20 Creative DIY Wooden Dog Bed Plans You Can Build Today (With Pictures)
There’s nothing better than sharing your life with a dog, but let’s face it: Many canine supplies are just plain expensive. There are amazing dog beds that you can find online or in pet stores, but a high-quality, durable one isn’t likely to come cheap. An affordable alternative is to build your own DIY wooden dog bed with a few basic tools and materials.
The best thing about a wooden dog bed is that it's sturdy, long-lasting, and less likely to be chewed up. You can fill it with your pup's favorite blankets and cuddly toys to make it a super-cozy spot. If you’re ready to start your next DIY project, check out this roundup of beginner-friendly, intermediate, and advanced DIY wooden dog bed plans.
The 20 DIY Wooden Dog Beds
1. $12 DIY Pet Bed by Shanty 2 Chic
| Materials: | Furring strips, pocket holes, pocket hole screws, nails, wood stain |
| Tools: | Kreg jig, saw, wood glue, nailer |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to moderate |
This simple, inexpensive DIY pet bed is put together with furring strips of varying sizes (1x4x8, 1x2x8, 2x4x10), a nailer, screws, nails, and plenty of wood glue. We’d estimate that this bed would take a few hours to make if you’re a beginner—less time if you’re an experienced DIYer. It’s suitable for small dogs and is super cheap to make if you already have all the tools—according to the creator, the wood was under $12!
2. DIY Dog Bunk Bed and Feeder Station by Budget101
| Materials: | Wood pieces, nails |
| Tools: | Circular saw, sander, tape measure, hammer, drill, stapler, wood glue, nailer, screwdriver |
| Difficulty Level: | Advanced |
If you’re the parent of multiple dogs and have DIY experience, this doggy bunk bed might be what you need. Although this is a more advanced kind of project, the creator kindly made a YouTube video of the process. If you have only one dog, the lower section can be made into a feeder instead of a second bed. The design was inspired by standard bunk bed plans, but the measurements were halved to make it into a dog bed.
3. Pallet Dog Bed From 1001 Pallets
| Materials: | Pallets, screws |
| Tools: | Saw bench, sander, 60 grit paper, wood glue, water-based varnish, screwdriver, fine paper, drill |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
This pallet dog bed with raised sides took the creator 3 days to put together. It’s made with wood pallets and put together with screws and wood glue and finished off with water-based varnish. This is quite a large dog bed but can be tailored to any size you want, so you might not need to spend as much time on it if you go for a smaller size. We love the natural look of this dog bed and can picture it as a cozy slumber spot once it’s been filled!
4. DIY Dog Bed With Storage by DIY Huntress
| Materials: | Drawer, wood pieces (may vary) |
| Tools: | Saw, wood glue, screwdriver, drill (may vary) |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This DIY dog bed with storage is a breeze to build, and you may also use it for inspiration for your own DIY projects. If you have an old drawer lying around, you could simply add wooden planks on top to create sides (if they aren’t already attached) and put a comfy blanket or cushion inside. Combining your dog bed and a storage spot is a great way to optimize your space.
5. DIY Pet Bed for Small Dogs by Prodigal Pieces
| Materials: | Wood, felt furniture feet, wood screws, trunk handle |
| Tools: | Kreg pocket-hole drill, drill, jigsaw, miter saw, sander, builder’s square, table saw, tape measure, DIY workbench |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
The creator of this DIY pet bed made it with small and medium dogs in mind, but you can always change the size to fit a larger dog. It looks super cozy and costs around $30 to make, so this is an option well worth considering if you’re hoping to save a few dollars.
Felt furniture feet attached to the bottom help prevent your floor from getting scratched, and the creator included trunk handles on the sides to make it more portable.
6. DIY Large Dog Bed by The Inspired Workshop
| Materials: | Fence pickets, wood, pocket-hole screws, brad nails |
| Tools: | Kreg jig, miter saw, sander |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to moderate |
If you’ve got a hefyy breed on your hands, this DIY dog bed was designed specifically for large dogs, but it can be tailored to be smaller if you wish. The recipient of this amazing dog bed was a 60–70-pound pup.
Like several other designs, it’s raised slightly off the floor to help protect it and is perfect for filling with a large cushion or blanket. According to the creator, it only cost around $36 to make.
7. Couch-Style DIY Dog Bed by The Pretty Mutt
| Materials: | Wood, screws, hinges, wooden legs, angle top plates |
| Tools: | Screwdriver, drill |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to moderate |
We’re in love with this couch-style DIY dog bed! Although it's a relatively simple design, when kitted out with cushions, it has a lovely regal look to it, which is perfect for elegant and dignified pups.
The low, open front section makes it easy for your dog to hop on and off. Best of all, the creator provides detailed instructions that include a size guide if you want to change things and tips on handling potential mistakes.
8. Easy Chest of Drawers DIY Bed by Room for Tuesday
| Materials: | Old chest of drawers, brass bin pulls, silicone, white spackling, white spray paint, satin pebble spray paint |
| Tools: | Screwdriver, sandblaster, grit sanding block |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
If you have an old chest or a cupboard with drawers, you could recycle it into something like this. The DIYer who created this dog bed used an old cupboard, removed the doors, and attached the drawer to the bottom. The drawer acts as the dog bed, enabling you to put ornaments on top of the cupboard for decoration.
We love how with this project, you don’t even need to buy any extra wood—you can simply recycle whatever you have available.
9. Cozy Barrel Dog Beds by The Owner-Builder Network
| Materials: | Wine barrel, bolts, nuts, sealer, plastic dip, wood stain |
| Tools: | Drill with bits, jigsaw with blades, hammer, pliers, chisel, palm sander, belt sander, sharpie or pencil |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to moderate |
Here’s inspiration for creating dog beds out of barrels! The creator shares information on the kinds of barrels that you can get and more details on the kinds of materials and tools you need for the project.
You can buy dog beds like this, but they’re not likely to come cheap, so making your own could save you hundreds of dollars. If you’re so inclined, you could even use some of the extra wood to create a cute name tag too.
10. TV Stand Dog Bed From Decor Home Ideas
| Materials: | Old TV stand, paint, primer, wood screws, flat sash, wallpaper, polyurethane clear coat, velcro strips, lighting fixtures, wood stain |
| Tools: | Sander, tack cloth, drill, wood glue, paint brushes, foam roller, poly weave roller, paint tray, painter’s tape |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
Major kudos goes to the person who makes these gorgeous TV stand dog beds. They’re clearly incredibly resourceful and creative—and you can be too! All you need to do is take an old TV cabinet and remove any unnecessary drawers and doors, sand it, clean it, and prime it.
The fun part is that you get to decorate the interior however you like. There are TV stand dog beds with fluffy rugs, clocks, hanging frames, and even lampshades inside.
11. Pallet Two-Dog Bed by 1001 Pallets
| Materials: | Wood pallets, pocket screws, wood glue, stain |
| Tools: | Pocket-hole jig, circular saw, sander, drill, hammer |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate to advanced |
If you’ve got two dogs that like to sleep near each other, this nifty two-dog bed made from wood pallets is a great choice. Judging by the YouTube video, this might take a while to make, though, especially given that there’s a fair bit of sanding to do.
If possible, you might want to get someone to help you out with the sanding to reduce the time it will take. The project is finished by placing a plush dog bed inside each pallet.
12. End Table Dog Crate/Bed by One Project Closer
| Materials: | Maple wood, sanded plywood, Kreg pocket-hole screws, wood dowel, tapered legs, plywood edge banging, piano hinge, wood stain, round metal stair balusters |
| Tools: | Clamp, drill, sander, measuring tools, tape measure, router, chisel |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate to advanced |
This is a from-scratch DIY dog bed that doubles as a crate and end table. We recommend it for those with DIY experience, as there are quite a few materials and tools required, though the step-by-step instructions are clear and straightforward, which is a huge help.
The table/crate is finished off with a dark walnut wood stain and sealed with polyurethane to give it a warm, natural look.
13. Super Simple DIY Table Bed by 86 Lemons
| Materials: | Old table, maple wood flooring, glue, wood filler (optional) |
| Tools: | Clamps, sander |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
If you’re a complete beginner or want a DIY project without a whole lot of work, check out this super simple DIY table bed. The creator started with an old table that needed sprucing up, so they removed the doors and hinges and painted what was left to give it a more modern look.
If you prefer, though, you don’t need to paint it. If you like the table as it is or have one that’s already the perfect fit, you could always leave it and just put a cushion inside. What could be simpler?
14. Ikea Hack Storage Crate Dog Bed by Hesters Handmade Home
| Materials: | Ikea crate |
| Tools: | Screwdriver, pliers |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
For the ultimate easy DIY project, why not buy an Ikea storage crate? You can either leave it as it is and just put your dog’s bed or cushion inside or spruce it up with paint and decorations—the choice is yours!
A quick tip: Ikea is excellent if you want inexpensive furniture that you can transform into pet beds and crates, so the store is worth shopping at if you don’t have any old furniture lying around or want something ready-made that you can alter and decorate.
15. DIY Raised Plywood Dog Bed With Removable Ramp by Widen Woodworks
| Materials: | ¾ inch plywood sheet, wood glue, screws, sandpaper |
| Tools: | Tape measure, table/circular saw, clamps, miter saw, cutting jig, drill, hammer, pencil, stretchers |
| Difficulty: | Advanced |
This plan can be challenging for dog owners less accustomed to DIY, but once the cutting and measurements of the pieces are done, it’s simple to put together. The presenter of the video showcasing this plan is thorough with the steps and explanation and even divided the video into steps for you to follow along. Specialized tools are needed to craft this dog bed, but seasoned DIYers will likely have most of them already in their garage or woodworking shop.
16. Simple Easy Dog Bed by Puffy Fluffy Dog
| Materials: | Plywood, nails or staples, wood glue, wood stain |
| Tools: | Tape measure, circular saw, sander, drill or staple gun, set square, brush |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
This plan is perfect for those familiar with DIY, but it's also achievable for novice crafters with the right tools. The creator doesn’t specify which type of wood they used for the plan, so choosing a type that you’re used to working with may be the best option. There are a few ways to put the bed together, such as with staples or nails, so you can choose depending on which tools you have at home. This is not a step-by-step plan, but the video films all the steps so you can follow along.
17. Custom Dog Bed by Corey Rametta
| Materials: | 2x6, plywood, angle iron, bolts, spray paint, nails, wood stain, wood glue, tung oil |
| Tools: | Hammer, tape measure, circular saw, table saw, miter saw, pen, ruler, sander, steel brush, nail gun, drill, wrench |
| Difficulty: | Advanced |
This project is for those familiar with woodworking since it requires specialized tools and technical know-how. The result is incredible, however, and this dog bed can be scaled up or down depending on the size of your pup for a perfect fit. Some elements of the plan are optional, such as finishing it with tung oil for protection, but the video explains exactly what each step and addition does to the finished dog bed.
18. $15 Pet Bed by The Rehab Life
| Materials: | 1x6 inch plank, 2x2 inch plank, 2-inch screws, wood filler, wood stain |
| Tools: | Sanding block, tape measure, pen, circular saw, drill |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
This cute plan is chic and easy to make and only requires a few tools that most DIY enthusiasts will have at their disposal. This video plan is also thoughtfully created; it provides a list of materials needed at the start and precise measurements for each step. This makes following along a breeze! This bed could also be scaled up or down depending on the size of your dog, and the finish can be changed by switching out the wood stain for a different color. You can do all this for just $15!
19. Cozy DIY Dog Bed for Small Dogs by 731 WoodWorks
| Materials: | Two 2x2s, 1x6, screws, wood glue, wood stain |
| Tools: | Circular saw, table saw, pen, tape measure, screwdriver, clamps, sander |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
This dog bed looks professionally made and is relatively easy to construct, but it requires a few tools that might not be in a casual DIYer’s arsenal. The creator of this plan takes you through the whole build, explaining each step and providing handy written instructions in the description of the video, which makes things easier. The headboard on this bed makes it stand out, and it'd be relatively easy to scale up the measurements and materials to accommodate even a giant dog!
20. Mid-Century Modern Dog Bed by Modern Builds
| Materials: | 1x8, 3x16 plywood, screws, wood glue, dowels, nails, wood stain |
| Tools: | tape measure, miter saw, table saw, pencil, set square, jig drill, clamps, Japanese pull saw, hammer, paintbrush |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
This plan is explained thoroughly by the creator, who shows each step and explains each tool as it’s used. While the difficulty of this dog bed plan is moderate due to the tools required, it’s not complex once all the pieces are correctly cut and measured. The finished dog bed is secure and looks great, with low sides and a wide base that perfectly suits older or larger pups. If you have the time to create this plan, the extra effort to stain it at the end showcases its design and makes for a stylish piece of furniture that will (hopefully) last your dog a lifetime.
Final Thoughts
DIYing a dog bed is a great way to save money and feel a real sense of accomplishment when your pup makes themselves at home in it. Whether you’re a DIY pro or a complete beginner, we hope that you can find a project here that you can build today!
See also:
Featured Image Credit: Jordan Bigelow, Unsplash
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Kit Copson is a freelance writer and lifelong animal lover with a strong interest in animal welfare. She has parented many furry beings over the years and is currently a proud cat mom of two—one very chilled (unless hungry) Siamese and a skittish but adorable Domestic Shorthair—and dog mom of one—an adopted Bichon Poodle cross. When not writing about or spending time with pets, Kit can be found drawing in her sketchpad, reading, or more often than not, drinking tea.
