Make Your Own Floating Shelves with This Simple Technique! 2026

Isabel Gaines
Make Your Own Floating Shelves with This Simple Technique! - grandgoldman.com
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Make your Own Floating Shelves with this Simple Technique, we will show you the easiest methods to make yours. These shelves are easy to make and the best part is that you only need a few hand tools.

So if you're looking to store your gear, decorate a room, or simply renovate the bathroom, these shelves could be a quick solution.


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Make Your Own Floating Shelves

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By cutting a rod into small pieces, you can reduce the cost by eliminating the supports. With some adjustments, this method can be modified to fit most applications.

We dive into this construction and see you in the next step.

Step 1: What do you need?

Make Your Own Floating Shelves with This Simple Technique

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  • (1) Yellow Pine: I used 8×1.5×96 (inches)
  • (1) 1/2 Dowel (Oak), 36 inches long
  • (6) 3-inch wood screws (two per shelf)
  • (3) 3/4 to 1 inch wood screws (one on each shelf)
  • Wood finish
  • Wood conditioner
  • Polyurethane

First, cut the wood into 3 equal parts.

Step 2: Pegs

Make Your Own Floating Shelves with This Simple Technique

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Make Your Own Floating Shelves with This Simple Technique

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Cut the pin (dowel):

I'm using a 36 inch oak rod. At 4 inches long, they are very strong and require a great amount of force to break.

Starting from one end to the other, place a mark every 4 inches. Then cut the dowels at the mark, you should end up with 9 pieces.

Back to the wood:

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Place a mark 2 inches from each end and then place another in the middle. Draw a line, then make a center mark.

Drilling the hole:

Add tape on the bit to set the depth of the pin. Drill the hole.

Step 3: Cutting the wood

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Make Your Own Floating Shelves with This Simple Technique

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Although I used my circular saw, you can use a table saw to make these cuts easily. I set the guides to make a cutting depth of 1.5 inches.

Note that the tear should be along the side with the holes "pre-drilled."

During this process after each cut, I marked and numbered the parts so I know which cuts it belongs to.

Step 4: Shaping the pin

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Make Your Own Floating Shelves with This Simple Technique

The trick to making this step successful is to sand off a portion of the pin. A portion of the pin will pass through the rear shelf support.

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This part can be left unsanded, it will make a perfect fit. The rest of the pin will need to be sanded.

I find it easy to put the pin into the chuck of my drill and turn it over the sandpaper. The main reason why I didn't do uA larger hole is just that I don't want the rod to be loose. While sanding at this point, you can also sand the rest of the parts.

Step 5: Add a Security Screw

Make Your Own Floating Shelves with This Simple Technique

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After confirming that each pin fits easily. Hammer the dowels through both parts. They could be disassembled with minimal effort.

Next, make a mark in the center of the center dowel. Then place a clamp near the center. Pre-drill and install a screw in this area. This will lock the shelf in place.

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Step 6: Add the finish

Make Your Own Floating Shelves with This Simple Technique

After everything has been sanded. See below how I finished the bookshelf. You can paint or apply any finish you want.

  • I applied the pre-stain condition (prevent stain)
  • A finishing coat
  • Two layers of Polyurethane

Step 7: Assembly

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Make Your Own Floating Shelves with This Simple Technique

Make Your Own Floating Shelves with This Simple Technique

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Make Your Own Floating Shelves with This Simple Technique

These shelves can be mounted on any wall. In my situation, I mounted them on drywall. There are other mounting methods, but finding the stud in the wall would give more strength.

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After finding the studs on the first stud wall using a stud finder. I looked for the second one, made a mark on the back support and the wall. Then transfer the same markings to the other brackets and drill a hole to sink the screw heads.

Simply screw the shelves into place and slide the shelves onto the dowel rods. Then add the security screw to finish.

Step 8: Ready!

Make Your Own Floating Shelves with This Simple Technique

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Make Your Own Floating Shelves with This Simple Technique

Here are some ideas for using shelves. I have received a lot of questions about the weight limit. I have not put a maximum weight on the shelf, so I cannot confirm the maximum weight load. I'm sure these will be between 50 and 60 pounds.

Thank you for reading this article.

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Isabel Gaines

Author

Isabel Gaines

As a former restaurant owner turned reporter, Isabel brings a unique perspective to Grand Goldman. With decades of experience, her articles on cooking and homemaking are both informative and engaging, reflecting her deep knowledge and love for all things culinary.


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