Free Storyboard Template for Film and Video (PDF + CSV)
Choose 16:9 landscape for six frames per page or 9:16 vertical for three taller frames suited to short dramas and phone video. Print the PDF to sketch by hand, or plan shots in a spreadsheet with the CSV. Downloads are free under CC BY 4.0 and require no account.
16:9 landscape: Download PDF (Letter) · A4 PDF · CSV
Download the 9:16 vertical storyboard template
Each page has three vertical frames with space for shot number, duration, framing, action, sound, and the hook. Free to download without an account.
What's in the storyboard template
| Field | What to write | Example (fictional) |
|---|---|---|
| Panel | Order on the page | 3 |
| Scene / Shot | Scene number and shot letter | 2 / 2C |
| Frame | Your sketch, a stick figure or a reference still | (drawing) |
| Size | ECU, CU, MCU, MS, MWS, WS or EWS | MCU |
| Angle | Eye level, high, low, overhead, Dutch, POV | Low |
| Movement | Static, pan, tilt, dolly, handheld, zoom, crane | Slow push-in |
| Duration | Planned seconds | 4 |
| Action | What happens in the frame | Mia reads the text and freezes |
| Dialogue / sound | Lines, SFX or music cues | Phone buzz; no dialogue |
| Transition | Cut, dissolve, match cut, smash cut | Hard cut |
| Notes | Lens, props, purpose | "Plant that she knows" |
EXAMPLE DATA: the example column is fictional and only shows the format.
Not sure which size to pick? See the types of camera shots.
How to use a storyboard template
- Start from the script. Mark every place the camera should change.
- Number the shots. Use scene number plus a letter (2A, 2B, 2C) so inserts don't break the order.
- Sketch the frame. Stick figures are fine. Show where the subject sits and where they look.
- Fill size, angle and movement. One value per field keeps panels easy to compare.
- Add timing and sound. Planned seconds help you spot a scene that runs long.
- Review with the team. Share the PDF with the director and DP; keep the CSV as the editable master.
Example: a storyboard page filled in
EXAMPLE DATA: a fictional 18-second short-drama opening ("The Wrong Text"), written to show the format.
| Panel | Shot | Size | Angle | Move | Dur (s) | Action | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1A | EWS | High | Static | 3 | Night city, one office window lit | Low hum |
| 2 | 1B | MS | Eye level | Static | 4 | Mia packs up at her desk | Keyboard stops |
| 3 | 1C | ECU | Overhead | Static | 2 | Phone screen: "I know what you did" | Phone buzz |
| 4 | 1D | MCU | Low | Slow push-in | 4 | Mia freezes, reads it again | Music drops out |
| 5 | 1E | WS | Eye level | Handheld | 3 | Office door behind her swings open | Door creak |
| 6 | 1F | CU | Eye level | Static | 2 | Mia turns, eyes wide | Hard cut to black |
Filled 9:16 example: The Used Ticket
This original fictional example uses planned timings. Try copying it into the blank sheet.
| Shot | Duration | Size / angle / move | Picture and sound | Hook / open question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | 1.1 s | ECU / eye level / static | The scanner reads ALREADY USED. A short beep. | Why has the ticket been used? |
| 1B | 1.0 s | CU / eye level / static | The attendant's hand blocks the gate. | Will she get in? |
| 1C | 0.9 s | CU / eye level / static | She looks past the gate into the venue. | Who got in with her ticket? |
Frame the ticket and scanner together so the warning has context. Preview the shot in the destination app to check whether interface controls cover text, faces, or action. See how this opening was rewritten.
Printable PDF or CSV: which one?
| PDF (printable) | CSV (spreadsheet) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Sketching by hand, on-set paper copies | Planning, sorting, sharing edits |
| Frames | Six landscape frames or three vertical frames per page | A frame_ref column for an image link |
| Edit later | Print again | Edit a cell |
| Opens in | Any PDF viewer, or print | Google Sheets, Excel, Numbers |
Storyboard or shot list?
A storyboard shows how each shot looks while a shot list puts the same shots in a sortable table; see storyboard vs shot list. Transfer the finished board into a shot list template for sorting and handoff.
Storyboarding an existing video?
If you are studying a scene that already exists, rather than planning one, StoryTeardown drafts a timestamped, editable shot list from clips you have the rights to analyze, with size, angle, movement and action for each cut. Check every row against the footage, because AI can miss or invent details. See a sample breakdown · Open the app
For a complete written example, follow the script-to-storyboard workflow: one short script, eight planned shots and editable production sheets.
FAQ
Is this storyboard template free?
Yes. Download the PDF, CSV, or Markdown without an account. The files use CC BY 4.0. Credit StoryTeardown if you share them.
How many panels should a storyboard page have?
The landscape sheet has six frames per page. The vertical sheet has three, with room to write beside each frame.
What aspect ratio are the frames?
Choose 16:9 for landscape or 9:16 for vertical. Both are available as printable A4 and Letter PDFs.
Can I use the storyboard template in Google Sheets or Excel?
Yes. Open the CSV in Google Sheets, Excel or Numbers. Paste a link to each sketch in the frame_ref column.
Do I need to draw well to make a storyboard?
No. Stick figures and arrows are enough if size, angle and movement are filled in.