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This build wraps a standard plastic cooler in a real furniture frame — a slatted-front box with a mitered hinged lid on top and an arched-bracket shelf underneath for cups or supplies. Because it's built around one specific cooler's footprint, measure your own cooler before cutting a single board; the plan's dimensions are a starting point, not a guarantee, and coolers vary in size between brands.
The lid is the fussiest part: its frame is mitered and beveled at 45° so it closes flush over the box opening, and the inner frame glued underneath is what actually registers the lid's position and keeps it from sliding off-center. Get the inner frame sized and placed before you worry about hinges — a well-fit inner frame makes the hinges nearly foolproof, while a sloppy one fights you the whole way.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Plastic coolerMeasure yours before cutting — sizes vary by brand, and this plan is built around one specific footprint. | 1 each |
| Pine, 2x2, 8 ft | 4 each |
| Pine, 1x3, 8 ft | 3 each |
| Pine, 1x6, 8 ft | 2 each |
| Pine, 2x4, 8 ft | 2 each |
| Pine, 1x2, 8 ft | 1 each |
| Plywood scrapSmall front-panel infill piece. | 1 each |
| Hinges | 1 set |
| Caster wheelsOptional. | 4 set |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 1 box |
| Wood glue | 4 oz |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| LegsPine | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 35" |
| Front/back frame railsPine | 6 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 24" |
| Back panel boardsPine | 5 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 10 3/4" |
| Front panel boardsPine | 4 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 10 3/4" |
| Front panel, lowerPine | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 10 3/4" |
| Side/shelf slatsPine | 14 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 13 1/2" |
| Side panel boardsPine | 4 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 8 3/4" |
| Side panel, lowerPine | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 8 3/4" |
| Top frame, endsPineBoth ends mitered 45°, not parallel, long-point measurement. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 28" |
| Top frame, sidesPineBoth ends mitered 45°, not parallel, long-point measurement. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 17 1/2" |
| Lid frame, endsPineBoth ends beveled 45°, not parallel, long-point measurement. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 27" |
| Lid frame, sidesPineBoth ends beveled 45°, not parallel, long-point measurement. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 16" |
| Lid top panelPine | 4 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 14 1/2" |
| Lid top panel, edgePine | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 14 1/2" |
| Lid inner frame, endsPine | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 13" |
| Lid inner frame, sidesPine | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 25 1/2" |
| Shelf supportsPineArched shape cut from these. | 2 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 5 1/2" |
| ShelfPine | 1 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 15" |
Buy 13 boards at 8 ft.
3 boards
Build the front and back frames from the legs and frame rails.
Add the back panel boards to the back frame — a small gap between them is fine and will vary depending on your actual board widths.
Add the wider front panel boards to the front frame. Tip: you can drill 3/4" pocket holes facing the 2x2 legs now, to make attaching the lower front piece in the next step easier.
Attach the lower 2x2 front piece using the pocket holes from the previous step, or countersunk screws.
Connect the front and back frames with the 2x4 side rails, spacing the shelf slats roughly 1-1/4" apart as you go.
Add the side panel boards to close in both sides of the housing.
Build the mitered top frame separately with 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket screws, then attach it to the top of the housing with countersunk screws or nails. This completes the main cooler housing — your cooler should now slide in and sit level inside it.
Build the beveled lid frame and add the top panel boards over it.
Glue and attach the inner frame to the underside of the lid — this is what registers the lid's position over the box opening and keeps it from sliding off-center, so size and place it carefully before worrying about the hinges. Once it's fit and centered, install the hinges.
Attach the arched shelf-support brackets to the 2x2 legs using pocket screws or countersunk screws, then set the shelf on top.
If you'd like the stand to roll, install caster wheels at the base of each leg.
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4 boards
2 boards
3 boards
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →