Build a Nerf target game with spinning targets!  This simple game is fun to make and does not require a lot of special materials.

How to Make Spinning Nerf Targets

We used a dowel rod, cardboard from a cereal box, and a simple PVC pipe frame to build this target.

Make a Nerf Spinning Target

The targets rotate on the dowel so that they spin when you hit them!

How to Make Spinning Nerf Targets

It’s always fun to find something to do with Nerf guns besides shoot each other and then argue about it! (Or shoot Mom!)

How to Make a Nerf Spinning Target

Here’s what you need to make one:

  • Straws
  • A dowel rod thin enough to fit inside your straws
  • Craft sticks
  • Cardboard
  • Sharpie markers
  • Scissors
  • Duct tape
  • A cup – for tracing circles
  • A few pennies

I traced one of our plastic kid’s cups to get the shape for the targets, and the boys had fun helping me decorate them with Sharpies!  Getting to draw with Sharpies is a treat in and of itself.  (Because of Janie’s tendency to draw all over anything and everything, we keep the permanent markers well out of reach!)

How to Make a Nerf Spinning Target

Each target has two cardboard circles hot glued to a craft stick.  Then on the other side, I duct taped a straw and a penny for weight.  Without the penny, the targets won’t hang correctly.  We first used hot glue for the pennies, and it didn’t hold.  We ended up duct taping them on, and that worked better.

How to Make Nerf Spinning Targets

I taped the dowel rod to the top of a simple PVC pipe frame.  It would also work to tape it to the back of two chairs, as long as you use tape that won’t damage the finish on the chairs.  Or string the targets on a string that runs across a doorway.  Lots of fun!

How to Make Nerf Spinning Targets

Here’s another way to make a spinning target out of a science fair display board:  Nerf Spinning Targets.

Have fun playing Nerf!

8 Comments

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  1. Serena @ Thrift Diving Nov 15, 2016

    This is a great idea! I have 3 little boys, ages 10, 6, and 4 (turning 5 tomorrow!) and I can't tell you how many times my kids aim those doggone things in my face. LOL This gives them something to aim for without hurting me or their brothers. I'm sharing this on my FB page. :)

    Reply
  2. Donna Dec 23, 2016

    So, what size pvc did you use? Looks like 1".

    Reply
  3. Jennifer Cox Feb 14, 2017

    Awesome Awesome Awesome!! My son has nerf guns and darts all over the house and I am tired of him aiming at the dogs and picture frames! I know what I am going to do this weekend!

    Reply
  4. Natilla Feb 23, 2017

    Hi frugalfun4boys. What type of straw width did you use for the project? I was thinking of an extrawide size?

    thanks.

    Nat

    Reply
  5. Sebastian May 19, 2017

    I love this so much that I wanted to make one right away, but I found the PVC pipe and joiners a little pricey (I didnt have any lying around). So me and my dad tried to work out another way to do it and we decided to use a cheap indoor clothes rack for the frame. We cut the wires out so the targets had room to spin and added a wood dowel. In total it all came to $15 AUD. Thanks so much for the idea.

    Reply
  6. Tracy May 30, 2017

    How did you attach the spinners to the rod but get them to spin?

    Reply
    1. Sarah May 30, 2017

      The spinners are attached to straws, which I just slid over the rod. The straws allow them to spin freely. I hope that helps!

      Reply
      1. George V. Apr 10, 2018

        Instead of pennies you can also mount the straws 1/4" above center of the stick, which will make the heavier part of the stick hang down. They will still spin when hit.

        Reply
  7. Daisy Jul 26, 2017

    Putting a nerf party together.
    I love you post and I'm trying to put one together.

    What keeps the targets separated from each other so they don't spin to close together?

    I appreciate your response.

    Reply
    1. Alison Jan 17, 2018

      I don't think the OP shows anything to hold the spinners apart from each other but I was thinking you could just use another length of a straw with nothing attached to it. Hope that helps!

      Reply
      1. H Pacheco Dec 29, 2019

        You can put a rubber band around the dowel between each spinner to keep them from colliding.

        Reply
  8. Heather L. L Pacheco Dec 29, 2019

    Thanks for this great idea! I am going to do this project with our youth maker club at the library. For anyone looking to do this on the cheap... We used two 2-liter soda bottles to hold the dowel. (We had an adult poke the holes near the top with a scissors, then filled the bottles with water to weight them down. You could also fill with small rocks, sand, etc.)

    Reply

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