Woodworking Projects that Sell: Profiting from your Wood Projects

Here's how to make money from easy woodworking projects

There are many types of woodworking projects that sell for loads of money, from easy ones like slab charcuterie boards to more complicated chess boards or custom furniture. An easy woodworking project is a great starting point for those looking for quick wins and simple items to make. 

But what’s the easiest way to make a return on your investment and find profitable woodworking projects? If you look in the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group you’ll see thousands of woodworkers who create plenty of products they sell to their local community.

Woodworking projects sell for a wide range of prices, and you have to calculate the time invested to the projected profit. The costs of materials, tools, and time can significantly impact your overall profitability, so it's important to budget carefully. While intricate carvings or other high quality wood projects sell for thousands of dollars, sometimes it’s the easy and quick ones that can be the more profitable venture. Woodworking projects can suit different skill levels, making them accessible whether you are a beginner or an experienced woodworker.

So here’s a handful of easy wood projects for you to try and make money from. There’s real satisfaction in being able to create unique items that people want to buy.

Here are some easy woodworking projects that sell:

When coming up with wood crafts or projects to produce that will make you money, think over these ideas and see what sparks your interest:

Image courtesy of Karlos Amiegos from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group.

Cookies and Rounds

Wooden rounds, sometimes also known as cookies, are a very popular wood project because they can be produced incredibly quickly. Make a form to hold your log in place on your Woodland Mills Portable Sawmill and you can cut dozens of rounds from a log in minutes.

These have all sorts of uses, from making wooden signs to being used for painting. Take a stack of these to a craft fair and you can easily make $20-50 a piece depending on the species of wood.

Image courtesy of Michael W. from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group.

Charcuterie Boards

This is the bread and butter (and cheese and crackers) of the woodworking world. Any woodworking business worth its salt and jam will have made hundreds or even thousands of charcuterie boards.

Because there is such a wild range of styles, it can be hard to nail down a definitive price. A simple charcuterie board made of a slab of wood with no frills can cost as little as $100, while an impressive epoxy river board with multiple types of exotic wood can sell for hundreds or even thousands.

This can be a great way of getting rid of scrap wood too and experimenting with different styles, since they're fairly quick to make and customers tend to like unique pieces.

Image courtesy of Timothy D. from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group.

Cutting Boards

Cutting boards are bit different from charcuterie boards since they tend to get a bit more wear and tear, but that doesn't make them any less desirable.

Wooden cutting boards have a lot of natural beauty and aesthetic appeal, especially in a rustic kitchen. A seasoned woodworker can make a cutting board that isn't just functional but also pleasing to look at. Using strong materials and a beautiful finish can go a long way to making your cutting boards into extravagant wood products.

A simple wood board that's a few inches thick can sell for as little as $50, but nicer ones can get upwards of $100 to $500. The more you show off your woodworking skill the better the final product, though the less likely a customer is to actually use your cutting board when they get it home.

Image courtesy of Karlos Amiegos from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group.

Wooden Coasters

Want to turn your off-cuts or smaller logs into quick money? Make dozens or even hundreds of little coasters and with a lathe, or even just your portable sawmill, you can quickly make a lot of them fast. Give them a quick finish and a coat of varnish and you've got a lot of wood products super quickly.

If you attend craft shows or other markets you can bundle together 10 or so coasters together to sell for $30 a bundle. It helps get rid of excess lumber and can easily help recoup your investment.

Picture Frames

These can take a bit longer to make but a beautiful picture frame will sell itself. If you practice your hard carving skills and can put an intricate design on it then you can easily make $100+ from your frames. Larger frames for portraits or paintings can even sell for thousands of dollars.

Setting up a place to sell these near cottage country is great because many cottage owners love to have a place to keep their special pictures of their children or grandchildren and they get to enjoy the story of having bought it from a local woodworker out of local materials.

Image courtesy of Dave S. from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group.

Candle Holders

This is another great choice for using off cuts or material that might otherwise go to waste. Take your cuts to the lathe and smooth them out into a blank cylinder. Then you can use your best judgement and artistic eye to make whatever you like.

Or take your off cuts and drill a hole into them, it's as simple as that.

The great thing about candle holders is that each one can be totally unique, just be sure to use a finish that isn't going to scorch easily under hot wax.

Image courtesy of Harmon S. from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group.

Toy Boxes

Another great option to sell in cottage country, because what cottage owner wouldn't like the look of a rustic country toy box to store their kids or grandkids toys? Start by building a wooden crate and you're already halfway there.

You could also reuse your shipping crate from your Woodland Mills sawmill, like a lot of other sawyers have, since it's already the right shape.

Extra points for using aged, drier wood to give it a more antique look. If you happen to make wooden toys then you can couple them together for an awesome deal for your customers. The great thing about a vintage-style toy box is that it's the perfect blend of practicality and aesthetics.

Wardrobes

This is another large-scale piece, but like the vintage-style toy boxes, these pieces of custom furniture can sell for incredible amounts of money. Because there are so many styles of wardrobes you have a lot of options for creating a stylish solution to storing clothes.

You could go for a vintage look or go for a cleaner, more modern style that's a bit boxier and more modal, with separate shelves and spaces for shoes, scarves, hats or other accessories.

Selling your woodworking projects at crafts shows

Craft shows are a fantastic venue for woodworkers to display and sell their creations directly to customers. The most successful woodworking projects at these events are those that combine functionality with eye-catching design.

Wooden signs featuring inspirational quotes, cutting boards with unique grain patterns, and coat racks that double as stylish décor are always in high demand. Candle holders and serving trays, especially those with abstract designs or intricate carvings, can draw attention and set your booth apart.

When preparing for craft shows, it’s important to consider customer preferences. Think about what people buy for gifts or to add a personal touch to their homes. Displaying a variety of projects, from practical boards to decorative signs, allows you to appeal to a wider audience and increase your chances of making sales.

How to price your woodworking projects

Setting the right price for your woodworking projects is essential for building a sustainable woodworking business. Start by calculating the cost of materials, including high quality wood and any specialty finishes, as well as the time and skill level needed for each project. Research what similar projects are selling for at craft fairs and online marketplaces to ensure your prices are competitive.

Selling your woodworking projects can be done through multiple channels such as craft fairs, your own website, social media pages, or even word-of-mouth referrals. Having an online presence allows you to display your projects to a wider audience and makes it easier for customers to find and purchase your work.

By understanding market demand and adjusting your pricing and sales strategies accordingly, you can maximize your profits and grow your woodworking business.