Woodworking Projects That Sell: Practical Ideas to Build and Sell

But there is an important distinction between a woodworking project that can be sold and one that will sell profitably.

No particular project is guaranteed to sell. Demand can vary by location, season, design, workmanship, price, competition and where the product is offered. A project that performs well at a local craft market may be difficult or expensive to ship online. Likewise, a product with a high selling price isn't necessarily more profitable if it requires expensive materials or substantial production time.

The goal of this guide is therefore not to promise a list of guaranteed best sellers. Instead, we'll look at practical woodworking projects that sell or may be suitable for selling, along with the characteristics that can make a woodworking product worth testing.

If you're primarily interested in compact builds rather than selling, see our Small Woodworking Projects guide.

If you're just getting started with woodworking, begin with Beginner Woodworking Projects.

Quick Picks: Woodworking Projects to Consider Selling

Complexity varies with the design and construction method chosen.

Woodworking Projects to Consider Selling

The best project to test is rarely determined by the product name alone. Design, finish, material selection, consistency and presentation can make two versions of the same basic project very different products.

Here are woodworking ideas that can be evaluated for a small woodworking business or side income.

1. Wooden Phone Stand

A wooden phone stand is a compact project with a clear purpose: holding a smartphone upright on a desk, nightstand or work surface.

Its small physical size can make it more practical to store, display and potentially ship than larger woodworking projects. It also provides opportunities to differentiate the design through wood selection, shape and finish.

Before making several to sell, consider what devices and cases the design will accommodate. A stand that works with one phone configuration isn't automatically universal.

Wood Project Lab has developed a complete V1.0 design for this project, including dimensions, a cut list, technical drawing and instructions.

Simple Wooden Phone Stand

2. Wooden Coasters

Wooden coasters turn relatively small pieces of material into a functional household product.

Because they're commonly used in sets, consistency matters. Differences in dimensions, edge treatment or finish become more noticeable when several pieces are placed together.

Coasters also provide room for design variation. Wood species, contrasting woods, shapes and decorative treatments can all change the character of the finished product.

For anyone considering scrap material, make sure the wood remains suitable for the intended use rather than choosing it simply because it is available.

3. Wooden Catchall Tray

A catchall tray provides a designated place for keys, coins and other everyday objects.

The basic concept can range from an extremely simple shallow tray to a more involved design with compartments. That makes it possible to match the project to your equipment and woodworking ability.

From a selling perspective, think about where the customer would actually use it: an entry table, dresser, desk or nightstand. Designing around a specific use can produce a more coherent product than simply making a generic wooden tray.

4. Wooden Bookends

Bookends combine function with decorative potential.

A straightforward design can emphasize clean construction and an attractive wood species, while more elaborate versions can incorporate contrasting materials or decorative shapes.

Stability should take priority over appearance. A visually attractive bookend that cannot reliably support books is not a successful product.

Bookends also illustrate an important principle for products sold in pairs: matching components should look intentional and consistent.

5. Desk Organizer

Desk organizers can hold pens, notes, phones and other small office items.

The opportunity here is specialization. Rather than adding arbitrary compartments, decide what the organizer is intended to hold and design around those objects.

A compact organizer for a few pens and a phone serves a different customer from a larger desktop station intended to manage documents, notebooks and electronics.

If you plan to sell an organizer, clarity about its intended function can make the product easier for a customer to understand.

6. Key or Coat Rack

A wall-mounted key or coat rack can combine woodworking with relatively simple hardware.

These products have a clear practical purpose and can also function as home décor. Size, hook placement, mounting method and expected use all deserve attention.

Any wall-mounted product also introduces another consideration: the customer needs an appropriate way to install it. Avoid making unsupported load claims, and provide installation information appropriate to the actual hardware and design.

7. Picture Ledge

A picture ledge is a narrow wall shelf designed to display frames and small decorative items.

Compared with some conventional shelving, its purpose is fairly specific. That can make the product easier to explain and photograph.

As with any wall-mounted project, construction and installation need to be appropriate for the intended use. Decorative styling should not substitute for sound construction.

8. Small Planter Box

Planter boxes can appeal to customers interested in indoor plants, patios, porches or gardens.

However, intended use matters. A decorative indoor planter holder faces different moisture and durability requirements from a container exposed directly to soil, water and outdoor weather.

Before offering one for sale, decide what the product is designed to do and choose materials, construction and finishing accordingly.

9. Wooden Candle Holder

A candle holder can be visually attractive and compact, but products used around flame require particular caution.

A decorative holder intended for an enclosed candle vessel is different from a design that places wood close to an exposed flame. Do not sacrifice safety for appearance.

If you choose this category, define the intended candle type and design conservatively.

10. Wooden Picture Frame

Picture frames provide considerable room for customization through dimensions, wood species, profiles and finishes.

They also demand accuracy. Corners and joints are highly visible, and small alignment errors can affect the appearance of the entire frame.

Custom sizing can differentiate a product, although accepting custom orders also adds measurement, communication and production requirements.

11. Wooden Serving Tray

Serving trays combine household utility with gift potential.

Handles, edge profiles, contrasting materials and finishes can distinguish one design from another. However, the intended use should determine construction and finishing decisions.

If a product may come into contact with food, make sure any materials and finishes are appropriate for the actual intended use rather than making broad "food-safe" claims without verifying the specific finish and its manufacturer's instructions.

12. Wooden Storage Crate

Wooden crates can serve as storage, organization or decorative containers.

They can be made in many styles, from straightforward utility designs to more finished versions intended for visible household storage.

The selling challenge is often size. A larger crate that is convenient to sell locally may become less attractive for online sales once packaging and shipping are considered.

This is a good example of why the selling channel should influence the project you choose.

13. Cutting Board

Cutting boards are familiar woodworking products, but they deserve more care than their simple shape might suggest.

Material selection, glue suitability, surface preparation, finishing and maintenance all matter because the product is intended for food preparation.

If you decide to make cutting boards for sale, research those requirements specifically rather than treating the project as an ordinary decorative board.

14. Magazine or Book Holder

A wooden magazine or book holder provides organization while offering opportunities for different shapes and styles.

The product can be designed for a floor, shelf or desktop, depending on its intended use.

As with desk organizers, designing for a defined purpose is preferable to adding features without knowing what the customer is expected to store.

15. Wooden Tool Tote

A traditional wooden tool tote can be both functional and visually distinctive.

Potential customers aren't limited to woodworkers. Depending on the design, a tote might also be used for gardening supplies, craft materials or household organization.

If marketed as a working tool carrier rather than decorative storage, construction needs to reflect the loads and handling it will experience.

16. Garden Tool Rack

A garden tool rack addresses a simple problem: organizing long-handled garden tools and related equipment.

This type of project may be particularly suitable for local sales because customers can avoid shipping a relatively long or bulky item.

Design around the actual tools the rack is expected to hold, and avoid unsupported weight or capacity claims.

17. Small Side Table

A small side table moves into a different category from many of the compact projects above.

The finished product may command more attention because it is furniture, but construction accuracy, stability and finishing become more important as well.

It is also more cumbersome to package and ship, which can make local sales or pickup more practical than ordinary parcel shipping.

Furniture should not be treated as a good selling project merely because its selling price may be higher. Production time, materials, storage and delivery all matter.

18. Simple Bench

Benches are useful projects but require considerably more caution than decorative items.

A bench is load-bearing furniture. Its design, joinery, materials and construction must be suitable for the intended use.

For that reason, Wood Project Lab would not recommend taking an untested decorative concept and simply offering it as seating. Use a properly developed design and treat structural integrity as a primary requirement.

19. Raised Garden Bed

Raised garden beds can be practical local products because their size can make shipping inconvenient while local delivery or pickup remains possible.

Material choice should reflect outdoor exposure and the intended gardening application.

They also offer an example of a product where customers may care about dimensions because available yard and garden space varies substantially.

20. Seasonal Wood Projects

Seasonal woodworking can include holiday decorations, signs, ornaments, displays and gift-oriented products.

Seasonality creates both opportunity and risk. Interest may increase before a holiday and then decline sharply afterward.

For that reason, seasonal inventory deserves careful planning. Testing a smaller quantity before committing substantial materials and production time can reduce the risk of being left with unsold seasonal stock.

Small Woodworking Projects That Sell

Small projects can be attractive to someone experimenting with selling woodworking because they generally require less storage space than furniture and may be easier to display or ship.

Examples worth evaluating include:

• Phone stands
• Coasters
• Catchall trays
• Small planter boxes
• Desk organizers
• Bookends
• Small picture frames
• Small serving trays

But "small" does not automatically mean profitable or easy.

A small item that requires extensive handwork can consume considerable production time. Likewise, shipping a compact product may be straightforward, but marketplace fees, packaging and shipping costs still need to be included when evaluating the economics.

For a broader collection of compact builds, see 25 Small Woodworking Projects.

Easy Wood Projects to Sell

Beginners may be better served by choosing a relatively straightforward product they can make consistently rather than attempting an elaborate project simply because it appears to have a higher selling price.

Potential beginner-friendly categories include simple phone stands, trays, coasters, basic boxes and uncomplicated organizers, depending on the particular design and tools required.

The important word is consistently.

Making one acceptable example isn't the same as producing several pieces with repeatable dimensions, joints, sanding and finish quality.

If you're still developing those skills, see our Beginner Woodworking Projects guide before deciding what to offer for sale.

What Makes a Good Woodworking Project to Sell?

Choosing what to make involves more than finding an attractive project online. Evaluate the entire path from raw material to customer.

Material Requirements

Calculate what actually goes into each product.

That can include lumber, hardware, glue, abrasives, finish, packaging and other consumables. Waste and unusable offcuts may also affect the real material requirement.

An inexpensive-looking product is not necessarily inexpensive to produce.

Repeatability

A product becomes much easier to sell consistently if you can reproduce it reliably.

Templates, jigs and standardized procedures can sometimes improve repeatability, but only when appropriate to the project and tools being used.

If every unit requires substantial redesign or adjustment, scaling production becomes more difficult.

Production Time

Your time has value.

Two products with similar material costs may have very different economics if one requires substantially more labor.

Track actual production time instead of estimating it from memory.

Size and Weight

Physical dimensions matter much more when selling online.

Large products require packaging, storage and transportation. Shipping expense can make an otherwise attractive item difficult to sell outside a local market.

Compact projects may avoid some of these problems, but their economics still need to be calculated.

Customization

Personalization can distinguish a woodworking product, but it also introduces complexity.

Names, sizes, finishes and other options can require additional customer communication and create more opportunities for errors.

If offering customization, define exactly what the customer can change.

Perceived Value

Customers don't evaluate a handmade item based solely on the amount of lumber it contains.

Design, usefulness, finish quality, presentation and craftsmanship can influence how a product is perceived.

That doesn't mean a seller can simply choose any price. It means raw material cost is only one part of the product.

Competition

Popular products can indicate an existing market, but they may also face substantial competition.

Instead of copying what everyone else is selling, study how products differ in design, features, materials, presentation and intended customer.

Selling Channel

A product suitable for one sales channel may be poorly suited to another.

A large planter or bench might be practical for local pickup. A compact phone stand may be easier to ship. A personalized item may fit an online made-to-order model, while inexpensive small products might work differently at an in-person market.

Choose the product and sales channel together.

Most Profitable Woodworking Projects

There is no single woodworking project that is inherently the most profitable for every seller.

Profit depends on more than the selling price.

At a basic level, you need to consider:

Revenue − materials − consumables − selling fees − packaging − shipping or delivery costs − other business expenses

And even that calculation doesn't tell you what your time is worth.

For example, a product with a large dollar margin may be less attractive than a lower-priced product if the first requires substantially more labor for each unit.

That's why Wood Project Lab will treat profitability as a separate subject rather than labeling projects on this page with unsupported profit estimates.

For a closer look at which products earn the most, see our guide to most profitable woodworking projects. A Woodworking Project Profit Calculator is planned as part of the Wood Project Lab library.

Woodworking Projects to Sell at Craft Shows

Craft shows and markets create a different selling environment from online marketplaces.

Customers can see and handle the product, and the seller does not have to package each purchase for parcel shipment. On the other hand, the seller needs inventory, display space and a way to transport everything to and from the event.

Products considered for an in-person market should be evaluated for:

• Displayability: Can customers easily understand what the product is?
• Portability: Can you transport enough inventory conveniently?
• Range: Does your display offer sensible choices without becoming confusing?
• Durability: Can the product withstand transportation and repeated handling?
• Pricing clarity: Can customers quickly understand what each item costs?

Before building substantial inventory for an event, investigate the specific market, its customers, booth costs, rules and competing vendors.

A product appearing on a generic list of "craft show best sellers" is not evidence that it will sell at your particular event.

Selling Woodworking Projects Online

Online selling potentially exposes a woodworking product to customers beyond the seller's immediate area, but it also introduces additional considerations.

Photography

Customers cannot physically inspect the product before purchasing it.

Clear photographs should show the actual product, relevant details and an understandable sense of scale. Images should represent what the customer will receive.

Product Description

State what the product is, its dimensions, materials, finish, intended use and relevant limitations accurately.

If natural wood variation means each item differs, explain that appropriately.

Packaging

A product needs to survive normal handling during shipment.

Packaging requirements should be considered while choosing the product, not after several units have already been made.

Shipping

Know the packaged dimensions and weight before setting shipping policies or prices.

A product that looks attractive financially before shipping can become much less appealing once transportation is included.

Marketplace Fees

Selling platforms can charge different types of fees.

Because marketplace fee structures change, verify current fees directly with the platform rather than relying indefinitely on an old calculation.

Returns and Customer Service

Establish clear policies appropriate to the marketplace and applicable rules.

Customized products may introduce additional considerations, so understand the platform's policies before offering extensive personalization.

A dedicated How to Sell Woodworking Projects guide is planned as part of the Wood Project Lab library.

How to Price Woodworking Projects

Pricing is one of the areas where guessing can cause problems.

Start by understanding your costs.

Depending on the product and business, these can include:

• Lumber
• Hardware
• Glue
• Abrasives
• Finish
• Other consumables
• Packaging
• Marketplace or payment fees
• Shipping or delivery
• Waste
• Overhead
• Labor

Then investigate what comparable products are actually offered for in the market where you intend to sell.

Simply multiplying the lumber cost by an arbitrary number doesn't account for all of those factors.

Likewise, copying another seller's price doesn't tell you whether that price works with your own costs or production process.

Wood Project Lab's guide to how to price woodworking projects works through the calculation in more detail.

A Woodworking Project Profit Calculator is planned as part of the Wood Project Lab library.

Where to Sell Woodworking Projects

The appropriate sales channel depends heavily on the product.

Local Markets and Craft Shows

These allow customers to inspect products in person and can work with items that are inconvenient to ship.

The tradeoff is the time and expense associated with participating in an event.

Online Marketplaces

Online marketplaces can provide access to customers outside your local area.

Before listing, investigate current marketplace fees, policies, competition and shipping requirements.

Local Online Classifieds and Marketplaces

These can be useful for furniture, garden products and other items that make more sense for local pickup.

Use appropriate precautions when arranging local transactions.

Custom Orders

Direct commissions can allow a product to be tailored to a customer's needs.

However, custom work requires clear agreement about dimensions, materials, design, price, payment and delivery expectations before work begins.

Your Own Website

A website gives a business more control over branding and product presentation but does not automatically provide an audience.

Traffic generation, payments, fulfillment, customer service and marketing still have to be addressed.

A dedicated How to Sell Woodworking Projects guide is planned as part of the Wood Project Lab library.

How to Choose Your First Woodworking Product to Sell

If you've never sold your woodworking before, don't begin by trying to identify the one product that will produce the most money.

Choose something you can evaluate methodically.

A sensible process is:

1. Choose a project within your current abilities. You should be able to make it safely and consistently.
2. Build or develop the product carefully. Determine what materials, operations and finishing it actually requires.
3. Record your costs. Don't rely on memory.
4. Record your production time. Actual time is more useful than an optimistic estimate.
5. Research the market. Look at comparable products, prices, presentation and competition in the channel where you intend to sell.
6. Determine a price based on your own economics. Don't assume someone else's price will work for you.
7. Test cautiously. A small initial quantity can provide information without committing to large inventory.
8. Listen to customers. Questions, objections and requests can reveal ways to improve the product.
9. Review the numbers. Revenue alone does not tell you whether the product is worthwhile.
10. Scale only after you have evidence. If demand and economics make sense, then consider improving production efficiency or increasing inventory.

This approach may be slower than following a list of supposedly guaranteed best sellers, but it provides something much more valuable: information from your own product, customers and market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What woodworking projects can I make and sell?

Possible products include phone stands, coasters, trays, boxes, organizers, bookends, picture frames, planter boxes, racks, cutting boards and furniture. The appropriate choice depends on your woodworking ability, materials, equipment, intended customer and sales channel.

What small woodworking projects can I sell?

Compact possibilities include phone stands, coasters, catchall trays, desk organizers, bookends, small planter boxes and picture frames. Before making inventory, evaluate production costs and demand in the market where you intend to sell.

For more compact ideas, see Small Woodworking Projects.

What woodworking projects are easiest to sell?

There isn't a woodworking product that is universally easiest to sell. Demand differs among markets, locations, seasons and customer groups. A better approach is to identify products you can make consistently and then test actual customer demand.

Can beginners sell woodworking projects?

Yes, woodworking experience alone does not determine whether someone can offer a product for sale. However, the finished item should be safely constructed and meet the standard a customer reasonably expects. Beginners may benefit from starting with simpler, non-structural projects they can produce consistently.

See Beginner Woodworking Projects for ideas selected for new woodworkers.

What are the most profitable woodworking projects?

There is no universal answer. Profit depends on selling price, material and consumable costs, production time, fees, packaging, shipping or delivery, overhead and actual demand.

For a closer look, see our most profitable woodworking projects guide.

How do I price woodworking projects?

Start by calculating your actual costs and tracking production time. Then research comparable products in your intended market and determine whether a price that works for the customer also works for your business.

Our guide to how to price woodworking projects walks through the calculation in more detail.

Where can I sell woodworking projects?

Possible channels include craft shows, local markets, online marketplaces, local classified marketplaces, custom orders and your own website. Product size, shipping requirements, fees and customer expectations should influence which channel you choose.

A dedicated How to Sell Woodworking Projects guide is planned as part of the Wood Project Lab library.

Should I make a large inventory before I start selling?

Usually, the safer approach for an unproven product is to test demand before committing substantial money and production time to inventory. The appropriate quantity depends on the product and selling method.

Start With a Product You Can Make Well

Finding woodworking projects that sell isn't simply a matter of locating the longest list of popular project ideas.

A better product sits at the intersection of several things:

• Something customers want.
• Something you can make consistently.
• Something you can price sensibly.
• Something appropriate for your selling channel.

Start small enough that you can learn.

Track what the product actually costs to make. Record how long it takes. Research the market. Pay attention to customer response. Improve the product or production process based on evidence rather than assumptions.

For compact project ideas, continue with Small Woodworking Projects.

If you're developing your woodworking skills, see Beginner Woodworking Projects.

And if you'd like a complete project to examine, Wood Project Lab's Simple Wooden Phone Stand includes the V1.0 dimensions, cut list, technical drawing and step-by-step instructions.