7 Inexpensive DIY Archery Target Ideas

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Last Updated on October 20, 2023 by Paul Clayton

7 Inexpensive DIY Archery Target Ideas

Buying a new archery target online or at a store can be expensive. This is even more of a financial drain since targets need replacement regularly. Once you have shot up your target, it’s time to get a new one, and the process repeats itself. 

The best way to get out of this loop is by making DIY targets on your own. If this is a process that intimidates you, there is no need to worry since plenty of techniques exist. This article will go over 7 different DIY archery target ideas from which you can choose the most convenient one. 

Every DIY target mentioned here has different features that impact the way they perform. While some are on the cheaper side and more disposable, others have greater longevity but cost more. Nonetheless, they are all better alternatives to higher-priced store-bought models. 

The Fundamental Target Design

The 7 different DIY target designs that we explore will all share the same foundational build. It is important to understand the basic structure before you get started on construction. 

The 2 major parts of all archery targets are:

• The frame
• The backstop

You can use any rigid item to make a frame as long as it adds balance and maintains the shape.  The most commonly used material for making frames is wood. However, it is also possible to use cardboard, metal, PVC pipe, and other alternatives, depending on the desired durability.  

The backstop is meant to capture the arrow once it is shot into the target. If there is no backstop on your target, your arrows will continuously hunt down. Usually, the best material for backstops is some kind of spongy substance. 

This effectively slows down the arrow by distributing the pressure and reducing the momentum. You can try using cardboard, carpet, foam, cloth, plastic, straw, or even hay as backstops for your target. 

Fortunately, target-making is not a challenging process, and these designs are rather versatile. Materials can be easily substituted as per their availability and cost. In the case of backstop material, any additional material can be repurposed for the sake of saving money. 

Lastly, keep in mind that your target isn’t complete until it has a bulls-eye. A functional paper bulls-eye can be found online and printed out. You will have to keep replacing this as and when it gets shot up. 

Best 7 Inexpensive DIY Archery Target Ideas

Listed below are the top and best 7 inexpensive DIY archery target ideas. These are not only easy but also effective for a better archery experience. 

Cardboard Box Target Design 

• Approximate cost – $10 – $20 
• Suitable Arrow Type – Bullet Points 
• Durability – Low

This is one of the cheapest archery targets you can build. Cardboard is an inexpensive material, and you can often find some lying around. Spare storage boxes are easy to find in stores since they are used for shelving purposes. Anytime you unbox items or use moving boxes, keep them handy for later.

Materials 

The materials you will need are: 

• Cardboard boxes measuring 22” by 13″ by 16.5″ 
• Extra cardboards 
• Glue 
• Tape 

The cardboard box is all that you need to use for building the target frame. As mentioned above, the sizes are only sample measurements that you can follow to ease the process. Otherwise, you can use any size cardboard box to build a suitable target. 

With the frame prepared, you only need to fill the box with more cardboard material. Thus, you will have a convenient cardboard box construction that acts as both a backstop and frame. 

To start building, locate any box that measures adequately in its height and length, even if it’s not exact. However, ensure that the width is no greater than 1 or 2 feet at most. A box that is too wide will be challenging to fill with backstop material. 

On the other hand, too narrow of a box will be flimsy. It might fall over when shot at or be knocked over by a breeze. A slim but sturdy box is a balanced choice that will serve you well. 

Construction Process

Once the box is ready, you will need to arrange for extra layers of cardboard. These layers should be tailored to fit the same length as the box. You will have to put together around 17 such layers. 

With all the layers prepared, tape the entire apparatus together. Ensure that you apply 2 layers of tape to hold the layers firmly intact. 

These layers will then be glued onto the inside of the box. Add the layered stack to one side of the box. Let the stack dry for a few hours so that the glue holds. Do this for the other side of the box as well. 

Once each side is appropriately glued, create another cardboard bar of a smaller size. Use the extra clippings of cardboard and sheets, and hold them together with tape. This bar will connect the two stacks of cardboard that are already glued on the inside. 

Ensure that the cardboard bar is the right size and attach it a couple of inches away from the bottom. Keep in mind that you should weigh them down for greater firmness while gluing any of the parts. Then, wait for the glued-down bar to dry in place. 

Your target will be finished once you add the bulls-eye to the surface. You can use any printout as a target that will help you improve your shooting precision. 

Pros 

• Cardboards are cheap and often even free.
• The material is readily available.
• The construction is simple and quick.

Cons 

• The durability and quality of the material are low.
• The lifespan of the target is about 2 weeks with consistent usage.
• The choice of arrows is restricted to bullet points on this target.
• Broadhead arrows will get stuck in cardboard and can even be damaged 
• Blunts will be too powerful to use effectively on the target 

Hay Bale Target Design

• Approximate cost – $20 – $100  
• Suitable Arrow Type – Blunts 
• Durability – Low

Just like cardboard is used as the frame and backstop, a bale of hay serves this dual purpose as well. A bale of hay works perfectly as a relatively sturdy frame. It is put together tightly and holds its shape as a result. 

Materials

The materials you will need are:

• Bale of hay
• String
• Plastic or some sort of covering 

By covering the bale of hay with plastic, you can ensure that it doesn’t dismantle when you shoot at it. Additionally, since hay is a plant, animals might try to get at it. A plastic covering will reduce the chances of animals being able to pull it apart. 

However, the disadvantage of using hay is that it isn’t very durable. It tends to lose its form quickly since it is only a loose collection of plant material. After multiple shooting practices, you are going to have to remake a target. 

Apart from the animals that want to get at the hay, plenty of small critters pose another disadvantage. They usually reside in the comfy and edible hay bale. 

During the rain, critters and small animals will be even more attracted to the hay as a source of shelter. As a result, keeping your hay bale target out in the open is inadvisable.

Construction Process 

There is no in-depth construction process involved in making this kind of target. All you need to do is purchase some hay bales. Then you can set them up according to how you want to practice. 

An old mattress or tarp cover and some plastic sheets should be used to cover the bale. Finally, you can use a string to put up a target. Make a hole in the bulls-eye printout and pull the string through it. Then wrap the string around the bale to fix it in place. 

Pros

• One of the best options for the cheapest DIY targets
• A convenient option for those with hay lying around 
• Easy to make with little to no construction involved 

Cons

• Hay will fall apart when it is shot at 
• Not compatible with broadheads and can cause damage to the arrow 
• Bullet point arrows are likely to pierce through the hay target 
• Lightweight target might shift when used for practice
• Only suitable for shooting with blunts 

Puzzle Mat Target Design 

• Approximate cost – $80 – $120
• Suitable Arrow Type – Broad-head 
• Durability – High

This is a popular design that you can also find online due to its high quality. It is far more durable than the previous options, although the cost is even higher. Additionally, the building process is a little more complicated, as well.

Materials

The materials you will need are:

• 2 pieces of wood with dimensions 1″ by 1″ by 3″ 
• 4 pieces of wood with dimensions 1″ by 1″ by 36″ 
• 2 pieces of wood with dimensions 3″ by 3″ by 36″ 
• 2″ Nails
• Carpet measuring 3′ by 3′
• Puzzle Mats
• Chicken Wire
• Screws
• Metal Angle Braces

Construction Process

In this target design, the main backstop is the puzzle mat that the target is named after. You can start by laying them out. They will have to be organized into a 3 by 3 grid. 

Since the puzzle mats measure 1” by 1”, the final grid will give you a total surface area of 3” by 3”. You will have to layer them so that the stack measures up to 1 foot in thickness. 

Next, you will need to build the frame. The frame is going to be made of wood, and some cutting is involved in the construction. Cut into halved sections the 1” by 1” by 36” piece of wood. You will need to cut 2 such wood pieces, giving you 4 total halved sections by the end.

Once this is done, the bottom portion of the frame will need to be made. For this, use the longer 3” by 3” piece of wood. Lay it on the ground and attach the shorter 3″ by 3″ by 1″ pieces. You will need to connect these to all the ends of the longer boards. 

Ensure that the shorter pieces are perpendicularly placed on the longer part. The short pieces should be facing upwards. With the help of the 2” nails and the metal angle braces, put the pieces in place. This apparatus will be the basic layout of the frame. 

The top end of the frame will be constructed similarly. For this, use the 2 pieces of 1” by 1” wood. At the ends of the upward base, the top ends will have to be attached to the bottom. 

Finally, you will be nailing the 1” by 1” by 1” parts. Securely attach these parts to the uppermost corners of the frame. 

The backside of the frame will have to be reinforced with the help of the chicken wire. The puzzle mats will be attached firmly to the wire. 

The 3 by 3 grid you had prepared with the puzzle mat can now be placed on the frame. Put it on top of the chicken wire. Lastly, the 3″ by 3″ carpet will be attached to the frame’s front side. This carpeted area is where you will pin your target and shoot at it.

Pros

• One of the most adaptable and balanced options  
• Relatively durable and a long-lasting target
• The carpet can easily be replaced after sustaining damage from repeated practice.
• Compatible for shooting with broadheads 
• Removable carpets for smoother shooting with broadhead arrows

Cons

• Very expensive due to the price of wood and puzzle mats 
• Extra materials like nails and tools are required 
• Cutting and resizing can cost you more
• The construction process is longer and requires more effort.

Carpeted Target Design 

• Approximate cost – $50 – $80
• Suitable Arrow Type – Bullet points  
• Durability – High

Materials

The materials you will need are:

• 1 piece of wood with dimensions 2″ by 12″ by 6.”
• 8 washers and nuts that are suitably sized for the dowel rods
• 4 threaded dowel rods
• Several pieces of carpet 

Construction Process 

Begin by cutting the 2″ by 12″ by 2″ piece of wood into two separate parts. You should be left with 2 pieces measuring 2” by 12” by 3” as a result.

In the four corners of the 2 boards, drill holes in the same spot. This is where you will thread the dowel rods. Thus, the holes should match up on each of the boards.

One of the wooden boards should be laid down on the ground. This will act as the base of the target. The dowel rod will have to be pushed in through the holes in the wooden piece. 

After this is done, fix the washers and nuts onto the dowel rod ends. These will act as the feet of the target. 

The carpet pieces you have gathered will have to be sized into 2” by 11” pieces. These pieces or strips of carpet will have to be stacked. Layer them onto your baseboard as high as possible. Keep in mind that this stack will be compressed and shrink in size. 

Now use the other wooden board and fit it onto the dowels as per the drilled holes’ location. Weigh down on the board and push it down onto the stacked carpet strips. Use the remaining washers and nuts, and fix the dowel rods in place by twisting them as much as you can. 

The better the compression of the carpet stack is, the sturdier your target will be. So, don’t hesitate to sit on top of the apparatus to push the carpets down. 

The final target will be done after this step; however, you can always add more to it. One of the few ways to enhance the target is by ensuring that the carpet strips are evenly laid out. 

You can do this by placing the target face down and applying your body force by stepping on it. This will even out the spread of the carpet and give it a better balance. 

Pros

• One of the simplest designs 
• The design is well thought out and effective.
• Highly durable construction 
• You can easily replace the carpet once it wears out with too much shooting 
• The only major expenditure is on the carpet material.
• Cheaper carpets can be found for lower quality and bought in bulk
• Old carpet stocks can be found for cheap in stores 

Cons 

• Carpet can be an expensive material to buy 
• Cutting carpet into accurately sized strips is time-consuming 

Ethofoam Target Design 

• Approximate cost – $120
• Suitable Arrow Type – Broad-head 
• Durability – Medium

This is another trendy and versatile design that you can find online. It is well-liked for its ease of construction and sturdiness. 

As you must have noticed so far, not every kind of target can accommodate different arrow types. This can be frustrating and inconvenient if you have varied archery tastes. 

Broadhead arrows are the toughest arrows to build suitable targets for. These arrows are best for hunting and thus likely to rip targets apart if they aren’t well constructed. 

That is why this Ethofoam target is the perfect choice for those who want to shoot broadheads. It is ideally built for all kinds of arrows, including field heads and bullet heads. You can shoot all you want without constantly worrying about damaging your target or your arrows. 

Materials

The materials you will need are:

• 5 Ethofoam sheets with dimensions of 2” by 2.” 
• 1″ Nails or Screws
• 1 piece of wood with dimensions of 30″ by 30″ by 0.5″ 
• 2 pieces of wood with dimensions of 30″ by 2″ by .5″ 
• 3 pieces of wood with dimensions of 30″ by 5″ by 1″ 

Construction Process

The 30″ by 30″ wooden board is meant to act as the frame’s back for the target. Using the 3 wooden pieces 30’ by 5”, attach them to 2 sides of the larger backboard. 

Make sure that they are firmly in place by nailing them in through the backboard. Even if you are making use of screws, follow the same process of nailing through the backboard. 

Thus, you should have 3 wooden sides attached to the main backboard. Now you can add your stuffing into this partially built box. Put in the 5 sheets of Ethofoam and then finish building the box. 

Attach the 2 wood pieces of 30” by 2” by 0.5” to complete the construction. These pieces are most suitable for fixing at the top of the Ethofoam and the bottom of the frame. 

Thus, the top of your frame will remain open. This way, you can replace the strip of Ethofoam as and when necessary. The Ethofoam can simply be taken out once it has been shot up. Consequently, you don’t need to worry about causing any damage to the target. 

Pros

• The best target design for shooting with broadhead arrows
• Arrows will not get damaged due to the thoughtful build 
• Overall sturdy construction 
• Ethofoam sheets are replaceable, and the target is easy to fix 
• The longevity of the target is greater.
• The base cost is reasonable, minus the Ethofoam 

Cons

• Ethofoam is an expensive material (costing around $200 for a few large sheets) 

Compressed Straw Target Design 

• Approximate cost – $50 – $80
• Suitable Arrow Type – Bullet points  
• Durability – High

Materials

• 2 pieces of wood with dimensions of 28″ by 4″ by 1″
• 2 pieces of wood with dimensions of 29″ by 4″ by 1″
• 6 bands of Compressed Straw of 4 feet 
• Wheels
• 1″ Screws

Construction Process 

First, you will need to take the 6 bands of compressed straw and split them into halves. As a result, you should have 12 total bands of compressed straw measuring 2 feet in length. The great thing is that compressed straw is an easy material to cut. 

All you need is to cut along the edges with a box cutter. This will be adequate for splitting the band in half. The compressed straw bands are meant to act as the backstop for the target. 

The frame of this target requires you to use the 29” wooden board to build the base. Keep one of the 2 feet long bands of compressed straw in the middle of the wooden board. Using the screws, attach the 28” wooden pieces to the 2 sides of the compressed straws in a vertical manner. 

Once the compressed straw has been held in place, stack more straw bands on top of it. Make sure to keep them within the frame and continue till you fill the entire frame. 

Once the frame is full, you will have to fix the second 29” board onto the top. As you do this, ensure that the straw is just a little over the top of the sideboards. 

To create a sturdy target, you will be compressing the straw even further. You will be drilling the screws through the top board and applying pressure downward onto the straw. 

Note that the straw is firmly held in place as you finish this process. If the vertical boards are too long, it is feasible to size them correctly by cutting them.

With the top screwed on well, the wheels will need to be attached to the frame’s sides. The wheels are a necessary addition since the target in itself will be very heavy. 

A well-built target of this design can weigh more than 50 lbs. Thus, by making it more portable, you will be ensuring the most efficiency from this design. 

Pros

• Higher durability than most DIY targets
• Greater longevity even after years of shooting
• Condensed straw bands are reliable backstop material 
• Wheels make it easier to transport 

Cons

• Very heavy target weighing more than 50-80 lbs
• Can become an inconvenient and cumbersome choice depending on your location 

Wood and Plastic Archery Target Design 

• Approximate cost – $50
• Suitable Arrow Type – Bullet points 
• Durability – Medium

Materials

The materials you will need are:

• 8 pieces of wood with dimensions of 36″ by 1″ by 2″ 
• 6 pieces of wood with dimensions of 15″ by 1″ by 2″ 
• 4 boards of OSB with dimensions of 36″ by 16″ by 1″ 
• 1″ Screws
• 1 and 1/4″ Nails
• Outdoor tarp cover 
• Some type of plastic filler material 
• 2 pieces of cardboard with dimensions of 36″ by 36″ 

Construction Process

Start building this target by making 2 frames. The 4 wooden boards of 36” by 1” by 2” will need to be connected for this. You should combine them in such a way as to get 2 squares. 

These two squares will need to be supported with the 6 boards of 15”. You will be using these 6 in 3 sets of 2. You will need to place 1 of these wooden sets on the bottom of the squares. 

Place the other set on the top, and the last set somewhere in the middle of the squares. The purpose of these sets of wood is to interlink the two initial square frames. 

Go on to add the OSB by attaching it to the box frame that you have built. The purpose of the OSB is to make the box frame sturdier. Additionally, the backstop material will be kept in place more effectively. 

The box frame will need a back. For this, you can use the cardboard sheet and attach it to the frame. The box frame can then be filled with backstop material in the form of plastic stuffing. 

You can use something like extra grocery bags or even buy rolls of plastic from the store. Whatever you use, ensure that you use enough to fill the frame correctly.

The box frame will then have to be sealed off. For this, use another cardboard square on the front of the frame. As you do this, make sure that you are compressing the plastic downwards. This will add firmness to the entire target. 

Lastly, you can wrap the finished frame with a tarp cover. This can be attached securely using nails that pin it to the edges of the box frame. An additional feature can be an extra handle at the mid-sidebar of the box. Since this target can be hard to move around, a handle can give you some relief. 

You can also find this construction process in the form of online videos to guide you through the steps. 

Pros

• Plastic, cardboard, and tarp are easy to find and replace if damaged
• Easy maintenance 

Cons

• Difficult target design to construct
• Difficult to transport and can be an inconvenience depending on where you want to shoot

Final Thoughts

In the world of archery, precision and accuracy are kings. But, to achieve this grandeur, one must practice, and to practice, a suitable archery range target is vital. Yet, such targets often come with a heavy price tag.

Firstly, we have the classic hay bale target, a tried and tested design that is easy to construct and fantastic for practice archery. Then there’s the innovative foam block target, offering durability at an affordable cost. The cardboard box filled with plastic wrap makes a surprisingly effective target for light bows. The old-tire target is not only cost-effective but also an excellent way to recycle and reduce waste.

For those seeking a more portable solution, the lightweight carpet target is your ally. The pallet target stands as a rugged fortress against your arrows, promising longevity and steadfastness. Lastly, we have the cloth bag filled with plastic bags, an embodiment of simplicity and practicality.

In conclusion, these seven inexpensive DIY archery range target ideas will not only save your coins but also enhance your practice archery sessions. They offer a variety of options catering to different needs while promoting eco-friendly practices. So fear not the heavy price tags anymore; pick up your tools and craft your cheap DIY archery target today!

Ultimately the most suitable target will be one that accommodates your arrow preferences and falls within your budget.

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