Cardboard Box Chair Instructions

Recycle a corrugated cardboard box into a chair.

Cardboard boxes are made from corrugated cardboard. Corrugation refers to the ripple pattern of the paper placed between the front and back paper layer of a piece of cardboard. The corrugation adds strength and cushion to the box and helps protect the contents. Cardboard furniture utilizes the strength of the corrugation within the construction of individual furniture pieces. You can cut, fold and secure together the cardboard to form chairs, tables, shelves and dressers. Make a cardboard chair from new or recycled large pieces of corrugated cardboard.

Things You'll Need

• 45-by-60 inch piece corrugated cardboard
• Pencil
• Metal yardstick
• Retractable utility knife
• Packing tape

Instructions

1. Lay a new sheet of corrugated cardboard measuring 45 inches wide by 60 inches tall on a flat surface. Place the cardboard on a vertical plane so the cardboard rectangle uses the 45-inch width as the base.

2. Create a series of 15-inch squares to create an upside down "T" on the cardboard. Begin by measuring, marking and drawing three connecting 15-inch squares along the 45-inch edge of the cardboard.

3. Find the middle 15-inch square. Measure, mark and draw three more 15-inch square boxes on top of the middle 15-inch square.

4. Look at the outer shape of the drawn boxes. Notice if they create a perfect upside down "T." Adjust the drawing of the squares if it does not look correct.

5. Cut around the outside of the "T" making sure not to cut any of the separating lines between the individual 15-inch boxes.

6. Lay the edge of the metal yardstick along one of the separating lines between the individual 15-inch boxes. Close the retractable utility knife blade. Pull the end of the utility knife along the edge of the metal ruler. Push hard enough to crease the cardboard on the drawn line. This is known as scoring the cardboard. Repeat the process with each separating line.

7. Turn the cardboard over so the creases are on the back. Fold the two arms of the upside down letter "T" up on the crease lines and make a triangle. Tape along the adjoining edges of the triangle to hold it together.

8. Lay the triangle on the ground so the post of the "T" sticks straight up in the air. Fold the post of the "T" over the triangle on the score line closest to the triangle. This fold forms the seat of the chair.

9. Fold the next score line on the cardboard so it stands at a 90 degree angle to the seat. This is the first fold for the back of the chair.

10. Fold the last score line down toward the seat of the chair. Keep folding the cardboard until it touches the 90 degree angle from the previous fold that made the chair back. Tape the chair back together.

Tips & Warnings

• Tape the seat of the chair to the bottom triangle so it does not come apart when moving.

References

• Sustain Lane: How to Make the World's Best Cardboard Chair
• Teachers Domain: Kid Designer - A Comfortable Cardboard Chair
• Woodworking Plans Guide: Cardboard Chair