What you need for a cabin building week

A cabin building week needs more than timber and hand tools. You will also need a reliable setup for power, lighting, food, waste, seating and safe storage while materials arrive and teams work on site. Use this list to buy or bring the essentials before the first construction day. Check quantities against your participant count, then allow extra batteries, extension leads and basic consumables so work does not stop halfway through the week.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 4
Foldable tablesqty 12
Folding chairsqty 80
Workbenchesqty 8
Bar stoolsqty 8
Waste binsqty 12
Wooden palletsqty 30

Equipment

Cordless drill driversqty 8
Battery chargersqty 8
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 8
Work lightsqty 6
Coolersqty 8
Walkie-talkiesqty 10
Megaphone
Speakersqty 2

Tools

Hammerqty 30
Hand sawqty 12
Spirit levelqty 10
Measuring tapeqty 12
Pliersqty 16
Screwdriversqty 20
Wrenchesqty 8
Cable cuttersqty 2
Scissorsqty 20

Construction materials

Scaffold planksqty 220
Fire beamsqty 160
Thin slatsqty 300
Wooden panelsqty 80
Palletsqty 40
Rope rollsqty 20
Tarpaulinsqty 30
Nailsqty 20
Wood screwsqty 12
Metal Corner Bracketsqty 100
Cable tiesqty 500
Sandpaperqty 100

Safety

Safety helmetsqty 80
Safety gogglesqty 80
Work glovesqty 100
Hearing protectionqty 40
Safety vestsqty 20
First aid kitsqty 4
Fire extinguishersqty 4
Crowd control barriersqty 20
Traffic conesqty 20
Caution tapeqty 10

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 150
Reusable platesqty 120
Reusable cutleryqty 150
Mugsqty 80
Serving spoonsqty 12
Pouring jugsqty 12

Kitchen

Coffee machinesqty 3
Kettlesqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 8
Chef's knivesqty 8
Cooler cratesqty 6
Food warmersqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 8
Food containersqty 20

Decorations

Buntingqty 12
Colorantsqty 12
Brushesqty 30
Paint rollersqty 12
Paint traysqty 12
Chalkboardsqty 6
Prize trophiesqty 6

Lighting

String lightsqty 12
Battery lanternsqty 12

Cleaning

Broomqty 8
Dustpan and brushqty 8
Mopsqty 6
Bucketsqty 10
Spongesqty 20
Tea towelsqty 30

Registration

Name stickersqty 150
Wristbandsqty 150
Clipboardsqty 8
Pensqty 30
Markersqty 30
Printer paperqty 500

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 8 packs
- Tea - 12 boxes
- Cocoa powder - 2 packs
- Sugar - 5 kilo
- Milk - 30 liters
- Oat milk - 8 liters
- Water - 180 liters
- Cola - 30 liters
- Coke Zero - 20 liters
- Orange soda - 20 liters
- Apple juice - 15 liters
- Ice tea - 15 liters
- Lemonade syrup - 8 liters
- Ice cubes - 30 kilo
- Bread - 50 loaves
- Bread rolls - 300 pieces
- Whole wheat bread - 20 loaves
- Rolls - 150 pieces
- Butter - 8 kilo
- Margarine - 5 tubs
- Young cheese - 15 kilos
- Aged cheese - 8 kilos
- Ham - 10 kilos
- Chicken breast - 8 kilos
- Vegetarian spreads - 30 tubs
- Hummus - 20 tubs
- Peanut butter - 8 jars
- Jam - 8 jars
- Chocolate spread - 6 jars
- Eggs - 180 pieces
- Yogurt - 20 liters
- Muesli - 8 kilos
- Cucumbers - 30 pieces
- Tomatoes - 25 kilos
- Lettuce - 20 heads
- Bell peppers - 15 kilos
- Carrots - 15 kilo
- Onions - 10 kilo
- Potatoes - 50 kilos
- Apples - 30 kilo
- Bananas - 25 kilos
- Grapes - 15 kilos
- Oranges - 20 kilo
- Melons - 10 pieces
- Raisins - 5 kilos
- Paprika chips - 20 bags
- Plain chips - 20 bags
- Tortilla chips - 15 bags
- Rice cakes - 15 packs
- Muesli bars - 250 pieces
- Cookies - 20 packs
- Popcorn - 8 kilos
- Pizza bases - 100 pieces
- Tomato sauce - 20 liters
- Pasta sauce - 20 liters
- Pasta - 35 kilos
- Rice - 25 kilos
- Corn - 20 cans
- Kidney beans - 20 cans
- Chickpeas - 15 cans
- Soup - 30 liters
- Vegetable bouillon - 3 packs
- Vegetarian burgers - 120 pieces
- Burger buns - 150 pieces
- Hot dog buns - 150 pieces
- Hot dogs - 150 pieces
- Mayonnaise - 8 bottles
- Ketchup - 8 bottles
- Mustard - 5 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 5 bottles
- Olive oil - 5 liters
- Sunflower oil - 5 liter
- Salt - 3 kilos
- Pepper - 1 kilo
- Paprika powder - 500 grams
- Garlic powder - 500 grams
- Italian herbs - 500 grams
- Grated cheese - 8 kilos
- Pizza cheese - 8 kilo
- Whipped cream - 20 cans
- Ice lollies - 250 pieces
- Ice pops - 150 pieces
- Napkins - 2000 pieces
- Baking paper - 5 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 5 rolls
- Cling film - 5 rolls
- Paper towels - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 200 pieces
- Small garbage bags - 100 pieces
- Dish soap - 10 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 10 bottles
- Disinfectant - 6 bottles
- Hand soap - 12 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 12 bottles
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Paper towels - 24 packs
- Bandages - 10 boxes
- Wound gauze - 10 packs
- Disposable gloves - 500 pieces
- Cooling packs - 40 pieces

Tips

Plan at least one workbench for every 4–6 people using tools, and provide enough folding chairs and tables for meal breaks, registration and paperwork. Keep separate seating available so tired participants are not sitting in active construction areas.
Bring enough cordless drill drivers for each working team, plus at least two charged batteries per drill and spare battery chargers. Test every drill, charger, extension cord and power strip before the wood delivery arrives.
Prepare lighting for both the work areas and the access routes. A practical starting point is one work light per workbench or construction zone, with extension cords and power strips kept clear of walkways.
Store timber on wooden pallets or scaffold planks rather than directly on the ground, and separate scaffold planks, fire beams, thin slats and wooden panels by type or length. Cover the stack if weather can reach it, but keep it ventilated.
Do not leave food, coolers and waste equipment until the first morning. Order groceries early enough for delivery before work starts, place waste bins where teams can reach them, and keep a separate cooler for dietary or allergy-sensitive food.

Frequently asked questions

What tools do I need for a cabin building week?: Plan for cordless drill drivers, hammers, hand saws, spirit levels, measuring tapes, pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, cable cutters and scissors. Provide at least one complete basic tool set for every 4–6 participants working at the same time, then add spare measuring tapes and screwdrivers.
How much timber should I buy for a cabin building week?: The amount depends on the cabin design, dimensions and team size, so calculate it from the build plan rather than from participant numbers alone. Order the full timber requirement before the week starts and add a small contingency for cutting errors or damaged pieces; confirm the final quantity with the person responsible for the design.
How many party tents and tables do I need?: Use enough party tent space for everyone who needs shelter during meals, briefings and breaks, with at least one table for every 6–8 people. Add separate tables for registration, food service and tools instead of using the construction workbenches for everything.
When should I arrange power, lighting and waste containers?: Check power outlets and the water supply at least 1–2 weeks before the build, and arrange waste containers before timber and materials are delivered. Test lighting, extension cords, power strips and battery chargers no later than the day before participants arrive.

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