Prop maker

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a prop master and run a props department.

You might also move into set design, production design or stage management.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• design skills and knowledge
• knowledge of building and construction
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to work well with your hands
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

A driving licence may be needed for some jobs for transferring props and equipment between locations.

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Art and Design - Prop makers use drawing, sculpting, painting, and visual design skills every day to create objects that look convincing on screen or on stage. They turn rough sketches into detailed plans and need a strong eye for colour, texture, and form to make props that fit a production's visual style.
• Design and Technology - Prop makers work with wood, metal, textiles, and fibreglass using both hand tools and power tools to build physical objects. Understanding materials, construction techniques, and the design process – from initial concept to finished product – is central to the job.
• History - Prop makers research the time period of a production to make sure every object looks historically accurate. Whether it's a Victorian letter opener or a 1960s telephone, understanding how everyday objects looked and were used in different eras is essential for creating believable props.

Also relevant

• Engineering - Prop makers sometimes need to build objects with moving parts or mechanical elements, such as doors that open on cue or devices that trigger special effects. Understanding how mechanisms work and how to build sturdy, functional structures helps them solve these practical challenges.
• Physics - Prop makers need to understand how different materials behave – their weight, strength, and flexibility – to choose the right ones for each job. Knowledge of forces and structural principles helps them build props that are safe to handle on set while still looking realistic.
• Film Studies - Prop makers build objects that appear on screen, so understanding how cinema works matters. Knowledge of mise-en-scène – how lighting, set design, colour, and camera framing combine to tell a story – helps them craft props that look convincing and fit the visual world a director is creating.
• Drama - Prop makers collaborate closely with directors, set designers, and performers to understand how props will be used in a scene. Having a feel for how theatre and performance work helps them design objects that are practical for actors to handle and that support the story being told.
• Business - Prop makers often manage budgets for sourcing and creating props, deciding when to build from scratch and when to hire or buy. Many work freelance across different productions, so understanding how to price their work and manage finances is genuinely useful.