Free Blanket Chest Plans: A Plywood Storage Chest With Cut List and Diagrams

This free plan builds a blanket chest from one sheet of plywood and two pine 1 × 4 boards. The post gives the full cut list, a cutting diagram, dimensioned drawings, step-by-step assembly diagrams and lid safety notes. You can also download the plan as a printable PDF, with no sign-up.

The case is joined with glue and screws, a pine trim covers the base, and two torsion hinges hold the lid open at any angle. There is no latch. The chest suits blankets, linens and seasonal clothes, and it is a simple design to build again if you want to make chests to sell.

Blanket Chest Plans at a Glance

Overall size	36 in. wide, 18 in. deep, 18-3/4 in. high (with 23/32 in. plywood)
Inside	About 33-1/16 × 15-1/16 in., 17-1/4 in. deep
Wood	One 4 × 8 ft. sheet of 23/32 in. sanded plywood and two 1 × 4 × 6 ft. pine boards
Joinery	Butt joints with glue and screws
Lid	Two torsion hinges that hold the lid at any angle; no latch
Skill level	Beginner
Build time	About 4 hours of work, plus finish time (estimate)
Finish	Paint, or a clear water-based finish

How This Chest Is Designed

• One sheet of plywood. Two 18 in. strips ripped from the sheet give all six plywood parts, with a strip about 11-3/4 in. wide left over.
• Simple joints. The ends fit between the front and back, and the bottom fits inside all four. Glue and screws hold every joint. Our guide to types of wood joints covers the butt joint and stronger options.
• Trim hides the screws. The 1 × 4 trim around the base covers the bottom panel and its screws.
• A lid that stays put. Torsion hinges hold the lid open at any angle and stop it from slamming.
• Vent holes in the ends. Three 1/2 in. holes near the top of each end stay clear when the chest stands against a wall.

Tools You Need

• Tape measure, square, straightedge and pencil
• Circular saw with a straightedge guide or track, or a table saw (or have the store rip the sheet)
• Drill and driver
• 1/8 in. drill bit, a countersink and a 1/2 in. drill bit
• Household iron, for the edge banding
• Two bar clamps that open to 18 in. or more
• Sandpaper in 120 and 180 grit, and a sanding block or sander
• Bathroom scale, to weigh the lid
• Safety glasses, hearing protection and a dust mask

Our post on portable power saws explains how to make straight cuts with a circular saw. Follow the instructions that came with your tools, and see our woodworking safety rules.

Materials and Hardware

Item	Actual size	Quantity
23/32 in. sanded plywood, 4 × 8 ft. sheet	about 0.69–0.70 × 48 × 96 in.	1
1 × 4 × 6 ft. pine board	3/4 × 3-1/2 in.	2
Iron-on wood edge banding, 3/4 in. wide	one roll, about 25 ft.	1
No. 8 × 1-1/2 in. wood screws	—	32
No. 8 × 1-1/4 in. wood screws	—	12
Torsion lid-support hinges, rated for your lid (see step 7)	—	2 or more
Wood glue	—	1 bottle
Wood filler, for paint	—	1 small tub
Felt pads for the base	—	4

Plywood sold as 3/4 in. is usually 23/32 in. nominal, and some sheets measure 0.688 in. The plan is drawn for 23/32 in. Measure your sheet before you cut the ends and the bottom, because their size depends on it. Our guide on where to buy wood covers plywood grades and suppliers.

Cut List

All sizes are in inches. The letter matches the drawings. For the front, back and ends, the width is the height of the part.

Part	Name	Qty	Thickness	Width	Length	Stock	Notes
A	Front and back	2	23/32	18	34-1/2	23/32 in. plywood	Grain runs along the length.
B	End	2	23/32	18	15-1/16	23/32 in. plywood	Three 1/2 in. vent holes near the top.
C	Bottom	1	23/32	15-1/16	33-1/16	23/32 in. plywood	Fits inside all four sides.
D	Lid	1	23/32	17-1/4	36	23/32 in. plywood	Edge-band the front and both ends.
E	Front and back trim	2	3/4	3-1/2	36	1 × 4 pine	Covers the ends of the end trims.
F	End trim	2	3/4	3-1/2	16-1/2	1 × 4 pine	Fits between the front and back trims.

Cutting Diagram

Rip the sheet into two 18 in. strips, then crosscut the parts. Many stores will make the rip cuts for you. Each 1 × 4 gives one front or back trim and one end trim. Our post on how to measure, mark and cut wood covers the basics.

How the Parts Fit Together

Drawings With Dimensions

Front and End Views

The case is 34-1/2 × 16-1/2 in. and 18 in. high. The trim adds 3/4 in. on every side, and the lid lines up with it at the front and ends.

Front, Back and Ends

Drill the pilot holes before assembly. The corner screws sit 3/8 in. in from each end of the front and back. The vent holes go in the ends.

Top View and Lid

How to Build the Blanket Chest, Step by Step

Step 1: Cut the Plywood

Measure the thickness of your plywood first. Sheets sold as 3/4 in. are often 23/32 in. or a little less. Rip two strips 18 in. wide from the sheet. Many stores will make these two cuts for you. From the first strip, cut the front and back (A), 34-1/2 in. long, and one end (B), 15-1/16 in. long. From the second strip, cut the other end (B), the lid (D) at 17-1/4 × 36 in., and the bottom (C) at 15-1/16 × 33-1/16 in. The end length and the bottom width are the case depth, 16-1/2 in., less two plywood thicknesses. If your plywood measures 0.688 in., cut them 15-1/8 in.

Step 2: Cut the Trim and Prepare the Parts

Cut one front or back trim (E), 36 in., and one end trim (F), 16-1/2 in., from each 1 × 4. Mark and drill the pilot holes in the front, back and ends as the part drawings show, then countersink them on the outside face. Drill three 1/2 in. vent holes in each end, 2-1/2 in. below the top edge, with a scrap board clamped behind to stop tear-out. Iron edge banding onto the front and both ends of the lid and trim it flush. Sand the inside faces with 120 grit now, while they are easy to reach.

Step 3: Join the Ends to the Front and Back

Stand the front on its long edge. Spread glue on one end edge of each B part and set the ends against the inside face of the front, flush at the top and bottom and at the outside. Drive four screws through the front into each end. Glue the other edges and fit the back the same way. Measure the diagonals across the top of the case. They should match, at about 38-1/4 in.

Step 4: Fit the Bottom

Turn the case upside down. Run glue along the bottom edges of the case inside, and press the bottom (C) in so that it sits flush with the edges. Drive 5 screws through the front and through the back into the bottom, and 3 through each end. The trim will cover these screws.

Step 5: Fit the Base Trim

Stand the case up on a flat floor. Glue the front trim (E) to the case with its bottom edge flush with the floor and 3/4 in. sticking out at each end. Clamp it, then drive 4 screws from inside the case, 2-1/4 in. up, through the case into the trim. Fit the back trim the same way. Glue the end trims (F) between the front and back trims and fix each with 2 screws from inside.

Step 6: Fill, Sand and Finish

Fill the screw holes on the outside with wood filler if you plan to paint, then sand flush. Sand the outside with 120 grit, then 180 grit, and ease the sharp edges. Prime and paint, or apply a clear finish. Use paint sold for household use. Finish the lid on both faces so it stays flat. Let the finish cure for the time on the can before you fit the hinges or store blankets inside.

Step 7: Fit the Lid and Hinges

Weigh the lid on a bathroom scale and measure its depth, front to back (17-1/4 in.). Rockler’s method for the support you need, in inch-pounds, is the lid depth times the lid weight, divided by 2. For example, a 9 lb lid needs about 78 in-lb. Choose torsion hinges whose ratings add up to close to that figure, such as two 40 in-lb hinges for 80 in-lb. Set the lid on the case, flush at the back and overhanging the same at each end, then mount the hinges as their instructions show.

Step 8: Check the Lid

Open the lid to several angles and let go. It should stay where you leave it and close slowly. If it drops or springs up, change the hinge combination. Do not fit a latch or a lock. Keep the vent holes clear when you place the chest.

Lid Safety

• The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has warned about children being trapped inside storage and toy chests and hurt by falling lids.
• CPSC advises a lid support that keeps the lid open in any position. Torsion hinges are made to do this. If the lid does not stay open at every angle, fix the support before the chest is used.
• CPSC advises ventilation holes that are not blocked by the floor or a wall. This plan puts them high in the two ends, so the chest can stand against a wall.
• CPSC advises removing automatic latches and locks from chests. This plan has no latch.
• Close the lid gently and keep fingers clear of the back edge when it closes.

Finishing

• Paint: fill the screw holes, prime, then apply two coats of paint. Paint suits plywood and hides the filled holes.
• Clear finish: a water-based polyurethane keeps the wood light in colour. Sand lightly between coats.
• Finish the inside too, or leave it bare. Cedar strips or blocks can be added inside for scent.
• Let the finish cure fully before closing fabric inside, so the smell does not transfer.

Our wood finishing post covers sanding and finishes in more detail.

Selling This Blanket Chest

• State the size, inside size, wood and finish in the listing.
• Say that the lid stays open at any angle and that the chest has no latch.
• A chest is bulky to ship. Local pickup, delivery or markets suit it better than mailing.
• Offer paint colours or a stained version. The cut list stays the same.

Federal rules for children’s products, such as toys and toy chests, include lead limits for paint and coatings, third-party testing and a Children’s Product Certificate. If you sell this chest as a toy chest or for children, check the CPSC business guidance first. This is general information, not legal advice.

Work out your price from your wood, hardware, finish, time and selling fees. See how to set the final selling price on your craft and how to sell woodworking projects. For more items to make, see the top 10 woodcrafts to sell and our woodworking business guide.

Download the Printable Blanket Chest Plan

The PDF has 11 pages on US Letter paper. It includes the cut list, the cutting diagram, every drawing in this post, the assembly steps and the lid safety notes. It is free, with no sign-up.

Download the blanket chest plan (PDF)

Build status: plan checked by calculation; not yet test-built. Facts checked: November 2026.

Sources

• US Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2014, CPSC Warns Consumers of the Deadly Dangers of Storage and Toy Chests
• Rockler, Lid Support and Lid Stay Buying Guide
• Rockler, Lid-Stay Torsion Hinge Lid Support (ratings of 15, 30, 40 and 60 in-lb)
• US Government Publishing Office, 16 CFR Part 1303, Ban of Lead-Containing Paint and Certain Consumer Products Bearing Lead-Containing Paint
• The Home Depot, AC sanded pine plywood, common 23/32 in. (actual 0.688 in.) listing