An empty box is so much more than something to throw in your recycling bin. Let’s upcycle it today into toys! Turn your empty cardboard box into something magical for play. Here are our favorite ideas to turn a cardboard box into toys. These toy projects from boxes are great for kids of all ages and the ultimate boredom buster!

16 Toys You Can Make with an Empty Box - collage of images of toys made from cardboard boxes from boats to beds - Kids Activities Blog
Let’s make toys out of old boxes!

Empty Box Ideas for Kids

Get out the scissors and glue and make some of these incredible DIY toys all from an empty box.

Related: How to make paper boxes

Check out all the fun you can have with a cardboard box today…

1. DIY Millennium Falcon

Cardboard Box Crafts- Millennium Falcon painted and decorated outside- kids activities blog
Make your own Millennium Falcon our of cardboard.

The Millennium Falcon! Yes, your very own Star Wars vehicle! via All For The Boys

2. Box Cat and Kittens Craft

Cardboard Box Crafts- white and orange kittens and cats by pumpkins- Kids Activities Blog
Love cats? Make your own with cardboard.

These little Cat and Kittens are adorable. Make them and tiny juice box kittens!

3. Homemade Light Brite

Cardboard Box Crafts- Homemade Light Brite with red stars and 2 people- kids activities blog
Turns out, you can use cardboard to make your own light bright.

Wow, kids will love this fun Homemade Light Brite toy. So cool! via Toddler Approved

4. DIY Marble Run Game

Cardboard Box Crafts- DIY marble run game with marbles and popsicle sticks- kids activities blog
You just need cardboard boxes, popsicle sticks, and marbles to make a marble run game.

This Marble Run would keep my little ones busy for quite a while! via Frugal Fun for Boys

5. Aquarium Craft

Cardboard Box Crafts- Aquarium craft with fish, fake water, and seaweed- kids activities blog
Make your own cardboard aquarium with fish and seaweed!

This Aquarium just might be one of my most favorite crafts of all time. It looks just like an aquarium! via The Breaking Dad

6. Homemade Doll Bed

Make a sweet little Doll Bed for your dolls to snooze in. via PopSugar

text: toys made from a box - more images of toys upcycled from cardboard boxes
You can make THAT from a box?

7. DIY Toy Car Garage

Park all those toy cars in this super fun Toy Car Garage  made from a shoe box! via Mommo Design

8. Pirate Ship Craft

Cardboard box crafts- pirate ship with flag and child in it- kids activities blog
How cool is this great cardboard Pirate ship? It has a flag AND anchor!

This Pirate Ship is so much fun! All you need for a pirate ship is an empty box. via Mini Mad Things

9. Homemade Mailbox

Cardboard Box crafts- homemade mailbox blue like USPS one- kids activities blog
Make your own cardboard mailbox!

Have a fun day of playing pretend with this postal Mailbox! via Little Red Window

Related: Transform your box into these Valentine box ideas

10. DIY Wheelbarrow 

Cardboard box crafts- DIY wheelbarrow with wheels and handles- kids activities blog
Make your own cardboard wheel barrow. Perfect for toys!

How adorable is this Wheelbarrow? Kids will love playing with this. via Makenzie

11. Traffic Light Craft

Cardboard box crafts- red, yellow, and green traffic light craft- kids activities blog
Make a cardboard traffic light!

This Traffic Light is perfect for playing cars or the game red light, green light! via Ikat Bag

12. Homemade Dollhouse 

Cardboard box crafts- Doll house with little girl playing- kids activities blog
How cute is this cardboard dollhouse!

A real, functioning Dollhouse! This would save a ton of money. via My Cakies

13. DIY Noah’s Ark 

Fill this Noah’s Ark  up with your stuffed animals. So sweet. via The Craft Train

Toys You Can Make with an Empty Box - boat, traffic light, box garage, crafts and a barbie couch
Oh so much fun to play with a box!

14. Homemade Barbie Couch

Make a super cute Barbie Couch for Barbie and her friends! via Kids Kubby

15. Rideable Dinosaur Craft

Cardboard crafts- rideable dinosaur craft boy and girl- kids activities blog
Use cardboard to make a Dinosaur hobby toy.

This riding Dinosaur would be a blast to play with. via Mood Kids

16. Homemade Camera

Cardboard box crafts- homemade camera made with paper, cardboard, and yarn- kids activities blog
Promote pretend play with this cardboard camera.

Pretend to be a photographer for the day and make your own DIY Camera! via Toddler At Play

17. DIY Race Car

Card Board Box Crafts- DIY Red Race Car- kids activities blog
This red cardboard car goes great with your traffic light!

Make a pretend Lighting McQueen Race Car your kids will adore! via Krokotak

More Homemade Toys From Kids Activities Blog:

Have you made your own toys? We’d love to hear about them in the comments.



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