center point. If you can draw good triangles, you have the muscle memory for hexagon segments.
- Focus on making alternating sides parallel. In a regular hexagon, opposite sides are always parallel.
- Start from the top vertex and work clockwise. Keep your stroke speed consistent to avoid making some sides longer than others.
- The flat-top orientation (with a horizontal edge on top) is slightly easier to draw than the pointy-top orientation used in ShapeArena.
What the Scoring Algorithm Looks For
Hexagon scoring evaluates side length equality, angle consistency (each should be close to 120°), and overall symmetry. The algorithm checks whether the hexagon has proper six-fold symmetry by comparing opposite sides and angles. Side straightness matters, but proportional accuracy is weighted more heavily for this shape.
For a deeper understanding of how all scoring factors combine, see the full scoring system explanation.
Fun Facts About the Hexagon
- Hexagons are one of only three regular polygons that tile a flat surface perfectly (along with triangles and squares). This is why bees use hexagonal cells — it is the most efficient way to divide a surface into equal areas with the least total perimeter.
- Saturn's north pole has a persistent hexagonal storm pattern approximately 30,000 km across, discovered by the Voyager missions in the 1980s.
- Graphene, one of the strongest materials known, consists of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice.
- The Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland features approximately 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, most of which are hexagonal — formed by the cooling and contraction of volcanic lava.
- Hex bolts and nuts are hexagonal because six sides provide a good balance between grip (many faces for a wrench) and strength (less material stress than with fewer sides).
Ready to Draw?
Put your skills to the test. Head to the arena and see how accurately you can draw a hexagon.
Draw a Hexagon Now →Other Shapes
Related Resources
- How Scoring Works — understand accuracy, speed, and smoothness
- Improve Drawing Accuracy — general tips for all shapes
- Which Shape Is Hardest? — difficulty ranking of all shapes
- Leaderboards — see how you rank against other players