How to Make a Snowman

When winter comes with heavy snow, it’s time to get out there and build a snowman! It’s simple to roll up three snowballs, one large, one medium, and one small. Stack them up with the biggest on bottom and the smallest on top for the head. Then let your creative side run wild by decorating the snowman with a face, clothing, arms, and any accessories that you want!

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Finding Wet Snow and a Flat Spot

  1. Image titled Make a Snowman Step 1
    1
    Check for snow that’s moist and packable. If your snow is too fluffy or powdery, you will not be able to make a snowman. Go out to the snow and scoop some up between both of your hands. Press it together, and if it forms into a ball, you’ll be able to make a snowman.[1]
    2. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Rolling up a Snowman

  1. Image titled Make a Snowman Step 4
    1
    Pack a snowball with your hands for the bottom section. Scoop up a handful of snow with both hands. Pack it together into a round shape. Add snow to the ball in your hands until it is about one foot (30.5 cm) in diameter, or until it gets too heavy.
    • Make sure you are wearing warm, waterproof gloves, or your hands will start to hurt from handling the snow.
  2. Image titled Make a Snowman Step 5
    2
    Roll the ball along the ground to make the bottom section. Set the snowball on the ground and begin rolling it forward. As you roll, avoid making a cylinder by changing the direction you’re rolling the ball. Keep rolling until the ball is about three feet (1 meter) wide.[2]
    • Stop rolling the snowball in the spot where you want the snowman to be. Make sure you start somewhere near that spot, and roll the ball so that you end up there.
    • It often works well to roll the ball in a large spiral, but take note that this will leave an obvious pattern in the snow.
    • Pat your snowball together every so often to keep excess snow from falling off.
  3. Image titled Make a Snowman Step 6
    3
    Form the middle section. Scoop up some snow in both hands and pack it into a tight ball. Add more snow until the ball is too heavy to carry. Put it on the ground and roll it around as you did for the bottom section. This time, stop when the ball reaches about two feet (.6 meters) wide.[3]
    • Roll the snowball in a circle around the bottom section, or in a straight line away from it and back to it. This way when you finish the ball you won’t have to carry it a long way to the bottom section.
  4. Image titled Make a Snowman Step 7
    4
    Lift the middle section onto the bottom section. Depending on how big you are, have someone help you lift the large ball. Bend your knees and be sure to stand up with your legs rather than your back. Pick it up and gently set it on the bottom section. Make sure that it sits right in the center of the bottom ball.
    • It helps if you flatten the top side of the bottom ball and flatten the bottom side of the middle ball. This helps the middle section sit firmly on the bottom section.
  5. Image titled Make a Snowman Step 8
    5
    Make a one foot (30.5 cm) snowball for the head. Scoop up one last ball of snow for the head. Pack it with your hands until it is about one foot (30.5 cm) wide. You should be able to make the head without rolling it, but it’s okay to roll it if you want to. When you finish, carefully place it on top of the snowman’s body.
  6. Image titled Make a Snowman Step 9
    6
    Pack some snow between the sections. Once the three sections are in place, scoop up more snow and pack it between each section. This will give the snowman a uniform look from top to bottom, rather than looking like three snowballs piled on top of each other.
    7. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Decorating Your Snowman

  1. Image titled Make a Snowman Step 10
    1
    Stick a carrot in the middle of the head for a nose. Grab a long raw carrot from the grocery store for the snowman’s nose. Place it in the middle of the top snowball. Make sure you place it so there is room above it for eyes and below it for a mouth.
    • Making the snowman your own is all about creativity. If you have something else that you think would look cool as a nose, use that instead.
  2. Image titled Make a Snowman Step 11
    2
    Use buttons, pebbles, or charcoal for eyes. Place them above the carrot and space them evenly to the right and the left. Push them into the head, and twist them in a circle so that they stick in the snow. Any round object will work for the eyes.
    • Other options to use for eyes are yellow ping-pong balls, blue rubber bouncy balls, or large green plastic gems.
  3. Image titled Make a Snowman Step 12
    3
    Make a mouth with a row of pebbles or charcoal. Use the same thing you used for the eyes to make the mouth, or mix it up with other round objects. Place the mouth under the nose, but not too close to the middle section.
    • Cut a mouth out of felt, stick some fake plastic teeth in the face, or bend a piece of rubber tubing into a smile.
  4. Image titled Make a Snowman Step 13
    4
    Add two sticks for the snowman’s arms. Find a couple of sticks that are about one inch (2.5 cm) or less wide and around three feet (1 meter) long. Push the sticks into the middle section of the snowman. Position the sticks so they are angled up or down, giving the snowman the look you like best.
    • Before the arms, if you want, put a shirt or coat of some kind around the body of the snowman.
    • Also use old broom sticks, golf clubs, or fake skeleton arms!
  5. Image titled Make a Snowman Step 14
    5
    Top off the snowman with a hat and scarf. This is where you have even more space for creativity. Grab an old ball cap, cowboy hat, fedora, or top hat for the snowman’s head. Wrap a colorful scarf around its neck. Use old stuff that you don’t mind possibly ruining.
    • Add a tie, sunglasses, or any other accessories to make the snowman stand out from the rest.
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

  • Question
    How can I add color to my snowman?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Add a few drops of food coloring to a spray bottle full of water, secure the lid, and shake thoroughly. Then, spray the food coloring mixture onto the desired areas of your snowman.
  • Question
    Can I make a snowman have an icicle as a nose?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, just get the icicle and put it in where your want the nose to be do the same as you would do with a carrot.
  • Question
    I tried last year, but every time I tried to roll it, some snow fell off. Why?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It may be because the snow wasn't compact enough or moist enough. You can add freezing water to fluffy snow to help it stay in one piece.
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Build a Snow Cave
How to
Build a Snow Cave
Go Sledding
How to
Go Sledding
Build an Igloo
How to
Build an Igloo
Build a Snow Fort
How to
Build a Snow Fort
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ http://www.momtastic.com/parenting/171249-how-to-build-the-perfect-snowman/#/slide/1
  2. ↑ http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/outdoors/2010/01/17/Ten-steps-to-building-the-perfect-snowman/stories/201001170158
  3. ↑ https://qz.com/153318/the-science-behind-the-art-of-building-a-snowman/

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 676,471 times.
160 votes - 74%
Co-authors: 104
Updated: February 23, 2023
Views: 676,471
Categories: Winter Outdoor Activities
Article SummaryX

To make a snowman, start by packing a dense snowball with your hands. Then, roll the snowball through the snow on the ground so it gets bigger. Every few rolls, stop to pack the snowball down so the snow doesn't fall off. Continue rolling until the ball is about 3 feet, or 1 meter, across. Next, repeat the process with 2 more snowballs to make the middle and top sections for your snowman, but make each section slightly smaller than the one below it. When you're finished, stack the middle section on the base of your snowman, and then stack the top section on top of the middle. At this point, your snowman should look like 3 large snowballs stacked on top of each other, with the smallest snowball at the top. Now that the body of your snowman is finished, stick 2 buttons or pebbles on the top section for eyes, and stick a carrot underneath them for the nose. You can also make a mouth with a row of pebbles or a curved stick. Additionally, push 2 sticks into the sides of the middle section of your snowman to give it arms. You can even dress your snowman with a hat and a scarf. To learn which type of snow is the best to make a snowman, keep reading!

Did this summary help you?
Advertisement