This free plan builds a nest box for eastern bluebirds from two cedar boards and 16 screws. The post gives the full cut list, a cutting diagram, a dimensioned drawing of every part and step-by-step assembly diagrams. You can also download the plan as a printable PDF, with no sign-up.
The design follows the nest box features published by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch program and the North American Bluebird Society. It suits a first project, and it is quick to repeat if you want to build a batch to sell.
Bluebird House Plans at a Glance
| Overall size | 10-1/2 in. wide, 9 in. deep, 13-13/16 in. high |
|---|---|
| Built for | Eastern bluebird |
| Entrance hole | 1-1/2 in. round, 5-1/2 in. above the floor |
| Floor | 5 × 5 in. inside |
| Wood | One 1 × 8 × 6 ft. board and one 1 × 12 × 2 ft. board, untreated cedar |
| Hardware | 16 No. 8 × 1-5/8 in. galvanized deck screws |
| Skill level | Beginner |
| Build time | About 2 hours for a first build with power tools (estimate) |
| Finish | None |
What Makes This a Good Bluebird Nest Box
Bird conservation groups publish the features a nest box needs. This plan builds each of them in.
- Untreated wood, 3/4 inch thick. NestWatch recommends untreated, unpainted wood at least 3/4 inch thick. Boards sold as 1-inch lumber are 3/4 inch thick.
- A 1-1/2 inch round entrance. The North American Bluebird Society lists a 1-1/2 inch round hole for eastern bluebirds. NestWatch notes that European Starlings can enter a hole of 1 9/16 inches, so this size keeps them out.
- The right depth. The bottom of the entrance is 5-1/2 inches above the floor. The North American Bluebird Society recommends 4 1/2 to 6 inches.
- A 5 × 5 inch floor. This is inside the range the North American Bluebird Society gives for bluebird boxes. The floor sits 1/4 inch above the bottom of the walls, and its corners are clipped for drainage.
- Ventilation. Two 5/8 inch holes near the top of each side, four in all, as NestWatch describes.
- A sloped roof with overhangs. The roof overhangs the front by 2 inches and each side by 2 inches. A shallow saw cut under the front and side edges stops rain running back toward the box.
- No perch. Bluebirds do not need one, and a perch helps other birds and predators.
- A rough inside wall. Shallow saw cuts below the entrance work as a ladder for young birds.
- A side that opens. The right-hand side swings out at the bottom for checking and cleaning. One screw locks it.
- An extended back. The back runs 3 inches below the box, with two holes for mounting on a pole.
For other birds and their hole sizes, see how to make and sell birdhouses.
Tools You Need
- Tape measure, square and pencil
- A saw for crosscuts and rip cuts: a table saw, or a circular saw with a guide
- Drill and driver
- 1-1/2 in. Forstner bit or hole saw, for the entrance
- 5/8 in. spade or Forstner bit, for the vents
- 1/8 in. and 3/16 in. drill bits, and a countersink
- Two clamps
- 80-grit sandpaper
- Safety glasses, hearing protection and a dust mask
Follow the instructions that came with your tools. Our post on woodworking safety rules covers the habits that matter in a home workshop.
Materials and Hardware
| Item | Actual size | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × 8 × 6 ft. cedar board | 3/4 × 7-1/4 in. | 1 |
| 1 × 12 × 2 ft. cedar board | 3/4 × 11-1/4 in. | 1 |
| No. 8 × 1-5/8 in. galvanized deck screws | 16 | |
| Mounting hardware to suit your pole | 1 set |
Use untreated wood. NestWatch lists cedar, pine, cypress and fir, and advises against pressure-treated wood. If your store does not stock 1 × 12 cedar, use a 1 × 12 pine board for the roof, or build the whole box in pine. Check that the boards are a full 3/4 inch thick, because fence pickets are often thinner. Our guide on where to buy wood covers suppliers and lumber sizes.
NestWatch recommends galvanized screws instead of nails, because nails can work loose over time.
Cut List
All sizes are in inches. The letters match the drawings.
| Part | Name | Qty | Thickness | Width | Length | Board | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Floor | 1 | 3/4 | 5 | 5 | 1 × 8 | Clip all four corners 1/2 in. |
| B | Front | 1 | 3/4 | 6-1/2 | 9-1/8 | 1 × 8 | Bevel the top. 1-1/2 in. entrance hole. |
| C | Back | 1 | 3/4 | 6-1/2 | 13 | 1 × 8 | Bevel the top. Two mounting holes. |
| D | Fixed side | 1 | 3/4 | 5 | 9-7/8 | 1 × 8 | Sloped top. Two 5/8 in. vent holes. |
| E | Door side | 1 | 3/4 | 5 | 9-3/4 | 1 × 8 | Sloped top, 1/8 in. shorter. Two vent holes. |
| F | Roof | 1 | 3/4 | 10-1/2 | 9-1/8 | 1 × 12 | Gutter kerf under three edges. |
The lengths for the front and back are before the top bevel is cut. The lengths for the two sides are the taller back edge.
Cutting Diagram
Trim 1 inch off the end of each board first, so you start from a square end. Cut the parts in the order shown, and measure each one from the fresh cut. Each saw cut removes about 1/8 inch. Cut every part to length, then rip it to width.
How the Parts Fit Together
The front and back run the full width of the box. The two sides and the floor fit between them. The fixed side (D) is on the left when you face the entrance, and the door side (E) is on the right.
Part Drawings With Dimensions
Drill 1/8 inch pilot holes at the marked screw positions and countersink each one. Pilot holes keep cedar from splitting near the edges.
Front (B)
Cut the front 9-1/8 inches long and 6-1/2 inches wide. Bevel the top at 8-3/4 degrees so the outside face is 9 inches high. Drill the 1-1/2 inch entrance with its centre 7-1/4 inches up from the bottom and 3-1/4 inches in from either edge. Clamp a piece of scrap behind the board so the bit does not tear the wood as it comes through.
On the inside face, cut five shallow saw kerfs across the board, 1/8 inch deep and 3/4 inch apart, with the lowest 2-1/2 inches up. If you cannot cut kerfs, roughen the same area with coarse sandpaper.
Back (C)
Cut the back 13 inches long and 6-1/2 inches wide. Bevel the top at 8-3/4 degrees so the inside face is 12-7/8 inches long. The bottom 3 inches extend below the box. Drill two 3/16 inch mounting holes there, or space them to suit your pole hardware.
Fixed Side (D) and Door Side (E)
Both sides are 5 inches wide with a sloped top. On the fixed side, mark 9-1/8 inches on the front edge and 9-7/8 inches on the back edge, then cut along the line between the marks. On the door side, mark 9 and 9-3/4 inches. The door side is 1/8 inch shorter so it clears the roof when it swings.
Drill two 5/8 inch vent holes in each side, with their centres 1 inch below the top edge and 1-1/4 inches in from each edge.
Roof (F)
Cut the roof 9-1/8 inches long and 10-1/2 inches wide. On the underside, cut a kerf 1/4 inch deep, 1/2 inch in from the front edge and both side edges. Drill five pilot holes from the top face.
Floor (A)
Cut the floor 5 inches square. Clip all four corners at 45 degrees, 1/2 inch in from each corner. The gaps let water drain.
How to Build the Bluebird House, Step by Step
Step 1: Cut the Parts to Length
Trim the end of each board square. Cut the back, front, fixed side, door side and floor from the 1 × 8, in that order, and the roof from the 1 × 12. Label each part with its letter in pencil.
Step 2: Rip, Slope and Bevel
Rip the front and back to 6-1/2 inches wide. Rip the floor and both sides to 5 inches wide, and the roof to 10-1/2 inches wide. Cut the sloped tops on the two sides. Bevel the tops of the front and back at 8-3/4 degrees.
If you cannot cut a bevel, cut the front square at 9 inches and the back square at 12-7/8 inches. The roof still sits on both parts, and the small gaps under it add ventilation.
Step 3: Drill, Clip and Kerf
Drill the entrance, the four vent holes, the two mounting holes and all the pilot holes. Clip the corners of the floor. Cut the ladder kerfs inside the front and the gutter kerf under the roof.
Step 4: Join the Fixed Side to the Back
Stand the fixed side against the inside face of the back, flush with the left edge when seen from the front. The bottom of the side sits 3 inches above the bottom of the back. Clamp the parts, then drive two screws through the back into the edge of the side.
Step 5: Fit the Floor
Slide the floor against the back and the fixed side, 1/4 inch above the bottom of the side. Drive two screws through the back into the edge of the floor.
Step 6: Attach the Front
Set the front against the fixed side and the floor, with the ladder kerfs facing inside. Keep the bottom edges of the front and the side level. Drive two screws into the side and two into the floor.
Step 7: Hang the Door Side
Slide the door side into the open side of the box, with its bottom level with the bottom of the front. Drive one pivot screw through the front and one through the back, both 8 inches above the bottom of the box so they line up. Leave them just snug. Then drive the lock screw through the front, 1 inch up.
Step 8: Fasten the Roof
Set the roof on the box with the gutter kerf facing down. Its back edge sits 1/2 inch past the back, with equal overhangs at the sides. Drive two screws into the front, two into the back and one into the fixed side. Do not screw into the door side.
Step 9: Check the Door
Remove the lock screw and swing the bottom of the door side outward. It should open freely and close flush. If it binds under the roof, sand a little off its top edge. Refit the lock screw.
Finishing
Leave the box unfinished. NestWatch lists unpainted wood as a feature of a good birdhouse, and cedar weathers well without a coating. Ease any sharp outside edges with 80-grit sandpaper and leave the inside rough.
If a buyer asks for colour, the North American Bluebird Society advises a light-coloured, water-based finish on the outside only. It says the inside of a nest box should not be painted.
Mounting and Care
- Mount the box on a metal pole. NestWatch advises against trees and fence posts, which predators can climb.
- Fit a baffle on the pole below the box.
- NestWatch gives a height of 4 to 6 feet for eastern bluebirds, with the entrance facing open ground.
- Fix the box through the two holes in the back, with hardware that suits your pole.
- Open the door side to check and clean the box, and remove old nests after the young have left.
Selling This Nest Box
Bluebird boxes are a steady seller because buyers search for them by name. When we checked Etsy in October 2026, single bluebird boxes had a middle price of about $42, and half were listed between about $29 and $55. Our post on how to make and sell birdhouses has the full figures.
- Name the bird and the hole size in the listing title.
- List the build features: untreated cedar, 3/4 inch walls, ventilation, drainage, a side that opens, galvanized screws and no perch.
- Avoid calling the box sparrow-proof. NestWatch says House Sparrows can fit through a hole as small as 1 1/4 inches.
- Cut several boxes at once. Every box uses the same saw settings, so a batch takes less time per box.
Work out your price from your wood, screws, 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 Bluebird House Plan
The PDF has 13 pages on US Letter paper. It includes the cut list, the cutting diagram, every drawing in this post and the assembly steps. It is free, with no sign-up.
Download the bluebird nest box plan (PDF)
Build status: plan checked by calculation; not yet test-built. Facts checked: November 2026.
Sources
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology NestWatch, Features of a Good Birdhouse
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology NestWatch, Eastern Bluebird
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology NestWatch, Managing House Sparrows and European Starlings
- North American Bluebird Society, 2018, Nestbox Recommendations, NABS Factsheet
