I love cooking and I love eating meat. I also love the idea of being able to make my own food from scratch.
A DIY smokehouse is a low-cost, low-tech way to make your own bacon, ham, sausage and other delicious cured meats. (Check out our DIY smoker if you want something a bit smaller!)
In the past few years, people have been making their own food from scratch rather than buying it from the store. Some people have started replacing store-bought bread with homemade bread while others have started making their own pasta sauce using fresh tomatoes grown in their backyard gardens.
I love to make meat in my DIY Smokehouse because I want to enjoy healthier and tastier food.
I make sure that I always cook the meat thoroughly- and my kids are always eager to help out.
When I decided to build my own, I did a lot of research. Check out some of my favorite plans. They all include step-by-step instructions you can create your own homemade, backyard smoker!
Check out my list of DIY pizza oven plans if you’re interested in backdoor cooking!
19+ Free Homemade DIY Smokehouse Plans & Ideas
#1. The DIY Pallet Smokehouse Build
For this project, you’ll need eight pallets of the same size and design – in other words, and they must be completely identical to one another. You will also need some nails or screws for assembly, along with a saw.
First, stack four pallets on top of one another so that the corners are touching. Now, place two other pallets on top of them, making sure the corner is in contact.
Nail or screw them all together, so they remain stable during shipping (or construction). At this point, you can choose to paint or stain your new smokehouse according to your design preferences.
If you plan to paint it, the first step would be to stain all pallets with a wood-preserving agent. This process will completely seal and protect your smokehouse from moisture and mold.
Now that you’ve got your pallets together into one large box, you can start adding on some features! For example, let’s continue by using two more pallets to construct the front door. Then, stack two additional pallets on top of it – but this time, leave a gap between them for an opening.
Nail or screw the door into place so that it remains sturdy and closed during smoking. If you would like, you can build another frame around your new dog door, which will give it the appearance of an actual door.
Now that your frame is complete, you can begin adding on some finishing touches. If you plan to add a roof (entirely optional), use two more pallets and lay them on top of your structure.
Now you have a very handsome smokehouse with a roof, which you can paint or stain just like the rest of your pallets if you choose to do so; sand down any rough patches on your smokehouse before hitting it with your new color of choice.
#2. The Large DIY Backyard Smokehouse
This is a large-scale design for those of you who are serious about smoking meats and cheeses. First, you’ll need to cut three wooden skids into twenty-eight separate pieces – that is, seven pieces measure at twelve inches each.
Using a saw, cut eight pieces of plywood the same size as the skids (seven twelve-inch blocks and one four by eight sheet). Nail or screw together your plywood pieces and your skids, lining them up at the edges.
Arrange them accordingly to form a box, with one of the twelve-inch blocks on all four sides and two on two opposing sides.
Last comes the top: using another sheet of plywood cut to measure six inches smaller than the height of the box, nail it to the top of your structure. To give your new smokehouse a roof, add another piece of plywood – cut to six inches shorter than the length and width of your structure.
Now that you have a complete frame, you can begin adding in all kinds of features! You can paint or stain your smokehouse as you please and then add some finishing touches. If you plan on adding a roof, place two more pieces of plywood – cut to the size of your structure – on top.
In addition to its good looks, this smokehouse has a massive capacity for smoking! That’s all it takes to make a sturdy, attractive structure that is meant to last.
#3. The DIY Mesh Smokehouse Blueprint
This project has a minimal footprint and is perfect for those who want a smokehouse that can be easily disassembled and stored when not in use. It only involves one sheet of plywood, three wooden skids, fifty-four plastic mesh fence pickets, and a saw.
First, cut three wooden skids to measure twelve inches each. Then, use your saw to cut four and a half inches wide and one and a half foot long strips of plywood – five will be needed in total.
You can make all of them the same size if you like; they should measure seven and a half inches at their widest point. Finally, cut all of your fifty-four fence pickets in half so that you have one hundred and six pieces.
Nail or screw your five plywood strips on the top of each wooden skid, leaving an inch on either side of each one to accommodate the picket pieces. Before adding the pickets, you can paint or stain your structure as you please.
Now that your frame is complete, you can begin adding on the rest of the features! One at a time, slide each half of a picket into place on each plywood strip and then attach them with either nails or screws to ensure that they don’t slip out over time. You can also decorate your smokehouse with paint or stain.
That’s all it takes to make a very simple, attractive DIY mesh smokehouse that will last you for years of smoking!
#4. The DIY Pipe Smokehouse Design
This is the easiest method, requiring only one hundred feet of aluminum pipe, one sheet of plywood, and one gallon of exterior paint. First, cut your sheet of plywood into twelve-inch blocks to measure seven in total, making sure that you have an even number.
Then, using a saw, cut each piece in half so that you have two pieces measuring four by eight feet.
Take your aluminum pipe and cut it all in half so that you have fifty-two pieces measuring four inches each.
Arrange your fourteen plywood pieces and thirty-six pipe sections accordingly to form a box, lining them up at the ends and attaching them with either nails or screws. You can also paint or stain as you please.
To give your aluminum smokehouse a roof, cut two more pieces of plywood to the size of your structure and attach them on top. To complete your smokehouse, you can decorate it with paint or stain and add a door if you like.
That’s all there is to make a very simple, portable pipe smokehouse that will last for years of smoking delicious meats!
#5. The DIY Laminated Wood Smokehouse Kit
For those of you looking for a smokehouse that is as sturdy and attractive as it is easy to make, this project (which requires one sheet of plywood and four wooden skids) fits the bill.
First, cut your sheet of plywood into twelve-inch blocks to measure seven in total, making sure that you have an even number. Then, using a saw, cut each piece in half so that you have two pieces measuring four by eight feet.
Nail or screw your four wooden skids onto the bottom outside corners of one sheet to make an X shape; they should measure twelve inches high and twenty-four inches long and should fit snugly into the corners. The top of your skids should be flush with the top edge of your plywood sheet.
Now that you have your skids attached to one half of your plywood sheet use a pencil to mark an “X” from corner to corner on each end – this is where you will add your wire mesh.
After marking the corners, cut a piece of wire mesh to measure thirty-two by thirty-two inches and stretch it slightly as you insert it into place between two skids. Attach each end in an “X” shape in the same manner (you can also add stakes along the sides if desired).
Continue this process until you have attached all four sides of mesh to each corner, and then cut a piece of plywood the same size as your smokehouse’s original sheet to use as a top.
If you want a door on your smokehouse, measure out an opening in either the front or back and attach it with hinges. To complete your project, paint or stain as you please.
Your attractive, sturdy wood smokehouse is now complete; you can smoke all sorts of meats inside in any weather!
#6. The DIY Cinder Block Smokehouse
If you enjoy spending time outdoors and don’t mind getting your hands dirty, this project (which requires sixteen cinder blocks and four wooden skids) is for you. First, cut your sheet of plywood into twelve-inch blocks to measure five in total, making sure that they are even numbers.
Then, using a saw, cut each piece in half so that you have two pieces measuring four by eight feet.
Nail or screw your four wooden skids onto the bottom outside corners of one sheet to make an X shape; they should measure twelve inches high and twenty-four inches long and should fit snugly into the corners. The top of your skids should be flush with the top edge of your plywood sheet.
Now that you have your skids attached to one half of your plywood sheet use a pencil to mark an “X” from corner to corner on each end – this is where you will add your wire mesh.
After marking the corners, cut a piece of wire mesh to measure thirty-two by thirty-two inches and stretch it slightly as you insert it into place between two skids. Attach each end in an “X” shape in the same manner (you can also add stakes along the sides if desired).
Continue this process until you have attached all four sides of mesh to each corner, and then cut a piece of plywood the same size as your smokehouse’s original sheet to use as a top.
At this point, you are ready to build the frame of your DIY cinder block smokehouse. To do so, place four cinder blocks on their sides in an “L” shape near one corner of your plywood sheet, leaving eight inches between the wall and the edge of the wood.
Repeat this process until you have made a square around all four sides of your plywood sheet.
Now, place two more cinder blocks on their sides along the shorter edges of your plywood sheet, arranging them so that they are flush with the bottom edge. Place another block across the tops to hold everything together.
Nail or screw four horizontal cinder blocks onto each wall of your square, being sure to leave a two-inch gap between each.
You can also stack cinder blocks to make end walls if you want both ends to be closed off; this will result in more smoke staying inside the smokehouse, but it will also require more wire mesh.
Finally, drill or cut a hole into one side of your DIY cinder block smokehouse near the top, and attach a flap made of wire mesh. If you want a door on your smokehouse, measure out an opening in either the front or back and connect it with hinges.
To complete your project, paint or stain as you please. Your attractive, sturdy wood smokehouse is now complete; you can smoke all sorts of meats inside in any weather!
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#19. Smokehouse Ideas For Your Backyard
Conclusion
Hello, everyone! Welcome to the site. In this article, we took a look at a couple of super sleek and equally efficient plans for a DIY smokehouse, which is sure to add an impressive touch to your backyard landscaping… not to mention quality meats and cheeses!
They’re quick and easy so that you can get started on them right away!
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to build a smokehouse, this guide should provide you with the knowledge necessary to complete a project that will turn into a smoking treasure for years.
Be sure to use these instructions and tips when building your DIY smokehouse, and take time to consider which factors matter most in your specific situation before you get started.
Also, start with the basic smokehouse design and build it first, then continue to expand on your project as you go if necessary. If you don’t already have all of the tools mentioned above, you might consider purchasing them over time; this will help you stay on budget.
However, if you want to save more money, you can also rent some construction equipment, which will allow you to spend more on materials instead.
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!
