How to make a teepee: DIY building instructions & helpful tips
- Difficultyeasy
- Cost< 50 £
- Duration3-4 h
Introduction
Do you want your children to have the same teepee-based fun that you had when you were little? Well, why not build your own DIY teepee? You can even get your kids to help out, giving them wonderful memories and you an extra pair of hands for the job!
Maybe your son’s birthday is coming up? Or perhaps your daughter is planning a big sleepover? With our helpful guide, you’ll learn how to construct a teepee with enough room for several children. Before you start, check out the “Tips & Planning” section to find lots of useful information.
- at least one pair of helping hands
- carving knife or wood auger
- stepladder
- scissors, or a sewing machine
- At least 6 wooden poles at least 2m in length and 3cm in diameter (the bigger your teepee, the more wooden poles you’ll need)
- Fabric, such as old sheets or curtains (enough to cover the teepee)
- 2 pieces of string or rope, minimum 2m long
- Decorative material
- Wood stain
How to build a teepee: A step-by-step guide
With our handy guide, you can build yourself a large teepee in just a few simple steps. These instructions are designed for an outdoors teepee that’s best placed in the garden.
Even though constructing a teepee isn’t that dangerous, it’s still important to carefully follow safety precautions to protect yourself and those around you.
It's best to make a scale diagram of your teepee in advance, just so you have a clear idea of the height, width, and space you’ll need in your garden. The larger you want your teepee, the more poles you’ll require and the longer they need to be. Six poles create a hexagonal shape, eight poles an octagonal form, and so on. Find more details in the “Tips & Planning” chapter before you begin.
Building the basic teepee structure
Firstly, mark the desired centre point of your teepee on the floor. Sharpen the wooden poles using a carving knife, then stick them into the ground with the sharp end in the soil. If this process is too tedious or difficult for you, you can use an auger to drill holes in the ground. Place the poles in the soil and fill the space around them with soil.
You should insert the poles at least 10cm deep into the ground and at your desired angle according to your initial sketch. Place them equal distances from each other and from the marked centre point so that they touch each other at the top. A second pair of hands is required for this part.
These poles form the backbone of the teepee. It doesn’t matter if they’re a little too long, as the varied lengths create a natural, authentic teepee look. Plus, you can decorate the ends with flags and colourful ribbons. If you want to shorten the poles, however, you can do so with a NanoBlade saw or a reciprocating saw.
When you’re sure that the poles are in the right place, wrap a rope around them at the top where they meet. Loop the string or rope around the poles several times and tie a firm knot at the end. At this point, you’ve got a nice, stable frame for your teepee.
Protect the wood
Connecting the remaining wooden poles
Next, it’s time to attach the remaining wooden poles to your frame. Space them out at regular intervals and slot them into the ground just like the main poles. Tie them together securely with several knots at the top of the base frame.
Preparing the fabric
This is a great step to do with your children. First, lay out the fabric on the ground. Your initial diagram should give you a rough idea of how much material you need. For example, one or two sheets wrapped loosely around the frame are enough for smaller teepees.
If you want to be really precise, however, you can calculate the areas of the triangles between each wooden pole and add a few centimetres for offcuts. This way, you can create your own teepee pattern and cut the canvas to a more precise size. A larger teepee requires several sheets or curtains sewn together.
Now it’s time for some fun arts and crafts! You and your children can design the teepee fabric together, painting and gluing on all kinds of patterns and decorations. Glue pens or glue guns can be helpful here, but take care when using a hot glue gun around your little ones.
Attaching the fabric to the teepee
When you’ve completed your designs and decorations, attach the fabric to the teepee frame. First, wrap it loosely around the wooden poles and pull it tightly – this is best done in pairs. You can now use a staple gun to attach the fabric to the wooden poles in multiple places, starting from the top. This ensures the canvas stays in place on windy days. If your teepee isn’t going to be up for long, you can choose to skip this step.
If you simply have a large piece of fabric, rather than a collection of triangles sewn together, you’ll find that some of the fabric bunches up at the top of the teepee. Tie this excess canvas to the frame with the second piece of string or rope. You can also wrap the fabric completely around the protruding pole ends at the top, particularly if you want your teepee to be ultra-resistant to the weather and you have chosen a waterproof fabric (e.g., tent canvas).
As an added extra, line the floor of your teepee with multiple rugs to make it cosier.
Congratulations! You've now built your own teepee fit for worlds of fun for your children and their friends.
You can find more creative ideas for your next DIY project with your kids in the Leisure Time and Family Time section of our website. There, you can find fun crafting ideas to keep your kids busy and DIY kids toys, such as a DIY raft made from tent canvas.
A teepee for plants
Tips & planning for building a teepee
Read the following section for all the useful hints and information you need before you begin building your teepee.
Where do teepees come from?
Numerous cultures have used tents as shelters for thousands of years. The teepee originated in North America, where it was initially constructed with leather skins. These were replaced by lighter fabrics around the year 1800. At that time, a teepee measured around 7-9 metres in diameter.
Teepees were transported by sledges and then later horses, when they were introduced to the American continent by non-native settlers. The teepee is full of symbolism and closely linked to indigenous culture. For example, the entrance always faced the East towards the rising sun.
How big should I build my garden teepee?
Your DIY teepee needs to be big enough for your kids to let off steam and fully immerse themselves in their fantasy worlds. We recommend a diameter of at least 3 metres for a couple of kids, and up to 6 metres for a group of your children and their friends.
The height of your teepee will depend on how tall your children are and your chosen diameter. Your kids should be able to comfortably stand up in the centre of the teepee. A larger diameter needs a taller teepee, otherwise you will lose the characteristic cone shape.
Will my DIY teepee withstand the wind?
Your teepee’s wind resistance will depend on how you build it and the stability of the materials. If you anchor the poles into the ground and securely attach the fabric to the frame, there’s a good chance your teepee will withstand strong winds. However, DIY teepees aren’t generally designed to last forever. For windy days, you can build your own playhouse or make your kids happy with a DIY stilt house . A DIY tree house is also sure to be a hit with your young ones!
How do I make a teepee tent for a child’s room?
Because it will be indoors and in a smaller space, this type of DIY teepee will need fewer wooden poles and a smaller diameter. Four short poles are enough to create a small shelter, and you won’t have to drive them into the ground. Connect the poles at the top with a rope, so you can easily dismantle it again when required. Check out our guide for even more DIY ideas for your children’s rooms.
What do I need to consider when choosing a base for the teepee?
A thin blanket or small rug makes a good base for an outdoor teepee in summer and good weather. If the ground is wet, cold, or uncomfortable, you can use waterproof picnic blankets to keep out moisture. Tent floors and tarpaulins also help keep the teepee waterproof.
Want to build a long-lasting teepee in your garden? You might want to consider placing it on some kind of foundation, such as a base made from pallets. You’ll need a relatively flat piece of ground for this, but if you plan your teepee structure skilfully, you may be able to insert the wooden poles through the gaps in the pallets and into the ground. Plus, if your fabric covering extends to the pallets but not to the ground, it is better protected from dirt and damp.
It’s also possible to create a polygonal frame made from squared timber onto which you screw a wooden board. Always remember to apply wood stain or varnish to protect the wood!
Which materials are suitable for building a teepee?
For base materials, see the previous section. For the poles, you can use any material that is stable and straight. Square timber, strong bamboo, broomsticks, and even branches (free from rot) are suitable for DIY teepees, although be wary of the size of your teepee when choosing materials.
For the covering, you don’t always need to buy something new. Old bed linen, curtains, tent fabric, and tarpaulins are all appropriate for the outer covering of the teepee. Just remember that dark-coloured fabrics and plastic tarpaulins can make the interior very hot in the sun!
Recycling is one of our favourite topics. If you like creating something new from old parts, check out our creative DIY upcycling ideas for your home and garden! You’ll find a range of projects, from building your own climbing plant support and pallet playhouse to using gardening tools for new purposes.
How do I find the right location for a teepee?
If you want to build a DIY teepee in your garden, find a piece of flat, dry ground. It’s even better if it’s slightly elevated because this is where the least amount of water will collect after it rains. Leave at least 1 metre between your teepee and other obstacles like trees and fences, as this makes building easier and prevents danger from falling branches. Ensure the site is as sheltered from the wind as much as possible and place the teepee’s entrance face against the side of your house, a fence or some bushes.
Costs: Building your own teepee
Fulfilling your children’s dreams of having their own teepee doesn’t have to be expensive. You can build your own DIY teepee for less than £50 if you buy the wood from a DIY store. Plus, the more upcycling you do, the more you save. Maybe you’ve got some suitable wood or materials in your shed? In that case, you may be able to make this a completely cost-free project!