Learn more
How to make a cardboard maze
How to make a cardboard maze
You’re building a Maze! Hooray!
As with any maze adventure, there’s no telling exactly where it will go or when it will end. The same goes for building one. Each Makedo maze is unique and varies according to the cardboard sourced to build it, the available space, and the number of people involved in the maze’s construction.
The following instructions are a guide to one way of building a maze but the truth is, you can find your own way. So use these instructions to help you get started and feel free to let your maze come to life in its own unique way.
What you’ll need
(Based on a maze half the size of a basketball court)
-
Scru-Drivers (one for each maker) Explore the range
-
250–350 Scrus Explore the range
-
Fold-Roller (one for each maker) Explore the range
-
Safe-Saw (one for each maker) Explore the range
-
Upcycled cardboard; 50–70 Cardboard boxes (recommended min. 20 inches/50cm wide with an opening large enough to crawl through).
Instructions
Step 1: Plan where to start
For some maze builds, it can be easier to start from one point and work your way along. If you have many makers collaborating on a big build, work in groups on features such as towers, archways and junctions and then connect these with tunnels that twist and turn.
Looking to make a big impact? We recommend building a grand arch for a highly visible entrance point.
Step 2: Tunnel building
The tunnels are where the magic of the cardboard maze happens. Here are a few ways to connect boxes so that they form tunnels to crawl through.
Flat join
- Push two boxes up against each other with side and top flaps on the outside.
-
Connect the side and top flaps (the side flaps help keep the tunnel stable).
Space join
- Bring two boxes together leaving a space between them.
- Bring the flaps together in a V-shape.
- Press the flap ends flat together and connect (the gap lets light and air into the maze).
Tri join
- Bring three boxes close together with flaps out.
- Overlap the side flaps from two boxes and connect 3/ repeat for three overlaps.
- Optionally, use the top flaps to start a turret - build UP!
Tunnel curve
- Bring two boxes close together with flaps out.
- Overlap the side flaps on one side only and connect.
- Press the remaining flaps flat against each other and connect.
- Repeat!
- You can alternate the direction so that the tunnel zig-zags.
Step 3: Go wild!
Now that you know how to make the basic tunnel sections, let your makers loose! This is great with a group, as makers can take their tunnels in different directions, cross over and meet up unpredictably. No two mazes are ever the same!
Step 4: Upwards and outwards
Use a Safe-Saw to open the top of a tunnel section and then use Scrus and a Scru-Driver to attach towers, complete with windows to look out across the maze.
Cut openings in tunnel walls to make doorways for and secret passages, or smaller shapes for windows and hatches that can open and close.
Time to explore!
Once your maze is ready, it’s time to go exploring!
But is any respectable maze ever truly done? The best thing about making with Makedo is that, without tape or glue, you can endlessly take sections apart, redesign and add more!
If you're looking for more inspiration on how to reuse your cardboard boxes, check out the recent article we were quoted in: 10 Ways to Get Rid of Moving Boxes.
