4 Ways to Make Pinball Games Out of Cardboard - wikiHow (2025)

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Last Updated: September 8, 2024Tested

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1. 1

   Gather your materials. You will need:

   • Shoebox. You can also use the top
   • Clear tape
   • 2 cups from an egg carton
   • Duct tape for decoration (optional)
   • Scissors
   • Straws
   • Brass paper fastener (1/2" or 3/4")
   • Thin cardboard (the cardboard from a cereal box or tissue box etc.)
   • Marble or other small ball
   • Odds and ends to create obstacles in the playing field (optional). Examples include:
     • Small paper cups
     • Bottle caps
     • Pipe cleaners, markers, aluminum foil, popsicle (craft) sticks
2. 

   2

   Paint and decorate the shoebox if desired. Let it dry overnight.

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3. 

   3

   Set the box on an angle.

   • Tape or glue the two egg carton cups to one end of the shoe box.
4. 

   4

   Create a ball-launching lever.

   See Also

   DIY Cardboard Pinball W/ Flipper & LauncherHow I Made a Pinball Board Game with Simple MaterialsDIY Pinball Game MachineMake a Pinball Machine

   • Fold a two-inch strip of cardboard lengthwise.
   • Attach the cardboard to the lower left-hand corner of the shoebox using a brass fastener.
   • Test the lever by flicking it with your finger to see if it can shoot the marble. Adjust the lever as needed.
5. 

   5

   Design the playing field.

   • PBS Kids recommends making a path on the left side of the box by taping down a straw to lead your marble to the top of the box.
   • Add a curved piece of paper to the top left corner of the shoebox to enable your marble to roll smoothly to the right.
   • Create an obstacle course with miscellaneous objects on the right side of the box.
6. 

   6

   Try it out! Keep testing the playing field until you are satisfied with how the pinball machine works.

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1. 

   1

   Create a ball launcher to start with.

   • Materials needed:
     • Pencil
     • Thumbtack
     • Washer wide enough to place around the pencil
     • Spring wide enough to thread around the pencil
   • Stick the thumbtack in the pencil eraser.
   • Slide the washer up next to the thumbtack.
   • Thread the spring onto the pencil.
2. 

   2

   Install the ball launcher

   • Cut a hole just big enough to fit the pencil.
   • Thread the launcher through the hole.
   • Use a small piece of cardboard to create a chute next to the launcher for the marble.
   • Use your imagination and create more obstacles.
3. 

   3

   Add flippers to your pinball table.

   • Determine where you want to locate the flippers.
   • Cut slits in the cardboard box big enough to insert craft sticks.
   • Insert craft sticks. Reinforce the slits with duct tape.
4. 

   4

   Add obstacles to the playing field.

   • Attach the cardboard bat to a craft stick or other type of stick.
   • Place the marble on top of the thumbtack, pull back the launcher, and let it go!
   • The Scientific Mom has many suggestions for creating playing field obstacles, including setting up ramps, bells, and flaps.
     • Create tunnels and ramps out of toilet paper tubes.
     • Create flaps using a skewer and cut paper.
5. 5

   Start playing and having fun!

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1. 

   1

   Make a paper plate marble maze. Kids can have fun making a simple maze pinball game using a paper plate and a few found items.

   • Gather your materials:
     • Paper plate.
     • Craft supplies such as construction paper, bottle caps, and pipe cleaners.
     • Glue and tape.
     • Scissors.
     • Marbles.
   • Create obstacles for the maze.
     • Cut strips of paper and tape or glue to the inside of the plate rim side up.
     • Tape or glue other objects to the plate.
   • Navigate through the maze with the marble.
2. 

   2

   Make a cardboard box maze.

   See Also

   25 DIY Pinball Machine You Can Build Easily

   • Gather your materials:
     • Cardboard box with lid.
     • Wide craft sticks.
     • Utility knife.
     • Hot glue gun.
     • Craft knife.
     • Small circle. A nickel works well.
   • Create a maze on the top of the box lid by gluing the craft sticks with a hot glue gun.
   • Trace circles on the lid using a pencil and nickel.
   • Cut the circles out with a craft knife.
   • Place the lid inside the box and decorate how you want.
   • Use a marble to negotiate the maze and avoid the holes.
3. 3

   Make sure children have adequate supervision when handling tools.

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1. 1

   Gather your materials. You will need:

   • Two large cardboard boxes of approximately the same size.
   • 2-3 plastic storage bins
   • Sharp craft knife or Canary knife
   • Packing or duct tape
   • Tennis balls (or similar)
2. 

   2

   Create a skee ball game similar to one described on the Momtastic site.^[1]

   • Make a ramp by cutting the short side of one of the boxes so it lies down flat. Be sure to leave the rest of the box intact.
     • You should have a box that is solid on three sides with a flap that folds out.
   • Cut out the short side of the other box so it is the same size as the first box.
   • Fold the flap from the first box into the box at an angle so it forms part of a ramp. Tape in Place.
   • Place the cardboard cut from the second box on top of the ramp and tape in place.
   • Place the containers behind the cardboard box.
3. 

   3

   Play the game by rolling tennis balls up the ramp and into the plastic containers. The farther away the container is, the more points scored.

4. 4

   Fold up the ramp and put the box away when you're finished playing.

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