A spacious, sturdy, flat workbench is the crown jewel of your DIY workspace.
If you’re looking to build one, below we’ve curated a list of 27 DIY workbench plans.
There are some interesting options on the list.
#10 is an ultra-sturdy, rolling design; #18 is a polished, gorgeous option with interior shelving; #7 is a modular design engineered for apartment-dwellers; #11 is collapsible and #21 is built into a car trunk!
There are a bunch of cool options on this list. If it’s your first build, we’ve seen expert carpenters recommend something simple to start.
Scroll through our list below and click the ‘View Plans’ button to access the step-by-step, free instructions.
27 DIY Workbench Plans & Ideas
1. Basic Workbench Blueprint
This thorough tutorial gives clear instructions using diagrams and photos on how to craft your own work area.
With only lumber, plywood, a circular saw, drill, and belt sander, you can create something custom that is fit to your needs and type of work. You can create this using the exact measurements given or modify them if you want a larger or smaller space. This structure will be quite heavy and cumbersome to move, so it’s a good idea to build it where you plan to use it.
Maybe you’ll even build one of our awesome DIY Toy Box plans!
VIEW PLANS2. Simple Workbench Idea
As the builder states, this is a classic design that won’t wear and tear, is easy to make, and serves a variety of purposes. You make this bench if you have a circular saw, some lumber, a drill, and screws. If you don’t have a saw, you can get the wood cut to size at the store you’re buying it from.
Simply build the top and shelf frames, assemble the legs, add the shelf and top, and attach the backboard. This looks like a great place to build a DIY birdhouse!
VIEW PLANS3. Beautiful and Practical Bench Project
If you’re after a workbench that is ornate and visually appealing but still completely functional, this is the perfect DIY. The designer explains that this project is a bit ambitious, but not at all impossible if you have some crafting skills and a table saw.
This is made out of Douglas fir, LVL joists, and plywood. Depending on the look you’re going for, consider using a different type of wood or even staining it. This build could be used to craft a snazzy bat house box.
VIEW PLANS4. Plain Workbench Plan
The perfect work area if you’re short on space, this is on wheels and easily maneuverable — the builder likes to wheel it outside on summer days and work outdoors. The legs are cut from MDF boards and drilled with pocket holes for an easy connection with the frames.
Just screw the two together, add footpads, put on the locking casters, and attach a bottom shelf if you wish. This is a pretty plain design and can be modified in many different ways. If you want to outfit your kitchen with fresh cabinetry, try out our DIY kitchen cabinet plans.
VIEW PLANS5. Easy-to-Make Plan
This is another great project for inexperienced people building things out of wood. This designer made a sturdy and not-too-shabby bench out of plywood, some 2x6s, wood glue, and screws. He assembled the legs, attached the cross beams, then secured the tabletop. Because you will be working on this often, it is important to make sure all joints are secure and able to support the weight of whatever you put on top. Try out an inspirational build- check out our DIY picnic table plans for some fun outdoor eating!
VIEW PLANS6. Garage Workbench Blueprint
This DIY is perfect for those who like building things every now and then on the weekends. This work table doesn’t take up much space and the only materials required are plywood, lumber, and screws. To craft this, cut the legs to size, attach the legs and rear crossbar, test to see if the bench is level, add the tabletop, then add the bottom shelf. Lumber could also be used entirely, as the plywood is used to make the finished product a little lighter. Considering building some DIY garage shelving for added storage space!
VIEW PLANS7. Apartment Workbench Idea
Many DIYers and builders aren’t lucky enough to live in houses with tons of space. If you’re one of them, this DIY gives a great solution for a work area that is totally usable but still visually appealing. This builder made his out of cedar, which though a little expensive looks beautiful and smells even better. The table’s frame and modular sections are built with posts and thick boards. To finish everything off, secure the two together.
VIEW PLANS8. Rugged and Cheap Workbench Blueprint
If you’re a hard worker and rough on your tools, you need a durable table. The builder of this DIY thought the same thing and designed something that is inexpensive, quick to build, and won’t scratch or fall apart. Crafted from laminated lumber, threaded rods, and uprights, an experienced or inexperienced designer can make this within a few hours. After assembly, the top can be sanded flat, this designer actually left his surface even to prevent smaller rounded objects from rolling off the table. Try building a DIY bed frame to jazz up your bedroom.
VIEW PLANS9. Closet Workbench Idea
Another solution for those lacking space, this work area is essentially a floating table that can be stationed in your garage, closet, or spare room. Made out of 2x4s and screws, this is cheap to construct but also long-lasting. Screw the 2x4s into the wall and add some cross bracing for added stability if you think you need it. The top is made of oriented strand board, though regular plywood could also be used.
VIEW PLANS10. Easily Movable Workbench Project
If you’re not a stationary builder, it’s best to have a work area that is portable and can take a beating. Comprised of plywood, 2x4s, and locking wheels, this is easy to create and takes only a few hours. Cutting everything to size and sanding it is likely the most time-consuming part — afterward, simply screw everything together to assemble. Buying sturdy wheels is key, as you don’t want them to break or not lock properly when needed.
VIEW PLANS11. Collapsible Workbench Plan
This basic table costs less than $50 to make and can be taken apart for storage after use. Perfect for those without a lot of space or who travel often, this isn’t hard to build yourself. The builder suggests using 2x8s instead of 2x4s for two reasons: the wood is usually less blemished and it’s easier to create rounded corners. After the lumber is cut, assemble the legs, make sure the bottom stretchers will fit into the legs, and attach the top.
VIEW PLANS12. Workbench with Cubbies Blueprint
This is a great DIY if your current workspace gets littered with tools, supplies, and garbage. This has a place for everything so you can keep everything in its place. This entire table can be made from one huge sheet of plywood or you can buy the lumber cut to the sizes given. Cut the pieces, drill the bench dog holes, and put it all together. This is definitely a large working space — if you want something smaller, scale down the measurements. Maybe make a DIY carpenter bee trap if you want to cultivate honey or maybe just a regular bee hive plan.
VIEW PLANS13. Inexpensive Workbench Idea
If money is an issue, this work area can be made for around $25 and can easily be scaled up or down to fit your needs. It uses an oriented strand board, screws, and 2×4’s. Any scrap wood you have around the house would also work. You’ll also need a power drill and miter saw (unless you buy the pieces cut). Cut the materials, assemble the frame, add some support, secure the top, and you’re done.
VIEW PLANS14. Storage Workbench Layout
This handy work area allows you to keep supplies and small tools inside of the table, saving space and time looking for materials. If you already have wood, this will cost less than $15 to build — you’ll need screws, hinges, legs from an IKEA table, and simple tools like a hammer, screwdriver, and saw. Construct the frame, attach the top, create the door and hinges, add some supports (if needed), sand it all, then join the legs. Once done, try a plan like this one: a DIY raised garden bed plan.
VIEW PLANS15. Novice Workbench Idea
If you’re new to woodworking, this project is simple to follow and even has a step-by-step video tutorial. The builder gives a few tips for beginners to keep in mind, like making sure you cut the legs together to make sure they’re equal in length and size. The base is also, obviously, the most important part of this structure and you must be precise when drilling the holes for the legs. Maybe you need a pair of barn doors for your farmhouse barn- check out this DIY barn door build if you’re up to the challenge.
VIEW PLANS16. Workbench Accessories Plan
This DIY plan explains a few ways to orient your supplies and tools on to your work area. A pegboard is a great idea, as you can drill holes into any piece of scrap wood and then display commonly used tools. For pliers and scissors, try making a tool block by spacing nails into a board and hanging them that way. Use hanger or clothesline wire to make hooks for the rest of your materials.
VIEW PLANS17. Garage Workbench Idea
If you want to conserve space but still have a decent-sized work area, this is the project for you to follow. The builder made this in his garage, ensuring enough space for cars and household storage.
An extensive list of tools and materials is given. The builder also let his lumber sit inside for two months to allow the moisture content to equalize, although this is an optional step.
This will surely take a beginner a day or two to complete and an experienced crafter more than a few hours. Check out some guidelines regarding the ideal height of the workbench so you can craft in comfort without bending over too much! Try building a DIY murphy bed on this handsome table- it would be an ambitious undertaking!
VIEW PLANS18. Mobile Workbench DIY
Although made from spare materials, this work table is very functional and looks professional. Inside such a table, you can store various tools, for example, screwdrivers or trim routers. The builder used a kitchen countertop for the top, though a piece of wood could also be used. You’ll also need a thick rubber mat, plywood, screws, wheels, paint, medium density fiberboard, and a chipboard.
This doesn’t take long to build and beginners can follow along with the attached video. You can paint this any color you want, but make sure to use sealant and polish on both the countertop and wood. Why not build your living room a stunning DIY coffee table using this table- it would be a crazy ambition!
VIEW PLANS19. Rustic Workbench Idea
If you want a natural and utilitarian workspace, this is the perfect DIY. The builder crafted this using 100% pine. This project may seem daunting, but the steps are simple: cut the wood, make the legs, create planks and the backboard, assemble the bench top, then put it all together and add any finishing touches. Since this is all wood, it’s super important to treat and polish it regularly.
VIEW PLANS20. Junkyard Workbench Idea
Assembled from miscellaneous bits and bobs, this workbench is a fun DIY to make and personalize yourself. This designer used old prison beds, a piece of a bowling alley, swivel casters, and a vice!
If you’re not comfortable welding or working with metal, considering using wood and staining it or using pre-cut metal planks. The bottoms shelf is the perfect place to sure supplies and your toolbox, as they’re within reach but not in your way when building
VIEW PLANS21. Trunk Workbench Plan
This work area folds out of your car to provide and a quick and easy way for you to service broken equipment and get things up and running. The steps listed are clear, though essentially you’re just making the car bracket, installing the workbench and pegboard, then troubleshooting everything. Measurements will probably need to be adjusted based on your own vehicle, though this concept is easily scalable up or down.
VIEW PLANS22. Travel Workbench Idea
If you’re looking for an inexpensive storage answer, this DIY design is for you. This is on wheels to facilitate moving it around the house, but it still is heavy — especially when loaded with your tools. This also features an extension that slides out to give you more surface area when working. When you’re finished, you can slide the extra top back down and store this easily. If you’re a hunter, why not make your own DIY shooting bench for some target practice!
VIEW PLANS23. Pallet Workbench Blueprint
To create this, break down the wood, build the frames, prepare the panels, create the work, and assemble. For storage, you can add some bottom panels. This is a very simple and to the point work area. If you want to spice it up, consider painting it or staining the wood. If you’re looking for accessibility, try adding wheels to the bottom of the legs — just make sure to get some that will support the weight of whatever you put on it. If you’re trying to figure out a fun DIY project you can do with the kids on your workbench, check out these whirligig plans!
VIEW PLANS24. Freestanding Workbench Idea
This DIY uses a folding table as a base. Depending on the size of yours, orient the measurements to fit. Materials include 2×2’s, oriented strand board, and a circular saw. Once everything is cut to size, craft the frame, mount it all, and you’re finished. You can get creative about storing and hanging things on the wall. This builder used bamboo skewers, made a pegboard, and even drilled supports to hold heavier tools like drills and hammers.
VIEW PLANS25. Secret Shelf DIY
Most of us are in need of more space and this DIY gives instruction on how to craft a hidden storage space that doesn’t ruin the look or functionality of your current workbench. As far as supplies go, you’ll need plywood, nails, brackets, circular saw, screws, drill bits, and framing lumber. This project is relatively cheap and shouldn’t take more than a few hours to complete. Remember, because you’re working off of your own furniture, you’ll have to keep your own measurements.
VIEW PLANS26. Easy Workbench Idea
Perfect for anyone who wants more space, this project helps you create a basic workspace you can be proud of. Supplies include adjustable bench legs, plywood, a power drill, sandpaper, polycrylic, and locking casters. To build, cut your wood, mark the holes, drill the legs into the base, fasten the bench legs, attach the casters, and add finishing touches. This designer just sanded his, but you can paint, stain, or polish yours however you like.
VIEW PLANS27. Straightforward Workbench Blueprint
As the title states, this is a DIY for a simple work table in seven steps (check out a DIY sewing table for something a little different) (check out a DIY sewing table for something a little different). This is not the most visually appealing or creative, but it is a strong and sturdy area for you to create things and work on projects. The designer himself is a beginner woodworker and this project is a great way to hone your skills. Comprised of dowels, casters, and wood, this only cost around $80 to build and should last many years.
VIEW PLANSWhat Is the Reddit DIY community saying?
One poster says that he was pondering creating a garage workbench from a free pdf- he had done a lot of research on YouTube.
Making a workbench from r/DIY
His idea was to assemble a box frame, attach legs and then lay a top on the frame.
Luckily, his friend had some kitchen worktop available that he could upcycle into a durable, hardware and countertop for his workspace.
The top poster commented that for his own garage he created an 8-foot long bench from a free pdf- including a cut out so that a seat can be pushed into it so you’re not painfully leaning over as you work.
He linked to a FamilyHandyman.com post that outlined a cheap and simple build that could be created in a single morning if you are a more experienced hobbyist.
They recommend adding pegboard, a bench vice to create a truly comprehensive utility area in your garage.
Another DIY carpenter was looking for an alternative to a Lowe’s electronics workbench.
He recruited a friend who was a more experienced woodworker, and who also owned a miter saw, and together they assembled a ruggedly handsome option that eventually would include some shelving.
Biggest Workbench Mistakes
Over at PopularWoodworking.com, they list out 10 of the biggest mistakes first-time bench builders commit when constructing their projects.
10 DIY Workbench Mistakes You Should Avoid
If you’re about to embark on building your first workbench, you might want to read this blog entry. I expect you to discard every piece of advice in it (most bench-builders do) and build the crazy contraption you’ve planned out in your head.
Overanalysis
One of the biggest mistakes novice woodworkers make is that they over analyze the types of wood that they are going to use. The veteran woodworkers over at PopularWoodworking.com say that you should look towards getting cheap, heavy and dry wood, even plywood to start building your woodworking bench- mechanicguides.com also provides some solid tips.
This makes sense because over time your bench is going to get really beat up and used- this is what makes them look distinctive and full of character.
Too Many Vises
Another common error hobbyists make is that they had too many woodworking vises attached to it. They say that at most all you’ll need is a tail vise and a face vise- in his own experience his own bench only has a single face vise installed on it.
Too Complex
The third common error is that woodworkers will build their bench to do all sorts of bizarre trickery like making it into a pneumatic lift, or making it adjustable on an x, y, z-axis, or even installing a ton of interior shelving.
They say that your focus should be on creating a solid, spacious fat table surface that serves your crafts needs rather than constructing something incredibly complex that defeats the purpose of its simplicity.
Obsessing Over Flatness
Another thing to avoid- don’t obsess too much about benchtop flatness or wood movement. They advise that you should be comfortable with the fact that the wood moves and not get too caught up in trying to prevent it from happening when designing your bench. If it gets too bad, they say that it takes less than 45 minutes of work to fix.
Proper Tools
You should also make sure that you have the proper tools ahead of time- this is one of the biggest mistakes this experienced woodworker sees novice hobbyists commit.
Organizing Your Workshop
On a somewhat unrelated note we also took a look at HomeTipTop.com & LifeHacker- they provide an excellent resource for organizing your woodshop in a single day.
Organize Your Messy Workbench with These 10 Tricks
I’ve set up workshops in many different places and for many different applications. The process of organizing your workshop [or workbench] is both personal and organic. Setups vary wildly depending on one’s specialty, while organization and workflow are often an organic process that can take months or years to fine-tune.
While the workbench might become the predominant feature of your workshop, you’ll want to invest in some organizational assets to make everything more organized and functional.
Peg Boards
One of the top organizational hacks is installing peg boards or slatwall. This is a practical common solution to organize a variety of hand tools that otherwise would be scattered throughout a handy man’s garage.
These perforated hardboard Mount on your wall and you can insert hooks and pegs into them to make use of vertical space.
We’ve even seen some browsable headboard leaves- almost like a vertical filing system for your tools which makes it even handier to sort through and makes use of a greater amount of space.
Sawhorses
Another handy organizing tool is a collapsible sawhorse-if your workbench gets too cluttered and you just need a little bit of extra space to do some supplementary cutting, these temporary table surfaces provide handy storage facility as well as an impromptu work area.
Cabinets
If you have the space, installing some cabinets could be a good idea. Wall pegboard can certainly help you organize your tools, there’s nothing like some spacious cabinetry to help tidy up your work area.
Woodworkers advise that you can section off your cabinets so that they are organized by the type of material they contain- this means you have quick and intuitive access to all of your tools and supplies at the drop of a hat.
Miniature Organizers
If you have really miniature tools that can fit on the pegboard, you can make a copper tube miniature tool organizer to stick in drill bits and other fine instruments.
Toilet Paper Rolls
If you have a lot of spare miscellaneous cables cluttering up your work area, you can use empty toilet paper tubes to coil them up, insert them inside, and store all of them in a cardboard box- a super simple storage approach.
Clean Up!
Another overlooked way to keep your workshop clean and functional is to actually clean it-you can empty everything out of your garage or basement, give it a good vacuuming, mopping up with some Tilex and soap, and then plan how to reacclimate all of your tools and supplies best into the environment- even incorporating some principles of feng shui.
Redo Your Ceiling
One overlooked option is to tidy up your ceiling. A basement or garage workshop can look somewhat gloomy and uninviting- but if you spend time installing lighting or otherwise making the ceiling look attractive it can pay enormous aesthetic dividends.
Besides looking better, lighting obviously has a lot of functional benefits as well- we’ve seen expert woodworkers recommend installing comprehensive overhead lighting that leverages multiple indirect sources that bounce off many different areas.
This is especially important if you have a lot of fine tools and you need the ability to see deep into the crevices to extract exactly what you need at the right moment.
Rolling Storage
DIYnetwork.com recommends rolling storage that can slide under your workbench- this is a nifty way to conserve floor space.
Wire Spools
If you have a heap of fine wires around- you can install a wire spool holder to keep them from getting tangled.
Alligator Clip Clothesline
An alligator clip clothesline can also be used to dangle your alligator clips from to make them easily accessible and organized.
Slide Out Component Drawers
Slide out component drawers are a great way to store small electronic parts-especially if you are an electrical engineer they are an ideal storage solution for these microscopic bits.
Clean Up At The End Of The Day
Another useful hack is to commit to putting your tools away at the end of the day. The guys over at LifeHacker.com to say that when they worked in the construction industry it was common practice to neatly tuck away the tools they had been using all at once at the end of the day.
Though one commentator disagreed saying that while that might work for carpentry, if you are an automotive mechanic, it’s best to put away every tool as soon as you’re done with it- probably because there are a lot more tools with minute uses.
Purge It
Finally, doing a large purge-throwing out a ton of items you just don’t use is a great way to clean up your workspace and make it more organized.
Hi, my name’s Elena Coolidge. I’m a DIY enthusiast who loves building fun woodworking plans. These DIY plans are fun hobby projects for enthusiasts or even more advanced builders that want to build things like bunk beds, end tables or even a duck box!
