How to Build a DIY Balance Scale

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Learn how to make a homemade scale perfect for science projects

Co-authored by Devin McSween Reviewed by Anne Schmidt

Last Updated: August 9, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Making Buckets for the Scale
|
• Building the Scale
|
• Using the Scale
|
• Video
|
• Q&A
|
• Tips

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Learning to measure, weigh, and balance counterweights is a useful skill for young kids, and a balance scale is a fun and educational way to teach them. By making a balance scale, you can start a solid foundation in mathematics and physics in a single afternoon. All you need to get started are some simple household items like paper cups, twine, and a clothes hanger. Read on to learn more!

Making a Balance Scale for Children

1. Get out 2 paper cups, 2 pieces of twine, and a hanger with notches.
2. Punch 2 holes opposite each other near the rim of each cup.
3. Tie the ends of 1 piece of twine through holes on one bucket, then repeat on the other bucket.
4. Use the twine to hang the buckets from the notches of a hanger, with 1 bucket on each end.
5. Put items in the cups. The one that hangs lower has a heavier weight.

Steps

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Making Buckets for the Scale

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1. 1
   Use a hole punch to make 2 holes in 2 small paper cups. Punch 2 holes in each cup. Make the holes close to the rim of the cups and on opposite sides.

   • If you don’t have paper cups, make the buckets for your balance scale with plastic cups instead.
   • For a sturdier hold, punch out 2 additional holes on the opposite sides of the cup so you have 4 holes total on each cup.
2. 2
   Cut 2 pieces of twine that are each around 1 foot (30 cm) long. Any kind of twine will work, but a thick, strong twine will make the balance scale more durable. After you cut the twine pieces, lay them next to each other to make sure they’re the same length. If they're not, cut them with scissors to adjust their lengths.

   • If you made 4 holes in your cups, cut out 8 pieces of twine.
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3. 
   3
   Tie the ends of the twine through the holes in the cups. Use 1 piece of twine per cup. Pull one end of the twine through one of the holes and tie it in a knot around the lip of the cup. Then, loop the other end of the twine through the other hole and tie it in a knot. When you’re finished, the twine pieces should form thin handles on the cups, like the cups are little buckets.

   • If you made 4 holes in your cups, loop 1 piece of twine through each hole and tie the end to the cup. You should have 4 pieces of dangling twine for each cup.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Putting the Scale Together

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1. 
   1
   Find a notched clothes hanger. A plastic, metal, or wooden hanger works well, as long as it has a notch on both sides of the hook. Otherwise, the paper buckets might slip and fall right off the scale.

   • If you don’t have a notched clothes hanger, simply use some more twine to tie the handles on the paper buckets to the bottom of a regular clothes hanger so they don’t fall off.
2. 
   2
   Hang the buckets on the clothes hanger using the twine handles. Hang the cups on opposite sides of the clothes hangers in the notches. When you're finished, lift up the scale and hold it by the top to examine the buckets. Both buckets should be hanging at the same level — if one is higher than the other, you'll need to adjust the twine handles.

   • If you made 4 holes in your cups, tie the ends of each string in a knot at either end of the hanger.
3. 
   3
   Let your kids decorate the buckets on their new balance scale. Get out stickers, markers, and crayons and let your kids personalize the scale. They'll enjoy playing and learning with it more if they get to add their own personal touch.

   • One way to decorate the scale is to help your kids write their names on it.
   • Don't attach anything too heavy to the buckets or it could interfere with how the scale works.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Using the Balance Scale

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1. 
   1
   Hang your balance scale on a doorknob. Doorknobs are great to hang balance scales from because they’re low enough for kids to reach them. If you can’t find a doorknob to use, look for any kind of handle or bar you can hook the clothes hanger onto.

   • For instance, hang the scale on the back of a chair, a coat rack, or a shower rod.
   • If you can’t hang the balance scale anywhere low enough for your kids, make the twine pieces longer so they can still reach the buckets.
2. 2
   Help your kids look for objects to put on the scale. Any kind of object will work, as long as it’s small enough to fit in the paper buckets you made. Some fun objects you could try weighing are:

   • Your kids’ favorite small toys.
   • Different rocks that your kids find outside.
   • Small fruits like strawberries, blueberries, and grapes.
3. 
   3
   Have your kids experiment with putting different objects in the cups. When the object in 1 cup weighs more than the object in the other cup, the heavier cup will sink and tip the scale. Explain to your kids that the lower bucket has the heavier object, and the higher bucket has the lighter object.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  Hang it on a doorknob? How does that work, since yogurt cups are generally wider than the distance the middle part of a doorknob sticks out from a door?

  

  HumanBeing

  Top Answerer

  A door knob is perhaps not the best place to hang this improvised balance scale. Before making your scales, you may like to find a suitable location to hang the coat hanger. If you can't find a level rail or bar or other appropriate place that your child can easily reach, this might not be a good project. Purchasing toy balance scales from a retailer of educational toys and games might be a better idea.

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• Question

  How do I know which side is heavier?

  

  Community Answer

  Whichever side is lower than the other is heavier.

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• Question

  Will this work if I don't do it with my child?

  

  Community Answer

  Yes, but it's more fun to make this into a game to play with children.

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Tips

• Build a sturdier balance scale by making it out of wood. Position 2 vertical pieces of wood across from each other on top of a wooden base. Then, glue or screw them to the base. Drill a shallow hole near the top of each vertical piece and insert a dowel rod. Put a horizontal piece of wood through the dowel rod, which acts as the scale’s “arms.” Then, tie the pieces of twine to each end of the arm.
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Things You’ll Need

• Notched clothes hanger
• Hole punch
• 2 paper cups
• Twine
• Scissors