How to Make Your Own Gabion Baskets

Below you will find a detailed step-by-step guide on how to make your own gabion baskets. 

• Experience Required: Low
• Tools Required: Protective gloves, Wire cutter, Tape measure
• Materials Required: Gabion panels, Helicals or Tying wire, Corner ties (additional), Stone (additional)

Step 1) Calculate What You’ll Need

• Each gabion needs 6 panels for its 6 sides, all with equal dimensions for a cubic shape.
• Therefore, the basket will have 12 joints in total.
• Each joint is 100 cm long, so you will need 12 helicals (also 100 cm long each), to secure all the joints.

 

• Step 2) Prepare Your Panels

• Prepare all panels for the guide on how to make your own gabion baskets.
• For cubes, placement is irrelevant as they’re uniform.
• For varied sizes, match base and lid, front and back, and ensure side panels are identical.

 

Step 3) Attach First Panel

• Start with the base and one of the side panels, and attach them together using helicals.

 

Step 4) Join Base to Sides

• Following the previous step, join the other side, front, and back panels to the base.

 

Step 5) Secure First Vertical Corner

• Fold up two panels in a corner and join them with helicals, twisting them downwards from above.

 

Step 6) Continue with All Vertical Corners

• Following the procedure described in the previous step, continue attaching the remaining corners using helicals.
• Leave the lid panel out at this step.

 

Step 7) Cut Off Excess (if applicable)

• If either helical is poking out of your basket so far, cut down the excess using wire cutters.
• Then, fold the ends of the helicals downwards using pliers.

 

Step 8) Secure Back of Lid

• Place the lid panel on the top of the gabion, and secure one side with a helical.

 

Step 9) Additional: Use Corner Ties

• To prevent bulging, especially with thinner panels, consider using corner ties.
• Hook the corner ties onto the 4th wire from each corner (symmetrically on both sides) and at every 3rd hole vertically.

 

Step 10) Fill with Stones

• Begin filling your diy gabion cage with stones.
• Remember, the lid should only be attached at the back side while doing this step.

 

Step 11) Secure Lid after Filling

• After you have finished filling the cage, secure all sides with helicals, and use pliers to fold the ends of the helicals inwards.

 

Step 12) Alternative: Empty Gabion

• If you want an empty basket, finish securing the lid on the other three sides as well. 

 

How to Calculate for Different Sizes

• You need 6 panels of 3 sizes (opposing sides same).
• Helicals are 100 cm long. Cut shorter lengths in half with wire cutters. For 150 cm, combine 1 helical with a 50 cm length.
• Calculate joint lengths, divide by 100 cm to find the helical quantity needed.

 

TIPS

• When planning how to build a gabion, if you’re making a cube, all panels will be the same size. But with varying sizes, ensure that opposing sides have the same dimensions.
• Determine the amount of stone you need using our stone calculator page.

 

TRICKS

• Choose 3-5mm panels; thinner ones may bulge, but use corner ties for added security to prevent bulging.
• Each helical is 100 cm. Cut shorter lengths with wire cutters. For longer lengths, join 1 or 2 whole helicals or combine a whole one with a bespoke length.
• If you don’t have helicals, you can connect the panels using tying wire or by creating helicals from wires.

 

FURTHER READING

• How to Lace Gabion Baskets – Step by step instructions on how to lace baskets.
• How to Fill Gabions – Learn how to fill cages using different methods.
• What is a Gabion? – A guide showing you how to use gabions in various situations.
• How to Use Gabion Corner Ties – Step by step video showing how to use corner ties.