A free storyboard template is only free if you can shoot from it. Empty rectangles teach people to lose the shot data. These files already ask for size, duration and audio.
Downloads
Same layouts, explained: storyboard template and shot list template.
- 16-shot sample board (PDF) — a finished commercial example
- Blank board (Markdown) — copy into any editor
- Shot list (CSV) — open in Sheets or Excel
- Animatic timing (CSV) — one row per frame, seconds must sum to the slot
What “free” includes
The layouts, the CSV headers and the sample PDF are free to copy for student films, pitches and client work. CineoBoard the product is paid (pricing); the live demo is free and needs no account.
8 / 12 / 16 panel — pick on purpose
Aspect ratio: 16:9 for film and most YouTube, 9:16 for Shorts. Changing ratio later is a recrop.
| Panels | Use | Trap |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 6s bumper, one joke, one insert | Will not hold a :30 |
| 12 | Most 15s ads | Cut beats before adding art |
| 16 | 30s spot with coverage | Our sample PDF is this size |
How to fill a blank template in 20 minutes
Workflow: how to make a storyboard.
- Write beats in the script order, one row or panel per beat
- Put shot size on every panel before you draw
- Put a duration; sum them; cut until the sum matches the slot
- Add audio (VO vs dialogue vs music) so the animatic has something to play
- Only then draw or generate pictures
FAQ
Is there a free storyboard maker, not just a template?
The CineoBoard demo is a full maker on sample data. For a comparison of free vs production tools, read best storyboard software 2026 and CineoBoard vs StoryTribe.
Can I print these?
Yes. Export the PDF sample, or paste the Markdown into anything that prints. Keep the footer fields on the print — that is the point of the template.