How to Build an Archery Target? | DIY Backyard Build

A stable wood or PVC frame with a hanging bag target is the most practical DIY archery target for most backyards.

Building your own archery target saves money and lets you size it to your shooting space. The trick is constructing a rigid frame first, then mounting a target medium that stops arrows cleanly. The method that works best depends on whether you shoot a compound bow, a recurve, or a crossbow — and how much weight you’re willing to move around your yard.

While the best archery target for backyard use might be a store-bought model, a weekend DIY build can perform nearly as well for a fraction of the cost.

The Frame Comes First

Whether you hang a bag or stuff a box, the frame carries all the work. Archery360 recommends building a stand from wood or PVC pipe with a base, a square frame, and hooks on the top bar for hanging a bag target.

For a wood build, 2×4 lumber and deck screws form a frame that handles most compound bows up to 60 lbs. A PVC version works for lighter draw weights, though it flexes more on hard hits.

Whichever material you choose, three elements matter most:

• Rigid base — wide enough that the target won’t tip on a high miss
• Square uprights — check them with a carpenter’s square before adding supports
• Diagonal bracing — corner braces stop the frame from racking sideways on impact

MeatEater’s field-tested plan builds the frame first, then adds the hanging hardware. The order matters: diagonal supports go on only after the uprights are plumb and square to the base, otherwise the whole frame settles crooked.

Hanging Bag Target vs. Stuffed Box

Two proven approaches dominate DIY builds: a hanging bag suspended from a frame, or a dense stuffed box that sits on the ground or on sawhorses.

The bag method suits archers who shoot daily and want a target that swings slightly on impact rather than transferring energy to the frame. A bullet-style bag (the kind sold at most pro shops) attaches to eye lags with paracord or heavy wire. MeatEater’s plan drives eye lags into the top horizontal support, then runs paracord through the bag’s loops.

For the stuffed-box route, build or find a box at least 12 inches thick. Archery360 suggests stuffing it with shrink wrap, plastic bags, or insulation foam, then sealing it with strapping tape. The density of the stuffing determines stopping power: tightly packed material stops arrows better than loose fill that lets broadheads pass through.

One distinction Archery360 draws: a traditional round target with a 10-ring face needs a different setup than a bag. Ethafoam cut to size with a target cover works well on a tripod-style stand, while square bag targets suit the rectangular frame approach.

Assembly Steps That Work

MeatEater’s plan, which has been refined through real field use, follows this sequence. The materials list is short: a pallet for the base, upright 2x4s, horizontal supports, diagonal braces, eye lags, and a small roof panel if you want weather protection.

1. Set the pallet base on level ground. If your shooting area slopes, dig it in slightly so the base sits flat.
2. Install uprights at each corner of the pallet, checking they’re plumb before fastening.
3. Add horizontal supports across the top and at mid-height. These carry the target’s weight and keep the frame from twisting.
4. Fasten diagonal supports from the uprights to the base. This is the step beginners skip — and the one that prevents the frame from racking sideways when an arrow hits off-center.
5. Drill and set eye lags into the top horizontal support, spaced to match your bag’s hanging loops.
6. Attach the bag with paracord threaded through the loops and tied off at the eye lags. Tight-fitting eye lags are essential; a loose lag will spin and drop the bag mid-session.

If you’re building a stuffed-box target instead, skip the frame entirely. Fill a thick cardboard box with tightly packed layers of shrink wrap, old clothing, or carpet scraps, tape it shut, and set it on a pallet to keep it off damp ground. Archery360 notes the box needs enough density to stop arrows — under-stuffing is the most common failure.

One caveat from experienced builders: if you frame a stuffed target with chicken wire to hold the fill, the wire can bulge over time. Reinforce it with tie-wires, or sandwich cardboard layers between the stuffing and the wire so nothing escapes.

FAQs

What materials stop arrows best in a DIY target?

Shrink wrap, plastic bags, and insulation foam rank as the top stuffing choices because they grab arrow shafts without letting broadheads pass through. Old clothing and carpet scraps work but compress faster, requiring periodic re-stuffing. The key is packing materials tightly — loose fill lets arrows punch through.

How thick should a DIY archery target be?

A cardboard-box target needs at least 12 inches of packed material to stop a typical hunting arrow. Bag targets are pre-filled to the right density, so thickness matters less there. For framed stuffed boxes, 12 to 18 inches of compression-resistant fill handles most compound bow setups safely.

Will a PVC frame hold up as well as wood?

PVC works for lighter draw weights and field-point practice, but it flexes more than 2×4 lumber on hard impacts. Wood frames with diagonal bracing handle heavier bows and last longer outdoors. If you shoot a crossbow or a compound bow over 60 lbs, build with wood.