We built this DIY Pikler Triangle for our son for his first birthday. The process is fairly simple to build and will help with his physical development. Here’s how to build a DIY Pikler Triangle!

The Pikler Triangle was invented by a pediatrician in the early 20th century as a means to help children learn how to move their bodies on their own.

The concept is simple- create a ladder and climbing wall that are adjustable that your young child can climb on and gradually become more comfortable with the way their body moves.

Check out this article about the benefits of a pikler triangle!

We wanted a Pikler Triangle for our son for his first birthday, as he was really starting to move.

They cost hundreds of dollars online, so we decided to build a DIY Pikler Triangle ourselves!

Check out our tutorial on how to build a balance beam for kids!

Click here to purchase our printable PDF plans to build a foldable pikler triangle!

Supplies needed to build a DIY Pikler triangle

You need a few supplies to build a pikler triangle. Get the full cut list in our printable PDF plans!

• (1) 2’x4′ 3/4″ plywood
• (11) 4′ long, 1″ thick dowels
• (1) 2’x4′ 1/2″ plywood
• (2) 6’x4″x3/4″ poplar boards
• Stain/sealant of choice – outdoor if you will keep it outside

Click here to buy a bundle of plans to build a Pikler Triangle AND a Pikler Climbing Arch/Rocker!

Tools needed to build a DIY Pikler triangle

You don’t need many tools to build this pikler triangle! You need:

• Jigsaw
• Palm router
• Miter saw
• Sander
• Drill
• 1″ Forstner bit

How to Build a Pikler Triangle

A Pikler Triangle comes down to two main pieces- a triangular ladder and a climbing wall.

We’ll put the full step by step instructions and cuts in the how-to card at the bottom of this post that you can use to build your own! Or you can buy the full plans with diagrams here!

We also like the version done by Wicked Maker and used inspiration from that, but tweaked it to our own specs and preferences.

Here’s the overview.

Building the Triangle

Here’s the steps to build the triangle itself.

Step one: cut out ladder sides

In order to build the climbing triangle, you essentially build two ladders, one a little longer than the other.

We made ours 36″ long with six rungs and 32″ long with five rungs.

Each ladder was 31.5″ wide using two pieces of 3/4″ thick poplar and 30.5″ long 1″ dowels.

For each ladder, we evenly spaced the rungs at 2″, 9″, 16″, 23″, and 30″, with an additional rung at 34″ on the longer ladder.

We rounded the ends of each board and then used a 1″ Forstner bit to drill the holes at the marks we made.

Step two: connect with dowels

We stained each rung specific colors so we could make an hombre look to the ladder.

You could leave them natural, stain them all one color or do any mix you’d like.

We created each ladder by using wood glue and tapping each rung into a hole on one board, then tapping the corresponding board to the other end of the rungs.

We used these 36″ long bar clamps to tighten it up for drying.

(Side note, those Bessey clamps are really good quality and an incredible deal on Amazon compared to options in home improvement stores)

Step three: attach ladders

We next cut out two pieces of 1/2″ plywood to hold the tops of the two ladders together. We drilled holes to hold the ladders to the plywood.

On the shorter ladder, we used a wing nut and knob screw on the two lower holes.

This way, we can remove this and fold the ladder up for better storage.

Finally, we rounded off the corners of the plywood with a router to give it a smoother finish.

That’s all it takes to make the DIY simple pikler triangle.

Building the Climbing Wall

The climbing wall is much more simple than the triangle. Here’s the instructions on how to make the ramp to lean on the triangle!

Check out my guide to Pikler climbing ramps!

Step one: build ramp

For this, we started by rounding the corners of a 24″x48″ piece of 3/4″ thick plywood with a router and then sanding ultra smooth.

Next, we took a scrap cut off of one of the dowels and two scrap pieces of wood and attached the boards to the back of the wall about three inches down, using the dowel as a spacer between the boards.

This will be where the climbing wall hooks into the rungs of the triangle.

Step two: cut out climbing wall holds

Next, we took 1/2″ plywood and used a jigsaw to cut random shapes out to use as hand holds.

For each of these, we counter-sunk two holes for screws and then sanded them all down ultra fine.

We stained the hand holds with the same colors we stained the triangle ladder, then attached them to the board to create the climbing wall.

Here is our tutorial for building a DIY Pikler Climbing Arch Rocker!

How to Use the Pikler Triangle

This DIY Pikler Triangle is great for multiple uses.

The climbing wall can be angled against any of the rungs, creating a unique angled climb on each side.

The ladder can also be used by itself to promote learning how to climb.

Our son loved it for his first birthday and we can’t wait to watch him grow and continue to learn how to use it even better.

This article really summarizes some great benefits of a pikler triangle!

Here are all of my other favorite climbing toys for toddlers!

DIY Pikler Triangle PDF Printable Plans

We have created Pikler Triangle DIY plans for a climbing triangle as well as a climbing arch and a DIY climbing ramp.

What are Pikler Triangle dimensions?

This Pikler triangle’s final dimensions are approximately 2.5 feet x 2.5 feet x 3 feet!

What does it cost to build this Pikler Triangle?

It cost us about $100 in supplies to build the Pikler triangle and the ramp. The main expense is the dowels! Prices will vary depending on your location. We bought all of our supplies at the Home Depot.

The Pikler Triangle DIY cost will vary depending on the cost of lumber where you live. There have been a lot of increases in lumber costs lately due to supply issues so be sure to price it out first if that is a budget concern for you.

What type of wood should you use to build a pikler triangle?

They type of wood that you use for your climbing triangle is a matter of personal preference. I suggest a hardwood since softer woods (like pine) will get dinged and dented up more easily.

However, hardwoods are usually significantly more expensive than soft woods. We used poplar for our triangle, which is one of the cheapest hardwoods. Oak is a beautiful option if budget is not a concern.

What is a Pikler Triangle?

A Pikler Triangle is a climbing structure designed by Hungarian pediatrician Dr Emmi Pikler. It is a climbing structure for toddlers and babies to help them develop gross motor skills and create curiosity and a sense of adventure in a safe controlled place.

Read my guide to the benefits of a Pikler triangle here.

Montessori Kid’s woodworking plans bundle

Love building for your kids? Click here to get our bundle of Montessori inspired woodworking plans for:

• Front facing bookshelf
• Montessori toy self
• Climbing triangle + ramp
• Climbing arch
• Toddler workbench

Get the bundle (valued at $55 individually) for only $44.99 together! That’s a FREE plan!

Yield: 1

How to Build a DIY Pikler Triangle

Prep Time: 1 hour

Active Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 4 hours

Difficulty: Medium

Estimated Cost: $50-100

Here's how to build a DIY Pikler Triangle for your kid. They are great for teaching children how to climb and balance and are a wonderful toy. These plans are simple to follow and allow you to make a fun play set for your kids.

Print

Materials

• (1) 2'x4' 3/4" plywood
• (11) 4' long, 1" thick dowels
• (1) 2'x4' 1/2" plywood
• (2) 6'x4"x3/4" poplar boards

Tools

• Jigsaw
• Palm router
• Miter saw

Instructions

1. Start by building the ladders. Cut dowels and legs first, then drill holes 1/4" in at appropriate points. Glue the dowels into the holes of each ladder.
2. Cut 1/2" plywood into two triangles to attach your ladders to. Attach the long ladder with two stationary bolts. For the short ladder, do two stationary bolts, or one removable wing nut bolt if you want it to fold up.
3. Next, build the climbing wall. Use a palm router to round off the edges of the 3/4" plywood board and then sand extremely smooth.
4. Use a jigsaw to cut random shapes out of 1/2" plywood to create handholds, then stain or paint to match ladder rungs and attach to board.
5. For full cut list, measurements and detailed step-by-step instructions, our PDF plans are available for purchase.

Notes

For full cut list, measurements and detailed step-by-step instructions, our PDF plans are available for purchase here.

Recommended Products

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• 
  PORTER CABLE Jigsaw
• 
  Ryobi One+ 18V Lithium Ion Drill/Driver
• 
  Ryobi 12 in. Sliding Miter Saw with Laser

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Sean

Hey there, I’m Sean, the woodworking enthusiast and builder behind CharlestonCrafted.com! Since 2012, I’ve been sharing the magic of turning raw materials into beautiful creations. I love teaching others the art and satisfaction of woodworking and DIY. I try to inspire fellow crafters to make something extraordinary out of nothing at all.