10 Easy Woodworking Projects to Make and Sell in 2026

Looking for woodworking projects that are simple enough to build but useful enough that someone might actually want to buy them?

You do not need to start with dining tables, complicated cabinetry, or projects that take an entire week to finish. For someone interested in making woodworking projects to sell, smaller useful items can be a much better place to begin.

The goal is to find projects you can build consistently, customize easily, and produce without tying up your entire workshop.

Below are 10 woodworking project ideas worth experimenting with, including storage, home décor, garden projects, and other useful items.

Before building a pile of inventory, make one good prototype first. Calculate what the wood, hardware, finish, and other materials actually cost you, estimate how long the project takes to build, and see whether people in your local or online market are interested.

A project that sells well in one area may not sell nearly as well somewhere else, so treat these as ideas to test rather than guaranteed bestsellers.

Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

If you are brand new to woodworking, you may also want to read our woodworking basics guide before choosing your first project.

1. Under-Bed Storage Box

An under-bed storage box is a practical woodworking project because it turns otherwise unused space into hidden storage.

It can work especially well for bedrooms, craft rooms, kids’ rooms, or anywhere floor space is limited. Depending on the design, the box can be sized for clothing, toys, wrapping supplies, shoes, craft materials, or other items that tend to create clutter.

For a basic version, plywood is a practical material because it allows you to create a relatively lightweight box with a flat bottom and straight sides. Adding low-profile casters can make a larger box easier to slide in and out, while a simple pull or handle gives the front a more finished appearance.

Why It Could Be a Good Project to Sell

Storage is useful, and useful projects can be easier to market than purely decorative pieces.

Instead of building a large inventory immediately, consider making one sample first. You could then offer different sizes, wood finishes, handle styles, or personalized versions based on what buyers actually request.

If you plan to sell one, calculate the cost of the wood, hardware, finish, and any casters before deciding what you would need to charge. Also account for the time it takes you to cut, assemble, sand, and finish the box.

Ways to Customize It

• Add low-profile casters for easier access.
• Use a recessed or rope-style pull.
• Paint it to match bedroom furniture.
• Stain or clear-finish the wood for a more natural appearance.
• Add dividers for shoes, toys, or craft supplies.
• Build matching pairs for use beneath a larger bed.

Before choosing the final dimensions, measure the available clearance beneath the bed, including any center supports or other obstacles, so the finished box actually fits.

Project inspiration / image source: Charleston Crafted.

2. Modular Wooden Storage Cubby

A modular wooden storage cubby is useful because the basic design can be adapted to fit many different rooms and storage needs.

One cubby can hold books, toys, craft supplies, shoes, office items, or workshop gear. Build several matching units and they can be arranged side by side or, when the design is specifically engineered for it, incorporated into a larger storage system.

For a project you may eventually sell, simple construction is an advantage. A clean rectangular design can be offered in different sizes and finishes without requiring you to reinvent the project every time.

Why It Could Be a Good Project to Sell

Storage solves a real problem, and custom sizing can give a handmade cubby an advantage over mass-produced organizers.

You could experiment with:

• Different wood species or finishes.
• Custom dimensions.
• Open-front or backed versions.
• Internal dividers.
• Matching sets.
• Decorative metal accents.

If you create wall-mounted or stacked versions, make sure the construction, hardware, anchoring method, and intended load are appropriate for the installation.

Keep the First Version Simple

Start with one straightforward rectangular cubby and concentrate on accurate measuring, square assembly, smooth sanding, and a clean finish. A simple design built neatly can look much more professional than a complicated design built poorly.

Project inspiration / image source: Dans le Lakehouse.

Useful Tools for a Storage Cubby Project

A few basic tools can make accurate layout and assembly easier. Check what you already own before buying anything new. These are specific currently listed examples to compare; we are not claiming hands-on testing of these products.

• IRWIN 12-inch Combination Square, model 1794469 — view on Amazon (paid link) (#CommissionsEarned)
• BESSEY GSCC2.512 12-inch Clutch-Style Bar Clamp — view on Amazon (paid link) (#CommissionsEarned)
• DEWALT DCD771C2 20V MAX Drill/Driver Kit — view on Amazon (paid link) (#CommissionsEarned)

3. Wooden Tealight Holders

Small wooden candle holders are attractive because they use relatively little material and can be made in coordinated sets. They also give you room to experiment with contrasting woods, painted accents, or different heights.

A simple stacked-ring design can create a decorative look without requiring a large piece of lumber. The small size also makes this the kind of project where you can test several variations without committing much material.

Why It Could Be a Good Project to Sell

Small décor pieces can work well as gift items, table decorations, or seasonal accents. Sets of two or three can also feel more substantial than a single small item.

You could vary the finish, height, wood tone, or decorative details while keeping the same basic construction method.

Important Candle-Safety Note

Wood is combustible. If you make a holder intended for a real candle, use a design that keeps flame and heat appropriately separated from the wood and follow the candle manufacturer’s safety instructions and clearances. For decorative craft pieces, flameless LED tealights can be a simpler option.

Project inspiration / image source: The Crafty Gentleman.

4. Wooden Spice Rack

A wooden spice rack can be both decorative and practical, which makes it an interesting project to test if you enjoy making kitchen accessories.

The test-tube-style design shown here uses a wooden frame to hold individual spice containers. A more traditional shelf-style rack could also be adapted to different kitchen sizes and décor styles.

Why It Could Be a Good Project to Sell

Kitchen storage is easy for buyers to understand immediately. A handmade rack can also be customized by wood species, finish, container count, or overall dimensions.

If you use specialty containers, design the rack around the actual containers you intend to supply or recommend rather than assuming all tubes, jars, or bottles have identical dimensions.

Prototype Before Producing Several

Build one sample first and verify the hole spacing, container fit, stability, and finish. This is especially important with designs that rely on drilled openings or closely fitted parts.

Project inspiration / image source: The Handyman’s Daughter.

Useful Supplies for This Type of Project

For assembly, one specific wood-glue option you can compare is the Titebond product below. Choose drilling bits and containers to match the exact dimensions of your own design rather than buying them solely because they appear in a generic list.

• Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue, 16 oz., model 1414 — view on Amazon (paid link) (#CommissionsEarned)

5. Wooden Building-Brick Storage Bin

A wooden toy-storage bin is a useful project for families who are constantly trying to keep small toys organized.

The example shown here is designed around building bricks, but the basic idea can be adapted for craft supplies, small toys, game pieces, or other items that tend to spread across a room.

Why It Could Be a Good Project to Sell

Parents and grandparents often appreciate storage that is both functional and attractive enough to leave in a playroom or bedroom.

You could offer variations with different colors, handles, removable dividers, or a personalized name panel. If you make a product around a specific branded toy system, be careful not to imply sponsorship or affiliation with that brand unless you actually have it.

Make It Easy to Carry

For a portable bin, pay attention to weight, smooth edges, handle placement, and hardware. A child’s storage item should not have rough edges, exposed sharp fasteners, or unstable parts.

Project inspiration / image source: The Handyman’s Daughter.

6. Outdoor Wooden Step Platform

Outdoor wooden steps can be a useful home project, especially when a small change in elevation needs a stable transition.

However, this is different from a decorative box or shelf: steps can become a load-bearing part of how people enter and leave a structure. That means dimensions, structural strength, attachment, footing, weather exposure, handrail requirements, and local building codes may matter.

Is This a Good Beginner Item to Sell?

For most beginners, this is better treated as a skill-building home project than a casual craft-fair product. If you plan to build or install steps for customers, make sure you understand any applicable code, licensing, permit, insurance, and installation requirements in your area.

A simpler sellable variation could be a low garden platform, plant riser, or non-structural outdoor display stand designed for an appropriate use.

Project inspiration / image source: The Merrythought.

7. Wooden Shoe Storage Shelf

A shoe shelf is another project that solves a very obvious problem: clutter near doors, closets, and bedrooms.

The basic design can range from a short two-tier bench-style organizer to a taller vertical shelf. That gives you several ways to adapt the same general idea to different spaces.

Why It Could Be a Good Project to Sell

Custom dimensions can be valuable here. Entryways and closets are rarely identical, so a shelf made for a particular width or number of shoes can offer something that a generic organizer does not.

You could offer natural wood, stained, painted, compact, tall, or bench-style versions. Start with one design that you can reproduce accurately before adding lots of options.

Focus on Fit and Finish

A shoe shelf is visually simple, which means crooked shelves, inconsistent spacing, rough edges, or a blotchy finish will stand out. Careful layout and sanding are worth the extra time.

Project inspiration / image source: Hey Wanderer.

Useful Tools for a Shoe-Shelf Project

These are specific currently listed examples that fit common measuring, clamping, and sanding tasks for this kind of project. They are included as products to compare, not as claims that we personally tested them.

• DEWALT DWE6423K 5-inch Variable-Speed Random-Orbit Sander — view on Amazon (paid link) (#CommissionsEarned)
• STANLEY FATMAX 25-foot Tape Measure, model 33-725 — view on Amazon (paid link) (#CommissionsEarned)
• BESSEY GSCC2.512 12-inch Clutch-Style Bar Clamp — view on Amazon (paid link) (#CommissionsEarned)

8. Rustic Teacup Bird Feeder

A decorative bird-feeder display combines a simple wooden backboard with repurposed cups and saucers. It is more of a mixed-material craft than a traditional woodworking project, but the wooden mounting board gives you plenty of room to customize the look.

This type of project can work well for garden décor because every version can be slightly different. Salvaged or mismatched cups can create a one-of-a-kind appearance.

Why It Could Be a Good Project to Sell

Garden gifts and decorative outdoor pieces can stand out at local markets because shoppers can immediately picture where they would use them.

If you make one, think about how the cups are secured, how the wood is protected from weather, how the feeder can be cleaned, and how it will be mounted safely.

Project inspiration / image source: Dainty Dress Diaries.

9. Wooden Egg Holder

A wooden egg holder is a compact project with a distinctive farmhouse or homestead look. It can be made as a countertop display, gift, or decorative way to organize eggs.

The appeal comes from the simple geometry: a board with evenly spaced recesses can look polished when the layout is consistent and the edges are carefully finished.

Why It Could Be a Good Project to Sell

Small kitchen and homestead-themed gifts can appeal to backyard-chicken keepers, farmhouse-style decorators, and people looking for unusual handmade gifts.

You could offer different wood species, capacities, engraving, or personalized gift versions.

If the finished item may contact food, choose materials and finishes appropriate for the intended use and follow the finish manufacturer’s directions for application and curing.

Project inspiration / image source: TIDBITS.

10. Natural Wood Plant Markers

Wooden plant markers are one of the smallest projects on this list, which can make them a good way to use narrow offcuts and scraps.

They can be used for herb gardens, vegetable beds, seed-starting trays, houseplants, or gift sets. Because they are small, you can experiment with several lettering and finishing styles without using much material.

Why They Could Be a Good Project to Sell

Plant markers are easy to bundle into sets. A buyer may be more interested in a coordinated set for common herbs or vegetables than in a single marker.

Possible variations include:

• Hand-lettered herb sets.
• Wood-burned lettering.
• Painted or color-coded ends.
• Personalized garden labels.
• Gift sets packaged with a small planter or seeds.

If the markers will stay outdoors, choose wood and finishes appropriate for the expected weather exposure. Remember that anything placed directly in damp soil will eventually face moisture.

Project inspiration / image source: TIDBITS.

Useful Tool for Personalized Plant Markers

If you want to experiment with wood-burned lettering, this is one specific current tool you can compare. Follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions and use appropriate ventilation and heat-safe work practices.

• Walnut Hollow Creative Versa-Tool, model 38283 — view on Amazon (paid link) (#CommissionsEarned)

How to Decide What to Charge for a Woodworking Project

Do not choose a price by looking only at what another seller charges. Your costs and production time may be completely different.

At minimum, consider:

• Wood and sheet goods: Include the material actually consumed, not just the visible pieces in the finished project.
• Hardware: Screws, handles, casters, hinges, hooks, brackets, fasteners, and specialty parts.
• Consumables: Sandpaper, glue, finish, paint, rags, brushes, blades, and other items that wear out.
• Your time: Cutting, assembly, sanding, finishing, packaging, communication, and delivery all take time.
• Overhead: Tool wear, electricity, workspace, packaging, and selling-platform or payment fees can matter.
• Profit: A price that merely reimburses your materials is not the same thing as a profitable product.

Build one prototype and time yourself. The first one will usually take longer than later copies, but it gives you real numbers instead of guesses.

Which Projects Should a Beginner Try First?

If your goal is to learn while testing items that might be sellable, start with projects that are small, easy to measure, and inexpensive to prototype.

The storage cubby, tealight-holder concept, plant markers, and simple storage box are easier places to experiment than structural outdoor steps.

As your skills improve, you can move toward larger storage, furniture, and custom projects.

For more project inspiration, see our DIY woodworking home décor ideas and 10 Woodworking Projects That Sell — Volume 2.

Need More Woodworking Project Ideas?

One challenge with making woodworking projects to sell is finding enough designs to test without spending all of your time hunting for the next idea.

If you would rather browse a large collection of woodworking plans instead of finding individual plans one at a time, we have also taken a detailed look at Ted’s Woodworking.

Read Our Complete Ted’s Woodworking Review →

A huge plan count is not automatically useful for every woodworker, so read the review first and decide whether the collection fits the kinds of projects you actually want to build.

Start With One Prototype

The biggest mistake is building ten copies of an idea before you know whether you enjoy making it or whether anyone wants to buy it.

Choose one project from this list. Build one good version. Record the material cost and the time it took. Photograph it well. See what kind of response it gets.

If people are interested, make the second one more efficiently.

That is a much better way to turn woodworking into a potential side income than filling your garage with unsold inventory.