13 Cardboard Box Crafts For Kids

Cardboard box crafts have become a fun way to keep kids happy and creative with the boxes they love to play with.

Have you ever wondered why kids love cardboard boxes? They are drawn to them; which is why they will always reach out for them whenever you have an empty cardboard box at home.

So, instead of throwing out the cardboard boxes you can combine fun, education, and creative expression when you teach them some cardboard box crafts for kids.

Here are some amazing cardboard box craft ideas for kids of all ages and genders, from kindergarten to primary school. The list has both simple and more time consuming craft projects, allowing you to choose age-appropriate activities for your children. Let’s get started!

Easy Cardboard Box Crafts

These are some easy cardboard box crafts that you can make without spending a lot of time. You can set them up fairly easily.

1. Cardboard TugGING Box

There’s nothing as thrilling to a toddler as pulling things and seeing reactions. Tug Box is a perfect and easy cardboard craft idea for them to play with.

What you’ll need :

• Cardboard box
• Sticky tape
• Ribbons of different lengths

The first thing to do is puncture holes into the box (make sure you have entrance and exit holes).

Thread your long ribbons through the holes and knot them at both ends so they don’t come off.

Seal the box with tape.

When your kid tugs on the ribbon from one end, it gets longer but shortens on the other end, which is a fascinating sight that can keep them engaged.

Tugging is also highly beneficial for your child’s motor skills.

Take a look at this cardboard tugging box idea.

2. Cardboard Box Boat

Another easy cardboard box craft. A cardboard boat is so simple to make that kids can make it on their own.

What you will need:

• Medium cardboard box
• Paint
• Tissue paper
• Tape/Glue
• Scissors

Simply get an open cardboard box. Create a whole in the upper part of the box. Make a deck inside using a piece of cardboard and sticky tape. 

Paint the boat in whatever colour your kid likes. Use acrylic paint because it lasts longer. Explore designs on the outer part of the boat.

Create the wheel of the ship using another cardboard piece, and create a sail using painted tissue paper.

There, you have a simple cardboard boat and kids ready to captain it!

3. Cardboard Camera Obscura

Kids will be fascinated by this STEM activity. A useful cardboard box craft idea for kids.

What you will need :

• Small cardboard box with lids (shoe box)
• White paper
• Scissors
• Markers
• Tape

Cut the white paper to fit on one side of the box and attach it using tape.

Make two holes (small and medium size) on the opposite side of the box. See the step by step instructions to make this cardboard camera.

You will be able to see the upside down reflection of an object on the white paper.

4. Cardboard Food Stall

Role playing games are something kids of any age would love to play. Creating a food stall from a cardboard box will be a fun activity.

What you will need:

• Large cardboard box
• Paint/Markers
• Scissors
• Glue/Tape
• Other decorating supplies (optional) as necessary

As an adult, you will need to help kids with the base of the stall. Might require cutting with a paper cutting knife.

Kids can get creative and decorate it in their own way. See the above fruit stall for an example.

5. Cardboard Treasure Chest

Kids love treasure hunts, so building their own treasure chest would be thrilling beyond words.

What you will need :

• Small/Medium cardboard box with lids
• Thin cardboard
• Papers to wrap
• Paint
• Sticky tape
• Scissors

Get a cardboard box with its lid attached and glue paper to cover it. Attach two semi-circle cardboard cutouts to both sides of the lids.

Create a rounded top by covering the shapes with thin cardboard and attaching it with sticky tape. Cover the lid with paper and paint. Design as you deem fit.

Get more detailed steps for your treasure chest here. 

6. Cardboard Guitar

Kids will love making this craft as much as they will love playing with it. You might find kids take an interest in the real instrument because of this craft.

What you will need :

• Cardboard
• Yarn
• Markers
• Glue
• Sticky tape
• Scissors

Here’s how to do it,

Cut different shapes out of your cardboard; a long rectangle for the neck of the guitar, a square for the body, and a short rectangle for the head.

Cut a circle out of the square cardboard to make a hole.

Make 6 holes into the bottom of the square and the shorter rectangle shape.

Paint and design the pieces. Join all the pieces together using tape or glue as necessary.

Cut strands of yarn, tape them to one back of the cardboard, weave them through the holes, and tape them to the other back of the cardboard.

Your cardboard guitar is ready!

More Cardboard Box Crafts With Some Setup Required

These crafts are not necessarily hard to make. However, set up time is longer.

7. Police Car With Cardboard Box

Who doesn’t love to ride a police car ?

What you will need :

• Medium/Large cardboard box
• Paint
• Scissors
• Glue

First things first; get a cardboard box that your child can fit into.

Leave the top open so they can enter from there. Cut out your windscreen, design circles from cardboard or plastic plates and glue them to the four ends as tyres. 

You’ll also need to paint the car the colour of a police car. Add some headlights and a plate number. You can use takeaway boxes to make the lights. 

Finish it up by creating a radio from another small carton. Inscribe numbers, add an antenna and tape it to the car.

8. Cardboard Box AquariuM

Your kids have probably seen aquariums in books or movies or have visited one. They’ll definitely be thrilled at the opportunity to make and own one. This can be made using a small cardboard box.

What you will need :

• Cardboard Cereal box
• Paint
• Scissors
• Hot glue
• Paper cutting knife
• Other craft supplies (to make fish and sea objects)

Start by tracing the box using a sharpie and then cutting it out with a knife. This step is best left for an adult.

Paint the inside of the box blue and the outside silver.

Decorate the aquarium. Add sand and pipe cleaners that’ll represent seaweed. Other things you can add include seashells and light stones.

Make a fish out of coloured paper and cardboard and tie them to your box with a string. You will have this beautiful cardboard aquarium!

9. Cardboard Box Airplane

Kids can learn to make this cardboard box airplane, and can also be pilots if the box is big enough for them to enter. 

What you will need :

• Medium cardboard box
• markers
• Scissors
• Clear sticky tape

Here’s how it should be done,

Cut out the flaps from your cardboard box. Cut into the longer sides of the bot to create a crescent-shaped dip on both sides. Shape the cutout parts into propellers.

Trim the two long cardboard flaps into the side wings and use the short ones as the tail wings. Cut a 2-inch slit under the dips in the box and insert your wings.

Attach your propellers and tail to the box using glue or tape. See how this cute cardboard airplane can be done step by step

10. Cardboard Box Elevator

Kids will also love the idea of making an elevator out of a cardboard box. 

What you will need:

• Large cardboard box
• Googly eyes
• Scissors
• Markers

Get a large cardboard box, leave the two long flaps as the doors, cut out the short flap on the floor part, leave the one on top and draw the floor numbers on it with an arrow that moves from one floor to the other.

Print floor numbers on sticky labels and then attach them to googly eyes that go in and pop back out when pressed. Glue them to a piece of cardboard and attach it inside the box.

Your kid will have fun pressing the floor buttons inside the box, as well as changing the floors outside the box.

11. Cardboard Shield And Sword

Children can easily create these on their own, and you’ll definitely see them getting excited about pretending to be a knights in shining armour.

What you will need:

• Large cardboard box
• Paint
• Scissors
• Glue
• Paper mache

So, how does this work?

Begin by drawing a shield on a large piece of cardboard and then cutting out the shape. You can double or triple the layers of the carton and glue them together to ensure that it’s more stable. Create the curvature of the shield.

Create two handles using long strips of folded cards and attach them to the back of the shield using glue.

Paint the front of the shield and design it according to the kids’ taste or a shield from a movie.

Make the cardboard sword using another carton. Double the layers to make it strong as well. Shape out the pointed edges, as well as the handle. Then, paint it silver or whatever colour your kid prefers.

Get a more detailed step by step guide to make this awesome shield and sword

12. Cardboard Camera And Photos

Another craft that you can make using small cardboard boxes.

What you will need:

• Small cardboard box
• Markers
• Hot glue
• Paint
• Scissors

Get some small cardboard boxes. Cut and fold the cardboard as above. Add designs to the box, whether stripes, dots or even floral designs.

Choose an object to use as the lens (or even a cardboard circle) and paint it a different colour then glue it to the front of your camera. Add buttons, shutters, and other camera additions, using items from your house.

Make photos by painting small pieces of cardboard and placing them in the hole in the camera. 

Now, your kid can snap and have pictures immediately!

13. Cardboard Box DOLL HOUSE

The list would be incomplete without this popular cardboard box craft. Kids love to build/decorate their own doll house/ castle.

What you will need:

• Large cardboard box
• Scissors
• Box cutter
• Duct tape
• Pencil
• Other craft supplies to decorate

You basically have to help the kids with the base of the house. After that, they can use their creativity to add more detail to the doll house

See the guide to making this beautiful cardboard doll house.

What Are The Benefits Of Doing Cardboard Box Crafts

Now that you know how to make these cardboard box crafts for kids, your kids can have fun and get creative with cardboard boxes! 

While they are having fun with these cost effective crafts, here are the hidden benefits they will get.

• Motor skills – Cutting, gluing, and decorating cardboard boxes help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
• Problem solving – Figuring out how to turn a box into a desired shape helps children develop problem-solving skills
• Creativity and Imagination – These activities encourage kids to engage in imaginative play and creative thinking
• Hands-on learning – Crafts with STEM activities are often interactive and hands-on