Want to make some extra cash? Here are a ton of ideas for easy woodworking projects to make and sell!
Looking to make a little extra cash this holiday season? If you are a woodworker, an easy idea might be to make things that you can sell for a profit.
That can be a great side hustle - and who knows, it could even turn into a full-fledged, year-round business.
How to sell woodworking projects
Your best bet for small wood projects that sell is going to be at in-person events.
While you can sell on Etsy (and we've done it), shipping is a beast, things get damaged out of your control, and people like to see and feel things in real life first.
Here are our best tips on where to sell woodworking projects online & in person.
Your best bet for selling in person is going to be craft fairs. Look for neighborhood holiday fairs in November or December - they can be gold mines.
Match your items for sale to the venue. Family neighborhoods will sell kids stuff well. In general, kids stuff does well right before Christmas because so many people are looking for gifts.
Keep in mind that many of these fairs charge a table fee, so analyze that cost and be realistic about whether it's worth it.
The other best way to sell woodworking projects is on Facebook Marketplace with local pickup. This cuts the shipping but allows you to reach a larger audience. Plus, it's free!
Here's our tips for selling successfully on Facebook Marketplace.
Things to keep in mind
There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for woodworking projects that sell.
Watch your material costs
The top problem with selling woodworking projects is that material costs can be high, and many people are used to Walmart prices.
You need to work hard to choose materials that aren't too expensive but will be consistently good. Scrap wood projects that sell are great, but it takes a lot of scrap wood to make a lot of wood items!
Focus and niche
You will have more success with an online shop or a booth at an event if there is a theme or sense of cohesiveness to your products.
You could pick a theme like home decor, kids crafts, kitchen, or hostess gifts.
The more cohesive, the more likely you are to make multiple sales and gain a return customer.
Make it scalable
Pick something that you can easily make lots of - and won't get sick of making. Building in batches is really important to keep your time costs and even materials down as much as possible.
Adjust your sizing and design to make the most out of materials without a lot of scrap or waste to help keep your costs low.
Having several of an item at a fair is especially important, because you don't want to have a hot item that gets bought immediately but you have no more. But don't make too many that you can't sell. Have a balance.
Do your research
Do a few quick searches on your local Facebook Marketplace to see what else similar is for sale and how it is priced. If there are tons for sale, it's going to be much harder to break into the market.
Photography matters
If you are selling online, photos are what will make the sale for you. They are essential.
Set up a scene with a clean background for your photos. Get down on the level with the product and take bright, well-lit photos from all angles.
You can use the simple editing tools on your camera to crop, brighten, and straighten your photos.
And for goodness sake, wipe off your camera's lens before starting. Fingerprints make everything blurry!
The best woodworking projects to sell
Here are some of my favorite wood projects that make money!
Woodworking projects to build and sell
Need to make some extra cash? Here are lots of ideas for woodworking projects to build and sell!
These little picnic tables are super popular and easy to batch make!
This wooden cross would likely sell well at a church craft fair.
I love these dramatic wooden lanterns. You could make them in a variety of sizes!
These troughs are great for Thanksgiving or other hosting events.
This is a great scrap wood project that anyone could use!
You'd have to make these name puzzles to order, but you can charge a premium for them being custom.
These wooden trays are super simple to make and stack well on your table!
This extra-large wooden serving board is perfect for creating the ultimate charcuterie board. Super simple, great for any level of DIYer.
This wooden toilet paper holder is great paired with other wooden bathroom accessories!
This dice tray looks super high end and makes a great gift for game lovers.
Ring toss is a great yard game and perfect for summer.
It's easy to make this earring holder and it makes a really great gift.
No yard? No problem, these mini corn hole games are super cute! Maybe pair it with a sign saying you can build the full sized thing, too!
Plant stands are always popular and this tabletop version is perfect for building in bulk.
People love personalized gifts. You could make these in advance and then personalize them on the spot at your booth!
A puzzle tray with storage that slides under a couch or coffee table!
Perfect gift for an anniversary or wedding gift. A wooden cake knife can be made with scraps!
Trivets and coasters both sell well and make great gifts.
This pencil holder is sleek and modern. It would sell well paired with other similar desk accessories!
Trays always do well and this one is simple to build.
Christmas-specific projects
This is a large freestanding wooden christmas tree. It makes a big statement and would make a good attention-getter at a holiday booth.
Honestly, these dowel trees were a bit annoying to make, but they are great for a whimsical look.
These wooden tabletop trees are easy to make and customize with wrapping paper.
These wood burned christmas trees make great ornaments.
What handmade wood items sell best?
In general, handmade wood items that sell best fall into one of two categories- items that are commonly needed and items that are small and repeatable.
Items that are commonly needed, like tables or benches, are always going to sell well because they are used all the time. However, these are custom orders and not something you can sell at a fair.
Small items that are cute gifts are the other best selling wood items, as long as you can scale them and build lots at one time to lower costs and time on the process.
What woodworking project is most profitable?
The most profitable woodworking projects are going to be ones that are custom orders and designs from someone who does not have a limited budget.
If someone who is used to nice things and wants a dining table with high quality wood and fine craftsmanship, you can sell this for a much higher profit, even though you will incur higher material costs. These customers will understand the value of your time and will pay accordingly.
Smaller items can be profitable if you can make them in bulk and have a high up-sale, but these are harder to make a large profit.
Do woodworkers make good money?
Woodworkers can make good money if they are in an upscale niche with clientele expecting high quality items. If you are trying to make money woodworking at home and selling it on Facebook Marketplace, you won't make a ton of money.
Taking custom commission pieces is the best way for a woodworker to make good money, not selling small items at craft fairs. Also, if you are selling your designs on Etsy, you will not make good money because of the fees and shipping costs you will incur.
Additionally, woodworkers can make good money if they create woodworking plans for their projects and sell the digital plan files online. This is a great way to make passive income after you've built a project.
What are your favorite easy wood projects to sell?
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Hello, I'm Morgan, half of the creative force behind CharlestonCrafted.com! With a passion for DIY that dates back to 2012, I've transformed three homes and now I'm dedicated to helping others craft their dream spaces. Let's turn your house into a home together!
