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While the Eskimo or Inuit word "igloo" can represent many kinds of habitations in a snowy environment,[1] this article describes what most people imagine when they think of an igloo: a dome-shaped structure built from blocks of snow (also referred to as a snow house). A properly constructed igloo will remain between −7 °C (19 °F) and 16 °C (61 °F), even if the temperature outside dips to −45 °C (−49.1 °F)![2] To build an igloo, follow these directions.



  1. 1
    Look for a gentle slope (optional). Building an igloo into the side of a slope, hobbit-style, saves time, energy, and a lot of heavy lifting. If you’re building an igloo recreationally and want to achieve the classic igloo look, a flat area will do, but in a real survival situation, time and resources are of the essence.
    • Avoid free-standing mounds, which are likely to be logs or boulders buried in snow. When in doubt, use a snow prod or a long stick to make sure you aren’t about to excavate an unusable space for your igloo.
  2. 2
    Prepare your ice blocks. The easiest way of obtaining snow blocks is to dig a long, straight trench (as deep as you’d like your blocks to be high) and then cut the blocks from the snow on either side of the trench using a handsaw (or, if you have one, a snow saw). If you’re building the igloo recreationally, you can also use store-bought or homemade snow block molds.
    • Since snow is sticky and the design of the igloo is highly variable, dig the trench in advance but cut the snow blocks out as you need. This will give you more control over how well the pieces fit together.
    • To make your own block molds, nail four boards together at four perpendicular angles (in other words, it will resemble a box with no top and bottom). Rectangular containers, like garbage cans, will also work.
  3. 3
    Dig the entrance trench. The entrance is always the lowest part of the igloo so that cold air, which sinks, can be pushed out as warm air, which rises, is trapped around the occupant(s). The trench should be at least 2 feet (.6 m) wide to comfortably accommodate your body.
    • If working on a slope, simply dig a horizontal trench straight into the slope at the bottom of where you’d like the igloo to be.
    • If working in flat snow, dig a trench downwards and at an angle into what will later be the main chamber of the igloo. Dig at a gentle angle (to make passage into and out of the igloo easier) but deeply; the deeper into the already-piled snow you begin your igloo, the higher your dug-out walls will be (and the fewer snow blocks you will have to make and pile on top).
    • Don’t dig so deeply that you hit dirt. Snow is a wonderful insulator and should cover the entire interior.
  4. 4
    Dig down to the sleeping platform(s). The sleeping platform(s) should be dug as deeply into the snow as possible but still higher than the igloo entrance to keep you warm. (The sides of this dug-out area will form the base of your igloo walls.) The platform should be at least 6 inches (15 cm) wider than you on all sides to ensure that you can sleep comfortably; remember, however, that the bigger the interior of the igloo, the higher and wider the dome will have to be. If building one sleeping platform, make it perpendicular to the entrance; if building two, make them parallel to the entrance and place one on either side. Unless you’re comfortable making an enormous igloo, three sleeping platforms are not recommended. Be sure to leave a gap between the igloo entrance and the platform(s) so that you can easily pop in and out.
    • If the igloo is dug sufficiently deeply into the snow that a prone sleeper’s head would still be several feet below the top of the snow (not counting the igloo walls), make the platform shorter than it needs to be and then, after the igloo is complete, scoop additional snow out of the dug-out walls to lengthen the platform.
  5. 5
    Level the top of the dug-out igloo walls if necessary. This will make stacking and layering the ice blocks much easier. If the top of the snow is very sloped, level it out in steps (to preserve as much wall as possible); the L-shaped step cutouts can easily be filled with snow blocks when the time comes.
  6. 6
    (Temporarily) block the entrance trench with snow blocks. This will enable you to stack snow blocks on top of the entrance without the risk of collapse. Make sure the top is at a height that will keep your first level of snow blocks level.
    • If working with a partner, you will have to block him or her in for the time being.
  7. 7
    Lay down the first ring of blocks. Since you are fitting square blocks together to form a circle, there will be triangular gaps all around the edges; as you go, pack these spaces tightly with snow to not only make the pieces fit better, but also ensure structural stability.
  8. 8
    Stack a second ring of blocks on top of the first. Stagger the blocks as you would bricks and continue filling in the gaps.
  9. 9
    Stack additional layers on top, each time situating the bricks slightly inward so that the walls form a dome.
    • As you progress upward, use smaller bricks.
    • Having one person on the inside and one person on the outside will help you gauge the angles.
  10. 10
    Insert the “caphole” block. Cut a cap block that is slightly larger than the hole on top of your igloo. If possible, have two people lift it and set it on top of the igloo. The person inside the igloo should trim the caphole as needed until it fits snugly into the hole. (If working completely alone, save the trimming for when you’re able to re-enter the igloo.)
    • If there is only one person on the outside of the igloo, it will be necessary to lean against the igloo walls to insert the final piece. Though they should be able to withstand your leaning, note that the caphole is really what makes an igloo strong and there is always a chance it will collapse beneath your weight in its incomplete form.
  11. 11
    Cut an entranceway into the blocks in the trench. Do not simply remove the blocks; make sure to cut an arch into the blocks to make the structure as strong as possible.
  12. 12
    Finish the interior walls. Smooth out the inner dome as much as possible and carve longitudinal grooves inside to allow the melting snow to flow downward without dripping on you. If necessary, trim the capstone and lengthen your sleeping platform(s) by digging into the snowbank beneath the snow blocks.
  13. 13
    Build additional rooms if desired. Repeat this process and butt the new structures against the old to link rooms.
  14. 14
    Partly block the entrance before resting to prevent suffocation. Shoving a backpack (or even a large trash bag full of snow) into the entryway with several inches of gap on all sides will prevent snow from filling the trench while you sleep and cutting off your oxygen. You can also dig a small oxygen hole into the top or a side of the igloo, but note that this will quickly fill up during a snowstorm.

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  • Be picky about your snow. It must be packable. Also, if there was a frost just before the snow and the bottom layer is slushy, it won't be comfortable to sit inside the igloo.
  • Make sure the walls are not too thin and compact snow down so it is sturdier.
  • Get a partner if possible. Though an igloo can be built single-handedly, it’s much easier if one person works from the inside and the other from the outside – especially when placing the “capstone” ice block in the top.
  • Insert a long stick or twig on the second to last (to the top) stack of snow blocks to keep the top from falling in.
  • Don't just use one partner if you can always ask for more help. Use about 3 or 4.
  • Get a waterproof picnic rug so you can be more comfortable.
  • Block molds are easier.
  • If you want to change the igloo it is best to build another as if you try to move blocks it may collapse.


  • Snow is heavy; don't build alone in case the igloo collapses.
  • Don’t pour water over the igloo walls to try to freeze them to a more solid, stable form. This will decrease the snow’s insulating capacity.
  • Don't build a fire inside the igloo. Body heat and adequate clothing will keep you nice and warm inside without a fire – to say nothing of the fact that a fire can use up your oxygen. A candle is safer to use.
  • Small cooking stoves are fine if the igloo is large and well-ventilated, but use it sparingly for heating water, not for warmth. Also, try placing the stove somewhere where the fumes flow out of the igloo (ex. above head level and beneath a ventilation hole).
  • Building an igloo is not the most convenient way to create shelter in a survival situation. See How to Build a Snow Cave for a more emergency-appropriate solution.

Things You'll Need

  • Lots of snow – 10 in. (25 cm) deep at the bare minimum
  • Shovel
  • Handsaw or snow saw
  • Snow probe or long stick
  • Proper clothing
  • Ice Axe / pick (optional)
  • Hand shovel (optional)
  • Snow block mold (optional)

Article Info

Featured Article

Categories: Featured Articles | Making Snow Shelters

In other languages:

Español: construir un iglú, Italiano: Costruire un Igloo, Português: Construir um Iglu, Русский: построить иглу, Deutsch: Ein Iglu bauen, Français: construire un igloo

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