How to Make a Wooden Peg Jump Game

Chelsea Foy of Lovely Indeed
·2 min read

This DIY wooden peg game is perfect for playing alone or with friend and it's one of our favorite handmade gift ideas. The key is to jump all the pegs over each other until only one is left. Customize your game even more by painting on a monogram or name in the corner.

This updated design features modern geometric shapes and any colors you can imagine. It's the perfect project to dust off your woodworking skills, and makes a sweet DIY gift as well. Play by yourself, or challenge your friends to a tournament. Game on!

Related: The 50 Best Board Games of All Time

How to Make a Wooden Peg Jump Game

Supplies Needed

  • ¾-inch-thick wood board

  • ¼-inch wood dowel

  • miter saw

  • drill with ¼-inch drill bit

  • small foam paintbrushes

  • craft paint

  • sandpaper

  • pencil

  • ruler

  • masking tape

Step-by-Step Directions

Follow these easy how-to instructions to make your own wooden peg jump game. You should be able to make one in less than an hour (not including drying time for the paint).

Step 1: Cut Wood Triangle

Use a miter saw ($99, Amazon) to cut a ¾-inch thick wood board into an equilateral triangle with 5-½-inch sides. Mark dots with a pencil where your holes will be, using the ruler to measure equidistant holes. There should be 15 holes total, placed in a pyramid with 5 holes on the bottom row, 4 on the next, and so on.

Step 2: Cut Wood Dowels

To make the pegs, pick up a few ¼-inch wood dowels ($4, Amazon). Use the miter saw to cut the dowel into 14 pieces, each 1-¼ inches long. Once you've cut all 14 pegs, use sandpaper to sand any rough edges.

Step 3: Drill Holes

To make the holes for the pegs, use a drill and ¼-inch drill bit ($40, Amazon) to create holes in the board. Place a piece of masking tape ($3, Target) around your drill bit as a guide. Place it so that ½ inch of the bit is exposed. Use this to drill holes where you made your pencil marks in the triangular wood. Stop once the drill reaches the depth of the masking tape. Sand any rough edges.

Step 4: Paint Board

Paint the top of the board and pegs using a variety of your favorite colors! Add additional coats as needed for full coverage.

Step 5: Play the Game!

Get playing! The goal of the peg game is to jump the pegs until you only have one remaining on the board. Once you've mastered the game, try playing against a friend in a timed competition.