How to Draw Lightning Bolts in Adobe Illustrator (the Easy Way)
Stop Struggling with Lightning Bolts in Illustrator—Here’s the Fast, Flexible Way
If you’re a graphic designer or illustrator, chances are you’ve drawn a lightning bolt at some point—maybe for a logo, poster, or just as a fun shape in an icon set. But if you’re spending too much time fiddling with points, slants, or bezier curves, here’s a quicker, more controlled way to get that striking shape right.
In this post, I’ll share two Illustrator tips to help you build lightning bolts that look clean and dynamic—without the guesswork.
You can check out this video (and lots more!) over on my Instagram Page @hannah.bacon.design
Let’s Get Cracking!
Tip 1: Start with Geometric Shapes, Then Shear
Instead of trying to get the perfect zigzag angle on the first go, build your lightning bolt from simple shapes—rectangles and triangles work great for this.
Once you’ve got your base shape:
Select it
Use the Shear Tool to add a diagonal slant
This adds movement and energy without distorting the base geometry
Bonus: You can screenshot some of the example structures I’ve shared—these foundations make it easy to create consistent variations of the bolt.
Tip 2: Use the Warp Tool for Curved Lightning
Want a lightning bolt that has a more stylised, curved shape?
Head to the Appearance panel
Go to Effect → Warp → Arc or Arc Lower/Upper
Apply the effect and adjust the sliders until you get the right curve
This lets you add a dynamic curve without manually reshaping paths—and since it’s a live effect, you can tweak it anytime.
What are the benefits of this method?
Faster than using the Pen Tool
Gives you consistent, editable results
Perfect for bold iconography, editorial illustrations, merch design, or logo marks
Easy to replicate across different compositions
Want More Time-Saving Tools and Freebies?
This process is just one of the techniques I share across my design templates and digital assets, made especially for designers who want professional results—without starting from scratch every time.
