38 Things to Do With a Cardboard Box that Are Crafty & Fun!

Grab those cardboard boxes before they go to recycling and try out one of these super fun and simple crafts or activities for kids!

Do you have a collection of cardboard boxes?

Great!

Large boxes, small boxes, pasta boxes, cereal boxes, and any other cardboard box can be repurposed with just a little imagination

If you’re running low on ideas for what to do with a cardboard box, keep reading.

There really are so many possibilities!

Let the unboxing begin!

Crafts to Do With a Cardboard Box

A box is a great supply for crafts!

Check out these cardboard crafts for kids to try today.

Create a splatter painting. Wrap rubber bands around a cardboard box and let the fun begin!
Paint a shake art masterpiece. Even a toddler can shake a box!
Head outside and create a ball painting. Alternatively, use plastic eggs for an easy Easter egg painting project.
Cut a box to make rubber band printing transfer art. Stamp away!
Use a cardboard box as a back for string art craft. This is a great way to practice shapes, too.
Find some flowers for a wildflower bouquet. It’s so cute! And sneaks in a little fine motor practice.
Wrap yarn ornaments. First, cut a large circle from a cardboard box. Then wrap.
Make some noise with a DIY hand drum. You could even start a band with these 15+ DIY musical instruments. Pair this activity with a reading of the book Plinka, Plinka, Shake, Shakeby Emma Garcia.
Design a box robot. If you would like to create more robots, check out these robot crafts.
Decorate a cardboard airplane. Then try one of these 55 transportation themed activities.
Stamp an upcycled snowman painting. For more snowman-themed crafts, check out these 24 snowman crafts for toddlers and preschoolers.
Build a 3D Christmas tree craft with a cardboard box. A template is included!
Play a DIY board game. This is a great way to sneak in a little education, without being bored!
Work on a math puzzle. The mission is to search, solve, and assemble.
Assemble a DIY cereal box puzzle. Or use a cracker box or whatever other box you have on hand! This is an easy, fun way to teach numbers.

Big cardboard boxes are fun to explore!

They can become cars, airplanes, houses, and more.

Play in a box. The possibilities of what a box can be truly are endless!
Go box dumpster diving. This is a great way to use a very large box.
Read books in a box. Some books to enjoy include What to Do with a Box written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Chris Sheban and A Box Can Be Many Things written by Dana Meachen Rau and illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye.
Travel in a box train. Chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo!
Learn about weight limits on box flap bridges. Pair this with one of these simple craft stick bridges.
Build a cardboard box fort. Then try one of these forts.
Play with cars in a cardboard box parking garage. You could even paint lines for parking!
Create a homemade cornhole game. Then play together as a family.
Try a ball drop activity. Can you get the ball to drop through the hole?

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Here are even more activities with cardboard boxes to try today.

Build box towers. Using different sized boxes adds to the challenge!
Wrap a box with tinfoil wrap. Then try one of these other sensory activities.
Decorate a shaving cream box cake. Messy, but fun!
Poke a pattern on a box. This is a great way to practice colors!
Practice fine motor skills with cardboard box hammering. All you need are some golf tees, a box, and a small hammer!
Use the golf tees and box for this pom pom golf tee activity, too. What design will you create?
Poke holes with pins to decorate a Christmas Tree. So simple!
Practice math skills with a number matching box. This takes some prep work but can be used over and over again.
Play with a magnetic race track box. This can be as fancy or simple as you’d like. Be creative!
Experiment with a magnetic activity table. Then check out these 50 simple science experiments.
Capture memories in a cardboard memory box. This would be great to do any time of the year, but especially as a New Year’s Eve countdown activity.
Design a cardboard box town. Then grab some toys and have hours of play time!
Watch a ball roll on cardboard box ramps. This may take a little bit of trial and error to get just right, but that’s part of the fun.
Learn addition skills with a fun visual addition drop. No cardboard tubes? No problem! Thin cardboard boxes can be rolled into tubes. How creative is that?