How to make a four-pane cardboard window

Prepare your materials and tools

A4 templates Cut 1 piece from 0.5 mm solid paperboard.

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  Reused boxLook for clean, dry 0.5 mm solid paperboard.See usable box types →

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  Look for 0.5 mm solid paperboard. Lay the full-size template on a flat panel before cutting.

  • Coke or Pepsi multipackLook for a flat, solid edge. Use a large panel clear of handle holes.
  • Cereal boxTry the broad front or back panel. Measure away from the glued seam.
  • Cracker or snack boxCheck for a wide, uninterrupted panel. Small boxes may be too narrow for the full template.
  • Other folding cartonA dry goods or retail carton can work if the edge is solid and the thickness matches.
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  Craft knife & matUse a mat under the board while cutting.
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  Pencil & rulerTrace the patterns and use a ruler to guide the straight cuts.
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  A4 templatesPrint at 100% and check the 100 mm ruler before tracing.

Trace the four inside rectangles and the outside edge. Keep the border and crossbars connected.

One piece of paperboard makes the whole frame. The four panes are cutouts, so once you mount the window, you can see through to the inside of your cardboard house. Try the frame on a scrap wall first. It’s a small way to practice cutting interior openings and fitting one part to another.

Trace and cut the window frame

1. Choose a flat panel. Open a clean cereal box or drink multipack and check that its edge is solid and about 0.5 mm thick. Use a flat area away from the old folds. If you want a plain kraft finish, keep the printed side toward the wall.
2. Transfer the pattern. Print the A4 template at 100% actual size. Check the 100 mm ruler, then trace the outer edge of W1 and all four panes. The outer rectangle should measure 50 × 60 mm.
3. Cut the outside edge. Work on a cutting mat. Guide a craft knife along the ruler with light passes to keep the edge straight.
4. Remove the pane scraps. Stop each cut at the corners so you keep the border and crossbars intact. Check that the frame lies flat and that all four panes are open.

Hold the finished frame over a paper wall sketch before cutting the wall. A single rectangular opening behind the frame gives all four panes a clear view into the house. If you’re planning to paint the frame, do it while it’s flat and leave the rear glue border bare.

Fit the part to a cardboard house

Reserve a flat 50 × 60 mm area on the outside of the wall. The project supplies a centered 38 × 48 mm through-opening and a 6 mm contact band around it.

The rear border of the frame is the glue surface. Keep the four panes and the wall opening clear.

See the full connection spec · Read the cardboard house guide