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7 Free DIY Bow Rack Plans You Can Make Today (with Pictures)
Pete Ortiz
Last updated:
Whether you’re an avid bowhunter, a precise target shooter, or a Renaissance Faire hero, there’s nothing more convenient than a rack where you can hang your bows.
It’s never fun to have to hide your favorite gear away in a closet or under your bed. Not only are bow racks a great way to proudly display your bows and arrows, they’re also easy and cheap to make at home with basic woodworking tools. Even if you’re not a woodworker, this list has something for you — PVC is a popular material for archers.
Learning how to build a bow rack is as common in the DIY circles as other furniture, so good plans can be tough to find. Luckily for you, we’ve gathered seven of the best from across the internet. Spend today building a bow rack you’ll be proud of, then tomorrow out on the range or in the backcountry.
The Sticks Outfitter posted this fun and easy bow storage hack on Instructables. The heart of this design is a spare wooden pallet, so if you’ve got one of those lying around, the rest is easy. The instructions are in video form, and it definitely helps to have a six-pack handy to complete the aesthetic.
This One Project Closer design for a beginner bow rack, devised by a dedicated bow hunter and woodworker, can be built for only $20 worth of supplies. Once you’ve built it, bolt it onto a bare wall, and use the pegs to store up to four bows of any kind — and if you stain it, it even looks greater.
If you’re not a woodworker, then not to worry — Hunt Addicts has a DIY rack plan with PVC pipe, just for you. It’s great for quickly putting down your bow while you go retrieve your arrows from the target but works for long-term storage too.
This design can also be adjusted to fit the length of your bow. There are even built-in holders for more arrows.
This design comes to us from Esquire, a user of the TradTalk forums. It’s a bit more freeform and challenging than some of the others, but very rewarding. All you’ll really need to do is drill holes in a board, fit the dowels in, and find a place to mount it.
The simplicity of this design makes it a great family project while ensuring that you can easily make this rack as long or short as you need.
Tools Needed: Pencil, Ruler, Drill press, Chop saw
Supplies Needed: Oak board, Oak dowel, Drywall screws
This video tutorial from the Popo’s Woodworks YouTube channel will help you build a rack that’s perfect for holding compound bows and hunting arrows. It’s one of the best-looking $20 builds we’ve ever seen, and you can get it done
NASP, the National Archery in Schools Program, teaches how to build a bow rack for an archery storage box available on the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife website. This plan makes a large box for bows and a smaller box for arrows attached to the top — perfect for archery classes or other large groups.
This plan doesn’t give advice, so it’s best for woodworkers who already know what they’re doing.
World Archery, the international governing body of championship target shooting, released a manual with extensive instructions on how to make your own equipment. It can be tricky to find — the easiest way is to follow that link — but it’s more than worth the search.
This stand can hold up to 10 bows, so like the NASP design, it’s great for teaching camps or holding tournaments.
Pete has been working in the trades since high school, where he first developed a passion for woodworking. Over the years, he has developed a keen interest in a wide variety of DIY projects around the home. Fascinated by all sort of tools, Pete loves reading and writing about all the latest gadgets and accessories that hit the market. His other interests include astronomy, hiking, and fishing.
As the founder of House Grail, Pete's primary goal is to help consumers make educated decisions about DIY projects at home, in the garage, and in the garden.
