DIY Kiddie Pool Sandbox with Fitted Cover
Turn a kiddie pool into a simple DIY sandbox and sew a custom elastic cover. A budget-friendly, family-friendly backyard project for spring.
This post contains affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my Amazon links (or any other affiliate links) at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!
I made this sandbox last year, and my daughter is still completely obsessed with it.
It hasn’t gotten much love since the summer, but now that spring is stretching its arms again, I thought it was the perfect time to finally sit down and write a full blog post outlining exactly how I made this simple DIY kiddie pool sandbox… and how I sewed a custom cover for it.
This is one of those projects that’s almost laughably easy, but wildly worth it.
If you want an affordable, movable, low-commitment sandbox for your patio or backyard, this might be your new favorite warm weather setup.
All of the supplies I used for this entire blog post can be found on my Benable Board: Kiddie Pool Sandbox & Cover
The Sandbox
Supplies You’ll Need
- Kiddie pool (WalMart & Dollar General have these during the warmer months of the year)
- 2 bags of play sand
- Sandbox toys
That’s it.
To make the sandbox, it’s truly as simple as emptying the bags of sand into the pool and tossing in a few fun toys.
No complicated build. No woodworking. No permanent backyard commitment.
It’s lightweight enough to move around and perfect for small outdoor spaces.
We’ve used ours:
- On our enclosed patio while hanging out or grilling
- Under the carport while I wash the cars
- Even while I’m bathing the pup
It keeps little hands busy while you’re doing real life things. And that’s priceless.
One small note: I don’t recommend keeping one inside. Sand has a personality. It travels. And if you’re using it on a patio like we do, just prepare to sweep often.
The Sandbox Cover
Now for the part that makes this setup practical.
A cover keeps the sand clean, dry, and protected when not in use. It helps keep out debris, rain, and curious critters… and makes the whole thing feel intentional instead of temporary.
Here’s exactly how I made mine.
Supplies You’ll Need
- Fabric (outdoor fabric works great, but sturdy cotton is fine too)
- 1/4” elastic
- Matching thread
- Fabric scissors
- Pins/clips
- Sewing machine
- Optional: Seam Guide Ruler (This helped a lot to keep my seam line correct while sewing the channel for this as I was sewing in a circle)
How to Make the Cover
1. Measure and Cut Your Fabric
You’ll need 2 pieces of fabric.
Here’s how I measured mine:
I draped one piece of fabric directly over the pool. I knew I wanted the cover to cinch underneath the lip of the pool, so I located where that point landed and added about an extra inch to account for seam allowances and elastic.
I traced my cut line, then draped it back over the kiddie pool to double-check that everything would fall where I wanted.
Once it looked good, I cut it out.
Use that first piece as a template to cut your second piece.
2. Sew Right Sides Together
Place the two fabric pieces right sides together.
Sew around the edge using a 1/4” seam allowance, leaving a gap large enough to turn the fabric right side out.
3. Trim & Turn
Trim the edges to reduce bulk. Turn the fabric right side out and iron everything flat.
4. Top Stitch
Sew a top stitch around the entire edge at a 1/8” seam allowance.
Be sure to leave a small gap so you can feed the elastic through later.
5. Create the Elastic Casing
Sew another line all the way around at a 1/2” seam allowance to create the elastic encasing.
For this step, do not leave a gap. Your gap from the top stitch will be used to insert the elastic.
6. Insert the Elastic
Attach a safety pin to one end of your 1/4” elastic and carefully feed it through the casing.
Once it’s threaded all the way around, test fit it on your sandbox. Adjust the tightness as needed so it cinches securely underneath the lip.
Tie or stitch the elastic ends together securely.
7. Close the Gap
Sew the opening closed.
And that’s it.
You now have a simple, fitted sandbox cover that pops on and off in seconds.
Part of a Bigger Patio Refresh
This sandbox actually inspired a number of projects for our patio space. I share a lot of the projects in an outdoor patio refresh video on my YouTube channel.
In that video, I walk through several cute, fun, budget-friendly DIY projects that completely transformed our outdoor space without spending a fortune. Think cozy details, practical upgrades, and small changes that make a big difference.
If you’re wanting to create a warm, family-friendly outdoor space this spring, I think you’ll love seeing the full transformation.
You can watch the entire patio refresh here:
The sandbox is just one piece of the puzzle, but it fits so perfectly into the whole space.
Endnotes
This has been such a fun activity for our daughter. It’s something we can pull out while we’re grilling, working out, or just enjoying a slow afternoon outside.
It keeps little ones entertained.
It’s easy to cover and tuck away.
And it moves wherever you need it to be that day.
If you enjoyed this idea or have any tips to add, I’d love for you to leave a comment below. I genuinely love hearing from you and seeing how you adapt these projects for your own homes.
Spring is here. Let’s make the most of it.
– A Cozy Ghost
