How to Make an Arrow in Adobe Illustrator

Arrows are a crucial aspect of many designs. The arrows provide a simple solution to point out or focus on the thing that's being highlighted.

In designing books, posters, coffee shop menus, and other booklets, different types of arrows are often needed. So, for a graphic designer, it's important to know how to make any type of arrow needed. Simple arrows, curvy arrows, hand-drawn arrows, and standard arrows are commonly used by professional graphic designers to work in the creative circle.

In the next 5 to 10 minutes, you'll learn how to draw any arrow using several different methods and tools.

So, let's get into it!

Related reading: How to Make a Triangle in Illustrator

How to Make an Arrow in Illustrator

Method 1: Using the Stroke Panel

One of the quickest methods to make an arrow in Adobe Illustrator is adding the arrowhead on the stroke using the Stroke Panel. You can access the Stroke Panel from the above menu bar by going to Window > Strokes.

For this method, ensure that you have a line (open path) drawn with a stroke applied to it.

To understand it better, let's consider the following example. Here, I've drawn two lines using the Pen Tool. You can use any tool to draw any open path or line to get your desired result.

To apply the arrowheads on these lines, we simply select these lines using the Selection Tool, and then open the Stroke Panel. On that, we'll see the arrowhead options.

Using the arrowhead options in the Stroke Panel, select any arrow shapes to make the ends of the strokes have arrows.

Similarly, you can also add any head on the other side of the Stroke using the option besides the one that we have just used.

You can use the swap button on the Stroke Panel to interchange the arrowheads on both sides/ends of the Illustrator.

You can use the Scale option on the Stroke Panel to adjust the arrowheads' start, end, and size.

You can use the Align buttons on the Stroke Panel to adjust whether the stroke end should meet the tip of the arrowhead or should it remain behind the arrow.

To change the color of the arrow, you simply change the stroke's color.

Method 2: Using the Brush Tool

If you want to get the arrows of your desired shape and you find it difficult to make it through the stroke method, then drawing the arrows using the Brush Tool could be an easy, useful, and handy method for you. For a better result, you can also use a graphic tablet with a stylus to draw the arrow.

Adobe Illustrator contains some built-in arrow brushes. You can access these from the menu bar by going to Window > Brushes.

To open the Arrow Brushes, simply go to the Brush Library Icon on the bottom left corner and then go to Arrows > Arrows_Spepcial. A new window will open, containing a collection of arrow brushes.

Now, simply select the Brush Tool and choose your desired brush. Start drawing on the artboard using your stylus or mouse. You'll see that the ends of your drawn lines will turn into arrowheads. Here, I have drawn several arrows using the Arrow Brushes and mouse.

From this same collection, you can also draw the arrows with the double heads if you want;

For more brush collections, you can go to the Arrow_Standard panel using the same method.

If you want to draw some brushes with the patterns, then you can go to the Pattern_Arrows panel in the Brushes Library.

Note: You can also add the Arrow Brushes styles to the simple strokes. For this, you simply need to select the stroke using the Selection Tool and then click on the desired Arrow Brush on the Brush Library. Your stroke will be changed into the shape of your selected brush pattern;

Method 3: Using the Symbol Panel

You can use the Symbol Panel to add the arrows directly to your artboard for the pre-made arrow symbols.

You can open the Symbol Panel from the menu bar by going to, Window > Symbols. Symbol Panel looks like this.

For arrow symbols, simply click on the Symbol Library Icon on the Symbol Panel and then click on the Arrows. A window containing the Arrow symbols will open;

Now, simply click and drag your desired symbol to the artboard. You'll get an arrow you selected on the artboard.

In this way, you can add and edit any arrow symbol of your choice to your design to make it more appealing and interesting;

Note: To edit the arrow symbol on your artboard, simply double-click on the arrow symbol. In this way, you can change the fill color or stroke color, add or remove fill or stroke, and many other things to your added symbol.

Now It's Time to Start Making Some Arrows!

Congratulations! You have just learned some quick methods to add/draw the arrows in Adobe Illustrator. Now, I hope you will not find it difficult to add arrows in your next designs.