How to Make an Archery Quiver: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Updated November 2026

Learning how to make an archery quiver is a practical way to carry your arrows safely and keep them within reach while you shoot. With a piece of sturdy material, a few tools, and some patience, you can build a quiver that holds your arrows securely at the right angle. This guide covers the materials, the build steps, and the mistakes to avoid so your finished quiver works well on the range or in the field.

Gather Your Materials and Tools

Before you cut anything, decide whether you want a hip quiver or a back quiver, since the body length and strap design differ. A hip quiver usually suits beginners because it keeps arrows at a comfortable reach. Most homemade designs use leather, heavy canvas, or thick vinyl for the body, with a plastic or wooden tube or foam insert to keep arrow shafts separated.

Shopping for one? See our guide: The Push Archery Quiver: 4 Best Picks for Every Need (2026). How to Make Fishing Lures at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners goes further into this.

• Body material, such as 4 to 6 ounce vegetable-tanned leather or heavy canvas
• Inner support, such as a PVC pipe section or dense foam
• Strap webbing, about 1 to 1.5 inches wide
• Heavy-duty thread and a waxed or nylon sewing needle
• Rivets, buckles, and a leather punch
• Cutting mat, straightedge, and a sharp utility knife
• A tape measure and a marker

Measure and Cut the Pattern

Measure your longest arrow from the nock end to the tip, then add about 3 inches of clearance. This gives you the minimum depth for the quiver body. Measure the width needed to hold your arrows in a loose bundle, usually about 3 to 4 inches for a standard set of six to eight arrows. Trace a rectangle or slightly tapered shape on the back of your material, then cut it out cleanly.

Build the Body and Add Support

Fold the material around your inner support and mark where the seam will sit. For leather, punch holes about 1/4 inch from the edge and 3/16 inch apart, then stitch with a saddle stitch. For canvas, use a double row of machine or hand stitching. Keep the stitching consistent so the seam does not split under load. Slide the inner tube or foam into the body, check that the arrows slide in and out without catching, and trim the top edge so it sits flush.

Attach the Belt or Back Straps

Cut two straps from your webbing, each long enough to wrap your waist or shoulders with room to adjust. Rivet one end of each strap to the sides of the body, positioned so the quiver sits at a slight angle, with the top about level with your hip or upper back. Add a buckle to the free ends so you can tighten or loosen the fit.

Test the Fit and Finish the Edges

Load your arrows and walk around, bend, and draw your bow motion to make sure nothing snags. Adjust the strap length so the quiver stays steady without bouncing. Finish raw leather edges with an edge slicker or a light coat of beeswax, and seal canvas seams with a fabric sealant. Let everything cure fully before heavy use.

Common Mistakes

• Making the body too shallow, which lets arrow tips poke out the bottom
• Using an inner tube that is too narrow, causing fletching to crush
• Skipping a test fit before adding permanent rivets
• Stitching too loosely, which weakens the seam over time
• Mounting straps too high, making arrows hard to reach while shooting

Recommended Gear

A good leather punch makes evenly spaced stitch holes much easier to create. View on Amazon

Waxed thread holds up well to repeated pulling and rubbing against the body. View on Amazon

FAQ

What material is best for a homemade archery quiver?

Vegetable-tanned leather is a popular choice because it holds its shape and wears well. Heavy canvas works too, especially for a lighter, budget-friendly build.

How deep should the quiver body be?

Measure your longest arrow and add about 3 inches of clearance so the tips stay fully covered. Deeper bodies protect arrows better but can feel bulky on a hip mount.

Do I need special tools to build one?

A sharp knife, a punch, a needle, and rivets cover most projects. You can skip rivets and use strong stitching if you prefer a simpler build.

Conclusion

Once you know how to make an archery quiver, you can tailor the size, material, and mounting style to your bow and shooting habits. Take your time with measurements and stitching, and always test the fit before final assembly. For more options, see our guide to Traditional Archery Bow Quiver: How to Choose and Mount One (7 Steps) or compare choices in Leather Quiver for Archery: How to Choose the Right One (2026).

Related reading

• Elite Archery Quiver for Sale: What to Look For and How to Buy

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