3 Ways To Make A Piggy Bank - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Make a Piggy Bank PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Claire Donovan-Blackwood

Last Updated: February 19, 2026 References

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  • Using a Plastic Bottle
    • |
  • Making a Mason Jar Piggy Bank
    • |
  • Working with Papier-Mâché
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
    • |
  • Warnings
    • |
  • Things You'll Need
|Show more |Show less ARTICLE VIDEO X

This article was co-authored by Claire Donovan-Blackwood. Claire Donovan-Blackwood is an Arts & Crafts Specialist and CEO of Heart Handmade UK, a site dedicated to helping people live a happy, creative life. With over 13 years of experience, Claire uses art as a form of therapy and focuses on mindfulness in the making of art. She makes crafting easy and accessible for those she works with. Claire received her B.A. in Photography & Visual Imagery from The University of Huddersfield. This article has been viewed 231,377 times.

It’s never too early to start saving money! A piggy bank can be a fun way of making sure your money is all in one safe place. While it’s easy to go purchase a piggy bank, there's nothing to stop you from making one of your own. There are a few different ways to create a homemade piggy bank, and they can be constructed from materials you already have in your home.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Using a Plastic Bottle

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  1. Step 1 Wash out your plastic bottle with regular tap water. 1 Wash out your plastic bottle with regular tap water. There's no set limit to how big or small your piggy bank should be, but you should aim for a plastic bottle that's between 500–1,000 millilitres (17–34  fl oz). Wash it out with water and let it sit for 10 minutes so it can dry.
    • Keep the bottle cap on the bottle. It will serve as the pig’s snout.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Piggy Bank 2 Cut out a 1 inch (2.5 cm)-long coin slot with a box cutter. Have an adult slice a coin slot into the middle of 1 of the long sides of the bottle. Make the coin slot a little bigger than the biggest coin you plan on putting in the piggy bank.[1]
    • The coin slot will need to be at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) long to fit a standard US quarter.
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  3. Step 3 Attach the legs to the side of the bottle opposite the coin slot. 3 Attach the legs to the side of the bottle opposite the coin slot. Cut out 4 egg-holders from the carton using scissors. Then, have an adult use a low-heat hot glue gun to attach them to the bottle by applying the glue around the edges of the egg-holders. Finally, paste the legs on the side opposite the coin slot.
    • When the pig is standing on its new legs, the coin slot should be facing up.
  4. Step 4 Decorate your pig with the remaining materials. 4 Decorate your pig with the remaining materials. Now that you’ve got a basic pig shape, it’s time to get artistic with your creation! Make a tail by twisting a pink pipe cleaner into a spiral. Draw nostrils onto the pig’s snout with a black marker. Cut 2 triangles out of pink paper or felt and glue them on as ears.
    • You can give the pig eyes by hot gluing googly eyes onto its face, or by drawing, cutting out, and gluing on eyes yourself.

    Warning: Adding many of these touches will require a hot glue gun, so make sure you have an adult around to help you with this part.

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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Making a Mason Jar Piggy Bank

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  1. Step 1 Pick a 1 US pint (470 mL) mason jar if you’re just starting out. 1 Pick a 1 US pint (470 mL) mason jar if you’re just starting out. For larger savings goals, choose a mason jar that’s 0.5 gallons (1.9 L) or 1 gallon (3.8 L). If you do not have any mason jars at home, you can order some online or purchase a jar at a local crafts store. Any jar that you get needs a lid to go with it.[2]
    • Use a spaghetti sauce jar if you don’t have a mason jar handy. Make sure to wash out the jar thoroughly before you convert it into a piggy bank. You can just run it through the dishwasher.
  2. Step 2 Remove any labels from your jar with soap and water. 2 Remove any labels from your jar with soap and water. You want your new piggy bank to be free of labels before you start putting coins in it. To do this, first peel off as much of the label as you can with your fingers. Then, squeeze a few drops of soap onto a sponge and run the jar under some hot water. As the water hits the label, scrub the paper away with the sponge to completely remove the label.[3]
    • Let the jar sit for 15-20 minutes so it can dry. Once the jar is dry, you can start using it as a piggy bank!
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Piggy Bank 3 Cut a 1 inch (2.5 cm) coin slot into the middle of the lid. Use a box cutter to make an incision into the lid that is large enough to fit the biggest coin you want to slot into your jar. To fit a regular US quarter, the slot will need to be at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) long.
    • If you don’t feel comfortable using a box cutter, you can actually go out and buy a lid with a pre-cut slot. These lids are available at your local crafts store.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Piggy Bank 4 Attach a label to the side of the jar. Write “piggy bank” or something along those lines on the jar and keep it in a safe location. The great part about using a mason jar is that you can constantly track how much money you’re saving without opening the jar.
    • You want your jar to be safe, but be sure to keep it in a part of your home that’s easy to access.

    Tip: Tape the lid shut to discourage people from opening the jar before it’s full

  5. Step 5 Decorate your jar any way you’d like. 5 Decorate your jar any way you’d like. There are a number of ways to go about this step, as it’s completely up to you how you want your piggy bank to look! One fun idea is to wrap a colorful, decorative tape called washi tape around your jar and then add stickers to the parts of the jar that aren’t covered. Then, take some puffy paint and draw your name or other designs onto the glass jar.
    • You can buy washi tape, stickers, and puffy paint at your local crafts store or get order some online.
    • Add the tape and stickers onto the jar before the puffy paint. Then, once you’ve painted, let the jar sit for 6 hours so it can dry completely.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Working with Papier-Mâché

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Piggy Bank 1 Mix flour and glue together in a pot. Get a small pot that holds around 0.5 gallons (1.9 L) to boil water. Then, get a medium-sized pot that can hold at least 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water and is about 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter. This is your paste-mixing pot. Whisk together 1 cup (240 mL) of flour and 1 cup (240 mL) of water thoroughly in your paste-mixing pot. Boil 4 cups (950 mL) of water on the stove in your smaller pot and stir the flour and water mixture into it. Let it simmer for about 3 minutes, and then let it cool for 15 minutes. Ask an adult to help you use the stove.[4]
    • You can purchase mixable papier-mâché paste at arts and crafts supply stores, but it’s easy to make your own at home. You’ll also save some money in the process!
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Piggy Bank 2 Crumple newspaper twice to prepare it for papier-mâché. Get a few sheets of newspaper and some brown paper bags. Crumple them up into tight balls, uncrumple them, and then do the same thing again. This helps the glue soak into the paper more thoroughly. Once that's done, tear the paper into 1 inch (2.5 cm) squares.[5]
    • You can also use butcher paper, which you can order online.
  3. Step 3 Blow a balloon up. 3 Blow a balloon up. Make it the size you want your piggy bank to be. Tie the balloon off when it reaches your desired size.[6]
    • It doesn’t matter what color the balloon is, as it’s just providing a structure to papier-mâché on top of and won’t actually be visible.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Piggy Bank 4 Papier-mâché the balloon. Wet both sides of the pieces of paper with the flour paste you mixed earlier and apply them to the pig. Get just enough paste on the paper to have it stick, but not so much that it's dripping. Smooth the paper onto the pig as you apply it and cover the space evenly. The paper will dry in about 15 minutes. Add 3 layers of papier-mâché onto the pig.[7]
    • Once you add the layers, let the balloon sit for 2 days in a well-lit, well-ventilated area of your home so it can dry fully.

    Tip: Your piggy bank will be stronger if you allow each layer to dry before adding another. This is why you should wait about 15 minutes in between adding layers.

  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Piggy Bank 5 Slice out a 1 inch (2.5 cm)-long coin slot. Have an adult use a box cutter to make a coin slot that’s at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) long so you can fit standard US quarters in it. If you want to put bigger coins in the piggy bank, you’ll have to make the slot about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) long. Since papier-mâché can be delicate, measure out your cut with a pen before you commit to it.[8]
    • You can also use this hole to pull the balloon out from the inside of the piggy bank. Feel free to throw the balloon away when you’re done with it.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Piggy Bank 6 Attach legs and a nose. Cut out 5 sections from a paper egg carton using scissors. Have an adult use a low-heat hot glue gun to attach them to the appropriate places on the balloon. Line the edges of the egg-holders with hot glue and place 4 of them on the side of the papier-mâché balloon opposite the coin slot. Put the nose in the middle of whichever side you’ve picked to be the front of the piggy bank.[9]
    • Place the piggy bank on its legs so the glue can set and let it sit for 30 minutes before you begin decorating.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Piggy Bank 7 Decorate your piggy bank with paint and accessories. Paint the body of the piggy bank with spray or acrylic paint, evenly coating the surface as you go. Then, make a tail by twisting a pink pipe cleaner into a spiral and having an adult help you hot glue it to the pig’s bottom. You can also give the pig eyes by gluing googly eyes onto its face, or by drawing, cutting out, and gluing on eyes. Ultimately, the design is your choice.[10]
    • Other decoration ideas include drawing nostrils onto the pig’s snout with a black marker and cutting 2 triangles out of pink paper or felt to glue them on as ears.
    • If you do not want to use paint, you can color the body of the piggy bank with markers.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question Does it have to look like a pig? Community Answer Community Answer No, it can look like whatever you want it to look like. There are piggy banks of many different varieties. The only thing that matters is if it can hold your coins. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 35
  • Question How would you open the papier mache pig to get your money out? Mo.mow.mo.money Mo.mow.mo.money Community Answer After the papier mâché has dried, cut a hole in the bottom using a knife. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 27 Helpful 27
  • Question Can you attach ears to your pig? Mario Luigi Mario Luigi Community Answer Sure! Just cut two semi-circles out of a sheet of cardboard, paint them pink, and hot glue them to each side of the piggy bank. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 26 Helpful 21
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Tips

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
  • Try using a 1.5 L bottle so that you can put even more money inside.
  • Try cutting a hole big enough so even a bill fits.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

  • You may have to cut out a piece of the piggy bank if it comes time to take coins out. If you put in a coin slot without a way to get the money back out, you'll have to damage part of your piggy bank to withdraw anything. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 4
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Things You’ll Need

Using a Plastic Bottle

  • Empty plastic bottle
  • Box cutter
  • Scissors
  • Low-heat hot glue gun
  • Paper egg carton
  • Pipe cleaner
  • Markers
  • Acrylic paint
  • Googly eyes
  • Construction paper
  • Felt

Making a Mason Jar Piggy Bank

  • Mason or spaghetti sauce jar
  • Box cutter
  • Labels
  • Tape
  • Washi tape
  • Pen or pencil
  • Puffy paint
  • Stickers

Utilizing Papier-Mâché

  • Flour
  • Glue
  • Water
  • Bag of balloons
  • Pot for paste mixing
  • Newspaper
  • Brown paper bags or butcher paper
  • Paper egg carton
  • Box cutter
  • Low-heat hot glue gun
  • Pipe cleaner
  • Googly eyes
  • Markers
  • Scissors
  • Spray or acrylic paint
  • Pen or pencil

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References

  1. ↑ https://sassytownhouseliving.com/plastic-bottle-piggy-bank/
  2. ↑ https://www.moneycrashers.com/how-to-make-a-large-personalized-piggy-bank/
  3. ↑ https://www.moneycrashers.com/how-to-make-a-large-personalized-piggy-bank/
  4. ↑ https://www.ultimatepapermache.com/paper-mache-piggy-bank
  5. ↑ https://brisbanekids.com.au/papier-mache-piggy-bank/
  6. ↑ https://www.kidspot.com.au/parenting/things-to-do/build-a-paper-mache-piggy-bank/news-story/bbb63a60b09b638f10a914f5ea4217f2
  7. ↑ https://brisbanekids.com.au/papier-mache-piggy-bank/
  8. ↑ https://www.ultimatepapermache.com/paper-mache-piggy-bank
  9. ↑ https://www.ultimatepapermache.com/paper-mache-piggy-bank
More References (1)
  1. ↑ https://www.kidspot.com.au/parenting/things-to-do/build-a-paper-mache-piggy-bank/news-story/bbb63a60b09b638f10a914f5ea4217f2

About This Article

Claire Donovan-Blackwood Co-authored by: Claire Donovan-Blackwood Arts & Crafts Specialist This article was co-authored by Claire Donovan-Blackwood. Claire Donovan-Blackwood is an Arts & Crafts Specialist and CEO of Heart Handmade UK, a site dedicated to helping people live a happy, creative life. With over 13 years of experience, Claire uses art as a form of therapy and focuses on mindfulness in the making of art. She makes crafting easy and accessible for those she works with. Claire received her B.A. in Photography & Visual Imagery from The University of Huddersfield. This article has been viewed 231,377 times. 89 votes - 77% Co-authors: 32 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 231,377 Categories: Featured Articles | Making Toys Article SummaryX

To make a piggy bank, start by gluing a piece of paper around a toilet roll. Fold the excess paper into the ends of the roll. Then, cut 2 circles, 2 triangle shapes for ears, and an oval and small rectangle for the nose out of cardstock. Attach the circles to each end of the roll with glue. When both ends are securely in place, assemble and attach the nose to one of the circles. Draw a pig's face above the nose using any color you like and glue the ears to the sides. Finally, use a box cutter to cut a hole in the top of your piggy bank that's just large enough for coins to fit through. Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Claire Donovan-Blackwood Co-authored by: Claire Donovan-Blackwood Arts & Crafts Specialist 89 votes - 77% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 32 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 231,377 Gelica Rey

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