Make An Affordable Camping Cot Using PVC
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Time to read 4 min
Whether you’re going with a group of friends or taking the family out for a nice weekend getaway, camping can be such a great experience. But, poor sleeping conditions can turn any camping trip sour very quickly. Individual camping cots can be a great solution to sleeping on the ground as well as avoiding the hassle of setting up an air mattress and making sure it stays inflated. You can build your own camping cot out of PVC Pipes and fittings.
Materials: Adult Size Cot
- 1-1/2” PVC Pipe – 20 ft or 240”
- 1-1/2” 90 Degree Elbows - 6
- 1-1/2” Tee’s - 6
- 1-1/2” End Caps – 6
- 7 Yards of 10oz Duck Cloth Canvas – You’ll have plenty left over for any repairs or patching that the canvas may need.
- PVC Cement & Primer
- Sewing Machine
If you need to make a child-size cot a smaller diameter PVC size would work down to ¾”. You will need to just adjust your lengths as necessary.
Step 1:
Cut the PVC Pipe to desired lengths.
— 6 lengths at 6” long
— 4 lengths at 2” long
— 4 lengths at 36” long
— 2 lengths at 26” long
Step 2:
Take one 26” long pipe and connect the 90 Degree Elbows on each end. Repeat.
Step 3:
Insert the 2” lengths into the 4, 90-degree Elbows. (About 1” of the pipe should be visible on each elbow.)
Step 4:
Connect a side outlet of a Tee to the 1” length sticking out of the elbow. Repeat this step 3 more times and adjust the Tee so that the center socket is pointing down towards the ground.
Step 5:
In the Horizontal Socket of one PVC Tee, insert the 36” length. Repeat for the other 3 tees.
Step 6:
With the 2 remaining Tees, connect the 36” lengths to create a rectangle. Make sure that the center sockets on these tees are also pointing down towards the ground.
Step 7:
Take the 6” lengths of pipe and insert them into the downward-facing center socket of each Tee.
Step 8:
Take the 6 caps and cap off the end of the 6” lengths of Pipe.
You now have your PVC COT Frame.
Step 9:
Cut the fabric so that it drapes over the entire cot and wraps around to create a snug fit from each of the 4 sides.
Step 10:
Cut semi-circles at each corner and in the middle to allow for the tees to be visible. On the width side, you’ll need to sew a loop so the 26” length pipe is able to slide through. Repeat on the other end.
Step 11:
On the long sides, sew 2 loops on each side, separated by the center semi-circle.
Step 12:
Assemble with the canvas. Now you’re all set to take your cot camping.
You can cement the elbows, tees, end caps for sturdiness. The longer lengths should not be cemented so that the fabric can be removed for transportation and cleaning from time to time. If you choose to hand wash the fabric or travel with the cot assembled, you can cement all connections on the cot for maximum strength.
Materials & Sizing: Built using 1-1/2” PVC pipes, elbows, tees, end caps, and heavy-duty duck cloth canvas (or scaled down to 3/4” PVC for kids).
Simple Frame Assembly: Cut PVC pipes to construct a rectangular frame base supported by 6 vertical legs fitted with end caps.
Canvas Fabric Sleeve: Sew fabric pockets with corner/center notches so the PVC pipes slide easily through the fabric loops to secure the bed surface.
FAQs
What size and type of PVC pipe should I use for a DIY camping cot?
For an adult-sized cot, use 1-1/2” Schedule 40 or Furniture Grade PVC pipe. If you are building a child-sized cot, you can scale down to a 3/4” or 1” PVC pipe and adjust the cut lengths accordingly.
Should I glue all the PVC fittings and pipe connections together?
No, you should only glue the corner fittings, leg supports, and end caps using PVC cement. Do not glue the long horizontal side pipes, as keeping these unglued allows you to disassemble the frame to wash the canvas sleeve or pack the cot flat for transport.
What fabric is best for the cot cover, and how much do I need?
A heavy-duty, durable fabric like 10 oz. Duck Cloth Canvas is recommended to support weight without tearing. Plan for about 7 yards of canvas for an adult cot, which provides extra material for sewing side loops and making future repairs.
Can I use furniture grade PVC fittings instead of standard plumbing fittings?
Yes! Furniture grade PVC fittings are ideal for this project because they have glossy, barcode-free surfaces, UV resistance to prevent sun damage outdoors, and offer better structural impact resistance than standard plumbing parts.
Mark Ligon
Mark Ligon is the marketing manager at PVC Fittings Online, a supplier of commercial PVC and CPVC pipe, fittings and valves. Ligon enjoys educating businesses on the parts of piping systems so managers can make informed decisions. He can be reached at webmaster@commercial-industrial-supply.com.
