How to Build a Nerf Fort

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 13, 2020 References

To have an awesome Nerf war, you’ll need a super cool and ultra strong Nerf fort. Fortunately, building a Nerf fort is easy to do, and you can construct them either inside or outside of your house. Choose to make your fort out of cardboard, pillows and blankets, or fort boards. Come up with an overall plan or theme for your fort, and use whatever option you have to make your ultimate hideaway. With some basic supplies, you can easily transform your bedroom, basement, or backyard into a Nerf battleground.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making a Fort out of Cardboard

1
Gather about 5-15 cardboard boxes. You can make your fort out of 5 or so large boxes or about 15 small boxes, based on your overall plan and availability. Purchase new boxes from a home supply store, or repurpose cardboard boxes you find around the house. Use more or less boxes as you wish to make whatever sized fort you’d like.^{[1]
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- You can either stack assembled boxes together to build your fort or cut boxes to your desired shape, based on personal preference.
2
Paint the exterior of the boxes if you want to add some color. While adding paint is optional, it can take your Nerf fort to the next level! Use spray paint in various colors to customize your fort. To apply the paint, shake up the spray paint for 5-10 seconds, and hold the can about 4–6 in (10–15 cm) away from the cardboard. Push down on the spray nozzle, and slowly move the can across your cardboard. Let the paint dry for 2-3 hours before assembling your fort.^{[2]
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- Choose greens and browns for a camouflaged outdoor fort, or paint your fort your favorite colors to make it your own.
3
Use some assembled boxes to create the overall foundation of your fort. If you have some flat small or medium-sized boxes, construct them into a box shape, and secure the edges with strips of duct tape to keep their shape. Then, place the boxes immediately next to each other in a square shape to create your structure. You can build a fort that is about 5 ft × 5 ft (1.5 m × 1.5 m) or 10 ft × 10 ft (3.0 m × 3.0 m), for instance.^{[3]
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- For example, after you pick 1 corner of your basement to use, stack a row of 5 medium boxes to create your outer wall.
- If you don’t have small or medium-sized boxes, use whatever size you’d like. These tend to stack easy when building a foundation.
4
Continue stacking boxes to your desired height. Once you create your basic foundation, place additional boxes on top of the first ones to build your walls. Your fort can be as tall as you’d like, though a height of at least 4–5 ft (1.2–1.5 m) is great for basic protection.
- If you have a row of 5 medium boxes in a line, place another 2-3 medium boxes on top of the existing ones to create the wall.
5
Cut boxes into your desired shape and size to make unique additions. While this is optional, you can use a flat, large or extra large box to customize your fort. Cut a slit in the flat box and stretch out the cardboard all the way to create a large wall, for instance. Use a box cutter to cut a 6 in × 6 in (15 cm × 15 cm) window into the top of your existing wall. Use other cardboard pieces to make your fort into the ultimate Nerf hideout!^{[4]
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- For example, you can cut out sections 3 in (7.6 cm) wide and 2–4 in (5.1–10.2 cm) deep to make the outside of your structure look like a castle.
- Grab a large piece of cardboard about 3–4 ft (0.91–1.22 m) long, and poke 2 holes in the corners. Attach some rope to either corner, and feed the rope through the front of the cardboard, and attach the cardboard to the base of your fort. This creates your own drawbridge!
- When using a box cutter, be extremely careful to avoid cutting yourself. Ask an adult to help you if you need.
6
Tape the loose pieces of cardboard together so they stay in place. To prevent your Nerf fort from toppling over during an ambush, use some duct tape for reinforcement. After you assemble your fort to your liking, rip 4–6 in (10–15 cm) pieces of duct tape, and place them halfway on 1 box and halfway on the other. Do this for every spot where the boxes intersect, for instance.Another way of reinforcing your fort is adding heavy objects to the bottoms of the cardboard so it'll stay on the ground. This is especially helpful if you are using this fort outside, so it doesn't get blown away by the wind or toppled over by people.^{[5]
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- Add more or less tape, based on how secure you want your fort to be.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Pillows, Blankets, and Furniture

1
Designate a spot in your house to build the fort. When using pillows and blankets to build a fort, pick a spot in your bedroom, living room, or basement. For instance, take over 1 corner of the room to build the fort, or transform the entire space into a Nerf war zone.^{[6]
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- Before you pick a spot, ask your parents if it’s okay.
2
Rearrange furniture to make more space to craft your fort. What furniture to move and where to move it depends on your room and availability, so use your creativity! For instance, you may want to scoot the couch over so you have more room for your fort. Or, you may want to move the couch to act as your main wall against attackers. Examine your space and choose items to move in order to enhance your fort.^{[7]
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- Avoid moving your bed, entertainment unit, or heavy bookshelf, as these items are likely hard to move.
- Be sure you move the furniture back to its proper spot when you are finished playing.
3
Lay down a few blankets to create your floor. After you rearrange some furniture and choose your space, it’s time to start building. Grab a few blankets, sheets, or towels to create your floor space. Do this in a corner spot, for instance. Stretch the blankets out so they lay flat, and stack a few to make the space more comfortable.^{[8]
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- This way, you have a cozy spot to hide from the enemy team.
4
Stack pillows to create a barrier wall. You can use pillows from your bed or couch cushions from your sofa to create a large wall for protection. Stack 3-5 pillows on top of each other around the blanket space you created. Make several barrier walls to protect you from every angle.^{[9]
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- With the help of your pillow wall, you can easily hide without being seen and pop up from behind the pillows when you are ready to shoot.
5
Make a ceiling by draping a blanket over top your area. Use a sheet, thin blanket, or comforter to create a covering for your fort. For example, you can position 2 chairs on either side of your fort and drape a blanket over top of them. Or, try tucking the blanket around your pillow stacks to keep it in place for an easy alternative.
- Creating a ceiling keeps you hidden from the opposing team.
6
Use your imagination to create whatever kind of fort you’d like! After you have the basic formation of your fort, look around your room to see what else you can use. Grab a blanket to drape over the top for extra security, or stack some stools in front for reinforcement. Since this is your own custom Nerf fort, make it however you’d like.^{[10]
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- Consider creating a Nerf gun station on the inside of your fort with all of your guns and extra Nerf bullets. This way, you’ll be ready to attack!
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Creating a Hideout with Fort Boards

1
Purchase fort boards for an easy way to create your shelter. Fort boards are easy-to-use, plastic boards that work great when making a Nerf fort. You can purchase a fort board kit online that comes with everything you need to make your own fort, including boards, connector pieces, and instructions.^{[11]
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- This is a good option if you want to build a fort but aren’t allowed to use furniture or blankets.
- This is a more environmentally friendly option because you can reuse the fort boards over and over again.
- Since these are made from plastic, you can use them to make a fort inside or outside.
2
Read over the building plans to figure out what fort you want to make. The fort board kit comes with instructions to build your own fort, and you can follow along with the directions to easily craft your own structure. Most of them give you 2-3 options to choose from.^{[12]
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- Alternatively, you can also disregard the instructions and use your creativity to assemble whatever fort you’d like! The instructions are simply guidelines you can use if you’d like.
3
Snap together the sides of 2 pieces to assemble the fort boards. The fort boards have small pieces of plastic that easily snap into another board. To do this, place 2 boards next to each other and align the small plastic sections on the side. They should easily snap together without much force.^{[13]
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- If you are having trouble connecting the boards, review your instructions.
Connect the boards into a cube shape by securing 4 on each side, 1 on the top, and 1 on the bottom. Snap the boards together on each side so they are secure. This is a great idea if you want to create a stable foundation out of fort board cubes. Make 5-10 fort board cubes, and place them immediately next to each other in a row.^{[14]
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Create a wall of fort boards if you want to cover a large area. In addition to making boxes, you can also keep the fort boards flat to make a wall. Instead of creating cubes, connect the fort boards into a 3 ft × 5 ft (0.91 m × 1.52 m) section, for instance. Then, place this at the front of your fort to act as a barrier. Secure the wall of fort boards by using fort board cubes or other items in your house. Continue creating walls of fort boards for an easy-to-construct option.^{[15]
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- You can add a wall of fort boards in front of your foundation for another layer of defense if you’d like.
6
Attach the blue hinge pieces for extra reinforcement. The fort kit also comes with blue attachment pieces that keep the fort boards in place. To connect them, simply hook the hinge piece to the plastic bar in the middle of a board, and do the same thing for the other end on another board. You can do this whether you are making a wall or securing cubes. Add a blue hinge piece in between each board you’d like to reinforce.^{[16]
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- Your instructions should come with a diagram of how to do this if you need assistance.
- The fort board has a square plastic cube in the middle, and around the cube are 3 small plastic connector pieces. You can secure the hinge pieces to any of these connector pieces.
7
Continue assembling the fort boards to create your ultimate Nerf shelter. Connect as many boards as you’d like to make your shelter. You can make a combination of cubes and walls to extend your foundation and add finishing touches.^{[17]
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- For example, you can make a 5 ft × 5 ft (1.5 m × 1.5 m) wall to cover 3 sides of your fort.
- You can stack cubes of fort boards up to 5 ft (1.5 m) high in a square shape.
- Use your creativity to assemble whatever style of fort you’d like.
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Community Q&A

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Question

What if you have a few men, a few guns, but an entire forest to battle with?

Community Answer

You will need walkie-talkies for communication, a map for orienteering, and in case of emergency, a phone. If it's a big forest and you'll be there for a while, bring snacks and water bottles too.

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What if I only have cardboard?

Community Answer

Put the cardboard around you to create a space for you to sit in. Make it as big as you like. Put a blanket over the top and clip it down with clothespins.

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What if I don't have a lot of ammo?

Community Answer

Preserve it. Don't use hyperfire guns, they waste your bullets too quickly. Make your shots count.

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Things You’ll Need

Making a Fort out of Cardboard

5-15 cardboard boxes in various sizes
Box cutter
Duct tape
Spray paint (optional)

Using Household Items and Furniture

Room to play
Couches or chairs
Blankets
Towels
Pillows
Cushions

Creating a Hideout with Fort Boards

Fort boards
Connector pieces
Indoor or outdoor space

Tips

For a fun, personalized touch, add a target space to your fort. You can print out a target online and hang it up on your fort. Then, practice shooting with your friends or before you get into another Nerf war.^{[18]
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Add a secondary escape in case people come in the main exit.

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Make sure to add places inside your fort to shoot from.

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Warnings

Before you start building, make sure your parents are okay with your fort location. They may not be happy if they come home and you’ve taken over the living room to make your Nerf war battleground.

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