10 Easy Woodworking Projects for Beginners (Free Plans)
Every woodworker starts somewhere. My first projects weren't pretty, but they taught me more than any book ever did. If you're just getting started, the best thing you can do is pick a simple project and build it.
Here are 10 easy woodworking projects for beginners that I've built and drawn up plans for, plus a bonus project at the end. Seven of the 10 plans are free, and most have full build videos so you can watch every cut (and every mistake). Click any photo or orange button to get the plans.
Want them all in one place? The Ultimate Beginner Woodworker Plan Bundle gets you plans for 14 easy projects for $29.97. That's 28% less than buying them one at a time.
Get the Plan Bundle1. DIY Blanket Ladder
All you need is two 1x4s and some pocket hole screws. The only trick is a couple of 10 degree cuts on the ends so it sits flat on the floor and leans flat against the wall. I painted mine gray, put biscuit white over top, then sanded it to give it a distressed look.
Get the Free Blanket Ladder Plans2. DIY Storage Chest
This one is built from 1x6s with pocket holes, and it's all square cuts. It works for blankets, quilts, or toys, or you can do what we did and use it as a storage ottoman on the deck. If yours is going outside, give it a good exterior oil so it holds up to the weather.
Get the Free Storage Chest Plans3. Folding Table
Plywood strips, glue, screws, and a few brad nails. There's no complicated joinery here, just square cuts. It folds flat so you can store it against the wall, and it makes a great extra shop table or a homework desk for the kids. Keep in mind it's built for light duty, not as a workbench.
I worked through some trial and error in the video. The plans already have all of that figured out for you.
Get the Folding Table Plans ($1.99)4. Layered Cross
This is a great scrap wood project. A 3 or 4 foot 1x4 is all you need. It uses a simple half lap joint, water-based stain in red, white, and blue, and an optional coin set into the center. These make great gifts, and they sell well at local markets.
5. Wooden Mallet
Every woodworker should make their own mallet. Trace the template, cut it out with a jigsaw or band saw, sand the curves smooth, and lock the handle in with a wedge. The video shows a fancier version with inlaid coins, but a basic mallet is very doable for a beginner.
Get the Mallet Template ($14.99)6. DIY Tool Caddy
A simple tote that keeps your most-used tools together so you can carry them around the shop or the house. The 10-page plans walk you through building it from plywood or hardwood with basic tools, and they include a drink caddy version too. It's an afternoon build, and a great way to practice clean, simple joinery.
Get the Free Tool Caddy Plans7. DIY Towel Rack
A quick weekend build for the bathroom or kitchen, and a great first project. A handful of boards, an afternoon in the shop, and you've got something useful hanging on the wall. There's almost nothing to get wrong on this one, which is exactly why it's a good place to start.
Get the Free Towel Rack Plans8. Simple Desk
A straightforward desk you can build with basic tools. The plans build a 50 inch long by 20 inch deep desk at the standard 29 inch height, and the 9-page PDF walks you through the whole thing. It works for a home office or a kid's room. These plans are free to raise autism awareness, so if you build it, consider a donation in return.
Get the Free Desk Plans9. Router Stand and Tool Organizer
This scrap wood project holds your routers upright so the bits can stay in the collet, which keeps your depth setting right and protects the bit. The trays underneath hold extra bits, wrenches, and collets. The 11-page plans make it a Saturday build that pays off every time you reach for your router.
Get the Free Router Stand Plans10. Safer Crosscut Sled
This isn't a first-day project, but if you own a table saw, build this one. Handles on both sides keep your hands away from where the blade comes out the back, and the back is covered, so the blade stays enclosed in wood. You'll need half a sheet of plywood, a piece of T-track, a stop block, and MicroJig clamps.
Get the Crosscut Sled Plans ($4.99)Bonus: DIY End Table
Ready to build your first piece of furniture? This end table is the perfect next step. It's a small, simple build that still gives you a real piece of furniture you'll be proud to put in your living room.
Get the End Table Plans ($1.99)What Tools Do You Need to Start?
You don't need a full shop. You can build most of these projects with a saw (circular or miter), a drill, a pocket hole jig, a sander, a few clamps, and wood glue. If you're not sure what to buy first, check out my Beginner Woodworker's Tool Buying Guide.
Beginner Woodworking FAQ
What is the easiest woodworking project for a beginner?
The towel rack and the blanket ladder are the easiest projects on this list. Both use common boards from the home store, simple cuts, and screws, and you can finish either one in an afternoon.
Do I need a table saw to build these projects?
No. Most of these projects can be built with a circular saw or miter saw, a drill, and a pocket hole jig. The crosscut sled is the only one that requires a table saw.
Are the plans really free?
Seven of the 10 plans are free: the blanket ladder, storage chest, layered cross, tool caddy, towel rack, simple desk, and router stand. The folding table and end table plans are $1.99 each, the crosscut sled plans are $4.99, and the mallet template is $14.99.
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Want even more projects? Grab the Ultimate Beginner Woodworker Plan Bundle and get plans for 14 easy projects for $29.97, which is 28% less than buying them one at a time.
Get the Plan Bundle
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