• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Menu
  • Science Experiments For Kids
  • Science Fair Projects
  • Science Facts
  • Science Questions
  • About
    • Emma Vanstone
    • About Science Sparks
Science Experiments for Kids
Menu
  • STEM Challenges
    • STEM Challenges
    • FREE STEM Challenge Templates
  • Early Years Science
    • Preschool Science
    • Sensory and Messy Play
    • Understanding of the World
    • Pirate Science Experiments
  • Primary Science
    • Baking Soda Experiments
    • Candy Experiments
    • Biology
    • Climate Change for Kids
    • Coding for Kids
    • Chemistry
    • Electricity for Kids
    • Magic Science Experiments
    • Harry Potter Experiments
    • Human Body Science
    • Air Pressure Experiments
    • Life Cycles
    • LEGO Science Experiments
    • Kitchen Science
    • Famous Scientists
    • Forces and Motion
    • Science Sparks Snippets
    • Key Stage 1 Science
      • Animals
      • Everyday Materials
      • Plants
      • Coding Activities
      • Humans and Health
      • Fine Motor skills
      • Science and Literacy
    • Key Stage 2 Science
      • Animals, Including Humans
      • Electricity
      • Light
      • Plants
      • Materials and their Properties
  • Holiday Science
    • Christmas Science
    • Halloween Science
    • Easter Science
  • Storybook Themed Science Experiments
  • Wonderful Women in STEM
  • FREE Science Resources
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • FREE Experiments
  • Science for Kids
    • Kitchen Science
    • Climate Change
    • Egg Experiments
    • Fairy Tale Science
    • Edible Science
    • Human Health
    • Chemistry
    • Inspirational Women
    • Forces and Motion
  • Science Fair Projects
  • STEM Challenges
  • Science Sparks Books
  • Contact Science Sparks
  • Science Resources for Home and School

×
Home » Science Experiments for Kids » Amazing Homemade Marble Runs

Amazing Homemade Marble Runs

Modified: Feb 11, 2022 · Published: Mar 31, 2020 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

After being inspired by a family STEM challenge evening at school, we’re a bit obsessed with marble runs! I love that you can make them from recycled materials so there’s no cost, they are great to build alone or as part of team and there are almost endless possibilities. We’ve kept these quite simple, but are working on some more complex versions.

If you like these, you might like our other easy engineering projects too.

Everything you need to make a recycled marble run #scienceforkids #sciencesparks

What you’ll need to build a recycled marble run

Tape – we use masking tape, but anything will work.

Cardboard tubes – kitchen roll, toilet roll etc all work well.

Other bits of recycled packaging – boxes, bottles etc – optional

Egg cartons – optional

Large box or sheet of card to build it against

Marble or table tennis ball

Scissors

Build it!

The best thing about building this STEM Project is that you can be as creative as you like.

If you don’t have a big box to build it inside, we’ve also built them by attaching tubes to a wall, just make sure you ask a parent first and use masking tape so it doesn’t rip the paint off!

Image of a homemade marble run made from a cardboard box

Space Homemade Marble Run

This one is taken from my book This is Rocket Science and is used to demonstrate gravity!

Space Marble Run made by covering a large sheet of cardboard with foil and taping cardboard tubes to it.

Reusable Marble Run

I made this one for a school science fair several years ago. The velcro strips mean the pipes and tubes can be moved around.

homemade marble run. Reusable marble run made using segments of pipes and velcro. Fun science for kids

Homemade Marble Run in a Box

If you have an empty box hanging around our box version was super easy to put together.

You’ll notice we added a tube going upwards at the end.

Homemade Marble run in a box made with tape and cardboard tubes

Recycled Marble Run on a Wall

Remember to only build this one if you’ve asked a parent and are using masking tape!

marble run made by taping cardboard tubes to a wall

More Ideas

Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls has an awesome craft stick marble run.

If you’d rather a shop bought marble run, we love our Quadrilla Marble Run.

Top Tips

Cut tubes in half so you have twice as many.

Use yoghurt pots, small boxes or a paper cup to catch the marble in at the end.

Make it a challenge

Can you get the ball to go up instead of down?

Challenge a friend to see who can make the fastest or slowest version.

Slow the marble down by adding some friction, this could be velcro or rough paper attached to the inside of a tube.

Try the marble run challenge on the James Dyson website. There’s a fantastic video talking about the engineering behind marble runs to watch too.

marble run ideas for kids

Last Updated on February 11, 2022 by Emma Vanstone

More Science Experiments for Kids

  • Edible Butterfly Life cycle
    Edible Butterfly Life Cycle
  • Ace Your Exams: Fantastic GCSE Science Resources
  • Make your own drinks dispenser
    Air Pressure Demonstration – DIY Drinks Dispenser
  • 50 Summer Science Experiments - make a lolly stick chain reaction, a solar oven, bubble snake and lots more summer science experiments for kids #summerscience #scienceforkids #scienceexperimentsforsummer
    50 Easy Summer Science Experiments for Kids

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenny Watson

    April 02, 2020 at 10:50 am

    have you googled ‘Paper plate marble run’ and looked at the images there? More great ideas!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Imagine a world where science education is accessible to everyone and is all about hands-on, exciting discoveries. That’s the world I want to create.

More about me

Around the World in 50 Experiments

50 experiments about countries of the world

Footer

↑ back to top

Science Sparks - FREE science experiments for kids

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Services
  • Media Kit
  • FAQ

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Science Sparks - Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd