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How to Build an Igloo

SAFETY FIRST: Ask an adult to help with tools you haven't used before.

igloo-feature

The best-known snow shelter is the igloo. A brilliant use of engineering and resources, this simple dome made out of snow blocks is both strong and versatile.

Arctic cultures such as the Eskimo and the Inuit developed it, and over time they came up with a hundred tricks to make the shelter more comfortable and sturdy, including making the entrance small (to help keep heat in) and melting the inside of the dome and letting it refreeze (for increased strength).

BUILDING AN IGLOO

igloo-1

Diameter: Not to exceed 10 feet. Anything bigger would require a perfect dome, which is next to impossible to construct in the field.

igloo-2

Materials: Top layers of dry powder won’t work. Pack mounds of snow until they harden, or cut blocks of snow from the depth where your feet stop sinking.

igloo-3

Entrance: Build a door in the ground, about 18 inches lower than the ground inside the igloo, and tunnel below the wall into the igloo. For proper ventilation, never seal or close the entrance.

igloo-4

Walls: Cut the blocks into a spiral layer, leaning one block against the next. Keep the interior wall smooth so moisture can run down the side of the wall, instead of dripping from the ceiling. Include a vent hole to allow for better circulation.


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229 Comments on How to Build an Igloo

  1. Hamburger

  2. Sad, we do not get a lot of snow in Texas. About less than one inch per year!!

  3. I am going to make a book about this! It is a good information source.

  4. I’m going to try this sometime soon, I’ve always wanted an igloo!

  5. i dare you to….

  6. Hey terminator,Florida will shutdown with 1 inch of snow . I live in Pennsylvania, we get great snow ⛄️❄️.

  7. Alexander4fignting // March 17, 2018 at 1:36 am // Reply

    I enjoyed a lot learning how to make a igloo but it should be more specific about the steps to make an igloo. But it was nice and the 2nd best site to learn to make an igloo and thanks a lot.

  8. My sister and I made it. It was amazing.

  9. Super banana dude // December 19, 2017 at 10:09 am // Reply

    This is awesome 👏

  10. Can you build an igloo with 16 inches of snow?

  11. i agree with snowbird also but this does look fun glad i live in utah

  12. scouter123 // March 2, 2015 at 8:56 am // Reply

    Cool, when you have snow.

  13. wish we had more than 2 inches of snow 🙁

  14. COOL! But no snow in GEORGIA:(

  15. ChesseButterBall // January 15, 2015 at 10:27 am // Reply

    That is a amazing igloo. It shows how well it is made.

  16. Boo

  17. I agree with snowbird to. I really want to make a snow cave! It’s almost Chrismas! What do you guys think?

  18. IGLOOS ARE NICE TO MAKE WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF TIME, BUT FOR CAMPING, TRY MAKING A SNOW CAVE!

  19. it snowed 6 inches in my city

  20. Girls can do it too

  21. Jordyn & Rick // January 4, 2014 at 6:23 pm // Reply

    Really nice to know! Good effort.

  22. Tried this with my brother it works nice and warm inside

  23. kaka po po ka ka ka popo // December 18, 2013 at 7:26 pm // Reply

    cool it works me and my sis did it and it looks so cool

  24. That would probably work if it snowed more than 2 inches here!

  25. That’s so cool

  26. I kinda need 22” of snow for that.

  27. looks hard to make if you only get up 2 2ft of snow
    🙂

  28. scienceman100 // October 22, 2013 at 7:54 pm // Reply

    awsome works great i love i do it every winter

  29. awesome geek // February 2, 2013 at 4:32 pm // Reply

    Awesommee! Dude best igloo making guide ever!! Whhoo hoo

  30. Cool, it seems to keep your body heat in it

  31. My boys used 1 gal ice cream buckets packed full of snow to build their igloo and it was so great the local paper published a picture of it.

  32. I hope OH gets a little more snow this year so that I can try this.

  33. pink and purple // January 26, 2013 at 7:41 pm // Reply

    That would be awesome(:

  34. it’s AWESOME!

  35. i cannot wait to try this!

  36. it is awesom that we get snow in Mi

  37. I would like to try it if we ever get enough snow Here in RI.

  38. Cheese Greater // January 22, 2013 at 7:29 pm // Reply

    I wish there was more snow here in Minnesota so I could try this

  39. Awsome, I used it and it worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  40. GoldenDragon // January 13, 2013 at 8:00 pm // Reply

    I wish it snowed in TX more. I would like to try it.

  41. never tryed it before:]

  42. TheTrainkinzbranch // January 5, 2013 at 7:47 am // Reply

    It snows alot here in MA

  43. Doesnt everyone wish there was snow in FL then on some days we wont have any school and only a whole day of playing in the snow and just having some fun

  44. I WISH IT SNOWED IN FLORIDA.

  45. We don;t have enough snow here in central Oregon yet. 😉

  46. Wish it snowed in california 🙁

  47. Cool :l

  48. WOW!!!!!!!!! IT’S SNOWING HERE IN THE MITTEN!!!! Won’t be long before this masterpiece is possible 😀 😀 😀 !!!! 🙂 😉

  49. live in pa, didn’t get snow yet:(

  50. Billy Bob Joe // December 18, 2012 at 12:34 pm // Reply

    come to Michigan!,!,!,!

  51. awesome man 11 // December 14, 2012 at 4:12 pm // Reply

    utah gets the BEST SNOW EVER!!!!

  52. can not wait for snow!!!!!!!

  53. Is there any way to build one without making bricks out of snow?

  54. replying to powerking you buy snow block molds at target or walmart

  55. Love it !!!

  56. i realy want to try this! i live in pennsylvania so i hope we get snow this year

  57. burbur2002 // July 24, 2012 at 8:43 pm // Reply

    cool! i’m going to try it when we get snow. we get a lot of snow here in Michigan!

  58. it sounds so cool but how do you make the cubes.

  59. It does not snow where I live so that’s a buumer

  60. Can’t wait until it snows in Minnesota

  61. This looks awesome but i live in suburban L.A. SO IT NEVER SNOWS AND I’LL NEVER GET TO TRY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-

  62. awesome

  63. i dont get it at all

  64. blabber mouth bro // January 8, 2012 at 11:48 am // Reply

    this sounds cool

  65. Two years ago I was building a snowfort when my friend stuck her arm through the roof to “Make an air hole” and the whole roof collapesed.

  66. I live in Kansas it hasn’t snowed yet but I can’t wait for Christmas!!!

  67. Looks awesome I will try it once we get more snow.

  68. that looks awesome!!!

  69. lego man 22222222222221 // November 23, 2011 at 12:33 pm // Reply

    cool looks fun !!!!!!!!

  70. I am soo going to use this for my school project!!!

  71. i want winter to come now!

  72. It barely snows in Houston.I live in Houston!!!!:(

  73. question is can you make it bigger

  74. magicfreak // July 30, 2011 at 3:19 pm // Reply

    get around more, peeps! just look in the archive!

  75. LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  76. Nobes Lite // March 1, 2011 at 6:54 pm // Reply

    I have also always wonderred this. Thanks 😀

  77. i have a yard of snow in MA

  78. we just had 8 inches of snow here in missouri…and we built a big ice fort probably 5 feet tall with a diameter of 5 feet…never could get the roof tho. so you can do it with less than 5 feet people.

  79. I am a sith // January 2, 2011 at 3:53 pm // Reply

    I wish I knew this before it snowed!

  80. look’s good I’ll trie it

  81. It hasn’t snowed here yet so I cant build it,but it looks really cool! I can’t wait to build one!

  82. Swamp Thing GO SAINTS // November 23, 2010 at 7:43 pm // Reply

    i wish i was able to at least build an igloo where i am at lol

  83. it is hard, takes lots of snow, but i think you will like the outcome.

  84. Absolutely fantastic!

  85. a fat hamster // November 1, 2010 at 7:33 pm // Reply

    cool

  86. I wish I knew about this in the Febuary snow storm 2010.

  87. square knot // October 3, 2010 at 3:07 pm // Reply

    even though I’m not claustrophobic, thats how I would feel crawling through that little opening going underground! wouldn’t you?!?!

  88. one time me and my friend made a little igloo and when we got in it it fell apart on us 😮 so we couldn’t breath in the snow and we climbed out and gasping for air. shocking isn’t it. 🙂

  89. ninja man sam // September 23, 2010 at 8:25 pm // Reply

    i wanna make one and start a fire in it and roast mashmallows

  90. like,awsome!!!!!!!!!!

  91. people have died from building entrances like that

  92. actioncircus // August 27, 2010 at 6:00 pm // Reply

    iv always wanted to know how to build an igloo

  93. wow this is awesome

  94. looks awesome, but real hard. (plus, when will you get that much snow?!)

  95. ive heard of making one out of plastic milk bottles

  96. NEED GAME!!!!!!!

  97. my dad and i built a huge igloo last week we put a blanket in side and my two dogs used it like a dog house

  98. its confusing

  99. it is cool

  100. I thinks it’s really nice to have 5 feet of snow on your lawn to practice building these snow shelters!

    That’s right: 5 feet!

    BE JEALOUS!!!

  101. A really helpful thing to have is a snow saw. They really help when you build an igloo, or any other winter camping shelters. Igloos are kind of harder to build, but are pretty cool.

  102. I started mine yesterday

  103. i`v never made an igloo but i made a snow cave out of really large snow balls

  104. in ohio my back and front yard is like 2 feet deep!!!!!!!

  105. its winter in il but its to dry

  106. works like an angel

  107. i am gonna try that but without the underground tunnel
    lol lol
    thanks

  108. igloomasrer525 // January 9, 2010 at 10:53 am // Reply

    i am trin 2 make one but i cant

  109. me and my mum have started our igloo

  110. I’m building one right now. And they are hard. But funnnnn. 🙂

  111. scottish boy // January 7, 2010 at 11:36 am // Reply

    it was snowing lots in scotland and i had about 1 meter of snow in my back garden and i cleared a big space in my back yard and i managed very easily and im only 14 when ever you have snow do it it didnt take me long about 30-60 mins.
    i found it very fun but cold lol

  112. i done it

  113. i watn to try one of these

    • so do i. i just make a big pile of snow and dig a hole then ho-lo it out

      • burntboy#1 // February 3, 2010 at 2:20 pm //

        Thats what I do.

      • majestic manflower // February 6, 2010 at 8:54 pm //

        who doesnt do tht? lol tht how simple ppl like us feel like weve actually acomplished sumthin

      • My friends and I did that but, when we came back from winter break the entrance had colapced just enogh so we couldn’t get back in! And we still have some stuff in there! We tried to break the wall down but, it had turned to ice! Gotta wait till spring!

  114. you need a lot of snow to do that

  115. um sounds cool but hard so i started one and these tips will help me later i guess (:

  116. how much does it need to snow before i can make a proper igloo? (feet)

  117. bsa life scout // December 17, 2009 at 4:08 pm // Reply

    I really want to try it!

  118. If only I was able to get that much snow at home!!!!

  119. It sounds impossible!

  120. cool dude5000 // December 3, 2009 at 8:12 pm // Reply

    my brother thinks its boring.

  121. cool dude5000 // December 3, 2009 at 8:10 pm // Reply

    its sounds cool!

  122. I WANT SNOW

  123. confusing, but cool;)

  124. so awsome

  125. kool

  126. cool

  127. were it slants put an even block even to the one to the left of it

  128. Can’t wait for it to snow.

  129. cowntdowgylaw // August 31, 2009 at 3:43 pm // Reply

    I really want snow

  130. sounds confusing

  131. I’ll make one as soon as possible and use it in a snowball fight!

  132. Awsome & lil chily

  133. It will make a great fort.

  134. the best swimmer // August 26, 2009 at 7:02 pm // Reply

    and about how long does this take

  135. harderhusky // August 26, 2009 at 4:23 pm // Reply

    im gonna biuld this in camp

  136. awesomedudeiceman479 // August 26, 2009 at 4:08 pm // Reply

    i cant wait to try this the next time there is snow

  137. I prefer quinzees

  138. I would probably get claustrophobic if I had to sleep in an igloo.

  139. snowboardman // August 25, 2009 at 9:03 am // Reply

    i wish it was winter already

  140. fun!!!!!!!!!!

  141. cooi but not cool a nuff

  142. cool

  143. This is awsome it works

  144. it works

  145. awsome

  146. I can’t wait to make one….

  147. scoutsislife // May 26, 2009 at 3:26 pm // Reply

    why is the first layer start out with a slant i know it makes the other layers spiral. why does the spiral help with the moisture

  148. rocketman // May 26, 2009 at 2:54 pm // Reply

    awesome, just plain awesome!!!!

  149. i love it

  150. This Igloo Rocks!

  151. no snow here! but cool…

  152. We no have no more snow in NC.

  153. ninersfannatic // April 17, 2009 at 11:35 am // Reply

    lots of snow in colorado today! I’ll give it a shot cause it’s that wet heavy snow

  154. me and my friend are going to try these in canada

  155. I think it is Relly cool!

  156. it makes a good clubhouse to hide ur stuf in

  157. the snow already melted here in alpine NY

  158. This Really doesn’t work I tried it the sides were not next to eachother it looked terrible.

  159. sweet info

  160. weirdcollector // March 26, 2009 at 8:32 pm // Reply

    i’m going to use this for a school project. thanks Boy’s Life!

  161. wear some warm gloves and be safe

  162. to bild a igloo you need to have thick snow to bild a igloo. have good luck

  163. I want to try but my sister has to make a snow man SO I’ll get up eary.

  164. we never get snow in hawaii!!!

  165. if only texas got snow…

  166. i want snow

  167. First i need a lot of snow that is only if there is a snow storm in Ohio.

  168. It worked great, the under ground door was so cool, i even made some
    shelfs because i made my snow wall, brick things a foot thick

  169. It just snowed again and we already have tons of snow. We’re going to try this in a week or two.

  170. im just need to finnish the top

  171. wish i lived were there was snow

  172. I am making a igloo right now outside because in minnesota we are getting a snowstorm right now.

  173. I live in MN we get tons of snow tough night we are supposed to get 6-8 inches of snow 4 days ago we got 6 inches this will work great

  174. I made one of ice last year.

  175. i wish that my troup could do that

  176. if you get 2-4″ of snow.. snow blow all the snow to a 15′ x 15′ area.. you should have about 3′ of snow then.. pack this down and lightly mist with water.. let this freeze a few hours… Then cut the blocks to build using the snow from the inside of the igloo

  177. I do not get much snow where i live but i’ll try it!

  178. this looks so cool. we don’t have any snow in pennsylvania rite now though

  179. scuba dude 642 // February 14, 2009 at 1:32 pm // Reply

    bummer, this will never work in houston! last time we had snow was 2 years ago and it only stayed on cars!

  180. That looks cool! I’ll have to try it later.

  181. I don’t have anymore snow outside.

  182. my snow JUST meted!!!!!!

  183. Cool!!!

  184. i’ll try this someday but too bad i live in a part of Pennsylvania where i almost get no perfect snowstorms

  185. thats wikid

  186. i tried this too and cant make one because there is not a very deep depth of snow

  187. also are there instructions 4 building a igloo with a above ground door

  188. hi this is so cool

  189. it works!

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