ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Free Router Table Plans

This is the first in a series that will focus on free workshop plans. Subscribe to the ToolCrib.com email newsletter to stay up to date on ALL of our woodworking and power tool resources!

The router table is a classic wood shop project, and if you’re as thrifty as I am then there’s no question that you’re going to build your own. Though, cough cough, our associates at Amazon have a fantastic array of prebuilt router tables… like this $719.99 Jessem 02140 Mast-R-Lift, for example

Ok, enough drooling. Let’s get back to the free router table plans So I dug through free woodworking plans from sites I wrote about recently to hand pick these free router table plans for you.

This article is designed to be a great starting point for your router table project, and to get you thinking about all the possible options out there. So browse the plans, and let your imagination run wild. And check out the links to forum discussions at the end of the article for more insight

I organized the best plans I found into three lists:

Space Saver and Bench Top Router Tables
Full Size/Professional Router Tables
Router Table Accessories

I also indicate whether there are drawings or not, because other wise it’s kinda like telling people to turn left at the big sign with the cow on it instead of drawing them a map.

Some of the plans link directly to PDFs and those are indicated (surprise!) with the letters PDF.

If you’ve built any of these, have pictures or tips, or would like me to link to your free router table plans send me an email to GFrench@ToolCrib.com.

1) Space Saver and Bench Top Free Router Table Plans:
Are you space conscious? Ultra thrifty? Seeking portability in your router table? Check through these free router table plans and build yourself exactly what you need.

Minimalist Router Table - Good, small, cheap. Decent drawing but no numbers on them.
Bench Top Router Table - Excellent! Includes diagrams and shopping list.
Fold-Away Router Table (pdf) drawings. great space saver!
Router Table-Mate - This little beauty should give you the functionality of the full-sized tables, but will fold up quite easily… and the author made it for under $50. NICE.
Table Top Router Plans (PDF) HIGHLY DETAILED! These are phenomenal plans.
Simple Router Table (workmate topper) - Just what you’d expect. Economical in space and price. Fence plans too. Good drawings and material list.
Mini Router Table - Turn your dremel into a router? Forgive the pop ups on that page… neat idea, great drawings.
Quick and Easy Router Table - A little weak as far as plans go, but could help you round out your ideas.
Benchtop Router Table - Good descriptions of how to, no drawings or materials though.

2) Full Size/Professional Free Router Table Plans:
Are you ready to upgrade from your bench top model… or starting out on your very first full-size router table? Check out some of these incredible free router table plans!

Professional Router Table - good pictures, good descriptions, six pages but no actual detailed plans.
A Router Table for Woodworkers - Excellent design and plans, with complete MTO (material take off) and hook in to a dust collection unit.
Rolling Router Work Bench (PDF) - SWEET! The Cadillac of router tables… Great and detailed drawings.
Router Table - A little weak on the plan side, but good details of the build that should give you some ideas
Router Table - Looks like a nice, standard router table. Great descriptions.
Router Table - SWEET Table and Descriptions, but No DRAWINGS… DOH!
Floor Standing Router Table - Great Diagrams, great descriptions. NICE PLANS!
Mobile Router Center - They put the price of the build at $260. It’s definitely a sweet table though. No actual drawings, but great step-by-step and a complete materials list.
Jane’s Router Table Project - No drawings, great pictures and descriptions. More useful for ideas and tips.
Making Your Own Routertable, Easily! - Very basic - easy to follow descriptions and drawings.
The Rolling Router Table (made from big electrical wiring spool… COOL!)

3) Router Table Accessories and Router Mounting:
You’re done with your router table? Check out some of these free router table accessory plans… and the router mounting guide

Router Table Building Forum Threads to Read:
If you don’t have a forum you participate in I highly recommend WoodNet, FamilyWoodworking and LumberJocks. Here are some router table building threads I found in woodworking forums.

Homemade vs. store-bought router table tops Woodnetters offer advice and tips.
Router Table Quest Saw Mill Creek - some good nuggets buried in this thread.
Router Table and Lift - Designs and ideas for a smoothly functioning router workstation from WoodWeb.
Challenge to Create the Ideal Router Table - Australian woodworking forum - metric alert
What router and router table - Australian again. Good tips here too.

WoodShop Plan Ultimate Guide Series:
Do you have a request for the wood shop plan guide I put together next? Send an email to GFrench@ToolCrib.com! And be sure to sign up for the ToolCrib.com email newsletter to read about all of our great woodworking and power tool resources!