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Newspaper Tower Challenge

Two to four people per team, one roll of tape each, and 5–10 minutes on the clock to build the tallest tower newspaper can hold up. It works because the tape is the actual game — spend it all reinforcing the base and there's nothing left for height, and a tower that topples before judging doesn't get a second try.

15–30 min6–15 peopleAverageNewspaper & tapeIn-person onlyClassroom ✓
By Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker · Last updated February 19, 2024

What is Newspaper Tower Challenge?

Newspaper Tower Challenge splits the group into teams of 2–4, hands each one an equal stack of newspaper and one roll of tape, and gives them 5–10 minutes to build the tallest freestanding tower they can. Once time's called, every team stops, and the towers get measured — tallest one wins, though plenty of hosts also score for design and creativity.

It works because scarcity does the teaching. One roll of tape forces real trade-offs about what's worth reinforcing, and a tower that falls before judging is out — no rebuilds, no do-overs. That combination turns a stack of recycling into a fast, physical test of how a team plans, negotiates, and reacts when the plan wobbles.

It's a floor game, not a screen one — the tape-sharing and side-by-side comparing don't translate to a call, so skip it for remote teams. And below six people there's no second tower to measure against, which is most of the point.

The rules

  1. Split into teams of 2–4 and give each one an equal pile of newspaper plus one roll of tape.
  2. Newspaper and tape are the only materials allowed — no glue, no staples, nothing borrowed.
  3. Set a timer for 5–10 minutes and signal when building starts.
  4. When time's called, every team stops building immediately.
  5. A tower that falls before judging can't be repaired or rebuilt.
  6. The tallest standing tower wins — or score height and design together, host's call.

Before you start

  • Team size: 2–4 members, 6–15 people total. For a straightforward icebreaker, keep teams small. For a team-building session, size teams up toward four — more people means more negotiating.
  • An equal pile of newspaper and one roll of tape, per team. Keep a few spare newspapers on hand in case a team runs short — make extra piles up front if you're not sure of the final headcount.
  • A timer or stopwatch, set for 5–10 minutes. Pick a number in that window and announce it once, before anyone starts building.
  • Enough open space for each team to build without bumping into another's tower. A cleared table or floor area per team keeps one team's elbow from knocking over the tower next to it.
  • A measuring tape, ready at judging time. Have it out before time's called so judging starts the second building stops.

How to run it

  1. Split into teams and hand out supplies 2–3 min

    Divide the group into teams of 2–4, then give each team its equal pile of newspaper and roll of tape. Keep spares within reach in case someone runs short.

  2. Explain the one rule 1 min

    Newspaper and tape only — no glue, no staples, nothing borrowed from another team. Say it once, clearly, before anyone starts building.

  3. Build against the clock 5–10 min

    Start the timer and let teams build. When time's called, everyone stops immediately — a team still taping when the buzzer goes gets judged as-is.

  4. Stop and inspect 2–3 min

    Walk the room once building stops and confirm nothing but newspaper and tape went into each tower. A tower that's already fallen is judged where it lies — it doesn't get rebuilt.

  5. Measure and declare a winner 3–5 min

    Measure every standing tower. The tallest one wins — or, if you're scoring for design too, weigh height against creativity before you call it.

← five to ten minutes for the build. no rebuilds once it's judged.

Facilitator tips

Keep every pile the same sizeAn uneven pile turns "who builds better" into "who got more newspaper" — match the piles and the tape rolls across every team before you start.
Assign roles before the timer startsHave each team split into a folder, a taper, and a designer so nobody's left just watching.
Read the one rule aloud, more than onceSay it — newspaper and tape, nothing else — and repeat it right before the timer starts. It's the rule teams forget mid-build.
Set the measuring tape out before time's calledHave it at the judging table before building even stops, so towers get measured the second the clock does.

Variations

Less tape, harder game

Cut the tape allowance — or remove it entirely — for a tougher round. Fewer connections means every one has to actually hold.

Score for design too

Run a point system that credits artistic design and creativity alongside height, so the tallest tower isn't automatically the winner.

Adaptive roles

For participants with mobility limits, shift their role to designing the tower, directing teammates, or building the base — full participation without requiring the same physical task.

Classroom

For younger groups, give more time or let them build in larger teams. Older students can handle the standard 2–4 and the full clock.

Why it works

One roll of tape forces real trade-offsWith only one roll to share, every strip becomes a decision about what's actually worth reinforcing — spend it all on the base and there's nothing left for height.
A fallen tower is its own verdictA tower that topples before judging is out, no argument possible — teams get instant, physical feedback on whether the plan actually held up.
Scoring for design gives everyone a way to winJudge on artistic design as well as height, and the tallest tower stops being the only way to win — the team that built something genuinely clever gets recognized too.
HELLO, MY NAME ISJon

"I like this one because the constraints do all the work — newspaper and one roll of tape are cheap, recyclable, and somehow still produce towers people are proud of. Watching a team decide, with the clock running, whether to reinforce the base or gamble on height tells you more about how they work together than an hour of meetings would."

Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker

Reflection questions

5 questions that turn a stack of newspaper into an actual debrief.

  1. What strategies did your team use to build the tallest tower?Surfaces how the team actually approached the build, not just what they ended up with.
  2. How did communication and collaboration within your team affect your results?Names which working habits helped and which ones need work before the next challenge.
  3. What did you learn about yourself and your teammates during the challenge?A personal-reflection question — it often surfaces strengths nobody on the team had clocked yet.
  4. If you ran this again, what would you change about your team's approach?Turns the debrief into practice for the next challenge, not just a look back at this one.
  5. How do the skills from this activity show up in real team projects?Moves the conversation from newspaper towers to the actual job.

If this fits, so will these

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No tape, no glue — just cards, balance, and nerve.

Jon Zajac

Founder & Chief Icebreaker

I started IcebreakerSpot because I believe strong connections are the foundation of successful teams. This site exists to make it easy to find and share the icebreakers and team-building activities that build trust, spark collaboration, and help groups do great things together.

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