Small wood projects are items you can make in an hour or less from offcuts or short boards, such as coasters, pen holders, phone stands and bookends. They cost little to make, ship cheaply and suit online shops, craft fairs and gift shops. Many woodworkers use them alongside larger pieces to keep steady sales coming in.
This post covers why small projects suit a home workshop, what makes a good one, fifteen small wood projects to sell, how to make them in batches, how to price them after fees, and where to sell them.
Why Small Wood Projects Suit a Home Workshop
- More pieces per day. You can make several small items in the time one large piece takes, and keep a stock ready to sell.
- Low material cost. Many small projects can be made from offcuts left over from larger work.
- A better hourly return. Low costs and short making times can give a good return for each hour you spend, if the price is right.
- Easy to ship. Small, light items cost less to post, so you can sell to buyers anywhere.
- Less risk. If a small item does not sell, you have lost little. A large commission that goes wrong ties up weeks of time and costly materials.
- Variety. A range of small items keeps the work interesting and lets you test ideas quickly.
Small projects suit beginners starting a woodworking business, and experienced woodworkers who want steady sales between larger orders.
What Makes a Good Small Project to Sell
- Useful. Buyers have a clear use for it, so it is easy to describe and easy to buy.
- Quick to repeat. It can be made in batches with simple jigs.
- Light and compact. It fits in a small box or padded mailer.
- Giftable. It suits birthdays, holidays and housewarmings.
- Easy to personalise. A name, initials or a date can be added with engraving or wood burning.
- Varied in design. One basic item can be offered in several woods, shapes and sizes.
Before you make any of the items below in quantity, check current demand and prices. See check demand before you build.
15 Small Wood Projects to Sell
1. Coasters
Coasters are an everyday household item, and people often buy them in sets of four or six. They are quick to make from offcuts, and you can vary the wood, shape, edge profile and design. Contrasting woods, end-grain slices and engraved designs set them apart. A set with a matching holder makes a ready-made gift.
Use a water-resistant finish, as coasters sit under wet glasses and hot mugs. Add cork or felt pads underneath to protect tables.
2. Pen Holders and Desk Organisers
Most people need somewhere to keep pens, and many desks have more than one holder. A pen holder can be a simple drilled block, a turned cup or a box with compartments. Desk organisers extend the idea, with sections for pens, notes, cards and a phone. Because one basic design can be made in many variations, a single item can become a small product range.
3. Paperweights
A paperweight is one of the simplest wood projects: a solid piece of wood with an attractive grain, shaped and finished. Rounded, faceted and contoured shapes, engravings or a small inset of brass or stone add interest. A paperweight with a small hidden compartment adds a talking point.
Use a dense wood so the piece has some weight, and make sure the finish is fully cured and does not mark paper.
4. Phone and Tablet Stands
Phone and tablet stands hold a device upright for video calls, reading recipes or watching while working. Simple designs can be made from a single piece of wood with an angled slot. Check that the slot fits a phone in a case, and that the stand holds a tablet steady without tipping. Add a channel for a charging cable for a more useful design.
5. Laptop Stands and Risers
A laptop stand raises the screen to a more comfortable height and leaves space underneath for air to flow, which helps the laptop stay cool. Desk risers that hold a monitor and leave room for a keyboard below are a related item. Use stiff, strong wood, test the weight a stand will hold, and offer more than one height if you can.
6. Sofa Arm Trays and Armchair Caddies
A sofa arm tray sits over the arm of a sofa or armchair and gives a flat surface for a cup, remote or phone. An armchair caddy hangs beside the chair and holds books, magazines and remotes. Both are simple to make, but they must fit well. Make the tray adjustable, or state the arm widths it fits, and add a non-slip lining so it stays in place.
7. Eyeglass and Pen Cases
Wooden cases protect glasses and fountain pens and make classy gifts. Glasses come in many shapes and sizes, so decide whether to make one general size or several, and state the inside dimensions clearly in the listing. The inside needs a soft lining or padding, and the closure must hold securely, so that the case protects what is inside. You can start with one size and add more, or take custom orders.
8. Bookends
Bookends suit readers, students and anyone furnishing a shelf. They can be simple blocks, L-shaped designs or shaped pieces such as animals, letters or mountains. Make them heavy enough to hold books upright, or add a metal plate that slides under the books. They are a popular gift and sell well in pairs.
9. Candle Holders
Wooden candle holders, from simple tea light blocks to turned candlesticks, sell well before the winter holidays. Wood can catch fire, so design them with care. Use a glass or metal insert to hold the candle, keep the flame well away from the wood, and include a note telling buyers never to leave a lit candle unattended. Many makers sell holders designed for LED candles as well.
10. Key Racks and Entryway Organisers
A wall-mounted key rack with hooks, perhaps with a small shelf for mail or a place for sunglasses, solves a daily problem. Personalised versions with a family name sell as housewarming gifts. Include the wall fixings and simple mounting instructions.
11. Wall Hooks and Small Coat Racks
Rows of pegs or hooks on a board are quick to make and useful in hallways, bathrooms and bedrooms. Shaker-style peg rails are a classic design. Offer a few lengths and finishes so buyers can match their homes.
12. Serving Trays
Trays with handles are used for serving drinks, breakfast in bed and as decorative pieces on coffee tables and ottomans. Simple frame-and-panel trays and solid trays with routed handles both work. If the tray will touch food, use a food-safe finish that has fully cured. Fine Woodworking notes that most modern finishes without pigments are considered food safe once fully cured, with 30 days as a common guideline.
13. Small Planters and Plant Stands
Small planters for herbs and succulents and short plant stands that raise pots off the floor suit indoor gardeners and apartment dwellers. Use a liner or rot-resistant wood such as cedar, and add drainage or a removable insert so water does not sit against the wood.
14. Wine Bottle Holders
Single-bottle holders, including balancing designs that seem to float, and small racks for a few bottles make popular gifts. Use an attractive hardwood and a clean finish, as these pieces are often given as presents.
15. Ornaments and Keychains
Holiday ornaments, gift tags and keychains can be cut quickly from thin stock or offcuts, especially with a scroll saw, CNC router or laser engraver. Personalised ornaments with names and years are popular gifts. Their low price means you need to make them efficiently and sell them in volume or in sets.
For larger items such as cutting boards, boxes, frames, bowls, spoons, birdhouses, clocks and shelves, see the top 10 woodcrafts to sell.
Make Small Projects in Batches
Small items are only profitable if you can make them quickly and consistently. Work in batches:
- Cut all the parts for a batch at once, using stop blocks so each piece is the same size.
- Make simple jigs and templates for repeated cuts, drilling and shaping.
- Do each step for the whole batch before moving to the next: cutting, shaping, sanding, then finishing.
- Keep offcuts sorted by size and wood, so you can find stock for small items quickly.
- Finish many pieces at once, on racks, to save time.
Price Small Items After Fees
Low-priced items are where fees and shipping costs have the biggest effect. On Etsy, for example, a seller pays a $0.20 listing fee per item and a 6.5% transaction fee on the item price plus shipping, along with a payment processing fee. On a low-priced item, these add up to a large share of the sale. Packaging also costs the same whether the item sells for a little or a lot.
- Work out your full cost per piece: wood, finish, hardware, packaging, fees and your time.
- Sell in sets, such as four coasters or a pair of bookends, to raise the order value.
- Offer personalisation for an extra charge. On Etsy, an optional personalisation field can carry an add-on price.
- Bundle related items, such as a pen holder with a matching tray.
For pricing methods, see how to set the final selling price on your craft.
Where to Sell Small Wood Projects
- Online marketplaces and your own store. Small items are easy to photograph, list and ship.
- Craft fairs and markets. Low-priced items suit impulse buys and help you make sales to visitors who will not buy a large piece.
- Gift shops. Shops often stock small, giftable items, either on consignment or at wholesale prices.
- Corporate gifts. Businesses sometimes order engraved coasters, pen holders or desk pieces in quantity.
For a full comparison, see how to sell woodworking projects.
A Note on Safety Rules
Small items made for children, such as toys, puzzles and children’s keychains, are children’s products under US law and need testing and certification. See wooden toys to make and sell. Items that touch food need a food-safe finish. Candle holders need to keep the flame away from the wood. For more on products with rules, see products with safety rules.
For more on choosing what to make, see how to create best selling wood projects and how to find a woodworking niche.
Sources
- Etsy, Fees & Payments Policy
- Etsy Help Center, How to Offer Personalized Listings
- Costello, 2019, Food-Safe Finish Considerations, Fine Woodworking
