Printable FreeCell
Sometimes you want FreeCell away from a screen. A printable or blank FreeCell layout is a simple diagram that shows where each pile goes, so you can set up a game with a real deck of cards. This page explains what those layouts are, who they help, and exactly how to deal FreeCell by hand. When you would rather just play, you can always play free in your browser instead.
Heads up: FreeCell.now does not offer a downloadable PDF yet. This page shows you how to set up and play FreeCell with real cards, plus links to play every variant online.
What a printable FreeCell layout is
A printable layout is just a picture of the table before you start: the eight columns of the tableau, the four free-cell spots, and the four foundation piles. Some people print a blank grid and place real cards on top of it. Others only need the reminder of how many cards go in each column. Either way, the goal is the same - to make setting up a physical game quick and correct.
Who wants a printable layout
- Teaching kids. A clear diagram helps a child see where cards belong while they learn the free-cell idea.
- Playing offline. On a plane, a porch, or anywhere without a device, a real deck and a layout are all you need.
- Practicing setups. Dealing by hand a few times is the fastest way to memorize how each variant is built.
How to set up FreeCell with a real deck
Here is the classic FreeCell setup. You need one standard 52-card deck, and unlike most card games, every card is dealt face up.
- Shuffle the deck well.
- Deal all 52 cards face up into eight columns, one card to each column at a time, left to right.
- The first four columns end up with seven cards each; the last four end up with six cards each.
- Leave four empty spots to one side for the free cells - single-card parking spaces you fill during play.
- Leave space for four foundation piles, one for each suit. They start empty.
- To play, build the foundations up by suit from Ace to King. In the columns, build down in alternating colors, and use a free cell to lift a blocker out of the way when you are stuck.
New to the rules? The full walkthrough for every variant lives on the FreeCell rules hub.
FreeCell family layouts at a glance
Different variants use slightly different setups. Here is how the most common ones are dealt.
| Game | Columns | Free cells | Foundations |
|---|---|---|---|
| FreeCell | 8 | 4 (empty) | 4 |
| ForeCell | 8 | 4 (start full) | 4 |
| Eight Off | 8 | 8 (6 filled) | 4 |
| Seahaven Towers | 10 | 4 (2 filled) | 4 |
| Double FreeCell | 10 | 6 | 8 (2 decks) |
Or just play in your browser
No printer and no deck handy? Every game deals itself for you online, for free, with no download. Try FreeCell, Eight Off, or Seahaven Towers and the site handles the shuffle, the deal, and the rules for you.
Printable FreeCell FAQ
Do you have a printable FreeCell PDF?
Not yet. For now, this page gives you the layouts and step-by-step setup so you can deal any variant with a real deck, or you can play the full games free online.
What layout does classic FreeCell use?
Classic FreeCell uses eight tableau columns dealt face up - seven cards in the first four columns and six in the last four - plus four empty free cells and four empty foundation spots.
Can I teach kids FreeCell with a printed layout?
Yes. A simple diagram of the eight columns, four cells and four foundations makes it easy for kids to see where each card goes. Start with plain FreeCell, then try the gentler Relaxed FreeCell once the free-cell idea clicks. The rules hub keeps every game in plain English.