PECS cards are small picture cards a child hands to another person to make a request or comment. PECS stands for Picture Exchange Communication System, a method developed by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost. Each card pairs a clear image with a printed word, so a child who cannot rely on speech can exchange the card for what they want. The exchange is the point: handing the card to a person teaches that communication is something you direct at someone, which is the foundation the rest of the system builds on.

How many PECS cards should my child start with?

Most families start small, with a handful of high-use requests rather than a full board. A core set of words like want, more, help, stop, eat, drink, yes, and no covers what a child reaches for across the whole day, and a short set is easier to scan and less overwhelming. Add more cards once your child uses the first ones reliably, building the vocabulary as the skill grows.

Are PECS cards free, and where can I get them?

Yes. You can make free PECS cards in the Spectrum Unlocked PECS Card Maker: pick an image or upload a photo, add a label, and download a print-ready sheet, with no sign-up. You can also download ready-made sets for core requests, feelings, food and drink, play, daily routine, and potty. Many other sites offer free PECS images too, but making your own lets you match the exact words and objects your child uses.

What age can a child start using PECS cards?

There is no minimum age, and earlier is usually better. Toddlers can and do use simple picture exchange, and the years when communication frustration shapes behavior are exactly when an alternative method helps most. It is also never too late: older children and teens build picture and vocabulary skills at every age. The practical trigger is the gap, not the birthday. If your child cannot reliably make wants and needs known, the time to add a method is now.

Should I use photos or symbols on PECS cards?

Use whichever your child recognizes fastest, and mix them freely. Simple symbols work well for general words like more, help, and stop. A photo of the real object often works better for specific items, because a picture of your child's actual cup or favorite snack is easier to recognize than a generic drawing. When you make your own cards you can swap any symbol for a photo, which is the advantage of building the set yourself.

How do I print and laminate PECS cards at home?

Build the set, then print the sheet on cardstock if you have it. Cut along the lines, then laminate each card or cover it with clear packing tape so it survives spills, chewing, and daily handling. Add a hook-and-loop dot to the back of each card so it sticks to a board, a strip, or the front of a binder. Print a few spares of the cards your child uses most, since those take the heaviest wear.

PECS Cards for Autism: What They Are and How to Make Your Own (Free Printables)

PECS cards give a nonspeaking autistic child a way to ask for what they need. What PECS cards are, how to make and print your own for free, and ready-made sets to start today.

Getting Started|June 30, 2026|5 min read

Updated June 30, 2026

Key Takeaways

A PECS card is a small picture paired with a word that a child hands to another person to make a request. The exchange, not the picture, is the part that teaches communication.
Start with a small core set of the words your child uses most, like want, more, help, stop, eat, and drink, then add cards as those become reliable.
PECS cards are free to make. You can build and print your own in minutes, or download ready-made sets, with no sign-up and no email.
A photo of the real object often works better than a generic drawing. Use a picture of your child's actual cup or favorite snack when a symbol is ambiguous.
Cards only work when an adult honors the exchange. Hand your child what they ask for the moment they give you the card, every time, even an imperfect attempt.

When your child cannot yet rely on words, every day without another way to communicate is a day of pointing, pulling, and meltdowns that are really failed messages. PECS cards are one of the simplest places to start. This guide covers what they are, how to make and print your own for free, and which ready-made sets to begin with.

The short version: a PECS card is a clear picture paired with a word that your child hands to a person to ask for something, and the exchange is what teaches communication. You can make a set in a few minutes and start using it the same day.

What PECS cards are

PECS stands for Picture Exchange Communication System, a method developed by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost. A PECS card is small and simple by design:

Part of a PECS card	What it does
The picture	A clear image of the thing the child wants (a symbol or a photo)
The word	A short printed label so adults read the card the same way every time
The exchange	The child hands the card to a person, who delivers the item right away

The exchange is the part that matters most. Tapping a picture or pointing teaches a child to indicate; handing the card to another person teaches that communication is directed at someone who responds. That social core is why speech therapists often use picture exchange to spark intentional communication in the first place.

PECS is a registered trademark of Pyramid Educational Consultants. Spectrum Unlocked is independent and not affiliated; this guide and our tools are a free starting point, not the formal training program.

The six PECS phases, briefly

The full method moves through six phases. You do not need to master them to start, but it helps to know where the cards lead:

The exchange. The child picks up a single card and hands it to a partner to get the item.
Distance and persistence. The child learns to travel to the card and to the person, so communication works across a room.
Picture discrimination. The child chooses between cards, so the picture they pick actually carries the meaning.
Sentence structure. The child builds a short request on a strip, such as a starter card plus a picture.
Responsive requesting. The child answers a prompt like "What do you want?"
Commenting. The child uses cards to comment, not only to request.

If you are still weighing picture exchange against signs or a speech device, our AAC vs PECS vs sign language guide walks through the decision, and AAC for beginners covers the wider getting-started landscape. This page stays focused on the cards themselves.

How to make your own PECS cards

Making cards yourself takes a few minutes and lets you match the exact words and objects your child uses:

Start with a small core set. Pick the words your child reaches for all day, like want, more, help, stop, eat, and drink.
Choose a picture for each card. Use a clear symbol, or a photo of the real object when a generic drawing would be ambiguous.
Print on cardstock. Cardstock holds up better than paper, though paper works to start.
Laminate or tape. Laminate each card or cover it with clear packing tape so it survives daily handling.
Add a hook-and-loop dot. A velcro dot on the back lets the card stick to a board, a strip, or a binder.
Model the exchange. Hand your child what they ask for the moment they give you the card, every time, so they learn the picture works.

You can build the whole set in the free PECS Card Maker: pick a symbol or upload a photo, label each card, and download a print-ready sheet with no sign-up.

Free printable PECS cards by category

If you would rather start from a ready-made set, these free printable sets each open in the editor so you can swap symbols, add photos, or change the labels before you print:

Core request cards: want, more, help, stop, and the other words most children need first.
Feelings cards: happy, sad, angry, scared, and calm.
Food and drink cards: eat, drink, and favorite snacks.
Play cards: ask for a turn or choose a toy.
Daily routine cards: wake up, brush teeth, wash hands.
Potty cards: a gentle support for toilet training.

You can browse all of them on the free PECS templates page.

Tips that make PECS cards work

A few habits make the difference between cards that gather dust and cards your child reaches for:

Laminate everything. Bathroom and snack cards get the most wear, so durable cards stay usable.
Velcro the set down. Cards that stick to a board or strip are there when your child needs them.
Start small and grow. A short set is easier to scan, and you can add cards as the first ones become reliable.
Use photos for specific things. A picture of your child's own cup beats a generic drawing.
Honor every exchange. Respond to the card right away, even an imperfect attempt, so the picture keeps working.

For showing your child the order of the day rather than supporting requests, you can pair the cards with a routine from the Visual Schedule Creator. When you are ready, the PECS Card Maker builds your own set in minutes, free.

This guide covers the basics. But every child is different.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are PECS cards?: PECS cards are small picture cards a child hands to another person to make a request or comment. PECS stands for Picture Exchange Communication System, a method developed by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost. Each card pairs a clear image with a printed word, so a child who cannot rely on speech can exchange the card for what they want. The exchange is the point: handing the card to a person teaches that communication is something you direct at someone, which is the foundation the rest of the system builds on.
How many PECS cards should my child start with?: Most families start small, with a handful of high-use requests rather than a full board. A core set of words like want, more, help, stop, eat, drink, yes, and no covers what a child reaches for across the whole day, and a short set is easier to scan and less overwhelming. Add more cards once your child uses the first ones reliably, building the vocabulary as the skill grows.
Are PECS cards free, and where can I get them?: Yes. You can make free PECS cards in the Spectrum Unlocked PECS Card Maker: pick an image or upload a photo, add a label, and download a print-ready sheet, with no sign-up. You can also download ready-made sets for core requests, feelings, food and drink, play, daily routine, and potty. Many other sites offer free PECS images too, but making your own lets you match the exact words and objects your child uses.
What age can a child start using PECS cards?: There is no minimum age, and earlier is usually better. Toddlers can and do use simple picture exchange, and the years when communication frustration shapes behavior are exactly when an alternative method helps most. It is also never too late: older children and teens build picture and vocabulary skills at every age. The practical trigger is the gap, not the birthday. If your child cannot reliably make wants and needs known, the time to add a method is now.
Should I use photos or symbols on PECS cards?: Use whichever your child recognizes fastest, and mix them freely. Simple symbols work well for general words like more, help, and stop. A photo of the real object often works better for specific items, because a picture of your child's actual cup or favorite snack is easier to recognize than a generic drawing. When you make your own cards you can swap any symbol for a photo, which is the advantage of building the set yourself.
How do I print and laminate PECS cards at home?: Build the set, then print the sheet on cardstock if you have it. Cut along the lines, then laminate each card or cover it with clear packing tape so it survives spills, chewing, and daily handling. Add a hook-and-loop dot to the back of each card so it sticks to a board, a strip, or the front of a binder. Print a few spares of the cards your child uses most, since those take the heaviest wear.