How to Make Money Woodworking (13 Easy Ways in 2024!)
Woodworking can be an excellent side hustle to make money on the side and for some people, even a full-time business.
With so many options, it can be easy to get overwhelmed when trying to figure out how to make money from your woodworking skills.
In this post, I’ll explore how to make money woodworking, woodworking projects that sell, how much money you can make, and much more. Let’s get started!
What is Woodworking?
Woodworking is the process of creating or shaping wood into objects. It can be done for functional or decorative purposes. Woodworking is a great hobby for people who are interested in working with their hands and have a passion for creating beautiful pieces of art.
Woodworking is very profitable and there are plenty of ways you can make money from your skills.
Tools Needed to Start Woodworking
Before you can get started woodworking, you’ll need some tools. There are plenty of unique woodworking tools you can use to create your crafts but some of the essentials include:
- Wood
- Saws
- Wood glue
- Hammers
- Sanding blocks
- Routers
- Screwdrivers
- Clamps
- Shop Vacs
- Safety equipment
- And more
I recommend using high quality tools so you aren’t forced to replace them or deal with repairs often.
In addition, you’ll need some space to work. If you don’t have a ton of space, try these small woodshop tips to help you get the most out of your available space.
Where to Buy Wood?
All wood projects require one key element to make them: wood!
If you’ve never purchased wood or lumbar before, the process can be overwhelming.
Where do I purchase wood? What do I look for in a good piece of wood? What’s a good price for a piece of wood? Do I need treated lumber or not?
All of these questions are totally understandable for a beginner woodworker.
Here are some tips to help you!
- You can purchase wood at your local hardware store or you can opt for larger retailers like Lowes or HomeDepot. If you need a specific size piece of wood, Lowes and HomeDepot will cut wood for you (but they do have limits)
- A good piece of wood will be smooth, without cracks or knots. It should also be dry so it doesn’t warp over time.
- As for price, it depends on the size and type of wood you need. You can find a 2×4 for around $3 or less but a more exotic piece of wood could cost upwards of $100. It all depends on your project and what you’re looking for.
- Generally speaking, you don’t need treated lumber unless the project will be outdoors and exposed to the elements.
Simple Ways to Make Money Woodworking
Below are some of the best ways to make money woodworking so you can boost your income. There’s sure to be something for every woodworker on the list!
Sell Crafts Online
The most obvious way to earn money woodworking is by selling your creations online.
You can choose to open an online store yourself or use a platform like Etsy to easily get your projects available for sale.
When selling online, it’s important to think about the logistics of your business.
For example, shipping large wooden projects like furniture can be extremely expensive.
When starting out, it can be a good idea to stick to smaller projects that can easily be sold and shipped.
There are plenty of crafts you can sell to start making money that I’ll explore below. Check out this wooden picnic table for feeding squirrels!
Another option is to create your own online store to sell products. This can reduce the amount of fees you’ll have to pay to make your efforts more profitable however it can require more effort upfront to create your store.
Tips to Selling Crafts Online
Here are some tips when selling your crafts online so you can make more money.
- Take high quality photos
- Build a brand
- Perfect your titles and product descriptions
- Focus on quality over quantity
- Find a niche and stick to it
Sell Crafts Locally
Another option is to sell your creations locally through platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.
You can also sell your items at a flea market or another outdoor market like craft fairs.
This can help you save money on shipping costs and is more ideal for more large scale woodworking project like pieces of furniture.
Flip Furniture
Flipping furniture is another great way to make money woodworking. You can find furniture at yard sales, thrift stores, or even online.
Once you have a piece of furniture, you can sand it down, refinish it, and then sell it for a profit.
This is a great option if you’re looking for a more hands-on woodworking project.
This method can be more hit or miss than other methods, however. Because you’ll be relying on others to source your inventory, sometimes it can be difficult to find pieces that will sell for a profit.
With furniture flipping, it’s possible to make an extra $1,000 a month or more from your efforts.
Check out these tips to buying on Facebook Marketplace for more help!
Sell Custom Pieces
Another way to make money woodworking is by building custom pieces for people. This could include things like building a custom bookshelf, desk, or table.
This is a great option if you have a specific skill set or if you’re looking for a more high-end woodworking project.
Custom furniture can be extremely expensive, making it a great option to start making money from your woodworking shop.
Some wood furniture ideas include:
- Wooden desks
- Coffee tables
- Picnic tables
- Chairs
Custom furniture and high quality wood products can cost thousands of dollars, making it a good choice to start making money woodworking. You can also use cheaper woods to be more profitable.
You can also use some furniture design software to help you when getting started.
Restore Furniture
Because wooden furniture can be so expensive, many people will opt to have their pieces restored instead of purchasing new furniture altogether.
Quality wood products can last for decades, but over time they can use some TLC to bring them back to their original condition.
Open a Woodworking Store
If you have the resources available, opening a woodworking store can be a fun way to share your passion with others to help them complete their own woodworking projects.
Opening a brick and mortar store can cost a large amount of money, so this option may not be feasible for everyone.
This woodworking business can be more risky than others because of the amount of money needed to get started.
The perk of this business is that it can be very profitable in some cases. Products like power tools, saws, and other pieces of equipment can have very high profit margins.
Teach Woodworking Classes
If you want to use your woodworking skills to make more money, teaching classes can be an excellent option.
You can pick a few hand crafted wood items to make during class and provide step by step instructions to complete the project.
Woodworking classes can cost over $100 for one class, making it a great way to earn extra cash.
Sell Online Woodworking Courses
If you love to teach others, but you’re looking for a more passive way to make money woodworking, selling online courses can be a great idea.
Instead of having to be present for every class like you would when teaching lessons in person, you can record videos ahead of time so students can access them whenever they have some time.
The amount of money you can make with this strategy is tremendous. Some course creators can make millions selling their courses online!
Sell Woodworking Plans
If you’re more of a do-it-yourselfer, another option is to sell woodworking plans so others can create their own woodworking projects.
There are plenty of woodworking ideas you can create plans for and sell them online.
It’s worth noting that you’ll need to place to sell your plans and an audience to sell your plans to.
For most, this will often be a blog or website where you can direct traffic to your plan store.
Start a Woodworking Blog
If you like to write and share your opinions with others, starting a woodworking blog can be a fun way to bring in extra money each month.
While it can take some time to grow your blog, it’s possible to make thousands of dollars each month from your venture.
So, how do blogs make money?
There are a few main methods like using display ads, promote affiliate links, and selling online courses or digital products.
To start a blog, follow these steps:
- Purchase a domain name
- Purchase hosting
- Install WordPress
- Pick a theme
- Create content
- Promote your blog
It really is that simple!
To grow your woodworking website, you’ll need to focus on marketing your blog and creating high-quality content.
There are a few main traffic sources you can use to grow your readership including social media, SEO, and email marketing.
You’ll need to dedicate the time and effort to growing your blog if you want to make a full-time income from it, but it can be well worth it.
Start a Woodworking YouTube Channel
Another way to make money woodworking through content creation is by starting a YouTube channel about woodworking.
Just like with starting a blog, it can take a while to get your channel off the ground and earning a decent income, but it’s well worth it.
There are many different ways you can profit from your woodworking YouTube channel but some of the most common are through display ads, affiliate marketing, and selling products or courses.
To start, you’ll need to create engaging videos about woodworking topics your audience will be interested in.
For example, you could show how to make several DIY projects like bird feeders, picture frames, or coffee cup racks.
As your channel grows, you can start to branch out and create videos on more advanced topics like how to use different power tools, what types of wood to use for different projects, and so on.
Rent Out Your Woodworking Space
Do you have some garage space or extra shop space that you don’t need?
Renting it out to other woodworkers can be a great way to make more money and meet some friends at the same time.
The amount of money you can make will depend on your location, the size of the space, and if they can use your tools.
It’s possible to make a few hundred dollars each month by renting out your space, so it’s definitely a great way to monetize your hobby.
Start a Woodworking Business
As a woodworker, you might be enticed to start your own woodworking business.
A woodworking business can be many things. Perhaps you make custom furniture or cabinets, or maybe you fix and refinish old pieces of furniture.
Whatever type of woodworking business you want to start, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
You’ll need to invest in some quality tools, create a website and portfolio of projects, and spend time developing a marketing plan to promote your products and services.
There are several steps to get your woodworking business started, but it’s definitely a great way to make money from your hobby.
- Write a business plan
- Obtain funding for your business
- Choose a business structure
- Choose a name for your business
- Register your business with federal, state, and city agencies
- Obtain federal and state tax IDs
Best Woodworking Projects to Make Money
Below are some of the most profitable woodworking projects you can sell to make money.
Cutting Boards
Custom cutting boards can be a very profitable woodworking project to make money from your talents.
Cutting boards made from real wood can cost hundreds of dollars and might only cost you $50 an an hour of work.
Creating a custom cutting board can take some skill, so you’ll want to practice and try several types of wood to get the style and design you want.
Planter Boxes
Planter boxes are another great woodworking project to make money from. You can create planter boxes from a variety of materials like cedar, pine, or even recycled pallet wood.
Wooden Clocks
Clocks are always popular items and a wooden clock can be a great addition to any home.
They can be made from a variety of woods and finishes, so you can really customize them to fit any style.
Wall Art
There are plenty of wall art ideas you can craft to sell online and earn money.
These projects can take less than an hour to complete and sell for over $50 making them a profitable craft to make money.
Floating Shelves
Floating shelves are a great way to show off your woodworking skills and can be made from a variety of materials like reclaimed wood or pallets.
Custom Signs
Custom wooden signs are another simple wood project you can sell for a profit.
These signs can be made from scrap wood or pallets and can be customized with any text, design, or logo you want.
Blanket Ladders
If you’ve visited your local furniture store, you probably already know how expensive blanket ladders can be.
Wood Utensils
Wooden utensils can be a great addition to any kitchen and can be made from a variety of materials like olive wood or bamboo.
You can sell wooden utensils for over $50 for a set of a few pieces.
Birdhouses
Wooden birdhouses are a profitable woodworking project that you can sell to make extra money.
You can make birdhouses from a variety of materials like cedar, pine, or recycled pallets.
Furniture
Selling wood furniture is a great way to start making money using your woodworking skills.
For example coffee tables, live edge wood furniture, and other wood projects can sell for thousands of dollars for just a few pieces.
Picture Frames
If you’re looking for easy woodworking projects that beginners can do to make money, picture frames can be a great starting point.
Wooden picture frames are easy to make and sell for a decent profit. You’ll need a circular saw, wood glue, and clamps to construct the wooden frame and from there you can add your own unique style.
Cabinets & Drawers
Custom cabinets and drawers can be a great addition to any home and can sell for tremendous prices.
You’ll need to have some experience working with wood and cabinet making before you take on this project, but if you’re up for the challenge it can be a great way to make some extra money.
Coasters
Another easy woodworking project that can be sold for a good profit are coasters.
Coasters can be made from a variety of materials like cork, wood, or even recycled leather.
Picnic Tables
Outdoor furniture like picnic tables are a great wood project you can make in a few hours and sell for a good profit.
Wood Wine Racks
Wine racks a cool way to showcase your bottles of wine, and nothing looks quite as good as a wooden rack.
Wood Engraving & Carving
Offering to engrave wood projects can be an easy way to make money with your skills.
You’ll need to have some experience with wood carving and engraving before you take on this project, but it can be a great way to make some extra money.
Wooden Toys
Wooden toys are a one of the most fun wood projects to make and sell for a profit.
Wooden toys can be made from a variety of materials like reclaimed wood, pallet wood, or new lumber.
Final Thoughts on How to Make Money Woodworking
Woodworking is a very profitable skill that anyone can use to start their own business or side hustle to make more money.
Between selling woodworking projects online through platforms like Etsy or creating your own store, to flipping furniture or starting a woodworking business, there are plenty of ways to make extra money.