How To Make A Wooden Box (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Make a Wooden Box PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle

Last Updated: June 5, 2025 Approved

PDF download Download Article
  • Making a Wooden Box with a Hinged Lid
    • |
  • Making a Wooden Box with a Sliding Lid
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Things You'll Need
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle. Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 83% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 653,095 times.

Wooden boxes are a popular project for beginning woodworkers, and making one will teach you many basic techniques that you can apply to other projects. You can construct your box to be simple and elegant, utilitarian, or highly stylized and decorated. However you choose to design your box, it's easiest to start out with either a hinged or sliding lid so you can get some practice before moving onto more advanced techniques.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 2:

Making a Wooden Box with a Hinged Lid

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Choose your wood. 1 Choose your wood. You can use repurposed wood from previous projects, boards from broken down pallets, or you can purchase and cut new wood. Consider what your box will be used for.
    • For example, if you're making a jewelry box, consider thin pieces of cedar, ash or oak.[1] It will be easier to make a smaller box with thinner wood. Save larger pieces or boards for bigger boxes. This will also prevent you from having to do too much trimming.
  2. Step 2 Gather your supplies. 2 Gather your supplies. Keep all your basic tools in your workspace. If using power tools, make sure that you have access to power outlets. At the very least, you'll want a ruler, hammer, nails, wood glue or putty, and of course, your boards.
    • If using power tools, use caution and always wear eye protection.
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  3. Step 3 Measure and mark your boards. 3 Measure and mark your boards. First, you'll need to decide on the size of your box. Specifically, you'll want to determine how long, wide, and tall to make your box. Then, mark the measurements on your boards using a ruler and pencil.
    • If you're building a box for a specific purpose or to hold a certain item, measure the item to ensure it will fit inside your finished box.[2]
  4. Step 4 Cut your boards, if not already to size. 4 Cut your boards, if not already to size. Use a hand or circular saw to cut the boards according to your measurements. Remember you'll need four boards for the sides, one for the base, and one for your lid.
    • Power tools can make the job easier, but are not necessary. You can easily make your box using a screwdriver, carpenter's square, hand saw, and hammer.
  5. Step 5 Assemble the side pieces using a butt joint. 5 Assemble the side pieces using a butt joint. Join the sides together at a right angle using glue between the joints for durability. At this point, it should look like a square with no base or lid attached yet. Next, hammer or drill in finishing nails, wood screws or dowels.[3]
    • You may want to use clamps to hold the glued sides together while you drill nails or screws into them.[4]
    • If you're using dowels, drill a hole through the side of one piece into the side of another. Use a wooden dowel to pin the pieces together in an "L" shape. After the sides are pinned, cut the dowel flush with the sides.
    • You can even drill at an angle with a drill bit. [5]
    • First, use a smaller bit to act as a guide.[6]
    • Then use a larger bit to make the bigger part of the hole.[7]
  6. Step 6 Attach the sides to the base. 6 Attach the sides to the base. Make sure the sides sit evenly on the base or are snug around the base, depending on your design. Use glue to attach the base and sides. Hammer or drill in finishing nails, wood screws, or dowels.
    • Allow your box to dry thoroughly before sealing or using it.
  7. Step 7 Attach a hinged lid to the box. 7 Attach a hinged lid to the box. Set the lid on the box so the lid and side are flush, then measure and mark where you'd like your hinges to be. Keep the hinge knuckle facing out from the back of your box and drill or hammer to attach it to the side and then the lid.
    • When laying out the hinges, it is important that you square them to the top and to the sides of the case. Otherwise, the door will not close or open correctly.
    • It's helpful to clamp the side and lid together when measuring and installing the hinges.[8]
  8. Step 8 Fill any nail holes. 8 Fill any nail holes. Use a wood putty and putty knife to fill nail holes. Let the putty dry completely before sanding the areas smooth.
    • Filling and sanding nail holes will add a professional look to your project. Feel free to omit this step if you're not concerned with decorative aspects.
    9. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 2:

Making a Wooden Box with a Sliding Lid

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Choose your wood. 1 Choose your wood. You can use repurposed wood from previous projects, boards from broken down pallets, or you can purchase and cut new wood. Consider what your box will be used for.
    • For example, if you're making a jewelry box, consider thin pieces of cedar, ash or oak.[9] It will be easier to make a smaller box with thinner wood. Save larger pieces or boards for bigger boxes. This will also prevent you from having to do too much trimming.
  2. Step 2 Gather your supplies. 2 Gather your supplies. Keep all your basic tools in your workspace. If using power tools, make sure that you have access to power outlets. At the very least, you'll want a ruler, hammer, nails, wood glue or putty, and of course, your boards.
    • If using power tools, use caution and always wear eye protection.
  3. Step 3 Measure and mark your boards. 3 Measure and mark your boards. First, you'll need to decide on the size of your box. Specifically, you'll want to determine how long, wide, and tall to make your box. Keep in mind you'll need to take grooves into account and the fact that your lid will need to be narrower in order to slide into them. Then, mark the measurements on your boards using a ruler and pencil.
    • If you're building a box for a specific purpose or to hold a certain item, measure the item to ensure it will fit inside your finished box.[10]
  4. Step 4 Cut your boards, if not already to size. 4 Cut your boards, if not already to size. Use a hand or circular saw to cut the boards according to your measurements. Remember you'll need four boards for the sides, one for the base, and one for your lid.
    • Power tools can make the job easier, but are not necessary. You can easily make your box using a screwdriver, carpenter's square, hand saw, and hammer.
  5. Step 5 Cut grooves into the side boards. 5 Cut grooves into the side boards. Use a table saw or router with a guide to cut a straight horizontal groove near what will be the top and inside of the box. The groove should run about 1/8" deep along the top so your lid can slide into place. Make sure to cut equal grooves into three sides of your box.
  6. Step 6 Cut the front side of your box. 6 Cut the front side of your box. First, take one of the sides that you've already cut a groove into and measure from the top, where the lid will be, to the bottom of the groove you cut. Use the same distance to cut a straight horizontal line across the top of your box front.
    • After this point, you should be able to test sliding the lid into the grooves and over the front if you clamp the sides together.
  7. Step 7 Assemble the side pieces using a butt joint. 7 Assemble the side pieces using a butt joint. Make sure the grooves are facing inward. Join the sides together at a right angle using glue between the joints for durability. At this point, it should look like a square with no base or lid attached yet. Next, hammer or drill in finishing nails, wood screws or dowels.[11]
    • You may want to use clamps to hold the glued sides together while you drill nails or screws into them.[12]
    • If you're using dowels, drill a hole through the side of one piece into the side of another. Use a wooden dowel to pin the pieces together in an "L" shape. After the sides are pinned, cut the dowel flush with the sides.
  8. Step 8 Secure the sides to the base. 8 Secure the sides to the base. Make sure the sides sit evenly on the base or are snug around the base, depending on your design. Use glue to attach the base and sides. Hammer or drill in finishing nails, wood screws, or dowels.
    • Allow your box to dry thoroughly before sealing or using it.
  9. Step 9 Cut the groove for the lid. 9 Cut the groove for the lid. If you want your lid to be flush with the sides of the box, use a saw to cut a groove along all the sides of the lid but the front. Slide the lid into the groves and over the top of the box.
    • For example, if your side grooves were cut 1/8" from the top and 1/8" deep, you'll want to cut the top edges of your lid 1/8" down from the sides.
  10. Step 10 Fill any nail holes. 10 Fill any nail holes. Use a wood putty and putty knife to fill nail holes. Let the putty dry completely before sanding the areas smooth.
    • Filling and sanding nail holes will add a professional look to your project. Feel free to omit this step if you're not concerned with decorative aspects.
    11. Advertisement

Community Q&A

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  • Question When measuring, don't you need to include the thickness of the wood? Community Answer Community Answer Yes. For example, when using plywood, mark out the width of the wood before you attach the other side, and mark where you should put your nails, and how many depending on size. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 8
  • Question Can I use a hand saw? Community Answer Community Answer Yes, but it will take more work with the hand saw. Also, precision cut will be very difficult. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 19
  • Question What's the best measurements to use for making a wooden box? Community Answer Community Answer It depends on how big you want it. The measurements I used were 9" x 8". this was a good size for a trinket box, or a box to give a gift in, easily movable and looks nice. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 9
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Video

Tips

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Things You'll Need

  • Carpenter's square
  • Hammer
  • Hand saw
  • Nail punch (optional)
  • Circular saw (optional)
  • Electric drill (optional)
  • Wood of your choice
  • Glue
  • Fasteners (dowel rods, wood screws, or finishing nails)
  • Hinges

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References

  1. ↑ https://woodworkerlodge.com/what-kind-of-wood-should-you-use-to-make-a-jewelry-box/
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M6zV9FG7ik
  3. ↑ http://www.woodworkingcorner.com/box.php
  4. ↑ http://www.woodworkingcorner.com/box.php
  5. ↑ Ryaan Tuttle. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview
  6. ↑ Ryaan Tuttle. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview
  7. ↑ Ryaan Tuttle. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview
  8. ↑ http://www.wwgoa.com/perfect-hinge-mortises-on-small-boxes/
  9. ↑ https://woodworkerlodge.com/what-kind-of-wood-should-you-use-to-make-a-jewelry-box/
More References (4)
  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M6zV9FG7ik
  2. ↑ http://www.woodworkingcorner.com/box.php
  3. ↑ http://www.woodworkingcorner.com/box.php
  4. Videos provided by WoodWorkWeb

About This Article

Ryaan Tuttle Co-authored by: Ryaan Tuttle Home Improvement Specialist This article was co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle. Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses. This article has been viewed 653,095 times. 24 votes - 83% Co-authors: 29 Updated: June 5, 2025 Views: 653,095 Categories: Wooden Craft Projects Article SummaryX

Before making a wooden box, choose some wood and gather your tools, including a hammer, nails, wood glue, and a saw. Then, measure your boards according to the size of the box you’re making, mark them, and cut them to size using the saw. Next, assemble the side pieces using wood glue and reinforce the sides with finishing nails. Attach the base in the same way, then attach a hinged lid with the hinge facing out. To finish, fill any nail holes with putty, let it dry, and sand it smooth. If you want to learn how to make a box that has a sliding lid, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Ginette Cyr

    Ginette Cyr

    Sep 27, 2017

    "I never built anything like a box, however I had a decor idea and needed to know how to make a box. Thanks, this..." more
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Ryaan Tuttle Co-authored by: Ryaan Tuttle Home Improvement Specialist Co-authors: 29 Updated: June 5, 2025 Views: 653,095 83% of readers found this article helpful. 24 votes - 83% Click a star to add your vote Ginette Cyr

Ginette Cyr

Sep 27, 2017

"I never built anything like a box, however I had a decor idea and needed to know how to make a box. Thanks, this..." more Angel Cyril

Angel Cyril

Jun 8, 2021

"This article is really helpful, try it out yourself. I've never made a wooden box but this article helped me." Reginald Ball

Reginald Ball

Oct 10, 2017

"How to assemble the box. The detail you gave helps greatly." Anonymous

Anonymous

Dec 30, 2016

"Simple, well-explained instructions with basic tools." Anonymous

Anonymous

Sep 26, 2016

"The photos and text were very helpful." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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