Guide

How to Plan a Woodshop Layout

A step-by-step way to plan a shop that works, whether it is a corner of the basement or a new building. Follow along in the planner as you go.

Step by step

Nine steps to a woodshop layout that works

Measure the room

Width, depth, and the exact position and width of every door, garage door and window. Note posts, stairs, the water heater and anything else that cannot move.

Mark your power

Where are the 120V and 240V outlets, and which circuits are they on? Machines will cluster around power.

List real footprints

Measure your machines with fence rails and extension wings, not just the base.

Place the table saw first

It needs the most room: the length of your longest stock in front of and behind the blade. Use a door as infeed if needed.

Add jointer and planer

Give them a lane as long as your boards. They can often share the saw’s lane.

Place the dust collector

Next to the biggest chip makers so ducts stay short.

Benches and assembly

Away from the dusty machines, with room to walk around a project.

Check the workflow

Lumber in → breakdown → milling → joinery → assembly → finish. Long boards should never have to turn around in a tight spot.

Fix the red marks

Accept yellow hints only where machines are never used together, and share the plan to get a second opinion.

More guides

Keep reading

Small shop dust collection

Where to put the collector so ducts stay short.

Woodshop layout FAQ

Clearances, 240V, sharing the garage with a car.

Grizzly planner alternative

What happened to the old Flash planner.

All layout examples

Eight complete shops from 10×12 to 30×40.