What to Buy for a Furniture-Making Workshop

A furniture-making workshop needs more than timber and a few tools. Buy or bring enough materials for every participant, then add spare screws, sandpaper, and drill bits for mistakes and wear. Your list should cover pre-cut wood, assembly supplies, measuring tools, power access, dust control, and refreshments. Set up one complete workstation per person or pair before guests arrive, rather than sharing essentials during the session.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Workbenchesqty 5
Foldable tablesqty 3
Stoolsqty 20
Registration desk
Waste binsqty 4

Equipment

Cordless drill driversqty 5
Jigsawsqty 3
Sanding machinesqty 4
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 6
Vacuum cleaner

Tools

Hand sawsqty 5
Screwdriver setsqty 5
Hammerqty 5
Measuring tapesqty 10
Set squaresqty 10
Pencil setsqty 10
Clampsqty 20
Allen key setsqty 5
Drill bit setsqty 5
Sanding blocksqty 20

Materials

Pinewood boardsqty 45
Plywood sheetsqty 10
Wooden slatsqty 30
Wood screwsqty 500
Wood glueqty 5
80-grit sandpaperqty 40
Sandpaper grit 120qty 40
Sandpaper, grit 240qty 40
Furniture oilqty 4
Brushesqty 20
Cleaning clothsqty 30

Safety

Safety gogglesqty 25
Ear defendersqty 20
Dust masksqty 50
Work glovesqty 25

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 30
Platesqty 25
Cutlery setsqty 25
Coffee cupsqty 25

Kitchen

Coffee makerqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 2
Serving plattersqty 6
Serving spoonsqty 4

Lighting

Workshop lampsqty 6

Decorations

Name labelsqty 25
Markersqty 10

Cleaning

Broomsqty 2
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Mopsqty 2
Bucketsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 5 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Sparkling water - 6 bottles
- Still water - 8 bottles
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Apples - 25 pieces
- Bananas - 25 pieces
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Paprika chips - 3 bags
- Plain chips - 3 bags
- Tortilla chips - 3 bags
- Hummus - 4 tubs
- Salsa sauce - 3 jars
- Cucumber - 5 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Mini wraps - 50 pieces
- Whole wheat bread - 5 loaves
- White rolls - 30 pieces
- Cheese - 2 kilos
- Young cheese - 1 kilo
- Plain hummus - 4 tubs
- Chicken breast topping - 1 kilo
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Jam - 2 jars
- Butter - 500 grams
- Pasta salad - 5 kilos
- Green salad - 3 kilos
- Cherry tomatoes for salad - 1 kilo
- Cucumber for salad - 4 pieces
- Salad dressing - 3 bottles
- Herb butter - 4 tubs
- Napkins - 100 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 1 roll
- Cling film - 1 roll
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Tea towels - 10 pieces
- Toilet paper - 2 packs

Tips

Calculate wood by project, then add at least 10% extra for damaged pieces, measuring errors, and replacements. Have all planks, plywood, and battens cut to size before the workshop starts.
Provide one measuring tape, square, pencil set, and screwdriver set for each workstation. For shared power tools, aim for one cordless drill per two participants and keep spare charged batteries available.
Buy screws and wood glue for the full project quantity plus 15% spare. Missing or stripped screws are one of the most common interruptions once assembly begins.
Use three sanding grades: 80 grit for rough edges, 120 grit for smoothing, and 240 grit for the final surface before furniture oil. Plan several sheets or discs per participant, especially when using power sanders.
Prepare one extension cord, power strip, and dust-control solution for each powered-tool area. Put the vacuum cleaner in place before sanding, and ventilate the workspace before participants arrive.

Frequently asked questions

How much extra wood should I buy for a furniture-making workshop?: Buy the calculated project amount plus at least 10% extra wood. Increase that buffer to 15% if beginners will measure or cut pieces during the workshop.
How many tools do I need per participant?: Give each participant or pair a complete set of hand tools, including a tape measure, square, pencil, screwdriver, and clamps. Plan about one cordless drill for every two participants and one shared saw for every two to four people.
How many screws and how much wood glue should I buy?: Calculate the screws and glue required for one finished piece, multiply by the number of participants or projects, and add 15% spare. Check the screw length against the actual wood thickness before buying in bulk.
How much sandpaper is needed per person for a furniture workshop?: Allow at least two sheets or sanding discs per participant for each required grit: 80, 120, and 240. Buy extra if participants will use power sanders or if the wood has rough, unfinished edges.

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