DIY Cedar A-Frame Plant Stand

illustration by Charla Pettingill

Plant lovers, this one is for you—a weekend woodworking project that packs more plants into one space, courtesy of this simple A-frame plant stand. We’re building it out of cedar, so it can go outside on the patio; however, the shelves are removable and it can fold up (courtesy of carriage bolts), so feel free to put this anywhere. Here are our instructions.

1 MATERIALS

We’re opting to build the A-frame supports on either side from four 8-foot-long, cedar 2x4s. There will be eight supports for the shelves, each support measuring a foot long, so you will need one 8-foot-long cedar 1×3. The shelves will require two 8-foot-long, cedar 1x12s. Prep the wood, if needed, and give it a light sanding.

2 BUILD THE A-FRAME

Cut the 2x4s to 73 inches. Cut the bottom of each leg, where it will be sitting on the ground, at a 20-degree angle. At the top, where two boards will overlap to form the top of the A, measure 2 inches from the end and mark the center. This is where the carriage bolt will go. Drill a ½-inch hole through two boards, careful not to split the wood. Attach them with the bolt, fastening on the inside of the frame with a lock nut and washer. Repeat on the other side. (Note: Double-check that the feet are always angled in the proper direction as you move through this part of the process. The longer edge should be facing out.)

3 ATTACH SUPPORTS

Each shelf will need to be supported by a rung. Cut the cedar 1×3 into eight equal-sized pieces. Using a brad nailer and a level, attach the lowest rung so it is 12 inches from the ground, and on the outside of the A. Proceed to attach rungs every 12 inches, making sure they are lined up across from one another on each side of the frame. When you’re done with this step, the stand should look like a ladder.

CUT AND ADD SHELVES

Each shelf will consist of a 1×12 cut to size. Each shelf will be a different length, with the bottom shelf the longest, and the top shelf the shortest. Cut the 1x12s to these lengths in inches: 38, 32, 26 and 20. Place the boards on the supports. (Note: The shelves are not attached, so move plants and heavy objects on them carefully. Attach shelves with a nailer if it’s not important to be able to break the stand down and move it in the future.)