Sound Cylinders
Sound cylinders are two boxes of six sealed cylinders, one with red lids and one with blue, that rattle from loud to almost silent, for listening work from about 3. Sets cost $35.10 to $125.15 at the US sellers we checked on October 2, 2026. Twelve opaque jars filled in pairs and glued shut make a homemade set.
The first lesson with it is Sound Cylinders (Sound Boxes). Not sure your child is ready for it? Two minutes of questions place your child on the sequence.
| Area | Sensorial |
|---|---|
| Used in | |
| From age | 3 to 5 years |
| Make it | Easy to make at home |
| Buy it | About $35 to $125 (noted ) |
What the sound cylinders are for
Each cylinder in the red box has a twin in the blue box that makes the same sound. The child pairs the twins by ear, then lines up one box from loudest to softest. Nothing shows from outside, so only listening can solve it.
Montessori's 1914 handbook describes six cardboard cylinders in a double set, paired and then graded with the eyes blindfolded. Wooden cylinders with colored lids are the modern form of the same material.
| Part | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Red box | Six sealed cylinders with red tops |
| Blue box | Six cylinders with blue tops, each matching one in the red box |
| Range | From a loud rattle to almost silent |
| Size | Alison's lists each box at 4.25 by 3 by 3.75 inches |
The lessons that use the sound cylinders
Sound Cylinders (Sound Boxes)
3 to 5 yearsShaking closed cylinders to pair those that sound the same, then grading six of them from loudest to softest.
Buying one: 5 listings checked October 2, 2026
| Seller and set | Made of | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Alison's MontessoriSound Cylinders (S09)Sale price; regular $39.00. Two boxes of six cylinders, one with red lids and one with blue. Made in Thailand. | Wood | $35.10 |
| Montessori OutletSound Boxes (510300290)Two sets of six sealed cylinders with red or blue tops, in boxes with matching lids. Market price shown $122.70. In stock. | Wood | $43.95 |
| Alison's MontessoriSound Boxes, Premium Quality (clearance, CL178)Clearance; regular $75.00. The page notes a slight chip on the blue lid. Made in Sri Lanka. | Wood | $55.00 |
| NienhuisSound BoxesTwo sets of six sealed cylinders, graded soft to loud. US store price. | Birch plywood, beech | $125.15 |
| The Montessori RoomSound Boxes (A110)Canadian store. Two sets of six cylinders, graded soft to loud. | Wood | $69.99 CAD |
- Alison's $35.10 set and Montessori Outlet's $43.95 set cover the lesson. Nienhuis's at $125.15 buys finish and fit.
- Whatever you buy, shake every pair when it arrives. One mismatched pair makes the whole lesson impossible, and a return is easier in the first week.
- Alison's $55.00 premium set is a clearance item with a chipped lid. The chip doesn't change the sound.
- Montessori Services had no sound cylinders, and Amazon's search page wouldn't load for us.
Making the sound cylinders at home
What to gather
- Twelve identical opaque containers with lids, such as small spice jars wrapped in paper
- Fillings in five strengths: dried beans, rice, sand, salt and two or three paper clips
- Strong glue for the lids
- Red and blue tape or paint for the lids
- Two small boxes or trays
| Piece | Size and marking | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Red-lidded set | Six containers, one of each filling plus one almost empty | 6 |
| Blue-lidded set | The same six fillings, matched by ear | 6 |
- 1Fill one container of each pair and shake it. Fill its twin and shake both, adding or tipping out a pinch until they sound the same.
- 2Leave one pair almost empty, a few grains of salt each, for the softest sound.
- 3Shake the six of one set in turn and check that each sounds clearly louder or softer than its neighbors.
- 4Glue every lid shut and let it dry overnight.
- 5Mark one set's lids red and the other blue, and a small matching symbol underneath each pair for the child to check.
Keeping a full set on the shelf
- Keep the boxes dry. Damp rice or salt clumps and the sound changes.
- Check glued lids every few weeks on a homemade set. A loose lid on a jar of salt or beans is a hazard to a toddler.
Questions parents ask about the sound cylinders
Are sound cylinders and sound boxes the same thing?
Yes, two names for the same material. Montessori's 1914 handbook calls them cylinders and labels the figure sound boxes, and today's sellers use both.
Can I make sound cylinders?
Yes. The build above takes twelve identical jars and about half an hour. The care is in matching each pair by ear before the lids are glued.
What's inside sound cylinders?
Bought sets are sealed and don't say. Montessori's 1912 noise boxes held fine or coarse fillings such as sand or pebbles. A homemade set works with rice or dried beans.
Before the sound cylinders, make sure the work before it is solid. The color tablets lesson lists the signs that a child is ready to move on.