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An empty Altoids tin is best suited to small projects: use it for organizing tiny items, decorating, or building a compact DIY project. Here are 22 ideas, clearly separated from the examples named in Make:’s older roundup, whose complete list is not available here.
Small storage and organization
These ideas keep the tin intact and make use of its hinged lid. Check that the contents fit comfortably and that the lid closes without crushing or catching them.
- Sort buttons. Group buttons by size, color, or garment.
- Store beads. Keep a small selection together for a craft session.
- Corral sewing notions. Use it for items such as stitch markers or spare snaps.
- Keep hairpins together. A dedicated container helps prevent loose pins from scattering.
- Hold small craft supplies. Separate sequins, charms, or other tiny materials.
- Organize screws or washers. Keep a small set of hardware for a particular project; do not mix sizes if you need to identify them quickly.
- Make a travel-size personal-item container. DIY Candy names pills as one possible use, but a reused tin is not established as child-resistant or as a labeled medicine container. Keep medication in its original packaging when identification and safe handling matter.
- Store spare keys or small accessories. Use it for items that fit without forcing the lid or hinge.
- Make a pocket notions box. Collect a few small, non-sharp items you often need, such as a spare button and thread.
- Separate tiny components by task. Use one tin for the small parts of a specific repair or hobby project.
Decorate and personalize the tin
Decoration is a project in its own right. DIY Candy describes using washi tape or paint. Keep finishes clear of the hinge and closure so the lid can still move freely.
- Cover the outside with washi tape. Apply strips to the lid and sides, trimming around the hinge and latch.
- Paint the lid. Add a solid color, pattern, or hand-painted design.
- Make a labeled organizer. Add a clear label to the lid to identify the contents.
- Create a small gift box. Decorate the exterior and use it to present a small, non-fragile item that fits.
Build a project around the tin
More involved projects may require drilling, cutting, adhesive, or installed parts. Plan the layout first, and treat sharp edges, heat, and electrical components as hazards rather than assuming the metal enclosure makes a build safe.
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#1 Best Overall
ALTOIDS Peppermint Breath Mint Tins, 3.52 Oz (Pack of 2)
- Contains one (1) 3.52-ounce box with 2 individual tins of ALTOIDS curiously strong peppermint mints
- Peppermint adds an extra kick to these already curiously strong mints
- From graduation day to your first day on the job, keep a tin of Peppermint ALTOIDS on hand for a minty-fresh survival kit
- First date? Pop one ALTOIDS breath mint and let your breath be the wingman you never knew you needed
- ALTOIDS are always there to save the day as your after-dinner breath's trusty sidekick
- Build a pinhole camera. Make a small camera project using the tin as its body. Make: names a pinhole camera among its examples of tin-based projects; the enclosure alone does not supply the optics or instructions.
- Assemble a compact emergency kit. Use the tin for a few small items suited to a specific outing. Its limited capacity means it cannot replace appropriate emergency supplies or equipment.
- Make a small electronics enclosure. A mint-sized tin can serve as an enclosure when the components and wiring fit. Adafruit lists a tin with inner dimensions of 2.24 by 3.6 inches (56.9 by 91.5 mm) and a bottom-section height of 0.83 inches (21.28 mm); those measurements apply to its listed tin, not every Altoids tin. Check the exact tin, clearances, openings, electrical requirements, and whether the metal enclosure is suitable for the particular circuit.
- Create a miniature diorama. Arrange a small scene inside the open tin, using lightweight pieces that do not interfere with the hinge.
- Make a pocket-sized art kit. Fit a small set of art materials or a miniature project inside, allowing room for the lid to close.
- Build a tiny display or shadow box. Use the opened tin as a shallow frame for a lightweight object or collage.
- Turn it into a travel game container. Store a few small game pieces or tokens together; account for the risk of losing tiny pieces.
- Make a fireball-shooter project. Make: lists a fireball shooter among its examples. This is a hazardous, heat- and flame-related project, not a casual reuse idea; do not attempt it without reliable, project-specific safety instructions and appropriate precautions.
Choose an idea that suits the tin
Before modifying or filling a tin, consider what the project demands. The table compares the ideas by practical planning needs; it does not claim that any tin is weatherproof, durable, or safe for a particular use.
| Project type | Typical effort | Tin changes | Main planning check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple storage and labeling | Low | None, apart from an optional label | Contents fit and are easy to identify |
| Washi tape or paint decoration | Low to moderate | Adhesive or paint on the exterior | Keep the hinge and closure usable |
| Camera, display, art, or game project | Varies by design | May need inserts, adhesive, or openings | Plan the layout, fit, and any sharp edges |
| Electronics enclosure | Depends on the circuit and fabrication | May need holes or other modifications | Check exact dimensions, electrical requirements, and enclosure suitability |
| Emergency kit | Depends on contents | Usually none | Capacity is limited; do not treat it as a replacement for proper emergency gear |
| Fireball-shooter project | Specialized and hazardous | Project-specific modifications may be needed | Heat, flame, and injury hazards require dependable safety instructions |
Check fit and safety before reusing one
- Measure the actual tin. Sizes can vary. Adafruit’s listed blank mint tin has inner dimensions of 2.24 by 3.6 inches (56.9 by 91.5 mm), with a bottom-section height of 0.83 inches (21.28 mm); do not assume those measurements fit every tin.
- Do not assume a seal or weather protection. The cited examples do not establish that a reused tin is airtight, waterproof, or suitable for outdoor exposure.
- Avoid food-storage assumptions. The available sources do not establish food-contact safety after reuse or provide cleaning guidance.
- Use care when modifying metal. Cutting or drilling can leave sharp edges; assess the tool, work area, and finished edges before handling the tin.
- Assess heat and electrical risks separately. Metal can conduct electricity and heat. An electronics or flame-related project needs project-specific design and safety guidance.
What the original 22-item roundup establishes
Make: published Matt Richardson’s “22 Ways to Reuse an Altoids Tin” on February 9, 2011, and the page indicates an update on June 10, 2015. The available description identifies a pinhole camera, an urban survival kit, and a fireball shooter, and points to more tin-based DIY projects. It does not expose all 22 entries, so the ideas in this article are a practical set of suggestions, not a reconstruction of that roundup’s complete list.
Rank #2
Altoids Classic Peppermint Breath Mints, 1.76 Ounce (Pack of 12)
- Package includes 12 individual packs, 1.76 ounces each.
- Altoids come in the ever-versatile, pocket-size tin.
- Strong mints that freshen with a curiously strong peppermint flavor
- Get a boost of good-breath confidence with Altoids breath mints
- The original, celebrated mint always has your back
Sources: Make: — “22 Ways to Reuse an Altoids Tin”; Adafruit Industries — “Altoids mints sized tin”; DIY Candy — “What to Do with a Used Altoids Tin (Easy Craft)”.
Quick Recap
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Best Value
ALTOIDS Classic Peppermint Breath Mints Tin, 1.8 Ounce
- Contains one (1) 1.76-ounce tin of ALTOIDS Classic Peppermint Breath Mints
- Peppermint adds an extra kick to these already curiously strong mints
- First date? Pop some ALTOIDS breath mints and let your breath be the wingman you never knew you needed
- From graduation day to your first day on the job – keep a tin of Peppermint ALTOIDS on hand for a minty-fresh survival kit
- The OG, celebrated mint – always there to save the day as your after-dinner breath's trusty sidekick
Rank #4
ALTOIDS Arctic Wintergreen Breath Mints Sugar Free Hard Candy Bulk, 1.2 oz Tin (8 Pack)
- Altoids Arctic Mint hard candy come in an easy-to-pack, stand-up ALTOIDS tin
- Package includes (8) eight individual packs of ALTOIDS Sugar-Free Artic Wintergreen Mints, 1.2 ounces each
- Sugarfree candy mints give you all of the mint with none of the sugar
- Freshen up with a curiously cool wintergreen flavor in these sugar free mints
- These curiously cool breath mints always have your back against bad breath
Rank #3
Sale
ALTOIDS Arctic Peppermint Breath Mints Hard Candy Bulk, 1.2 oz Tin (Pack of 8)
- ALTOIDS Arctic peppermint candy mints in an easy-to-pack, stand-up tin offer fresh breath with sugar free mints anytime, making the sugar-free candy mints suitable as mini purse essentials
- Experience refreshing mint hard candy with the Arctic Peppermint flavor, breath mints for bad breath in a convenient tin box
- This pack of mini candy bulk mints includes eight (8) 1.2-ounce metal tins with lids
- ALTOIDS peppermint mini mints offer a curiously cool minty flavor, keeping you feeling fresh for every adventure
- This bulk pack of ALTOIDS in a tin box delivers on value, making it suitable for fundraising, concessions, or stocking a store
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