From Beginner Birdhouses to Custom Cabinets — Can 16,000 Plans Really Cover Everything?
If you’ve spent any time searching for woodworking plans online, you’ve almost certainly come across TedsWoodworking. Created by professional woodworker Ted McGrath, it has been one of ClickBank’s bestselling digital products for years — and in 2026 it remains the most widely discussed woodworking plan library available anywhere.
But with such enormous affiliate promotion behind it, separating genuine value from marketing hype can be difficult. We researched the real customer feedback — including the critical reviews that most affiliate sites bury — so you get the full, honest picture before deciding.
What Is TedsWoodworking?
TedsWoodworking is an online programme created by Ted McGrath, a professional woodworker, offering over 16,000 woodworking plans for projects ranging from simple birdhouses to complex furniture. Marketed as a comprehensive resource for beginners and experienced woodworkers, it includes step-by-step instructions, blueprints, material lists, and video tutorials. The programme is primarily digital, delivered as PDFs, with an optional DVD upgrade, and is sold through ClickBank.
Ted McGrath has been a woodworker for more than 25 years. When Ted couldn’t find craft tools that were easy to use, he set up a platform that combines quality, variety, and ease of access — aiming to make building easier for everyone from people just starting out to experienced builders.
What’s Inside the Package?
The plans are laid out so that you can follow them like a recipe, with clear measurements for each piece of wood, diagrams showing where each part goes, notes on tools needed and recommended techniques, and a logical step order so you do not get lost.
In addition to the plans, you get several bonuses: a DWG & CAD Plan Viewer that lets you edit plans, 150 premium videos to watch pros work, and a “How To Start A Woodworking Business” book to help you turn the hobby into income.
In 2026, the library is still being updated. New trends — like “Tiny House” furniture or “Smart Home” hidden compartments — are added to the database monthly. One purchase grants access to these future updates for free.
Each plan includes an itemised list of required materials, specifying the exact species of wood recommended, the precise board footage required, and the specific hardware — screws, hinges, dowels — needed. Accompanied by this is the cut list, detailing the exact dimensions every single board must be reduced to before assembly begins.
Who Is It For?
Beginners benefit because they do not have to design their own projects or guess at joinery. Intermediate and advanced woodworkers benefit from the sheer number of ideas and the ability to customise plans or use them as a starting point. You do not need a fully equipped professional shop — many projects can be done with basic tools like a circular saw, drill, sander, and hand tools.
Since the plans are royalty-free for small-scale production, you can build a portfolio of products to sell on Etsy or Facebook Marketplace making this genuinely useful for anyone exploring a woodworking side business.
What Realistic Results Look Like
A major pitfall in the DIY community is the expectation of overnight mastery. Purchasing a world-class blueprint does not magically grant you the physical muscle memory of a master carpenter.
Expect to make mistakes — you will cut a board too short, you will strip a screw. This is normal. Start with the “Simple Projects” folder. As you complete 3–5 small projects, your confidence will skyrocket. This is where the ROI becomes massive — you become capable of building custom cabinets, garden sheds, or bedroom sets, saving thousands of dollars on furniture.
Pricing & Guarantee
TedsWoodworking is typically sold for a single payment around the cost of a nice dinner out, rather than a monthly subscription. That one payment grants lifetime access to the members area and all existing plans, free monthly new plans, and all current bonuses. The purchase is backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee. The payment is processed through ClickBank, making refunds accessible if the product doesn’t meet your needs.
The Honest Concerns — What Other Reviews Don’t Tell You
At StronglyRecommends, we share what we find — including the critical feedback.
The claim of 16,000 plans is somewhat misleading, as many are low-quality or pirated. Multiple sources report that some plans are low-quality, incomplete, or copied from other sources like Popular Mechanics, Lowe’s, or Woodcraft — some of which are freely available online.
TedsWoodworking has a 2.4/5 rating on Trustpilot based on 10 reviews, with 80% giving 1-star. Complaints focus on deceptive marketing, pirated plans, and poor customer service.
Some users report that after site updates, they were asked to pay a “legacy fee” to regain access, despite initial promises of lifetime access.
Many plans offered by TedsWoodworking are also available for free on sites like Popular Mechanics, Woodcraft, or Ana White.
That said, despite these issues, some beginners find genuine value in the structured plans and tutorials for simple projects And unlike random free sites that may host pirated or incomplete files, TedsWoodworking comes with an official purchase through a secure website and a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Extraordinary variety — 16,000+ plans. With more than sixteen thousand plans, it is rare to run out of ideas. You can build for your home, yard, kids, pets, or as gifts and products to sell.
- Step-by-step, beginner-friendly format. TedsWoodworking assumes you have zero experience, basic tools, and a limited budget — and then guides you to a professional result.
- Precise cut lists eliminate guesswork. Every plan comes with a precise cutting material and tool list. You know exactly what to buy at the hardware store before you even start, preventing those mid-project panic moments.
- 3D schematics for visual clarity. TedsWoodworking includes 3D schematics that show the project from all angles — a significant advantage over flat 2D drawings that are hard to interpret.
- Valuable bonus content included. The CAD plan editor, 150 video tutorials, and woodworking business guide add genuine educational and commercial value beyond the plans themselves.
- Monthly plan updates at no extra cost. In 2026, the library is still being updated with new projects added monthly — one purchase grants access to future updates for free.
- Royalty-free for small-scale production. Plans can be used to build products for sale on Etsy or Facebook Marketplace — a genuine income opportunity for motivated buyers.
- One-time payment, lifetime access. No subscription fees or recurring charges — pay once and keep everything.
- Sold through ClickBank with 60-day guarantee. Financial risk is minimal with a well-established refund process.
Cons
- Plan quality is inconsistent. Many plans are low-quality, incomplete, or copied from freely available sources online — the “16,000 plans” headline is somewhat misleading in terms of genuine unique content.
- Trustpilot rating is poor. TedsWoodworking has a 2.4/5 rating on Trustpilot, with 80% of reviewers giving 1-star, and complaints focusing on deceptive marketing and customer service issues.
- Some content is available free elsewhere. Many plans offered are available for free on sites like Popular Mechanics, Woodcraft, or Ana White meaning a portion of what you’re paying for could be sourced at no cost.
- Potential “lifetime access” concerns. Some users report being asked to pay additional fees to regain access after site updates, despite initial promises of lifetime access.
- Digital only — not ideal for all buyers. A common complaint is that the product is purely digital, which isn’t always clear in promotional materials buyers expecting physical books or printed plans will be disappointed.
- Customer support is limited. Users report difficulties contacting TedsWoodworking directly — support is primarily handled through ClickBank rather than the product creator.
- Not suitable for advanced woodworkers. Intermediate to advanced woodworkers often find the plans lacking in quality or originality and should seek higher-quality plans from reputable sources like Fine Woodworking.
- Heavily affiliate-driven reviews online. The programme’s visibility on YouTube and social media is driven by affiliate marketers, which inflates positive reviews while downplaying criticisms — always check independent sources like Reddit or Trustpilot.
- Overwhelming volume can be paralyzing. With 16,000+ plans to browse, new buyers often struggle to know where to start — curation and organisation could be significantly better.
Who Is TedsWoodworking Best For?
TedsWoodworking delivers the most value for complete beginners who want a large, affordable starting library of guided projects with clear instructions, material lists, and visual diagrams. It is also useful for hobbyists who want an endless source of project inspiration, and for those exploring a small woodworking side business using royalty-free plans.
It is not recommended for intermediate or advanced woodworkers who need technically precise, original professional-grade blueprints, or for buyers who are not comfortable working exclusively with digital files.
