So, you’ve got a workshop, some decent tools, and a growing pile of sawdust that your partner keeps complaining about. Ever thought about turning that hobby into actual cash? Because here’s the thing—people are absolutely obsessed with handmade wooden items right now. While everyone’s scrolling through mass-produced furniture that falls apart after six months, handcrafted wooden pieces are having a serious moment. The market for artisan woodworking has exploded, and honestly, your home workshop could be your next side hustle (or full-time gig, if you play your cards right). I’m going to walk you through 30 woodworking projects that actually sell, not just collect dust in your garage. Ready to make some money? Let’s get into it.
Getting Started with Selling Woodworking Projects
Before you start cranking out wooden masterpieces, you need to know who’s buying. Your target market isn’t just “people who like wood”—it’s homeowners looking for unique decor, gift-givers seeking personalized items, and design enthusiasts who’d rather die than buy from big-box stores. Understanding this makes all the difference.
Your home workshop doesn’t need to look like a professional carpenter’s dream. Start with the basics: a quality table saw, miter saw, drill, sander, and some good clamps. You can always upgrade later when the money starts rolling in.
Now, where do you sell this stuff? Etsy is the obvious goldmine for handmade goods, but don’t sleep on local farmer’s markets, craft fairs, Instagram (hello, visual platform), and Facebook Marketplace. Each platform has its own vibe—Etsy buyers expect polished product photos, while local markets let people touch and feel your work.
Pricing is where beginners mess up. Calculate your materials, add your time (yes, your time has value), tack on overhead, then add your profit margin. If something takes you four hours and $20 in materials, you’d better not be selling it for $40. Price like you respect your craft.
Quick-Sell Woodworking Projects for Beginners
1. Cutting Boards and Charcuterie Boards
Credit : Woodshop Diaries
These are the gateway drug of woodworking sales. Everyone needs them, they make great gifts, and you can charge decent money for them. Use hardwoods like maple, walnut, or cherry—they look gorgeous and hold up well. A basic cutting board sells for $30-50, while a fancy charcuterie board with handles and designs? Easy $60-100. They sell because people see them all over Instagram and Pinterest.
2. Wooden Coasters
Credit : Instructables
Coasters are stupid-easy to make and people buy them in sets. Grab some hardwood scraps, cut them into 4×4 squares, sand them smooth, and apply food-safe finish. Sell sets of 4-6 for $20-35. Bonus: They’re perfect for using up leftover wood from bigger woodworking projects.
3. Picture Frames
Credit : Thecreativemom
Custom picture frames never go out of style. You can make simple ones or get fancy with corner joints and stains. Materials are cheap—just wood strips and glass—and you can sell small frames for $15-30, larger ones for $40-80. People love them because they can’t find unique frames at Target.
4. Simple Shelves
Credit : Jenwoodhouse
Floating shelves are ridiculously popular right now. Cut a piece of quality wood, add hidden brackets, finish it nicely, and boom—$40-80 per shelf. People are obsessed with the minimalist look, and shelves fit that vibe perfectly.
5. Plant Stands
Credit : Instructables
Thanks to the plant parent craze, plant stands are selling like crazy. A simple tiered stand using dowels and circular platforms takes a few hours to build and sells for $45-90. They’re lightweight, Instagram-worthy, and every millennial with a fiddle leaf fig needs one.
6. Wooden Signs
Credit : Angelamariemade
“Home Sweet Home,” “Gather,” “The Hendersons”—you know the type. These rustic signs are everywhere, and for good reason—they sell. Use reclaimed wood for character, add vinyl lettering or hand-paint, and charge $25-75 depending on size. Holiday-themed signs? Even better.
Home Decor Projects
Woodworking Projects That Upgrade Living Spaces
Want to know what separates hobby woodworkers from money-making woodworkers? Home decor pieces. These woodworking projects command higher prices because they transform spaces.
7. Floating Shelves (Advanced)
Credit : Instructables
We mentioned simple shelves, but custom floating shelves with live edges or unique wood grains? Now we’re talking $80-200. Use walnut or exotic woods and suddenly you’re not competing with IKEA anymore.
Get Instructions Here
8. Coffee Tables
Credit : Ana-white
A well-built coffee table is a statement piece. Whether you go modern with hairpin legs or rustic with chunky farmhouse style, you’re looking at $200-600 per table. Material costs are higher, but so are profits. IMO, coffee tables are where you start making real money.
9. Side Tables
Credit : Ana-White
Smaller than coffee tables but just as profitable per hour worked. A sleek side table with a drawer takes a weekend to build and sells for $150-350. People always need bedside tables or accent pieces.
10. Decorative Trays
Credit : kregtool
Serving trays with handles, ottoman trays, breakfast-in-bed trays—they all sell. Add some decorative hardware and a nice finish, and you’ve got a $40-70 item that takes maybe two hours to complete.
11. Candle Holders
Credit : Instructables
From simple tea light holders to elaborate centerpieces, candle holders are small woodworking projects with decent returns. Use interesting wood combinations and charge $15-50 depending on design.
12. Key Holders and Organizers
Credit : kregtool
Functional items that look good? Money in the bank. A wall-mounted key holder with hooks and maybe a small shelf sells for $35-65. Everyone loses their keys, so this practically sells itself.
13. Magazine Racks
Credit : kregtool
Old-school but making a comeback. A simple sling-style magazine rack in walnut or oak? $60-120. People are rediscovering physical books and magazines (shocking, I know :).
Customization tip: Offer personalized engraving or custom stains. Customers pay premium prices for items that feel made-for-them. Also, mid-century modern and farmhouse styles are dominating right now—design accordingly.
Functional Furniture Pieces
This is where your workshop becomes a legitimate business. Furniture pieces take more time and materials, but the profit margins are beautiful if you’re efficient.
14. Benches
Credit : abeautifulmess
Entryway benches, dining benches, storage benches—they’re all winners. A solid bench sells for $150-400 depending on size and features. Use pine for budget builds or hardwood for premium pieces.
15. Stools
Bar stools, counter stools, step stools—people need them all. Simple three-legged stools are quick builds that sell for $50-120. Make them in sets and offer bulk discounts.
16. Nightstands
Credit : Ana-White
Every bedroom needs two nightstands, which means steady demand. A simple modern nightstand with one drawer sells for $180-350. Keep the design clean and you can batch-produce these efficiently.
17. Bookshelf Units
Credit : Instructables
From small desktop units to floor-standing shelves, bookcases sell consistently. A 5-shelf unit in quality wood? $200-500. People always need more storage.
18. TV Stands
Credit : Kregtool
Even in the streaming age, people need somewhere to put their TVs. A media console with cable management sells for $250-600. Focus on clean lines and cable organization—customers appreciate functionality.
19. Desk Organizers
Credit : uglyducklinghouse
Small desktop organizers with compartments for pens, phones, and random stuff sell for $30-75. They’re quick builds perfect for using scrap wood.
20. Coat Racks
Credit : woodmagazine
Wall-mounted or freestanding, coat racks are practical sellers. A nice wooden coat rack with sturdy hooks goes for $60-150. Entryway furniture is always in demand.
Materials efficiency tip: Plan your cuts carefully. A 4×8 sheet of plywood can yield multiple woodworking projects if you optimize your layout. Also, pine and poplar keep costs down while still looking professional with the right finish.
Outdoor and Garden Woodworking Projects
Outdoor pieces are fantastic because people constantly need to replace weather-damaged items. The repeat business potential here is real.
21. Garden Planters
Credit : 100things2do
Raised planter boxes, tiered planters, window boxes—gardeners love wooden planters. Use cedar or redwood for natural rot resistance and charge $60-200 depending on size. Spring and early summer are prime selling seasons.
22. Porch Swing
When creating woodworking projects for sale, you must create objects that have the potential to generate a profit while also enjoying the process. Larger objects, such as this porch swing, will sell for far more than tiny stuff. Granted, they will take longer to create, but the return is higher.
This woodworking project will require more ability than smaller objects like as picture frames. However, if you have the right skills and resources, this enterprise has the potential to significantly increase your earnings.
23. Birdhouses
Credit : 100things2do
From simple functional birdhouses ($20-40) to decorative multi-level bird condos ($60-150), bird lovers are a passionate market. Make them weatherproof and watch them fly off the shelf.
24. Outdoor Benches
Credit : uglyducklinghouse
A weather-resistant garden bench is a premium item. Using pressure-treated lumber or naturally weather-resistant woods, you can build benches that sell for $200-500. These are statement pieces for backyards.
25. Picnic Basket
Credit : Tuts Plus
As fashionable as rustic style is in today’s world, modern pieces are in equal demand. So, why not have the best of both worlds with a contemporary wooden picnic basket? You may have a lovely, functional basket to carry with you wherever you go, or a fantastic decorative item that would look great in any kitchen.
26. Garden Trellises
Credit : Deliacreates
Decorative trellises for climbing plants are surprisingly profitable. A 6-foot wooden trellis costs maybe $15-25 in materials but sells for $60-120. They’re lightweight and easy to ship.
Weather protection is crucial: Use marine-grade spar urethane or outdoor polyurethane for finishes. Cedar and redwood are naturally weather-resistant, but even pine lasts years with proper sealing. FYI, customers will come back if your outdoor pieces actually survive outdoors.
Seasonal and Gift Items
Timing is everything with seasonal woodworking projects. Make Christmas stuff in October, not December (unless you enjoy stress).
27. Ornament Trees
Credit : Instructables
Personalized Christmas ornaments hold a charm that store-bought decorations often lack. For woodworking enthusiasts, miniature handcrafted holders for Christmas tree ornaments offer a unique and thoughtful alternative. With carefully chosen accents, these special creations can easily stand out amid the sea of generic holiday décor that floods the shelves each year.
28. Serving Trays
Credit : Instructables
Beautiful serving trays with handles are year-round gifts but spike during holidays. A well-designed tray in walnut or maple with brass handles sells for $50-100. They’re practical and look expensive.
29. Sunglass Storage Rack
Credit : ctrlcurate
Simplicity can be especially valuable for those with busy, cluttered lives. During the summer, it’s all too easy to misplace essentials like keys and sunglasses. That’s why a simple yet stylish sunglass storage rack can be the perfect solution—offering a practical and personalized touch that quickly becomes a favorite.
30. Jewelry Boxes
Credit : Instructables
Custom jewelry boxes are premium gifts. Add velvet lining, compartments, and smooth-opening hinges, and you’re looking at $80-200 per box. These appeal to gift-givers looking for something special.
31. Bathtub Caddy
Credit : Instructables
Kids’ room signs, family name signs, wedding signs—personalization adds massive value. A custom wooden sign that costs you $8 in materials sells for $40-90. Offer various fonts and finishes.
Personalization is your secret weapon: People pay 40-60% more for personalized items. Invest in a wood-burning tool or partner with a vinyl cutter owner. Also, start seasonal items 2-3 months early—you want inventory ready when demand hits.
32. Airplane Toy
Credit : Rogue Engineer
There are plenty of DIY racks and benches available, but if you want your woodworking projects to truly stand out, this is the perfect choice. A wooden toy airplane offers a fun and imaginative playtime option for children. With space for miniature pilots to board, this airplane can be customized and personalized to create a truly unique and special toy.
Tips for Maximizing Your Profits
Want to actually make money instead of just staying busy? Here’s the real talk.
Batch production is your friend. Make five cutting boards at once instead of one. Cut all pieces, sand everything, apply all finishes—assembly-line style saves hours. Your efficiency shoots up and costs drop.
Source materials smart. Join a local hardwood supplier instead of buying from big-box stores. Buy lumber rough-cut and mill it yourself. Watch for Craigslist scores—I’ve gotten premium walnut for pennies because someone was clearing out their garage.
Create product variations from the same basic design. One bench design becomes three products with different stains, sizes, or cushion options. Work smarter, not harder.
Build your brand like you mean it. Consistent logos, quality photos, professional packaging—this stuff matters. Instagram is basically free advertising if you use it right. Post your process, finished pieces, and customer testimonials.
Customer service separates weekend warriors from real businesses. Respond quickly, ship on time, fix mistakes gracefully. Happy customers leave reviews and tell friends. One five-star review can bring you ten more sales.
Need Detailed Plans? Here’s a Shortcut
Look, coming up with designs from scratch is fun, but let’s be real—sometimes you just want proven plans that actually work. I stumbled across Ted’s Woodworking Plans a while back, and honestly? It’s like having 16,000+ projects with step-by-step instructions right at your fingertips.
We’re talking complete blueprints, materials lists, and cutting diagrams for everything from simple coasters to complex furniture. No more guessing measurements or screwing up expensive wood because you eyeballed it. Think of it as your woodworking cheat code.
The best part? You can browse through thousands of project ideas, find what’s selling well, and have professional plans ready to go. Whether you’re building your first cutting board or your fiftieth dining table, having detailed plans saves you hours of head-scratching and costly mistakes.
Check out Ted’s Woodworking Plans here – It’s been a game-changer for speeding up my production without sacrificing quality.
Start Building Your Woodworking Business Today
Look, you’ve got the skills, the tools, and now the roadmap. The woodworking market isn’t going anywhere—people will always value handcrafted quality over mass-produced garbage. Start with the simple projects to build confidence and cash flow, then work your way up to furniture pieces where the real profit lives.
Don’t overthink it. Pick one project from this list, build it this weekend, and list it for sale. Then build two more. Before you know it, you’ll be turning down orders because you can’t keep up (good problem to have, trust me).
Your home workshop is sitting there waiting. Time to make it earn its keep. What are you going to build first?