Water Table for Kids Made with PVC
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Time to read 4 min
Table of contents
Materials Needed for PVC Water Table Steps for PVC Water Table Construction #1 - Determine your measurements #2 - Cut PVC into needed lengths #3 - Assemble the table #4 - Spray paint the table #5 - Add pipe system over the top #6 - Add water or sand and play! Customizing Your Sensory Table FAQs Related Blogs
Summer is here and that means that the weather is warm, and the kids are out of school. If you have younger children at home this summer, you are probably looking for engaging, educational, and inexpensive ways to get them outdoors and away from watching screens. One way to do that is by making a fun sensory table for them to play with outside. The one we will show you is easy to make, it won’t break the bank, and your kids will stay cool and have fun playing with it for hours.
Materials Needed for PVC Water Table
These materials are what you will need to make a table that is about 36” X 18” and 18” tall. However, you can customize your table based on the size of the storage bin you’re using.
Materials Needed:
- (8) ¾” 5’ PVC pipes
- (14) ¾” Tees
- (4) ¾” Elbows with three pipe openings
- (8) ¾” 90 Degree Elbows
- (4) Table Caps
- (2) Cross Joints
- Storage Bin (35.5” X 16.5” X 6.5”)
Tools Needed:
- PVC pipe cutters or hacksaw
- PVC glue
- Spray paint (optional)
- Tape measure
- Sharpie
Steps for PVC Water Table Construction
Now that you have all your materials, follow the steps below to construct your sensory table.
#1 - Determine your measurements
You’ll want to base your table dimensions on the size of storage bin you are using. Be sure that you measure your bin before you start planning the rest of the table. Sometimes the dimensions that are printed on storage bin labeling isn’t accurate.
#2 - Cut PVC into needed lengths
Using a sharpie and measuring tape, measure and mark your PVC pipes for cutting based on the measurements you took. Using the PVC pipe cutters or hack saw, cut your pipes to the desired lengths.
#3 - Assemble the table
Starting with the top of the table, use the elbow connectors with three openings to create the corners of the table. The shorter sides of the table-top will need to be: PVC pipe, Tee fitting, PVC pipe. This will allow you to attach the pipes for water play to the top of the table after it’s assembled. Use PVC pipe at each connection to ensure the table is strong enough to hold the tub of water.
Continue the assembly based on your dimensions, following the picture below.
Image sourced from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
#4 - Spray paint the table
If you would like to spray the table, now is the time to do it. Be sure to allow ample time for it to dry.
#5 - Add pipe system over the top
With the remaining pieces of pipe and elbow connectors, you can create a pipe system to go over the top of the table. Use the Tee connectors on the short side of the table to attach it. You can be creative here, allowing open Tee fittings at the top to put funnels in for adding water to the pipes. This part of the table doesn’t have to be glued unless you decide to have it as a permanent fixture. Don’t use glue if you want to be able to change the configuration or remove the top piping for storage.
#6 - Add water or sand and play!
Your sensory table is ready to go! Just add water or sand and your little ones will have a blast!
Customizing Your Sensory Table
One of the best things about this water table is that you can easily customize many parts of it however you would like. If you have a different size storage bin, you can adapt your measurements to fit it. If you want to make the top pipes even more fun to watch as water moves through, you can use clear PVC instead of the regular white pipe.
You can remove the pipes over the top of the table and use sand in the bin instead of water to create a fun sand table with digging toys. You and your children can use your imaginations and create the perfect outdoor water or sand table for fun this summer.
Budget-Friendly Outdoor Activity: A DIY, low-cost guide to building an outdoor sensory play table that keeps kids entertained and cool during summer.
Simple, Customizable Construction: Made by cutting standard 3/4" PVC pipe and fittings to fit the dimensions of any plastic storage bin you choose.
Interactive Water Flow Design: Features an overhead pipe assembly with open fittings for funnels, allowing kids to pour water or sand through the system.
FAQs
Do I need to glue all the PVC pieces together for this water table project?
You should glue the main frame and base of the table to ensure it is sturdy enough to support the weight of the water-filled bin. However, you can leave the top piping system unglued. Leaving the top structure unglued allows you to disassemble it for easy storage or reconfigure the pipe maze for new water play setups.
What size PVC pipe and fittings should I use for a DIY sensory table?
This project uses 3/4" Schedule 40 PVC pipe along with matching 3/4" fittings (such as Tees, 90-degree elbows, and 3-way side outlet elbows). This size offers the ideal balance of structural stability to hold a plastic storage bin without making the table overly heavy or bulky for children.
Can I use this table for activities other than water play?
Yes! You can easily swap out the water for play sand, kinetic sand, or other sensory materials like rice or dried beans. If you want to use it strictly as a sand table, you can remove the top pipe-and-funnel assembly so kids have more open access to the storage bin.
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.
