How to Make a DIY Spice Rack

By
Lee Wallender
Lee Wallender
Lee Wallender

Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Published on 12/22/20
Modern Style Spice Rack

Edu_Oliveros / Getty Images

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 2 hrs
  • Total Time: 1 day
  • Yield: Spice rack for 12 glass jars
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Estimated Cost: $30 to $60

Spices make the dish. Whether it's basil or cloves, cumin or saffron, your meals are always enhanced with dried spices. If your spice jars get lost in the cabinets, bring them down to the countertop, where you can quickly grab them when needed. This modern-style DIY spice rack spins effortlessly on a mini lazy-susan base. It holds 12 glass spice jars, each jar slightly tilted upward.

Tips For Making This DIY Spice Rack

Building With Hardwood

Project or hobby board is found at most home centers and some craft stores. This material allows you to build the spice rack with durable hardwoods such as poplar, mahogany, birch, cherry, oak, or maple, all while controlling costs.

Precisely Drilled Holes Are Required

A drill press is necessary for this project because the hole for each bottle must be a uniform 15 degrees. Hand drilling is not recommended. If you do not have a drill press or cannot borrow one, you may want to purchase an inexpensive multi-angle drill guide. This attaches to your existing cordless or corded drill and allows you to drill holes at an angle.

Choice of Spice Jars

One benefit of this project is that you'll be able to standardize your spice jars. Begin with a 12-pack of glass spice jars measuring 1-3/4-inch diameter by 4-inch tall. Jars that have protruding necks are preferable since the necks act as stops when the jars are slid into the holes. If you cannot find jars like this, purchase a two-by-two board of matching hardwood. This center spindle will act as a stop for the jars.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Drill press or angled drill guide
  • 1-3/4-inch auger bit
  • Cordless nailer
  • Carpenter's glue
  • Sandpaper
  • Circular saw
  • Fine-tooth blade for circular saw
  • Circular saw guide
  • Tape measure
  • Hand saw
  • Bar clamp

Materials

  • 12 4-oz. round glass spice jars, each jar 4-inch by 1-3/4-inch
  • 1 one-by-six hardwood hobby board, 4-foot
  • 1 one-by-twelve hardwood hobby board, 4-foot
  • 1 4-inch lazy susan turntable
  • 1 two-by-two matching hardwood, 2-foot (optional)
  • 4 1/4-inch screws
  • 1 polyurethane clear coat, spray can
  • Wood stain (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cut the Spice Rack Side Pieces

    With the circular saw fitted with a fine-tooth blade, cut the one-by-six hardwood board into four pieces. Each piece should be 7-1/4 inches long. Use a saw guide for perfectly straight cuts.

  2. Mark the Holes on the Side Pieces

    Each side piece will have three holes (to hold three jars). First, mark down the center of each board, length-wise. For 6-inch nominal width boards, the true width will by 5-1/2 inches. So, the center would be 2-3/4 inches. After making that mark, next mark three lines, each at a 90-degree angle to the long line. Downward from the top edge, each line should be 1-7/8 inches apart from the next line.

  3. Drill the Holes on the Side Pieces

    The center of each cross mark formed from the earlier step represents a drill point. Fit the 1-3/4-inch auger bit on the drill. Tilt the press to a 15-degree angle. Turn on the drill and slowly drill out each of the three holes. When finished, continue to the three other boards.

    Warning

    Do not stack the four boards and drill all of the holes at once. While this is a time-saving method, it changes the position of the holes on each subsequent board.

  4. Cut the Top and Bottom Pieces

    First, check to make sure that the nominal 12-inch hobby board is 11-1/4 inches wide. If so, cut it into two pieces, each 11-1/4 inches long. You should now have two square boards. Mark out crosses on the boards, each arm of the cross measuring 5-1/2 inches. Cut out the four waste sections from each board with a hand saw.

  5. Assemble the Spice Rack Pieces

    Have an assistant help with this step. Run a thin bead of carpenter's glue on the short edges of each side piece before attaching it to the cross piece. Fully assemble the spice rack with the glue and hold it into place with the bar clamp. If you need to adjust a piece, you should be able to gently tap it with a hammer until it moves into place. Once the rack is assembled and square, tighten down the bar clamp even more. Fire brad nails into the ends with the cordless nailer. Let the glue cure for 8 hours.

    Warning

    When placing the side pieces, make sure that all of the holes in the boards are pointing downward, toward the middle of the rack.

  6. Add the Lazy Susan Base

    Attach the lazy susan base to the rack with 1/4-inch screws.

  7. Widen the Spice Jar Holes

    With the sandpaper, gently sand the insides of each of the holes so that the spice jars can fit easily into them. Usually, very little sanding is needed.

  8. Stain and Coat the Spice Rack

    Apply wood stain to the wood sections of the spice rack, if desired. Even if you do not stain the item, it is recommended that you apply a polyurethane clear coat to protect it from cooking stains.

  9. Add the Center Spindle (Optional)

    If your spice rack needs a center spindle as a stop for the spice jars, cut the two-by-two to 7-1/4 inches long. Add a dot of glue to the top and bottom, then place it in the center of the rack, vertically. Add three brads at each end to hold it into place. Stain and clean-coat accordingly.