Building a sukkah is the heart of the whole festival, so making a little paper one is the perfect way to bring Sukkot to a craft table. Kids get to build a tiny hut, give it a leafy roof, and then decorate it exactly how they’d decorate the real thing. This paper sukkah craft template is free, it prints in a minute, and it turns into a proper little sukkah that stands up on the table. Here’s the build, plus how to make it sturdy and how to decorate it.
What Even Is a Sukkah?
Quick version for anyone new to this. A sukkah is a temporary hut that families build for Sukkot and then eat in (and sometimes sleep in) for the week. The key feature is the roof, which is made of branches and leaves, loose enough that you can still see the sky and the stars through it. Kids find that detail genuinely magical, a roof you can see through, and it’s worth mentioning while you build the paper one.
Build the Paper Sukkah
Print the template and you’re off. The kids colour the walls, then fold along the marked lines and glue the tabs to make three or four walls that stand up. For the roof, this is the fun bit, they add strips of green paper, or better still a few real leaves and twigs from the garden, laid loosely across the top so you can still see through the gaps. Just like the real thing.
If you want it to actually hold its shape and not flop, a couple of tricks help. Glue the base to a piece of card or a paper plate so it has a sturdy floor. Fold the tabs firmly and give the glue a minute to grab before letting go. And if a wall keeps sagging, a tiny bit of tape on the inside corner does the job without showing.
Decorate It Like a Real Sukkah
A bare sukkah is fine, but decorating it is where kids really light up, and it’s exactly what people do with the real ones. Have them add tiny paper chains along the inside, little hanging fruit like paper grapes and pomegranates, and drawings stuck to the walls. If you’ve made our lulav and etrog craft, stand it inside. Suddenly it’s a proper little scene, and they’ll want to show everyone.
The Toddler Version
For the smallest crafters, keep it low-stress. Let them colour the flat template and skip the folding, or you do the folding and gluing while they decorate. A flat, coloured sukkah taped to the fridge counts every bit as much as a standing one. At this age it’s about taking part, not engineering.
Why It’s a Good One
Beyond being a cute craft, building the sukkah gives kids something concrete to attach the festival to. They fold, they cut, they problem-solve to make it stand, and they learn what a sukkah is and why the roof is leafy. It’s the kind of craft that quietly does a lot of teaching while everyone thinks they’re just gluing.
Download the Free Paper Sukkah Template (PDF)
The sukkah walls, roof pieces and a simple fold-and-glue guide are in one free PDF. No email, no sign-up. Print it, build it, decorate it.
Download the Free Printable
⬇ Download PDF (Free)Make a Whole Sukkot Afternoon of It
The paper sukkah is even better with company. Pair it with our full sukkot crafts for kids hub, make a lulav and etrog craft to stand inside it, and wind down with our sukkot coloring pages. For a sturdier build, print the template on slightly heavier paper. There’s a note on the best cardstock and paper for printables if you want it.
Learn More (from Jewish Sources)
If you’d like the story from people who live the tradition, Chabad.org’s Sukkot for Kids section and My Jewish Learning both explain the sukkah and the festival really well. A quick read-aloud first makes the craft mean more.
Quick Questions
What is a paper sukkah craft template?
It’s a free printable you colour, fold and glue into a little model sukkah, with a leafy roof and space to decorate, just like the real hut families build for Sukkot.
How do you make the paper sukkah stand up?
Glue the base to a piece of card or a paper plate for a sturdy floor, fold the tabs firmly, and add a little tape on the inside corners if a wall sags. Heavier paper helps too.
Is the template free?
Yes. The walls, roof and fold-and-glue guide are all in one free PDF, no sign-up. Just don’t resell it.
Is this good for toddlers?
Yes. Let little ones colour the flat template and decorate while you handle the folding, or just tape a coloured flat sukkah up. Taking part is the point.
When is Sukkot in 2026?
Sundown on Friday, September 25 through nightfall on Friday, October 2.
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