Free printable potty training charts

What a potty chart is for

A potty chart gives your child a clear job: sit on the potty, get a sticker. The try box is for the sit itself, the success box is for when something lands in the potty. The child puts the sticker on, straight away, so the reward is instant and visible.

Hang the chart on the bathroom wall at seat height, where your child can reach it and see it. A chart is not the method, it is the reward step of whichever potty training method you use. You still do the reminding, the prompting, and the cleanup.

The point is to make sitting a habit, not a battle. The try box is the one that matters most.

Which potty chart to print

Pick a chart that matches your child's pace and your patience. A one week chart is a quick win, a 30 day chart is for longer hauls. All the boxes fit a 1.5 inch round sticker or a 1/2 inch star sticker.

Here are the main chart styles on this site:

The printable potty charts page has every style in color and ink saving. For a simpler grid, see the sticker chart page. Their are also dedicated pages for boys and girls, plus a nighttime chart for dry nights.

Print at 100 percent, not fit to page, so the boxes stay the right size for your stickers.

Potty chart ideas that keep a toddler interested

A chart works only if your child stays interested. These ideas are simple and low cost, and you can start any of them tonight.

• Let the child pick the sticker from a jar each time
• Give a big sticker for a success, not just a sit
• Put a chart in each bathroom you use
• Take a photo of the full chart and hang it on the fridge
• Plan a mid-chart reward at the halfway point
• Start a new chart when the theme goes stale
• Let the child ring a bell after each sit
• Have siblings cheer and clap for every sticker

For more ideas, the homemade potty chart ideas guide has a full list. The sticker chart page also shows how to reuse a simple grid.

Setting up the first week

The first week sets the tone, so keep it simple. Do these steps before you start:

• Pick the chart and print it at 100 percent
• Buy the stickers before day one, not after
• Hang it at seat height in the bathroom
• Explain the try box to your child in one sentence
• Put the first sticker on at the first sit, even if nothing happens

That first sticker is the hook. Your child learns that sitting equals a reward.

Rewards for potty training

Rewards should be small and instant. A sticker is enough for a try, a big sticker or a small treat works for a success. The full chart can earn a bigger prize, like a trip to the park or a new book.

After a few weeks, stop rewarding sits and reward only successes. This keeps the chart honest and your child focused. Avoid food rewards if you can help it, they set a tricky habit.

For a full list, see the best potty training rewards guide. It covers non-food ideas and how to phase them out.

Printing and hanging it in a bathroom

Every chart comes in letter and A4, in color and ink saving. Print at 100 percent, not fit to page, so the boxes stay the right size. The ink saving version is great for reprints when you need a fresh chart.

Bathrooms are damp, so protect the chart. Slide it into a lamianting pouch or a clear plastic sleeve. That way it lasts the whole week or month.

The reward boxes fit a 1.5 inch round sticker or a 1/2 inch star sticker. A laminating pouch costs less than a dollar and saves you reprints.

Also in this section: Best potty training books, and the charts that go with them. The guides How to make a potty training chart in ten minutes and When to start potty training, and when the chart comes out cover the rest.