Paper Plate Ring Toss for Kids: Free Printable and How to Make It

Download the free printable cards

Paper plate ring toss ideas

Here are simple ways to build your rings, set up targets and play. Mix and match to suit the age and space you have.

Make the rings and targets

1. Cut the centre out of a paper plate to leave a ring shape
2. Decorate rings with paint pens or felt tips in bright colours
3. Wrap rings in coloured tape to make them sturdier
4. Stand a plastic bottle on the floor as your target peg
5. Weight a bottle with a little water or sand so it stays put
6. Push a kitchen roll tube into a lump of modelling clay to make a peg
7. Make three to five rings so everyone has a turn
8. Number each ring with a marker to track whose is whose
9. Tape a wooden spoon upright in a jar for a taller target

Easy games to play

1. Each player gets three rings and throws in turn
2. Score one point for every ring that lands over the peg
3. Set a line on the floor with tape and throw from behind it
4. Play best of five and keep score on paper
5. Take a step back each time you land a ring
6. Try left hand only for a silly round
7. Close your eyes and let a partner call out directions
8. Race to land all three rings before a one minute timer
9. Knock the ring onto a target lying flat for younger players

Make it trickier or themed

1. Set up three bottles at different distances for different points
2. Colour code pegs so a red ring must land on the red bottle
3. Add a bonus target that scores five points
4. Play teams and add up scores at the end
5. Stand on one leg while you throw
6. Throw underarm only, then overarm only
7. Give the furthest peg the highest value
8. Turn it into a counting game by adding up totals aloud
9. Hold a family tournament with a simple scoreboard

How to play paper plate ring toss, step by step

1. Gather four or five paper plates, a bottle or tube, tape and scissors.
2. An adult cuts the centre from each plate to make rings.
3. Decorate the rings and stand your target on the floor.
4. Mark a throwing line with tape a short step away.
5. Take turns tossing and add up your scores.

Ways to use paper plate ring toss

• Rainy day indoors. Clear a bit of floor and play in the hall or lounge. Soft paper rings are gentle on furniture and easy to pick up.
• Garden fun. Move it outside and set targets further apart for a bigger challenge. Pair it with our Quoits set for a grown up version of the same game.
• Party game. Set up a few stations and let children rotate through. A simple scoreboard keeps everyone keen.
• Fine motor practice. Younger children build aim and hand control by dropping rings over a close target. Start easy and move the peg back as they improve.
• Family tournament. Run rounds over a few evenings and crown a champion. Try it alongside a classic like Tin Can Alley for a games night.

Games and gifts for active play

If your family enjoys target and tossing games, these wooden sets bring the same fun with pieces that last. They suit garden days, indoor play and games nights alike.

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Quoits - Original Quoits - Luxury Solid Wood Quoits SetShop nowTin Can Alley Game - Family Game SetShop nowTarget Ball Game - Velcro Target GameShop nowSkittles Game - Wooden Number SkittlesShop nowWooden Animal SkittlesShop nowKubb Outdoor Game - Garden Games for All AgesShop nowHook The Duck - Fishing gameShop nowMagnetic Fishing Game - Educational GameShop nowStacking Rings Toy - Wooden Rainbow ToyShop nowMini Whiteboard - Educational ToyShop nowPaint PensShop nowTraining Cones - Activity Cones for the GardenShop nowSkipping Rope - Kids Jump RopeShop nowPirate Game - Stacking ToyShop now

Paper plate ring toss by age and key stage

What children learn from ring toss

• Coordination. Aiming and throwing rings builds hand and eye control.
• Counting. Adding up scores gives real practice with early number work.
• Turn taking. Waiting for a go and cheering others supports social skills.
• Creativity. Designing and decorating rings and targets sparks imagination.
• Resourcefulness. Making a game from recycled bits shows children how to reuse everyday items.

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Make it a Christmas tradition

Ring toss is one of those simple games that grows with your family. Keep the rings in a drawer and bring them out on rainy afternoons or warm garden evenings. Let children change the rules and invent new scoring, so the game feels fresh each time. A few plates and a bottle can turn a dull half hour into something everyone remembers.

Frequently asked questions

What can I use for the rings?

Paper plates with the centres cut out work well. You can also use the lids from tubs or cardboard cut into ring shapes.

What makes a good target?

A plastic bottle, a kitchen roll tube in modelling clay, or a wooden spoon stood upright in a jar all work. Weight bottles a little so they stay put.

Is it safe for toddlers?

Soft paper rings are gentle, but an adult should always do the cutting and supervise play. Keep small decorations away from children who still mouth things.

How do we make it last longer?

Wrap the rings in coloured tape to stop them bending. Store them flat so they keep their shape.

How many rings do we need?

Three to five is plenty. That gives each player a fair turn without too much tidying up.

How do we score it?

One point for each ring over the peg is simplest. Older children can set different values for targets at different distances.

Can we play indoors?

Yes. Paper rings are light and soft, so they are fine for the hall or lounge. Clear fragile items first.

What if we want a sturdier version?

A wooden quoits or skittles set lasts for years and plays much the same way. See the gift ideas above.

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Jaques of London is Britain's oldest toy and games company, founded in 1795. We have spent over 230 years making games families play together, from chess and croquet to wooden toys for the very young.

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Written by the Jaques of London team. Last updated 1 November 2026.