If you have a passion for crafting and an entrepreneurial mindset, woodworking can be a lucrative online business idea.
You don’t need to be a skilled artisan to turn your woodworking projects into products. There are many popular wood projects suitable for varied skill levels—it’s just a matter of determining which one is right for your target niche.
The global woodwork market is valued at more than $765 billion, while wood accounts for the largest market share—almost 30%—of the worldwide handicraft market.
Read on to explore easy wood projects that sell in 2025, and to learn everything you need to build your own handicrafts business.
12 woodworking projects that sell
- Wooden signs
- Picture frames
- Wooden art
- Furniture
- Wooden kitchen products
- Wood boxes
- Birdhouses
- Planters
- Wooden surfboards
- Repurposed and scrap wood
- Children’s blocks
- Wooden toys
Home and décor
1. Wooden signs
Wooden signs are a straightforward woodworking project to get started with. They come in all shapes and sizes and can be used indoors and out. You can make them with simple scrap wood and customize them to your target audience’s needs.
Wooden signs are popular at events like weddings and parties, and as indoor décor personalized with quotes, sayings, or family names.
Customization options include hand-painting, carving, branding, or using a Cricut to bring your designs to life.
Skill level: Beginner
Anyone can make basic signs with stencils and paint. Advanced signs (like those with carved letters) need some woodworking experience. You should be comfortable using basic power tools and have steady hands for detailed work.
It’s relatively easy to sell wooden signs through an online store. They’re often lightweight and can be shipped in small mailing boxes.
Cost: Low
Basic DIY supplies like paint and reclaimed wood are cheap. Costs go up if you decide to use a Cricut or source premium woods like walnut or maple.
2. Picture frames
It’s relatively easy to make picture frames in various sizes and styles, and to pair them with wall art for a marketable upsell.
Save money and practice sustainable crafting by repurposing old or scrap wood, as Barnwood USA does.
Skill level: Beginner
Straight cuts and simple joinery make frames a suitable project for new woodworkers.
Cost: Low
You can use scrap or reclaimed wood to keep material costs down. If you’re selling online, make picture frames that fit flat-rate shipping boxes to keep shipping costs low.
3. Wooden art
Selling art online is a great way to turn creative projects into income. Wood is an excellent crafting material for producing a variety of items. Understanding your market’s needs and your own production skills can provide useful creative boundaries so you can experiment.
Skill level: Easy to advanced
The skills you’ll need depend on your vision; simple wood cutouts and elaborate sculptures require different skill sets.
Cost: Varies
Materials, techniques, and end use will determine your costs—you can acquire wood and paints cheaply for simple projects, or spend a premium on supplies to produce high-quality goods.
4. Furniture
Claiming almost 40% of the US furniture market, wooden products can turn online furniture sales into an attractive opportunity.
Environmentally conscious brand Fyrn sells beautifully crafted wooden furniture—including its staple collection of chairs—on its website.
You can also sell your wood furniture at craft fairs, where customers can interact with your creations and better imagine them in their own space.
Skill level: Intermediate to advanced
Pieces like stools or side tables may be doable for beginners, while chairs and dining room tables demand more experience.
Cost: Moderate to high
Building safe, durable furniture requires time, quality wood, and hardware.
To reduce your startup costs, consider flipping furniture instead. Pick up pre-loved items from estate or garage sales, then renew them with a good sanding and a lick of paint.
Kitchen and dining
5. Wooden kitchen products
Kitchen products sell, with the kitchenware market on track to earn over $25 billion in 2027.
You can join this market by crafting simple wooden cutting boards and wooden coasters or specializing in detailed wooden utensils, serving trays, wine racks, and more.
Old World Kitchen started when seasoned woodworker Trevor Polder decided to sell hand-carved wooden spoons at local fairs. Eventually, Trevor and his family sold their wares on Etsy, finally moving to Shopify to scale their business.
Skill level: Intermediate
Even basic products like cutting boards and coasters require attention to detail, while spoons and spatulas–which need shaping—demand more advanced woodworking skills.
Cost: Moderate
Costs vary by project, with small cutting boards requiring fewer material inputs than large wooden bowls, for instance.
6. Wood boxes
Suitable for skilled artisans and newbies alike, boxes can be as straightforward or complex as you like, ranging from storage crates to ornate wooden jewelry boxes.
Take this idea further by offering customizations such as laser engraving.
Skill level: Beginner
Basic boxes like storage crates are great for beginners—you just need to hone your skills in straight cuts and basic joints. Elaborate projects like carved jewelry boxes require more skill.
Cost: Low
Startup costs vary depending on details such as wood type, hardware, and whether you plan to incorporate carvings or inlays. Again, you can save on costs by flipping old pallets into boxes.
Outdoor and garden
7. Birdhouses
Birdhouses can be an excellent niche to get into, with recreational birders representing a growing market.
Stone Bridge Collections caters to bird lovers with its wooden, species-specific birdhouses. The company even sells a bat house in its online boutique.
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate
Crafting simple birdhouses is fairly approachable. To build specific homes for specific birds, you’ll need the skills to create the angles, holes, and spaces that appeal to them.
Cost: Low to moderate
Basic birdhouses are inexpensive, but intricate carvings or high-end wood will add to your product development costs.
8. Planters
Wood is a great material for making everything from planter boxes for small home vegetable gardens to tiny succulent holders to be used as desk accessories.
If you’re making planters and pots, consider expanding into complementary items for home gardeners, such as potting tables and benches.
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate
Basic box planters for plants are relatively easy. If you can make straight cuts and drill holes for drainage, you can build a planter to sell online.
Cost: Low to moderate
Planters are generally affordable unless you’re using premium exterior-grade wood or hardware.
9. Wooden surfboards
In many climates, surfing is a year-round sport, creating consistent demand for surfing gear. Using wood instead of foam or plastic to make surfboards helps keep the sport more sustainable, says David Dennis of Ventana Surfboards and Supplies.
“We’'re always trying to push ourselves and encourage others to push themselves to be as sustainable as possible,” he said in an interview with Shopify Masters. “And to give back money to conservation organizations that are helping with climate change or with ocean conservation.”
Skill level: Advanced
Shaping and waterproofing wooden boards requires specialized tools and techniques.
If you want to get into crafting surfboards, it’s wise to have personal experience with surfing. That way, you’ll better understand what makes a quality board, and your passion for the sport can motivate you through the challenges of learning a new craft and running a business.
Cost: High
Quality materials, such as cedar, balsa wood, and high-end finishes, don’t come cheap. But wooden surfboards sell at premium prices; you might be able to get a good profit margin anyway.
10. Repurposed and scrap wood
Shippers and ecommerce companies use wood pallets to move products, offering an ideal opportunity to transform potential waste into profitable woodworking projects.
Market your upcycled pallet projects well, and you might be able to charge more—on average, customers will spend an extra 9.7% for sustainably produced products.
The following all make great repurposed wood pallet projects:
- Planter boxes
- Decorative signs
- Coffee tables
- Wooden benches
- Chairs
- Wooden business card holders
- Mail sorters and key holders
- Wooden serving trays
- Raised garden beds
- Bed platforms
- Shelves
Infinite Abyss is a brand whose online store features home and décor items made from wood pallets. The company also offers a DIY guide with a collection of woodworking projects, called Wood Pallet Wonders.
Keep in mind that the bestselling projects might not be the most profitable once you account for shipping costs. Do your research before you start manufacturing and selling, aiming to keep shipping costs down.
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate
Taking pallets apart is simple, but strenuous and time-consuming work. You’ll need to know how to safely remove nails without splitting wood, how to sand rough edges, and how to make straight cuts with a saw.
Cost: Low
You can find pallets for low prices, and even for free. In addition to the tools you’ll use to create new items from pallets, you’ll also need a crowbar, hammer, saw, work gloves, and safety glasses to take them apart.
Kids and gifts
11. Children’'s blocks
Use wood scraps to create blocks of different shapes and sizes for kids’ toys and gifts. For extra flair, consider painting, engraving, or etching them.
PoppyBabyCo, for example, sells wooden blocks for children:
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate
Cutting shapes from scrap wood and sanding edges is straightforward—as is selling toys through your online store. Engraving and painting add more complexity.
Cost: Low
Minimal materials are required. Surfaces just need to be safe and non-toxic, and you should ensure individual blocks are sized large enough that they’re not choking hazards. You’ll also need to obtain a Children’'s Product Certificate for each item you produce that’s intended for children under the age of 12.
12. Wooden toys
Americans spend roughly $40 billion every year on children’s toys.
Happy Little Folks takes advantage of this thriving market with its earth-friendly, hand-crafted wooden toys.
From wooden chess sets to wooden puzzles, toys can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Just be aware that children’s toys are subject to strict safety regulations, and be sure to get a Children’'s Product Certificate for every kid’s toy you produce.
Skill level: Intermediate
Simple toys (like blocks or cars) aren’t too hard to make. Puzzles or toys with moving parts require skills like sanding and painting.
Cost: Moderate
Meeting safety standards with smooth edges and non-toxic finishes takes time and money; shipping costs for large toys can add up.
Most profitable woodworking projects
Understanding profit margins in woodworking
Gross profit margin is the amount of money left over after you’ve accounted for product creation costs. If materials cost you $5 and you sold an item for $15, for example, your gross profit is $10, representing a gross profit margin of just over 66%.
The ideal profit margin depends on the type of project. Furniture brands tend to have healthy margins—around 28.5%, according to NY Stern School of Business.
💡Tip: Use a profit margin calculator to determine product prices and make sure you’ll earn a profit when selling your crafts online.
Top 5 high-margin items
Look for ideas that turn low-cost materials into premium wood projects that sell for premium prices.
Some of the most profitable wood products to make and sell include:
- Custom furniture
- Home décor and accessories
- Wooden toys
- Decorative wall signs
- Birdhouses
Basic woodworking tools
Different woodworking projects require different materials, tools, and expertise. That said, there are some basic woodworking tools and materials you should have before diving in:
- Scrap wood, pine wood, or your wood of choice
- Wood planks
- Wood glue
- A handsaw
- A CNC machine
- A cutting board or mat
- A power drill
- A mallet or hammer
- Safety goggles and gloves
How to sell woodworking projects
Creating your woodworking projects is only half the battle—placing them in new homes is the next step. It may take trial and error to discover which items will sell, but following these steps can improve your chances of success:
1. Choose your product
Use the list above to generate ideas. Once you’ve chosen a trending product, start with a test project. Ensure you can execute your creation to a level that will satisfy paying customers.
2. Identify your market
Now it’s time to figure out who is willing to buy your product.
Start by exploring your local woodworking scene to get a sense of the market. Spend time at craft fairs and furniture stores to understand what’s selling in your area. If you notice that everyone’s making farmhouse tables, but there aren’t many modern pieces or specialized built-ins, you might have found a unique niche.
The real test comes from putting your work out there. Small craft fairs can teach you a lot about pricing and customer preferences. You might find that customers love your design style but want different wood species, or that they’re willing to pay premium prices for custom modifications. Or you might find that no one was making modern pieces because they don’t sell well in your region.
3. Build a website
To sell online, you need to build an ecommerce site.
Running an online store on your own domain gives you control over your business—from pricing and promotion through to shipping and fulfillment. Third-party marketplaces come with restrictions, while physical spaces require overhead expenses.
You can use Shopify’s website builder to create an online storefront. You’ll get access to customizable, mobile-responsive themes and 24/7 live support to help you design your website. Extend the functionality of your site with more than 8,000 apps in the Shopify App Store, including tools for marketing, analytics, and support.
Once you’re ready to start selling, Shopify has everything you need to connect with your audience. You can accept payments, capture leads and customer information, and send emails from the platform.
4. List and price your products
Now it’s time to take high-quality images, write compelling descriptions, and list your wood projects online for the world to see and purchase.
Price your products high enough to cover your time and expenses and still earn a profit, but not so high that no one will buy them. Use a profit margin calculator: Enter your cost of goods sold (COGS) and apply your desired profit margin to determine a retail price.
5. Drive traffic to your website
Once your website is up and your product pages are live, you need to attract visitors to your online store. You can drive traffic through both organic and paid marketing strategies and tactics, such as:
- Social media marketing
- Search engine optimization
- Contests and giveaways
- Earned media and public relations (PR)
- Partnerships with other brands
6. Check analytics and improve
Over time, you’ll have more data to help you better understand your business. Your Shopify analytics dashboard shows key sales, orders, and online store visitor data, among other information. You can analyze that information to uncover strengths, weaknesses, and new opportunities.
7. Explore different sales channels
Your online store is the best way to sell woodworking projects because you have ultimate control over the customer experience and product prices.
That said, driving traffic to an ecommerce site can be challenging. Some customers head to other platforms when they’re in the market to buy wood items.
Get the best of both worlds by combining your online store with other sales channels, such as:
- Online marketplaces: Etsy and eBay are popular among wood sellers, since their users often seek unique or personalized products. The trade-off for accessing this built-in customer base is a lack of access to customer data and fierce competition.
- Social media storefronts: Use platforms like TikTok and Instagram to show the creative process. Allow your audience to purchase through in-app storefronts.
- Local events: Sell your craft show wood projects to the local community. You could also take a leaf from Infinite Abyss’ book and set up shop inside another retailer’s store.
💡Tip: Shopify lets you sell online and in person from a single platform. Your inventory, order, and customer data flows to a single back end to simplify operations and offer seamless customer experiences.
Kickstart your woodworking business today
If you want to sell wood projects, set yourself up with a reliable online store builder like Shopify. Shopify has a whole suite of tools to manage every aspect of your business with the features you need at every stage.
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Wood projects that sell FAQ
What woodworking project sells the most?
Here are a few ideas for woodworking projects that sell:
- Wooden signs
- Wooden pallets
- Kitchen products
- Cutting boards
- Furniture
- Surfboards
- Boxes
- Picture frames
- Children’s blocks
- Birdhouses
- Planters
- Art
- Wine racks
- Raised garden beds
How can I price my woodworking projects effectively?
Here’s an example of one common pricing formula: Calculate your total material costs (e.g., wood, hardware, finishes) and multiply by three or four to cover your time and overhead. From there, check if similar items in your market sell for that price, and adjust accordingly to keep your prices competitive.
What is the latest trend in woodworking?
Trends dominating the woodworking industry include:
- Repurposing scrap materials
- Minimalist designs
- Premium craftsmanship
- Neutral color palettes
- Customized wood products
- Premium children’s toys
How do you make good money in woodworking?
To make good money in woodworking, source free or low-cost materials and turn them into customized premium products. This can include furniture, luxury home décor, garden projects, or personalized wooden signs.
Can you make good money woodworking?
Woodworking can be a profitable venture. To maximize revenue, focus on high-value custom work, promote your wood crafting expertise, and diversify your income streams by teaching workshops or online courses.
