How to Make a Marble Run Out of Toilet Paper Rolls
Learn how to make a marble run using nothing but toilet paper rolls, cardboard, and tape. This hands-on STEM activity is perfect for preschoolers ages 3 to 5 and makes an easy addition to your list of summer activities for preschoolers.
Setup takes about 10 minutes, and kids can spend an hour or more building, testing, and redesigning their track. There are no kits to buy and no special supplies to track down. Just save your cardboard tubes, grab some tape, and hand the building over to your little engineer.
The best part? Every marble run looks different, so kids can rebuild it a new way every single time.
How to Make a Marble Run Out of Toilet Paper Rolls
To make a marble run, tape toilet paper rolls at downward angles onto a large piece of cardboard or foam board. Overlap the tube ends so marbles roll from one into the next. Drop a marble in at the top, test the path, and adjust the angles until it flows all the way through.
What You Need to Make a Marble Run
- Toilet paper rolls and/or paper towel rolls cut into sections
- Marbles or small balls
- Tape (packing tape or duct tape works best)
- Large piece of cardboard, foam board, or tri-fold poster board
- Scissors (adult use only)
How to Build Your Marble Run Step by Step
Step 1: Prepare the base. Lay your cardboard flat on a table or prop it upright against a wall. This is your building surface, so the bigger the better.
Step 2: Arrange the tubes. Place toilet paper rolls at downward angles on the board. Overlap the ends slightly so a marble can roll from one tube directly into the next.
Step 3: Tape everything in place. Secure each tube to the board with tape. Start with a gentle slope at the top and increase the angles as the run goes down.
Step 4: Add turns and connections. For tighter turns or more interesting paths, cut a small hole in the side of a tube and connect another tube directly into it. This is a great job for grown-ups.
Step 5: Test the run. Drop a marble in at the top and watch it travel. If it gets stuck, adjust the angle of that tube and test again.
Step 6: Keep building. Add more tubes, curves, drops, and zigzags. Rearrange and retest as many times as you want. There is no finished version.
Quick Tips
⭐️ This is the perfect activity to pull out when boredom strikes. Save your toilet paper rolls all week and you’ll always have a buster ready to go.
⭐️ Every time kids adjust an angle or fix a stuck marble, they’re experimenting with gravity and force. That’s real STEM thinking happening through play.
Ways Kids Can Play and Explore
- Race two marbles down different paths to see which one wins
- Try steep angles versus shallow ones and compare how fast the marble moves
- Redesign the run to make the path as long as possible
- Start marbles from different heights and see what changes
- Swap in a pom-pom or small bouncy ball and compare how it travels
More Boredom Buster Activities for Kids
If your kids loved building this marble run, they’re ready for more hands-on STEM fun. Here are a few more activities to keep the experimenting going.
- STEM Water Activities for Preschoolers
- Fun Summer Science Experiments for Kids
- 20 Rainy Day Activities for Preschoolers
- Toilet Paper Roll Zoo Animals
- Printable Toilet Paper Roll Crafts
Readers Often Ask
Small balls, pom-poms, ping pong balls, or rolled-up aluminum foil can work depending on the size of your tubes.
Yes. Younger children may need help with taping, but they can help plan the path, test designs, and make adjustments.
Marble runs introduce basic engineering concepts while strengthening problem-solving, critical thinking, and fine motor skills.
Yes. Some families tape tubes directly to a wall, door, or refrigerator.
A marble run is one of those activities kids come back to again and again. Once the base is built, they can redesign it, race it, and rebuild it a completely different way the next day. Keep a stash of toilet paper rolls on hand and you’ll always have a ready-made STEM activity waiting when you need it most.
Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.
