Guides · 6 min read · September 18, 2026
How to build a DIY iPad teleprompter
A sheet of glass, a box and your iPad. Here's how to build a working teleprompter in an afternoon, and when it's worth buying one.
What you need
- A piece of clear glass or acrylic, bigger than your iPad screen (a picture-frame glass works).
- A cardboard box or wooden frame to hold it at 45 degrees.
- Black fabric or card for a hood.
- Your iPad or iPhone with a teleprompter app with mirror mode.
Steps
- Cut the box so the camera lens can look straight through the back.
- Mount the glass at 45 degrees in front of the lens.
- Lay the iPad face up under the glass.
- Turn on mirror mode in the app and increase the text size.
- Wrap the sides and back in black to cut reflections.
The catch
Plain glass reflects only a little light, so text is faint and you may see a double image. Real beam splitter glass is coated to fix that. If you'll use it weekly, a budget rig pays for itself in saved retakes.
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