How To Build A Manger Out Of Pallets (Do This!)

Pallets have become the duct tape of the DIY world. You can do anything with a couple of pallets – and building a manger is no exception. In fact, anyone can construct a manger relatively quickly out of a couple of discarded wooden pallets.

You can build several different styles of manger’s when using pallets. Many people chose to make three sides and a roof. For easy storage, you can attach hinges to the four pieces. That way, when January hits, you can fold down your manger scene easily without losing any parts.

This article will give you everything you need to know about building a manger out of pallets. Not only is this a fun way to showcase the birth of Jesus, but it also has some great practical benefits.

We will cover all this and more in the sections below.

When you use old pallets to make a manger, it almost looks like you handcrafted the structure piece by piece. When people think of the stable where Jesus was born, they think of a weathered old barn. And that’s where the pallets shine.

Without any effort, the pallets are already weathered, and the boards are already in place. It gives you a great look very easily. If you know someone with a nativity scene who needs a manger and stable to go around it, they would be thrilled to have you build them one out of pallets.

There are many ways you could configure pallets to create your manger scene. If you wanted to be simple, you could take four pallets and attach them in a stable configuration: a back wall, two sides, and the roof.

Also, if you plan to build a manger than can be used by children, you can cut the pallets down and just build the three sides of the stable. You can then use two by fours as posts and lay a brown blanket or tarp over the posts as a roof.

Today, we will explain how to build a manger with a sloping roof and hinges, so it’s easy to deconstruct. The sloped roof will give your manger scene a very cozy look, while also shedding the snow.

Let’s get into the build.

Measure back wall

A typical pallet is 48 by 40 inches. That’s 4′ by 3′ and four inches. Here are the dimensions we want for our manger.

We want to keep it four feet long for the back wall, but we will cut it three feet wide. This difference will allow us to create an upward slope for the roof. Dimensions for the back wall: 48 inches long, 36 inches tall.

Measure Both Side Walls

Now for the side walls. We want to create a slight slope. We also need to cut the walls to be half the width of the back wall. Cutting them in half will allow us to easily fold them up when the season is over.

For the sidewalls, first cut the full 48 inches by 40-inch pallet in half. After the cut, you should have a pallet that is 40 inches tall and 24 inches wide. However, we are not done yet. We need to add the slope.

Since our back wall is 36 inches tall, we will slope our roof from 40 inches in the front to 36 inches in the back. To do this, mark the 36-inch point on your sidewall. Then, make a pencil line sloping up to the 40-inch mark. This incline will give you a nice slope.

Be sure to mirror the side walls with each other. If you cut them to be identical, one side won’t fit correctly, and you’ll need to make more modifications to the pallet.

Measure roof

Now for the roof. For this piece, keep in mind the size of our base. At this point, it will be 24 inches by 48 inches.

We will make the roof slightly larger – this will give us some overhang in the front. Also, making the top wider than the base will compensate for the slight increase in width due to the slope.

Dimensions for the roof: 48 inches long and 36 inches wide. The same as the rear wall. Remember, you can alter the dimensions to fit the look you prefer.

To cut out the roof, follow the same steps as the rear wall: mark and cut.

Now that you have everything cut and framed, it’s time to put it all together. You can be creative about how you attach the pieces. Just be sure everything is secure. We are going to use hinges. Hinges allow us to fold and conveniently store the manger.

First, we suggest you buy some relatively large, heavy-duty hinges. These hinges are going to help support your structure, so you want them to be stout. Use at least two hinges to connect each piece to the back wall. That’s a total of six hinges. Here’s how you join them.

Attach the hinges on the roof so that the roof can easily fold down behind the wall. The top folds to the back to leave room for your sidewalls to fold in the front. Attach one piece at a time and ensure that it folds smoothly before moving on to the next.

If needed, attach two by fours inside the pallets, so the hinges are connected to solid wood.

And that’s your finished pallet manger. You can now enjoy the festivities of the season while knowing your nativity looks better than ever, and that is safe from the snow.

Most pallets are safe for use. However, it is smart to trace the origin of your pallets, as there have been reports of some coming into contact with various toxic chemicals. To mitigate this risk, carefully inspect pallets before using them. If possible, figure out where they came from.

Mainly, keep them off the damp ground for long periods. You can also paint the pallets to give them greater weather resistance – this is especially true if you are using the pallets for a creative purpose.

With optimum care, a pallet could last up to 10 years. However, this will largely depend on the environment. A pallet that is not cared for could begin to rot very quickly. If you are using pallets for something around your home, it may be a good idea to paint them. Also, keep them off the ground as much as possible.