At Essex Tubes, we manufacture cardboard tubes and postal tubes for businesses and industries across the UK. We know that once a cardboard tube has done its job, it doesn’t have to go straight into the bin.
Cardboard tubes are thrown away, but they can be a versatile crafting material that can be turned into many useful and creative things. Whether you have tubes from paper towels, toilet paper or mailing tubes, these tubes can be repurposed in many ways. Here are some fun and innovative ideas for what to make with cardboard tubes
Quick Overview: What Can You Make With Cardboard Tubes?
| Project | Best Tube Type | Difficulty | Great For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bird feeder | Toilet roll / small tube | Easy | Kids, garden lovers |
| Desk organiser | Various heights | Easy | Home & office |
| Kids' toys & crafts | Any size | Easy | Families |
| Candle holders | Medium tubes | Easy | Home décor |
| Gift wrapping | Mailing tubes | Easy | Eco-friendly gifting |
| Pet toys | Any size | Easy | Cat & dog owners |
| Musical instruments | Long mailing tubes | Medium | Kids, families |
| Home storage | Long/varied tubes | Easy | Organisation |
| Holiday decorations | Any size | Easy | Seasonal crafting |
DIY Bird Feeder
A simple and fun project is to make a bird feeder. All you need is a cardboard tube, some peanut butter, birdseed and a piece of string. Spread peanut butter on the outside of the tube, roll it in birdseed and then hang it from a tree branch using the string. You’ll attract birds to your garden and recycle at the same time. Watching birds visit your handmade feeder can be such a joy, bringing nature to your doorstep. Plus, it’s a great project to involve kids in, teaching them about wildlife and recycling.
This works particularly well with medium-sized postal tubes or mailing tubes. If you have any leftover from a delivery, this is a great way to give them a second life before recycling.
Desk Organisers
You can also turn cardboard tubes into desk organisers to keep your workspace neat. Cut the tubes into different heights, decorate with paint or wrapping paper and glue them onto a base. Use them to store pens, pencils, scissors and other office supplies. This will declutter your desk and add some creativity. To make the organisers even more useful, label each tube with what’s inside. Then you can find what you need in a snap without digging through a pile of supplies.
Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
- Cardboard tubes of varying widths and lengths
- A sturdy base — a piece of thick cardboard or wood works well
- Paint, wrapping paper or fabric to decorate
- Strong glue or a glue gun to fix tubes to the base
- Labels or stickers to identify each compartment
Kids' Crafts and Toys
Cardboard tubes are great for kids’ crafts and toys. From telescopes and binoculars to DIY kazoos and musical instruments, the options are endless. Let kids decorate their creations with markers, stickers and paint for a fun and educational craft session. Plus, crafting together is a great way to spend quality time as a family and make memories that last.
If you’re a business that regularly receives goods in cardboard postal tubes or mailing tubes, putting a few aside for a kids’ craft afternoon is a simple and sustainable thing to do, and children absolutely love the size and sturdiness of larger diameter tubes for building and imaginative play.
Candle Holders
Make unique candle holders with cardboard tubes. Cut the tubes to the desired height, paint or decorate them and insert small candles. Just make sure to use LED candles to avoid fire hazards. These candle holders add a rustic touch to any room. You can experiment with different decorations like wrapping the tubes in twine, adding beads or using stencils to create intricate designs. These handmade candle holders can also make great gifts for friends and family.
Gift Wrapping
Put small items like jewellery, socks or other trinkets inside the tube, then wrap it in decorative paper. Add ribbons, bows or personal messages to make it stand out. This eco-friendly wrapping is a winner. You can also customise the tubes with themes or colours to match the occasion like birthdays, holidays or anniversaries. This will make your gift more special and show that you put thought into the presentation.
This is one of the reasons businesses love ordering custom cardboard tubes from Essex Tubes. Our tubes can be produced in a variety of colours and with printed logos, making them ideal for branded gift packaging as well as standard postal use.
Pet Toys
Make simple and fun toys for your pets with cardboard tubes. For cats, cut small holes in the tube, put treats or toys inside and let them have fun getting the goodies out. For dogs you can make a treat dispenser by sealing one end of the tube, filling it with treats and letting them figure out how to get the treats out. These DIY toys provide mental stimulation and physical exercise for your pets and keep them healthy and happy. Plus using recycled materials for pet toys is a cost effective and eco friendly alternative to buying from the store.
Musical Instruments
Cardboard mailing tubes can be turned into many musical instruments, fun for kids and adults alike. Make a simple rain stick by sealing one end of a long tube, filling it with rice or beans and sealing the other end. Decorate the outside with paint or stickers and tilt the tube back and forth to mimic the sound of rain falling. Or make a drum by stretching a balloon or fabric over one end of a tube and securing it with a rubber band. These DIY instruments are great for family music sessions or as an addition to your homemade band.
Longer cardboard mailing tubes work best for rain sticks. The longer the tube, the more realistic the sound. Essex Tubes supplies postal tubes in lengths up to 13 metres and diameters from 34mm to 656mm, so if you’re looking for a specific size for a creative or educational project, we can help.
Home Storage Solutions
Cardboard tubes can also be used for home storage. Use longer tubes to store wrapping paper rolls so they don’t get wrinkled or damaged. Smaller tubes can be cut into sections and used to organise cables and cords so they don’t get tangled. You can also make a custom drawer organiser by cutting tubes to the height of your drawer and arranging them in rows to create compartments for small items like jewellery or makeup. These storage solutions keep your home tidy and repurpose materials that would otherwise go to waste.
Some of the most popular home storage uses for cardboard tubes include:
- Wrapping paper storage — slide rolls inside a long tube to prevent creasing and tearing
- Cable and cord organisation — cut tubes into short sections to keep wires tidy and tangle-free
- Drawer dividers — arrange cut tubes upright in a drawer to create custom compartments
- Tall item storage — use upright tubes to store knitting needles, rulers, or rolled documents
Holiday Decorations
Get into the holiday spirit by making holiday decorations from cardboard tubes. Make Christmas ornaments by cutting the tubes into rings, decorating with glitter, paint or fabric and threading a ribbon through the top to hang. Make spooky Halloween decorations by turning tubes into mini ghosts, bats or pumpkins. For Easter make tubes into egg holders or bunny figures. These handmade decorations are a personal touch to your holiday and can be reused year after year.
In Conclusion...
Cardboard mailing tubes are for more than just posting or waste; they are a craft treasure trove. From practical uses like desk organisers and pet toys to creative projects like holiday decorations and kids’ toys, the possibilities are endless. Next time you have an empty cardboard tube, think of one of these projects and give it a new life. Not only will you be reducing waste, but you’ll be creating something beautiful and functional. By embracing the versatility of cardboard mailing tubes, you can live more sustainably and have fun transforming simple materials into art and solutions.
All Essex Tubes products are made from 100% recycled fibreboard and are fully recyclable, so even after you’ve crafted, stored and played with your cardboard tubes, they can be recycled again at the end of their life. It’s the circular economy in action.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you make with cardboard tubes?
Cardboard tubes can be repurposed into a huge range of things, including bird feeders, desk organisers, kids’ toys, musical instruments, pet toys, candle holders, gift wrapping, home storage solutions, and holiday decorations. The size of the tube will determine what it’s best suited for. Smaller tubes are great for crafts, while longer mailing tubes work well for storage and instruments like rain sticks.
What size cardboard tubes are best for crafts?
It depends on the project. Smaller tubes, such as those from toilet rolls, are ideal for kids’ crafts and candle holders, while medium postal tubes work well for desk organisers and gift wrapping. Longer, wider mailing tubes are best for storage and musical instruments. Essex Tubes supplies cardboard tubes in diameters from 34mm to 656mm, so whatever your creative project requires, we can help.
Are cardboard tubes eco-friendly?
Yes. Cardboard tubes are made from recycled fibreboard, are biodegradable, and are fully recyclable. Repurposing them for crafts or storage before recycling extends their life even further, reducing waste. At Essex Tubes, all of our products are manufactured from 100% recycled materials with no chemical waste in the production process.
Can businesses repurpose cardboard tubes?
Absolutely. Businesses that regularly receive deliveries in cardboard postal tubes or mailing tubes can repurpose them for storage, cable management, internal organisation, or donate them to local schools and community groups for crafting. It’s a simple way to reduce packaging waste without any additional cost.
Where can I buy cardboard tubes in the UK?
Essex Tubes supplies high-quality cardboard tubes and postal tubes across the UK, with next working day delivery on all stock products. We offer a wide range of standard sizes as well as bespoke custom tubes in various colours and with printed logos. Request a quote today to find the right tube for your needs.
Can you get custom cardboard tubes for creative projects?
Yes. Essex Tubes manufactures bespoke cardboard tubes in any size, colour, and with printed logos. Whether you need tubes for a branded gift packaging project, a display installation, or a large-scale creative build, our team can produce custom cardboard tubes to your exact specifications with a 3–5 day lead time.
Looking for Cardboard Tubes?
Whether you need standard postal tubes for mailing, bespoke cardboard cores for industry, or custom tubes for a creative project, Essex Tubes has been manufacturing high-quality cardboard tubes since 1989. We supply businesses and individuals across the UK with tubes from 34mm to 656mm in diameter and up to 13 metres in length.
Get in touch or request a quote today. With next working day delivery on all stock products, getting the right tube has never been easier.