What you need for a woodworking workshop

Use this shopping list to prepare a hands-on woodworking workshop without discovering missing supplies halfway through the session. It covers workstations, core hand and power tools, timber, fixings, safety equipment and basic refreshments. Buy or reserve enough equipment for each participant to work safely rather than waiting for one shared tool. Check your project measurements before ordering pine planks and plywood, and allow time to cut, sand and assemble individual kits.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Workbenchesqty 6
Foldable tablesqty 4
Chairsqty 35
Tableclothsqty 6

Tools

Hammerqty 12
Screwdriver setqty 6
Cordless drillqty 6
Drill bit setqty 6
Hand sawqty 6
Wood clampqty 12
Measuring tapeqty 12
Try squareqty 12
Rubber malletqty 6
Utility knifeqty 6
Pencilqty 40
Brush setqty 6

Equipment

Extension cordqty 6
Power stripqty 6
Vacuum cleanerqty 2
Kettleqty 2

Lighting

Workshop lampqty 6

Safety

Safety gogglesqty 35
Hearing protectionqty 35
Work gloveqty 35
Dust maskqty 50
First aid kit

Work materials

Pine planksqty 60
Plywood sheetsqty 15
Wood screwsqty 1000
Nailsqty 500
Wood glueqty 12
Coarse sandpaperqty 40
Fine sandpaperqty 40
Mixing cupsqty 40
Stirrersqty 40

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 40
Platesqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 40

Kitchen

Coffee potqty 2
Cool boxqty 2
Serving traysqty 4
Cutting boardqty 2
Bread knifeqty 2

Decorations

Name badgesqty 40
Directional signsqty 6

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Broomqty 2
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Mopqty 2
Bucketqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Still water - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 4 bottles
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Sinas - 3 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Bread - 8 loaves
- Whole grain bread - 4 loaves
- Butter - 4 packets
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Hummus - 8 tubs
- Chicken breast slices - 1.5 kilos
- Jam - 3 jars
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Arugula - 6 bags
- Vegetable soup - 8 liters
- Soup sticks - 6 packs
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Salted peanuts - 3 bags
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Coffee cups - 50 pieces
- Paper napkins - 100 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Cleaning wipes - 3 packs
- Hand soap - 3 bottles

Tips

Plan one complete workstation for each small group, with a workbench or table, two chairs, measuring tools and the hand tools needed for the project. This prevents participants from queueing for a single hammer or drill.
Order pine planks, plywood sheets, wood screws and nails only after confirming the project dimensions and participant count. Add a small allowance for cutting mistakes and damaged pieces, especially when beginners are involved.
Provide safety goggles, hearing protection, work gloves and dust masks for every participant who may need them. Keep a first aid kit visible, rather than packed away with the rest of the workshop equipment.
Count cordless drills, drill bit sets, clamps and extension cords by station. Charge all batteries the day before and test the power strips, workshop lamps and vacuum cleaner before participants arrive.
Buy refreshments according to the session length: plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then about one drink per person per hour. Arrange coffee, tea, snacks and lunch before setup begins so breaks do not interrupt tool demonstrations.

Frequently asked questions

What tools do I need for a woodworking workshop?: For the listed projects, prepare hammers, screwdriver sets, cordless drills, drill bits, hand saws, clamps, measuring tapes, try squares, rubber mallets, utility knives, pencils and brushes. Aim for one complete tool set per workstation, and test everything at least one day before the workshop.
How much wood should I buy for a woodworking workshop?: Use the project drawings and confirmed participant count to calculate pine planks and plywood sheets. Order enough material for one project per participant or group, plus around 10% extra for cutting errors, knots or damaged pieces.
How many safety items are needed per participant?: Prepare one pair of safety goggles and one dust mask per participant, with hearing protection and work gloves available for each active user. Keep at least one stocked first aid kit in the room and replace used items before the workshop.
When should I order materials for a woodworking workshop?: Confirm the project and participant count before ordering wood, screws and nails. Place the order at least 7 days before the workshop, then cut, sand and assemble the kits no later than the day before.

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