How To Build An Igloo

Building the Igloo

We will assume that you want to build a medium sized igloo and that you aren't in tundra country for this description. It's a good idea to build one for fun and experience so if you ever need to build an igloo for survival you will have some hands-on practice. You wouldn't want to be trying this for the first time in the dark with howling winds delivering a blinding blizzard to your igloo site.

(Please note: We are going to expand this information on the web site over time to include more comprehensive igloo building information.)

We will describe how to use a form for snow block igloo building that can be undertaken in most backyards, parks, or fields and is ideal for winter camping, backpacking, and most emergency survival situations.

First, select the site as per the recommendations above. If you were in the wilderness you would also have to decide whether you will be cutting blocks of snow out of the ground like they do in tundra country or whether you will be using some sort of form to create snow blocks such as an Eskimold. You would also need to know what style of igloo you want to build as per the various types described above.

Once the site has been selected, mark off the circle that will be the foundation for the igloo in the snow. Since we are assuming you aren't in the tundra we will also assume that you aren't going to be excavating snow blocks and therefore will have an entrance tunnel that will be roughly at the same level as the ground floor of the igloo or slightly below it.

Stamp the snow down with your boots and pack it firmly all the way around the circle.

Next, draw a line in the middle of the stamped down area dividing what will be centre of the igloo in two. You want to locate the passageway in the direction least likely to have wind blowing directly at it so the inside temperature will be as stable and comfortable as possible. The dividing line should have each end as far from the entrance as possible, so if the igloo foundation was a clock, the dividing line would run from twelve o'clock to six o'clock and the entrance tunnel would be at either three o'clock (or nine o'clock depending on how you want to look at it).

Then, start digging snow out of the half of the circle where the entrance tunnel is located (but don't take any snow from the entrance tunnel floor itself, just from the igloo's floor). Use the snow you are digging out to fill the snow block mold and make snow blocks with it. Place each snow block on the foundation you stamped out to make a nice round circle one snow block high. Once the circle is complete, start at the side of the circle opposite where the entrance tunnel will be and use the snow saw to cut a ramp into the circle, starting at the bottom of the first block. By the time you are halfway around the circle, the ramp should have risen to half a snow block high. Once you get back to your starting point, the ramp will have risen to the full height of one snow block. (The walls will rise like a spiral.)

Now start your next ring of snow blocks at the lowest point of the ramp and when you return once again to your starting point, you should be able to keep on going making the dome walls higher and higher. The snow blocks need to be slightly angled at the bottom so they "lean in" a bit and each consecutive ring should be smaller in diameter than the previous ring until you can no longer fit another block.

You will need to cut a hole in the side of the dome in the shape of an arc for the entrance passage. Since half of the igloo floor should be empty of snow down a foot or two (or to the ground if the snow wan't very deep when you started) you want the bottom of the passageway to start from inside the igloo at that level. The passageway floor will rise from inside the igloo to the level of the snow outside as you dig it out.

At this point, the dome should be almost complete except for one final capping block that fits into the hole at the peak of the dome like a plug. This acts as a capstone to keep all the blocks below it in place.

Cut a ventilation hole as soon as you have completed the steps above to let air into the finished dome. Fresh air should come in from the passageway and circulate while slowly warming up. The warmest air will tend to collect in the top of the dome and this will help keep the sleeping platform (the high half of the igloo floor) warmer. Some air will also go out the ventilation hole. This ensures a steady flow of fresh air while keeping the interior as warm as possible. Often the ventilation hole is cut from the dome directly over the top of the entrance passage.

Using leftover loose snow, pack as much as you can gently, but firmly, into all the cracks and crevices to keep drafts out and make the igloo stronger. Then use snow blocks to build the entrance tunnel in a arc shape which is rounded at the top and ends where the tunnel floor stops. You may want to make a flap out of cloth that can hang down over the entrance to help hold heat in while keeping the wind out (but never seal the tunnel tight from the inside because if a snowfall covered the ventilation hole a fatal disaster could result). Pack loose snow into the cracks on the tunnel's interior and exterior surfaces and smooth it over.

The igloo is now complete although you could lightly shave down any uneven bumps on the inside of the dome and use that snow to fill all the cracks from the inside. Once again, this will make it stronger, much like brick and mortar.

Now it's time to enjoy your work by putting your gear inside and making your new snow home ready to live in. Have fun! We hope you found this information useful! Please send any comments and/or suggestions to Igloo Building Information.

Made in Canada
where igloos were invented.
Build your own igloo!