DIY Tiered Spice Rack (Free Plans + Template)

Get your spices organized with this DIY tiered spice rack. This 3 tier shelf keeps spices at your fingertips. It’s easy to make with these free plans.

DIY Tiered Spice Rack

This DIY tiered spice rack is the perfect way to organize spices in your kitchen. The sides feature a subtle curved detail and the three tiers keep all of your most-used spices at your fingertips.

Display the storage rack on a counter or store it inside of a pantry or cupboard.

It’s easy to make with scrap wood and a few common woodworking tools. The free plan includes all of the measurements, detailed instructions, and a template to lay out the curved details.

Get the free plan now and build one today.

You may also enjoy this wall-mounted DIY spice cabinet and this wall-mounted DIY spice shelf.

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Before we get into how to make a DIY tiered spice rack, be sure to click the subscribe button at the bottom of this page to sign up for my FREE weekly newsletter loaded with helpful pocket hole tricks, space-saving workshop ideas, clever DIY tips and more!

Inspiration for This Project
How Many Spices Can This Rack Hold?
What Spice Jars Did You Use?
What Tools Do You Need to Make a Tiered Spice Rack?
What Wood Should You Use?
How Do You Draw the Curved Detail?
How Do You Finish the Tiered Spice Rack?
How to Make a DIY Tiered Spice Rack Tutorial
Get the Free Printed Plan

Inspiration for This Project

There are plans on the site for this wall-mounted spice cabinet and this wall-mounted spice shelf. I thought it was time to round out the collection of spice organizers with a tabletop version.

This tiered rack has three shelves and subtle curved details on the sides. It’s an attractive way to display spices on a counter or store it in a pantry, or cupboard.

Corner detail of a DIY tiered spice rack

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How Many Spices Can This Rack Hold?

This spice shelf can hold about 21 of these spice jars.

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What Spice Jars Did You Use?

I bought this pack of 24 glass spice jars for this project. The spice jars come with spice labels, shaker lids, metal caps, and a collapsible funnel for filling the jars.

Front view of a DIY tiered spice rack with 21 spice jars

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What Tools Do You Need to Make a Tiered Spice Rack?

This 3 tier shelf is easy to make for DIYers of any skill level. It’s a simple afternoon project that can be made using basic woodworking skills and just a few common woodworking tools.

Tools like a miter saw, pocket hole jig, and a drill. You’ll also need a saw to cut the curved detail on the sides of the rack.

Miter Saw

I used a miter saw to cut all of the parts to length for this project.

Pocket Hole Jig

You can use any pocket hole jig to drill the pocket holes for this project. I used the Kreg Jig 720PRO to drill the pocket holes for my spice rack. The inexpensive, user-friendly Kreg Jig 320 is also a great choice for drilling pocket holes.

Drill

The drill was used to drill the pocket holes and to drive the screws that join the parts together.

Right Angle Drill Attachment

It’s also handy to have a right angle drill attachment. The pocket hole locations on this project are tricky to reach with a traditional driver.

A right angle drill attachment is the perfect tool to drill in a tight spot or to drive screws in hard-to-reach places.

Additional Saw

I used a scroll saw to cut the curved details on the sides of the rack, but you might be able to make these cuts with a jigsaw instead.

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What Wood Should You Use?

This tiered shelf can be made with just about any type of wood. This project doesn’t require much wood so it’s a great way to use up some scrap wood.

View across the front of a DIY tiered spice rack

Many times I use common pine to build my projects. Pine is relatively inexpensive and easy to work with.

I had some scrap pieces of pine 1×2s, 1×3s, and 1×6s, so I used those to make my tiered shelf.

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How Do You Draw the Curved Detail?

The curves on this tiered spice rack could be tricky to draw if you had to do it by hand. Fortunately, you don’t have to. The free printable plan includes a template that takes the guesswork out of laying out this curved detail.

Just get the free plan, print the template, trace it on the boards, and then use a saw to make the cuts.

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How Do You Finish the Tiered Spice Rack?

This 3 tier shelf could be finished in a variety of ways. It could be left natural, painted, stained, or a combination of paint and stain.

I planned to leave my shelf natural and apply a clear coat. I applied three coats of this natural polyurethane to this project.

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DIY Tiered Spice Rack

Printed Plan

Click here to get the FREE plan (includes detailed instructions, measurements, and bonus tips)

Supplies

Wood (per printed plan)
1-¼” Pocket Screws
1-¼” Brad Nails
Wood Glue

Tools

Tape Measure
Drill
Kreg Jig
Miter Saw
Scroll Saw or Jigsaw
Hammer or Brad Nailer
Right Angle Drill Attachment
Portable Spindle Sander (optional)

Step 1. Make the Sides

Cut four pieces of wood to length. Apply glue and clamp to form two side panels.

Clamp two pieces of wood to make the sides for a DIY tiered spice shelf

While the glue is drying print the template at the end of the printed plan.

💡 TIP: When printing the PDF template, be sure to set the scale to 100%.

I prefer templates to be rigid. So I applied some spray adhesive to a manila folder and placed the template on top. Then I cut out the template with scissors.

Using scissors to cut the template for the side detail of a DIY 3 tier spice shelf

The manila folder provides a lip for the pencil to trace around.

Tracing the template on the side of a DIY 3 tier spice rack

I used a scroll saw with this 10 TPI blade (teeth per inch) to cut out these curved details, but you might be able to use a jigsaw instead.

I made the cuts next to the pencil line. This way, I could sand to the pencil line.

Using a scroll saw to cut out the side of a DIY wood tiered spice shelf

It’s not necessary, but I used this portable spindle sander to smooth the curved edges of the side panels. The spindle sander makes quick work of smoothing any saw marks. If I didn’t have a spindle sander, I would have smoothed the edges by hand with sandpaper.

Using a spindle sander to smooth the edges of a DIY 3 tiered spice rack

Step 2. Assemble the Shelves

Cut four pieces of wood to length. In three pieces, drill pocket holes in each end. These three pieces will be used as the shelves. The remaining piece will be used as the riser for the bottom shelf.

Related: How to Use a Kreg Jig

Bottom Shelf

Apply glue to the edge of the piece with pocket holes (shelf), position it on the piece without pocket holes (riser), and clamp for about 30 minutes or until the glue is dry.

Clamping the first step of a DIY tiered spice rack

Middle and Top Shelf

Cut three pieces of wood to length. Two pieces will be used as risers and one will be used as the back.

Apply glue to the edge of the piece with pocket holes (shelf) and position it on the riser.

Clamp for about 30 minutes or until the glue is dry. Repeat for the remaining shelf.

Clamping the middle shelf of a DIY tiered spice rack

To help with positioning, I clamped a piece of scrap wood to the front of the middle shelf. Apply glue to the edge of the bottom shelf, position on the middle shelf, and clamp. Attach using 1-¼” brad nails.

Using a nail gun to attach the middle shelf to the bottom shelf of a DIY tiered spice rack

Again, to help with positioning, I clamped a piece of scrap wood to the front of the top shelf. Apply glue to the edge of the middle shelf, position on the top shelf, and clamp. Attach using 1-¼” brad nails.

Using a nail gun to attach the top shelf to the middle shelf of a DIY tiered spice rack

Back

Just like I did with the shelves, to help with positioning, I clamped a piece of scrap wood to the front of the back. Apply glue to the edge of the top shelf, position on the back, and clamp. Attach using 1-¼” brad nails.

Step 3. Attach the Shelves

Position the shelves on the sides and clamp. Attach using a right angle drill attachment and 1-¼” pocket screws.

Using a drill to attach the shelves to the sides of a DIY 3 tier spice rack

Step 4. Finish the Spice Rack

See How Do You Finish the Spice Rack? for more information.

Final Thoughts

This easy-to-make DIY tiered spice rack is the perfect way to organize spices in your kitchen. The sides feature a subtle curved detail and the 3 tiers keep all of your most-used spices at your fingertips.

Click here to get the free plan (including the detailed instructions and measurements) now!

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