A 4 ft wide seed-starting rack with 2 plywood shelves and a place for a shop light over each.
Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
2Shelves
48 x 20 x 38 inSize
4 of 10 x 20 inTrays
3 to 5 hrBuild time
$97.29Materials
Drawings All dimensions in inches
3D viewfinishedFront elevationRight elevationPlan viewfrom above
Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted
Qty
Stock
Length
Part
Cut
1
2x4
41
Shelf 1 rail front
on edge, between the posts
1
2x4
41
Shelf 1 rail back
on edge, between the posts
1
2x4
41
Shelf 2 rail front
on edge, between the posts
1
2x4
41
Shelf 2 rail back
on edge, between the posts
1
2x4
41
Top rail front
on edge
1
2x4
41
Top rail back
on edge
4
2x4
38
Post
1
2x4
13
Shelf 1 end left
on edge, between the posts
1
2x4
13
Shelf 1 end right
on edge, between the posts
1
2x4
13
Shelf 2 end left
on edge, between the posts
1
2x4
13
Shelf 2 end right
on edge, between the posts
Cut list: sheet goods
Part
Stock
Size
Note
Shelf 1
3/4 ply
41 x 17
cut to fit
Shelf 2
3/4 ply
41 x 17
cut to fit
Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim
2x4 x 8 ft
Shelf 1 rail front 41Shelf 1 rail back 41Shelf 1 end left 13
2x4 x 8 ft
Shelf 2 rail front 41Shelf 2 rail back 41Shelf 1 end right 13
2x4 x 8 ft
Top rail front 41Top rail back 41Shelf 2 end left 13
2x4 x 8 ft
Post 1 38Post 2 38Shelf 2 end right 13
2x4 x 8 ft
Post 3 38Post 4 38
Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out
Sheet 1: 3/4 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Shopping list $97.29 checked / $0.00 estimated
Item
Store
Qty
Each
Line
Note
2x4x8 stud, SPF
Home Depot
5
$4.15
$20.75
see lumber cutting diagram
23/32 in (3/4 in) CDX plywood, 4x8 sheet
Lowe's
1
$46.57
$46.57
see sheet cutting diagrams
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb box
Home Depot
1
$29.97
$29.97
Total before tax
$97.29
Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.
Build steps
Cut four posts to 38 in and the rails from 2x4s. Cut 2 plywood shelves to 41 x 17 in.
Screw the front and back rails between the posts at each shelf height, on edge, then the end rails.
Screw each plywood shelf down onto its rails, and drill a 1/2 in drain hole at each corner.
Screw a top rail across the front and back at the top and hang a 4 ft shop light on chains under each rail and the top, 2 to 4 in above the seedlings.
Set a 10 x 20 in tray with a dome on each half of each shelf, with a mat or a tray under it.
Before you start
Each 4 ft shelf holds two 10 x 20 in trays: 4 trays in all, about 144 seedlings in 36-cell flats.
Hang a 4 ft LED shop light per shelf on chains so you can raise it as the plants grow. Put them on a timer for 14 to 16 hr a day.
The light fixtures are not in the shopping list; buy one per shelf, about $20 each.
Keep the rack away from a wall that gets cold, and wipe the shelves with a bleach solution between batches.
Draft drawings generated from the model. Build one before selling this plan.