Easy DIY Wood Tray with Handles
Make an easy DIY wood tray with handles using basic lumber and a pocket hole jig. Follow the step-by-step tutorial to build and customize your own.
A simple wood tray is one of those DIY projects you can use all over the house. Set it on a coffee table, use it as a centerpiece on the dining table, or add handles and use it to carry things from room to room.
Jordan originally built this DIY wood tray for our home using basic pine boards, pocket holes and decorative handles. It’s a fairly simple woodworking project, but the stain and handles make the finished tray look much more polished than the basic lumber we started with.
I’ll show you how we built our four-board tray, including the cuts, pocket-hole placement, and a few tips that make assembly easier. You can also easily customize the size, stain, and handles to fit your own home.
An Easy Woodworking Project You Can Customize
If you need a larger tray, check out how to obtain material list/cuts/ assembly directions below!
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What You’ll Need to Make a DIY Wood Tray
Materials
- Select Pine Boards – We used two 1×4 six-foot boards for our four-board tray.
- 1¼-Inch Pocket-Hole Screws – For joining the boards securely.
- Decorative Handles – An easy way to change the finished look of the tray.
- Wood Stain – Choose a finish that works with your home.
- Polyurethane – Protects the finished wood and makes the tray easier to wipe clean.
Tools
- Miter Saw
- Power Drill
- Pocket-Hole Jig
- Right-Angle Clamp
- Various Clamps
- Orbital Sander
How to Make a DIY Wood Tray
1. Cut Your Wood
Using a Miter Saw, cut your wood using the dimensions above.
2. Drill Your Pocket Holes
We used a pocket-hole jig to join the boards from underneath, which keeps the screws hidden on the finished tray. If you’re fairly new to woodworking, this is also a useful tool for simple projects like shelves, benches and basic furniture.
Follow the diagram below for the pocket-hole placement we used on our tray.
As a guide, begin 4″ in on the first board, 9″, then another 4″ from the other side. For the second board, the dimensions are 6″ & 9″. Continue with the 4/6/9 pattern as shown.
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3. Drill the Holes for the Handles
Next, find your center of the end pieces. Mark your points. Drill your holes for your decorative handles.
4. Assemble the Tray
Line up your wood bottom as shown in the illustration.
Using your various clamps, begin assembling the boards, one at a time. To avoid board warping or cupping, Jordan had a vise clamp attached to a straight board. This kept the pieces from moving while being joined (see the picture below).
Drill in the screws, building upon on each board. You’ll keep adding one piece to the pieces already screwed together. With the tray base assembled, roughly sand the entire piece with an orbital sander.
5. Sand Your Wood
Next sand the side pieces and upper tray corners until smooth.
Next, use your right angle clamp and begin joining the tray & sides together with the middle screw. Fasten together. Move the right angle clamp to the outside edges as you continue on.
Once assembled, run a sander over the tray to the desired texture.
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6. Stain and Seal Your Tray
We had some stain on-hand from past DIY projects. Apply one to two coats. At this time, you can either finish the project off with two coats of polyurethane OR add some fun decor (we did a monogram)! Once the monogram is done, finish with polyurethane.
7. Add the Handles
Complete your project by screwing in your decorative handles!
Want to Make a Larger Wood Tray?
Our main tutorial uses four boards for the tray base. If you’d like a wider tray for a large coffee table, ottoman or dining table, you can add another board to create the five-board version shown below.
Just remember that changing the overall width may also change the length you’ll need for the end pieces.
The picture above is the 5-rail tray. You can see we did a satin poly coat to make it look less modern and more aged.
When we originally built this tray, we spent less than $10 on the lumber, screws, and handles because we already had stain and other supplies on hand. Your cost will depend on current lumber prices, the handles you choose, and which supplies you already own.
What Kind of Wood Should I Use for a DIY Tray?
Pine is inexpensive and easy to work with, which makes it a good choice for this project. You can also use another wood species if you want a different grain or finish.
Can I Make This Wood Tray Without Handles?
Absolutely. The handles are decorative and make the tray easier to carry, but you can leave them off if you prefer a simpler look.
Can I Make the Tray Bigger?
Yes. Our tutorial uses four boards across the base, but you can add another board for a wider tray. Just adjust the length of the two end pieces to match your finished width.
Love a great DIY project? Be sure to grab your list of my favorite weekend warrior projects below!
Hi, I’m Brittany, and I believe life at home should feel easier, not heavier.
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