What Can I Expect to Learn in an Online Woodworking Class?

Online woodworking classes tackle a breadth of skills and projects, depending on your level of expertise. Basic classes teach the fundamentals, such as making straight cuts and perfect holes, as well as mastering the router and using handheld power tools. Advanced masterclasses tackle expert-level techniques and projects, like building heirloom furniture pieces.

Will I Need to Buy Materials for an Online Woodworking Class?

Yes, and the materials needed depend primarily on the project covered. Large furniture projects demand more of an investment and require a variety of tools and materials, while smaller projects have fewer needs. The course you choose will provide a detailed material list.

How Much Do Online Woodworking Classes Cost?

Online classes come in a range of prices to suit all budgets. Some are accessible for free and offer a great foundation of skills. Some platforms offer classes for as little as $14.99 per class or as much as $474.99 for in-depth videos. Others require a monthly membership, which grants you access to a limited number of instructional classes and videos with downloadable resources.

What Will I Be Able to Create in an Online Woodworking Class?

Online woodworking classes walk you through myriad projects, depending on your comfort level and skill set. Basic lessons tackle projects like crafting a wooden spoon or a simple table. Elaborate videos instruct you on building items, like bed frames, pine hutches, and garden chairs.

What Are Some Basic Woodworking Skills?

You should start by learning about the different types of wood and how they behave in construction scenarios, as well as the tools needed for certain tasks. Other basic woodworking skills include measuring, cutting wood, crafting joints and angles, sanding, drilling holes, and selecting the proper hardware (screws and nails) to attach pieces. You will also need to know how to properly care for and maintain your woodworking tools.

Best Online Woodworking Classes of 2023

Photo comp of Hammer and measuring tools — Spruce Crafts / Design by Amelia Manley

Woodworking is a coveted trade, a useful hobby, and a skill that sticks with you for life. Several online courses can help you learn the woodworking basics to tackle a DIY project or take the first steps toward a career in carpentry. The satisfaction that follows when completing a personal project, or even a modification to existing work, makes the time spent learning the craft worth it. Plus, continuing education courses in woodworking help you sharpen your skills on the job site. We researched and compiled a list of the best online woodworking classes so that you can select the course that best fits your needs before picking up a hammer.

Best Overall: Udemy
Best Budget: Instructables
Best for Beginners: The Weekend Woodworker
Best for Experts: Woodworking Masterclasses
Best for Variety: Woodworkers Guild of America
Best for Hobbyists: Skill Share

Cost: Free to $49.99
Course length: 30 minutes to 12 hours
Number of lessons: 53

Udemy has an extensive library of affordable lessons and lets you preview the class before you buy it. Also, its platform is easy to navigate with tons of features.

Pros

Large library of classes for all levels
Project- and skill-based classes
Lifetime access
Downloadable resources

Cons

Each class needs to be purchased separately

Udemy is our pick for the overall best online woodworking classes, as its website is easy to navigate and comes with a ton of features, like labels that point out the highest-rated courses in each category.

It offers 53 woodworking courses that range in difficulty and price. Some courses go on sale seasonally, which can mean some classes are offered for at a discount and others are free.

When you preview a class, like SketchUp for Woodworkers, you can see how many people have taken the course, read reviews, and learn about the content. Other notable woodworking lessons include Woodworking: All About Wood, Woodworking: Fundamentals of Furniture Making, and Creating Wood Art—An Intro to Handcrafted Wood Sculpture.

If you like your instructor, check out his (or her) other classes in the "author bio" section. This website is ideal for intermediate woodworkers with basic knowledge who want to take on a new project or add a new skill to their repertoire.

Cost: Free
Course length: About 30 minutes
Number of lessons: Nine

Instructables free online courses cover a variety of skills for those on a tight budget.

Pros

Skill-based lessons
Great for beginners
Access to "frequently asked questions"

Cons

Only nine free lessons offered

The Instructables platform offers a variety of courses on various subjects, and its free online woodworking classes will teach you the basic skills needed to take on a small project.

To gain access to the material, simply sign up on the website for a free membership (there's no catch). Instructables offers nine beginner lessons in total, and each lesson will help you build your skill confidence through extensive instruction.

The "frequently asked questions" at the bottom of each course help further explain the written lesson. However, no video instruction is offered with the free classes, so if you are a visual learner, a video course might be a more effective first step.

Cost: $147
Course length: Six weeks
Number of lessons: 12

The Weekend Woodworker's comprehensive course offers step-by-step video demonstrations and skills walkthroughs, making it perfect for novice carpenters.

Pros

Provides beginners with a complete step-by-step course
Offers six woodworking projects
Includes tool guides and a materials list

Cons

Takes six weeks to complete

Creator of the popular YouTube channel Woodworking for Mere Mortals, Steve Ramsey offers a standout, comprehensive course called The Weekend Woodworker. Instead of teaching you how to craft one project, this class instructs you on how to build six different projects.

And the designs are intentional—each one gives you the skills you need to construct anything. The course includes printable plans and diagrams, video demonstrations, comprehensive tool guides, and material lists.

This offering isn't the most budget-friendly of the bunch, but it gets great reviews from those eager to learn. Plus, there is a 30-day, money-back guarantee.

If you're looking to further your education, Woodworking for Mere Mortals has two other classes geared toward more advanced woodworkers: The Weekend Workshop and Powered Up.

Cost: $16 per month
Course length: Varies
Number of lessons: Over 250

Woodworking Masterclasses focuses on walking carpenters through advanced projects and techniques used specifically to craft furniture and cabinetry.

Pros

Subscription gives you access to 250+ individual projects
Includes video demonstrations on specific tools
Easy-to-navigate website

Cons

Not for beginners

Woodworking Masterclasses offers an archive of courses by master craftsman, Paul Sellers. These lessons focus on more challenging woodworking projects, like crafting furniture and learning specific techniques.

To gain access to Sellers' complete library of knowledge, members must pay a monthly subscription fee. The website has an appealing layout and it is easy to navigate, allowing you to view the comment section of projects before becoming a member. You can also view offered courses by signing up for a free membership.

People love this instructor! One reviewer liked how you don't need a bunch of expensive machinery to make Sellers' fine furniture. Another mentioned that Sellers' methods are akin to a master craftsman from the 19th century.

Cost: $39.99 to $399.99 per class
Course length: About 2 hours and up
Number of lessons: 95

Woodworkers Guild of America offers a variety of classes, including basic projects, to advanced skills and machinery rundowns.

Pros

Classes cover a multitude of subjects
Lessons are available to stream or to purchase on a DVD
Expert "Q & A" help
Offers higher-level academy classes

Cons

Some lessons require specific tools and machinery
Individual classes are expensive

The Woodworkers Guild of America has one of the most diverse offerings when it comes to woodworking courses. Unfortunately, its membership option only gives you access to a project library, and each course needs to be purchased separately.

Some classes come with both a streaming and DVD option, which is useful for people with a poor internet connection, or those who happen to have a DVD player in their workshop. Each class offers a thorough description of what to expect, along with images and video previews.

This website lacks a review feature, however, the program's social media presence boasts lots of positive sentiments, and its recommended by other woodworking community members and bloggers.

In addition to its courses, the Woodworkers Guild of America site is jam-packed with other woodworking content that you can access with various membership levels.

Cost: $165/year (or $13.75/month)
Course length: 10 minutes to 2.5 hours
Number of lessons: 45

Skill Share offers classes on small, artful projects, as well as lessons on refurbishing skills, making it perfect for beginner hobbyists.

Pros

Lessons focus on small crafts and projects
Comprehensive reviews
Rates the skill level for each project

Cons

Doesn't offer lessons on big projects or large furniture making

Not all woodworkers want to build furniture—some people focus, instead, on smaller projects like wooden artwork (utensils and ornaments). Skill Share offers several courses for beginners and artists alike who want to add woodworking to their DIY repertoire.

Skill Share also includes features that some of the other online platforms lack, making it perfect for the casual hobbyist. You can view the number of people who took each course, read reviews, and check out the instructor's profile. You can also preview a section of the course before you unlock it.

Skill Share offers a budget-friendly way to dabble in a variety of online classes with its inexpensive membership fee. For just $13.75 a month (billed annually as $165), you can access all its woodworking content before deciding which projects to tackle.

We chose Udemy as our overall pick for the best online woodworking classes due to its extensive library of affordable skills and project-based lessons. Udemy's website is easy to navigate and, unlike a few others on our list, the platform allows you to preview the classes before purchasing. Once you purchase a class, you are granted access to downloadable resources and you have lifetime access to all materials.

Company	Cost	Course Length	Project-based?	Number of Lessons
Best Overall Udemy	$14.99 to $49.99	3.5 to 9 hours	Yes	53
Best Budget Instructables	Free	About 30 minutes	No	9
Best for Beginners The Weekend Woodworker	$147	Six weeks	Yes	12
Best for Experts Woodworking Masterclasses	$16 per month	Varies	Yes	Over 250
Best for Variety Woodworkers Guild of America	$72 per year, or $39.99 to $474.99 per class	1.75 hours and up	Yes	12
Best for Hobbyists Skill Share	$13.75 per month, or $165 annually	10 minutes to 2.5 hours	Yes	45

FAQ

What Can I Expect to Learn in an Online Woodworking Class?

Online woodworking classes tackle a breadth of skills and projects, depending on your level of expertise. Basic classes teach the fundamentals, such as making straight cuts and perfect holes, as well as mastering the router and using handheld power tools. Advanced masterclasses tackle expert-level techniques and projects, like building heirloom furniture pieces.
Will I Need to Buy Materials for an Online Woodworking Class?

Yes, and the materials needed depend primarily on the project covered. Large furniture projects demand more of an investment and require a variety of tools and materials, while smaller projects have fewer needs. The course you choose will provide a detailed material list.
How Much Do Online Woodworking Classes Cost?

Online classes come in a range of prices to suit all budgets. Some are accessible for free and offer a great foundation of skills. Some platforms offer classes for as little as $14.99 per class or as much as $474.99 for in-depth videos. Others require a monthly membership, which grants you access to a limited number of instructional classes and videos with downloadable resources.
What Will I Be Able to Create in an Online Woodworking Class?

Online woodworking classes walk you through myriad projects, depending on your comfort level and skill set. Basic lessons tackle projects like crafting a wooden spoon or a simple table. Elaborate videos instruct you on building items, like bed frames, pine hutches, and garden chairs.
What Are Some Basic Woodworking Skills?

You should start by learning about the different types of wood and how they behave in construction scenarios, as well as the tools needed for certain tasks. Other basic woodworking skills include measuring, cutting wood, crafting joints and angles, sanding, drilling holes, and selecting the proper hardware (screws and nails) to attach pieces. You will also need to know how to properly care for and maintain your woodworking tools.

To find the best online woodworking classes, we looked at the number of projects offered by each platform, as well as the skill level needed to tackle them. We also considered the diversity of lessons, and whether or not they were skill- or project-based. We looked at cost, class format, knowledge of instructors, and ratings and reviews. Our list of six shined above the rest, earning them a place in our top picks for woodworking classes.