How to Make a Leprechaun Trap (Step by Step)
The basic method every trap uses: bait, a way up, a way in, and no way out.
45 min Cost $ 5 items
18 Leprechaun Trap Ideas
Build a trap on 16 March, find it sprung (and empty) on the 17th, with a cheeky note and a few gold coins left behind. Every trap here uses recycling and craft supplies.
Free tool
Printable leprechaun note
A personalised “you nearly caught me!” note to leave in the empty trap.
Free tool
How to make a leprechaun trap
The basic method in five steps — bait, ramp, trap and a sign.
18 ideas
Shoebox Trapdoor Trap
A hidden flap in the lid gives way when the leprechaun reaches for the gold.
40 min Cost $ 4 items
Rainbow Ladder Trap
A paper rainbow arches over the box, with a ladder leading up to a pot of gold over a hole.
45 min Cost $ 5 items
Cereal Box Slide Trap
A slippery foil slide leads from the bait straight down into a cereal box.
25 min Cost $ 4 items
Tipping Cup Trap
A cup propped up on a stick drops over the leprechaun when they grab the gold.
15 min Cost $ 4 items
Sticky Tape Trap
Double-sided tape around the bait — any leprechaun that steps on it gets stuck.
10 min Cost $ 4 items
Leprechaun Hat Trap
A green top hat made from card hides a deep hole — “try on the hat!”.
35 min Cost $ 4 items
Gold Castle Trap
A cardboard castle with a drawbridge that snaps shut behind the leprechaun.
1.5 hr Cost $ 4 items
Crisps Tube Tunnel Trap
A one-way tunnel: easy to crawl in towards the gold, impossible to back out of.
30 min Cost $ 4 items
Leprechaun Hotel Trap
A cosy “hotel” with a tiny bed and snacks — the door locks once they check in.
1 hr Cost $ 5 items
Marshmallow Cereal Ladder
A ladder made from lolly sticks with marshmallow-cereal treats on every rung, leading into a box.
30 min Cost $ 4 items
Rainbow Bridge Trap
A pipe-cleaner rainbow bridge leads over a “pit” cup to the gold.
25 min Cost $ 4 items
Building Brick Trap
A walled brick enclosure with a gate that closes on a rubber band.
40 min Cost $ 3 items
Pulley Net Trap
A net made from a mesh produce bag drops when the bait is lifted — a great STEM project.
1.5 hr Cost $ 5 items
Jar of Gold Trap
A jar on its side with a ramp in — once the leprechaun’s inside, the lid snaps up.
30 min Cost $ 5 items
Footprint Catcher
A tray of flour or glitter catches the leprechaun’s footprints even if they escape.
10 min Cost $ 3 items
Pot of Gold Trap
An oatmeal tub painted as a black pot of gold, with a hidden drop inside.
30 min Cost $ 4 items
Paper Roll Pitfall
A simple pitfall: a toilet-roll tube standing in a box, hidden by tissue paper.
15 min Cost $ 4 items
What happens on St Patrick’s Day morning?
The leprechaun is never actually caught — that is the fun. Children wake to find the trap sprung and empty, with a few gold coins, some green glitter and a cheeky note left behind.
Print our personalised leprechaun note to leave in the trap.
Leprechaun Traps questions
When do you build a leprechaun trap?
Most families build it on 16 March so the leprechaun can “visit” overnight before St Patrick’s Day on 17 March.
What do you put in a leprechaun trap?
Something shiny or gold as bait — chocolate coins, gold buttons or glitter — and anything green.
What do I leave behind in the morning?
A sprung, empty trap, a few gold coins, some green glitter or footprints, and a note from the leprechaun.
Can I buy a leprechaun trap kit?
Kits exist, but most families build one from a shoebox and recycling in under an hour.