3/4 inch wooden boards or PVC pipe with attachable wooden roofs are commonly used for bluebird boxes. Peterson boxes often use 2 x 4 inch boards
	Do not use pressure treated wood because they include toxic compounds
	Paper milk carton style or corrugated cardboard boxes are unacceptable
	Woods such as redwood and cedar are long-lasting even when left natural

Entry holes:

	Eastern Bluebirds use 1 ½ inch round holes, 1 3/8 x 2 1/4 inch vertical oval holes, or 1 1/8 inch horizontal slot entrances
	Western and Mountain Bluebirds use 1 9/16 inch round openings
	Where these species overlap use 1 9/16 inch round openings
	Oval holes should only be used in eastern bluebird boxes with moderate to small dimensioned boxes to reduce the possibility of starling use

Floor sizes:

	Eastern Bluebirds: floors in wooden boxes should be approximately 4 x 4 inches or 5 x 5 inches (Peterson style boxes are some what smaller), floors of circular boxes (such as PVC pipe) should be approximately 4 inches in diameter
	Western or Mountain Bluebird boxes should be at least 5 x 5 inches or 5 ½ x 5 ½ inches to accommodate larger clutch sizes

Access:

	It is imperative that all bluebird nest boxes open readily from the top, side, or front to facilitate box monitoring and cleaning
	If box sides or front pivot to allow access to the box, they should do so at as high a point as possible to ensure that you can observe tall nests without the door obstructing your view
	A screw or angled nail in a pre-drilled hole should be provided to ensure that mammalian predators can not readily open the nest box

Colors:

	Natural wood is acceptable
	If painted or stained, use light colors to minimize having the box overheat during warm weather in areas where overheating is likely

Water-resistance/drainage:

	Drainage holes must be provided 'in the box bottom to allow any rain entering the box to drain from the box and to provide air circulation to keep nesting material dry
	The box should be water-tight
	The roof should provide sufficient overhang beyond box entrance or vent holes to minimize possibility of rain entering these openings
	The roof should cover top edge of the box back unless other features eliminate any possibility of rain entering the joint between back and roof of box even if the wood warps

Heat/cold protection:

	Vents providing cross ventilation should be present near the box peak. These openings should be protected from rain by having the box roof overhang a sufficient amount to minimize precipitation entering the box.
	Dark colors should be avoided to minimize overheating
	It should be possible to plug or cover vent holes during cold weather periods early in the nesting period
	Long roof overhangs minimize the possibility of letting sun, rain, or snow entering the box

Predator deterrence:

	The box should be easy to mount on a predator-resistant post in areas with raccoons or cats
	A 5 inch roof overhang above the entrance hole reduces the possibility of raccoon or cat predation
	Wooden guards placed over the entry hole are not effective in eliminating raccoon predation
	Very deep tunnel-like predator guards deter bluebird use
	Boxes mounted on heavily greased pipes or on waxed metal electrical conduits will deter many climbing predators
	Mounting boxes less than 5 feet from the ground increases the opportunities for climbing or jumping predators to raid the nest
	Wooden posts, ungreased pipes, PVC pipes are readily climbed by nest predators such as raccoons

Mounting:

	Boxes should be designed so that they may readily and securely be mounted to a support post such as water pipe or electrical conduit
	Fence posts are acceptable mounts in areas where raccoons are rare
	Having the back extend beyond the main box body below or above the box will allow you to attach the box with screws, nails, pipe clamps, wires, or u-bolts

Perches:

Perches should never be used on any bluebird boxes because they are not needed by bluebirds and only facilitate harassment by non-native species such as House Sparrows

Inner walls:

	Interior walls should not be painted or stained
	The front wall below the entrance hole should feature a rough surface to facilitate chicks climbing to the entry hole

Parasite control:

	Nest boxes with raised screen floors may reduce blowfly infestations but this has not been conclusively proven
	Rotenone should never be applied to the interior of nest boxes as it is counter-productive in controlling blowflies

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