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12 Free DIY Wooden Chest Plans You Can Make Today
Pete Ortiz
Last updated:
The wooden chest is one of the first projects many aspiring woodworkers create. It’s also a great project to get children involved. You can learn about angles and installing hinges and handles as well as applying a finish to protect the wood. When your project is complete, you will have a piece of furniture you can use for many years.
We have searched the internet for every free plan we could find, and we have assembled an extensive list of free methods you can use to create your own wooden chest. Each project clearly explains each step with text, illustrations, and sometimes video, so there are no mistakes. Each project also has a complete parts list.
Join us while we look into how to build a wooden chest with each project, in full detail, and discuss the material, tools, and skill level required to complete each one.
The Garden Plans Free Wooden Chest is another easy to build chest on our list that is perfect for new woodworkers to use to get started learning the art. It requires only a few boards and a minimal amount of tools. The author clearly explains and illustrates each step.
The My Outdoor Plans Wooden Chest is one of the easier projects on this list to build, and you make from mostly large boards that are glued and screwed together. It requires almost no tools, and the parts and materials list is minimal. This chest is a great starter project to get children interested in woodworking.
The Great Home Ideas Chest is an easy to build project that you can make without any special tools. Wood glue and screws hold everything together, so you won’t need to do any hammering or routing. The author of this video does a fantastic job of explaining the step by step instructions.
The Woodshop Diaries Chest project is an easy to build project that doesn’t require any special tools to complete. There are quite a few steps, but with a little patience, you can build this chest in a single day, and you don’t need to have any woodworking experience. This chest is one of the easiest projects on this list to build.
The DIY Montreal Wooden Chest is a moderately difficult chest that you can build in a single day. The video demonstrates a lot of the cuts on a table saw, but you can make them with any type of saw. The rest of the table is not too difficult to complete, and the author of the video explains everything well.
You can build the Remodelaholic Chest with a single large piece of plywood. It’s an easy project to build, but it does require some angled cuts with a jigsaw, and there are plenty of steps, so we put this chest on the moderately difficult to build pile. If you are handy with a jigsaw, you can build this chest in a single day.
The Build Something Chest is a moderately challenging project that results in a professional-grade chest perfect for storing clothes at the bottom of your bed or next to an existing dresser. The author explains every detail clearly, and you can complete the project without any special tools. It also includes a removable tray for extra storage options.
The Rogue Engineer Hope Chest is a moderately challenging project that features a pull-out tray for additional storage place and increased organization. It has rope handles and uses unique piano style hinges. The instructions are illustrated and easy to follow.
Skill Level: Moderate
Materials: Wood, piano hinges, wood screws, wood glue
The Ana White Becca Trunk Chest is a moderately difficult project to build, but it doesn’t require and advanced tools. Except for the finish, you can complete this chest in a single day. The result is a durable chest that you can show off to your friends and store your blankets and supplies.
The Around the House Chest is a little more advanced than many of the others on this list, and it requires a few tools that only seasoned woodworkers will have lying around, but the finished product is well worth the effort. This high-quality chest makes an attractive piece of furniture.
The Building Our Rez Chest is an advanced build that results in one of the most durable wooden chests on this list. The author takes plenty of time to detail each step clearly, and they include a complete list of required tools and materials. This project features carrying handles and hydraulic hinges for smooth, quiet operation.
The Love Grows Wild Wooden Chest is an elegant chest that will look amazing in any environment. This project is an advanced build, but if you have patience, you can build this project in a few days with little trouble. There is plenty of storage space, and you can finish it any way you see fit.
Skill Level: Advanced
Materials: Wood, hinges, metal handles, wood glue
Tools Needed: Saw, drill, screwdriver, hammer
Summary
Many of the plans on this list are not that hard to complete. In many cases, the project you decide to build will come down to what tools and supplies you have on hand more so that what skill level you have reached. If you have a small child, we recommend one of the beginner’s chests at the beginning of this list. Basic knowledge of woodworking can be invaluable knowledge to your child in the future. We hope that you have enjoyed learning how to build a wooden chest.
If you have found this list helpful, and you have found a project to build, please share these wooden chests you can DIY today on Facebook and Twitter.
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.
