How to Build an Outdoor Fort

Co-authored by Josh Goldbach

Last Updated: December 8, 2022

Do you want to create the ultimate fortress outdoors? Need a hideout? Want to know exactly how to build one like a master? Outdoor forts can be tons of fun to make, if you take a bit of time to build it up and use plenty of materials from nature.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Found Supplies

1
Choose the best location. A good fort will be built in a place where it fits perfectly. Look for trees with branches that are low to the ground, bushes that are hollowed out in the middle or that form a ring, or logs that can make the base for your fort . Try not to put your fort in the middle of a field or a grassy area, because this will make it difficult to build and won’t give much cover.
- Lean your fort up against a tree, if you can. Forts built in the woods are the easiest to make.
- Big rocks can be great places to put a fort, if you can find them.
2
Find some supplies from outside. The best outdoor forts are built using things from the outdoors! Spend a bit of time searching your yard or the woods for supplies to use in building your fort. You might use things like:
- Old branches
- Large sticks
- Tree boughs (with leaves)
- Dead bushes
Advertisement
3
Choose some supplies from your house. If you can’t find many good fort-building supplies outdoors, you might want to add some things from your house to make it better. Remember to only use things from your house with permission from your parents. Gather up all the supplies you could use to build your fort.^{[1]
X
Research source} These might include:
- Blankets
- Thick string (for holding up the blankets) and clothespins.
- Umbrellas
- Cardboard boxes
- Chairs^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
4
Make the walls of your fort. Use some big sticks (or chairs, if you don’t have sticks) and put them in the ground to set up a wall around your fort. You can use 4 sticks for the corners, or you can use lots of sticks put close together to make a wall. If you don’t have many stick, you can put blankets or big leaves between your corners to make your walls.
- If you have thick string, you can wrap it between the corners and put blankets or towels over the top to make walls.
- Try to make your walls between a few big trees or bushes to make it easier to build.
5
Give your fort a roof. You don’t have to, but it may be good to add a roof to your fort. To do this, drape big branches with leaves over the top, and balance them on your walls. You could also throw a big blanket or tarp over the top of your roof.^{[3]
X
Research source} If you have lots, a fun idea is to use many umbrellas as a roof over the top of your fort.
- Old dry branches that have fallen off trees that still have leaves are perfect for making a roof.
- If you build your fort under a tree with low branches, you might not need to add a roof.
6
Decorate your fort. The next best thing to building your fort is making it feel like your own. Bring in decorations to make the inside feel more comfortable, or add some to the outside. Old logs can act as chairs or tables, and fresh flowers always work well for decoration. Use big leaves as bowls and cups, and look for other parts of nature to add to your fort.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- If you want, you can bring things from your house to decorate the inside of your fort. Always be sure to ask permission for this, though.
- You might want to make a sign for your fort, with a name.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Building Other Kinds of Forts

1
Try building a wooden fort. If you want to make a fort that will last a bit longer, you can build one out of wood using basic tools. It may take a bit longer, but you'll end up with a top-quality fort that will last for weeks, months, or maybe even years.
2
Make a blanket fort. If you have a small backyard or you don't have many supplies to use for building your fort, you can try building a blanket fort instead. Although most blanket forts are built inside on rainy days, you can build one outside in a grassy area or field.
3
Build a box fort. If you've got lots of empty boxes in your house, put them to use by building a fort! Although your fort probably won't end up like the one in 'Out of the Box!', you can make it feel like a real house with enough work. Combine several big boxes and cut out holes between them to make 'rooms'. You can even add windows and furniture inside your box fort if you want.
4
Try making a snow fort. If you are lucky enough to have a snow day, you can put all the white stuff to use by making a fort with it. Snow forts won't last too long, but they may be the coolest out of all the forts you can build. Pile up the snow, cut out doors and windows, and load it up with snowballs in case of an impending attack.^{[5]
X
Research source}
5
Build an underground fort. This type of fort might be the hardest to make, but it will last a long time, and is really cool when finished. Building an underground fort involves digging a series of 'rooms' in the ground, and possibly even connecting them with tunnels. If you have lots of land and time to work, you should definitely try making an underground fort. But be careful!! Underground forts can collapse, so make sure you have a parent supervisor, and always make sure the soil is stable. Always build at least two exits in case of a collapse. Never build underground forts in sand. (DISCLAIMER: underground forts are crazy dangerous. More than a few people have died trying to make these. There's a lot more to building underground than digging sideways. Do a lot of research, be prepared to drop some cash, and make peace with your maker. You are seriously risking your life by building one of these.)
6
Build a fort in the woods. Forest forts are lots of fun, because they're easy to camouflage and add lots of decoration to from nature. Head out into the woods with some tools, collect some branches and supplies, and build your fort in the woods!

Community Q&A

Question

How do I make a fort in the bushes?

Community Answer

If the bush is big enough, hollow it out with clippers and set up sticks as support if needed.
Question

How do I make a fort that can stand the snow?

Community Answer

You could make a base of some plywood for the snow to sit on and some 2x4s to hold it up. Then you just put snow around it and on top of it.
Question

Can I make a fort with just sticks?

Community Answer

Yes, it's called a lean-to. Find a wide tree, boulder, or other anchor, and lean twigs against it to make a triangle.

Warnings

Be prepared for your fort to fall down, be destroyed or be broken by the elements or other people and animals. It's the way outdoor forts go and there's not much you can do to prevent it but trying to build as good a fort as you can.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 129 Not Helpful 23
Be cautious when re-entering your fort after a while. Who knows what animals could be living in there.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 124 Not Helpful 25