This post is all about how to make a Stovetop Shelf to rest above your stove that can hold salt, pepper, oil and more.

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Published March 8, 2024
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The other day, I found these adorable jars that would be perfect in our kitchen. They are perfect for salt, sugar and pepper, with these wooden spoons and cork lids. However, I had no place to put them!

With inspiration from Pinterest, reclaimed materials and a few hours, I asked Tyler to build me a DIY Stovetop Shelf. In this blog, I will share how quick and simple it can be to build one of these shelves that rest right above your stove.

Now, these can be wider or thinner depending on your wood on hand, or desired width. That part is totally up to you.

Cost to make a DIY Stove Shelf

What was the total cost to make this particular Stovetop Shelf? This cost us a grand total of $0.00. Really!
The material was reclaimed, destined for the dumpster, and saved in our garage. Along with four screws and a dollop of glue, making this shelf was very inexpensive.

I have seen these DIY Stove Shelves for sale locally and also online for a ridiculous amount of money. As I am cheap, we had material, and a husband who can agree to my projects, making one was the way to go. Below was my Pinterest inspiration for what I wanted in a shelf. We didn’t want to buy any materials for this DIY Stove Shelf project.

You too can make a Stovetop Shelf for little to no cost if you have reclaimed wood on hand. If you do not, you can purchase wood for cheap at a local hardware store.

Not sure which wood to use? A hardwood would be best like oak, cherry, maple, walnut or ash are great choices. However, stay away from hickory as it can be stringy and not as solid as you’d like for smaller projects.

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Additionally to the MDF trim projects and making bedrooms from scratch, we also took on our 90’s golden oak kitchen and brought it into the modern era. Check that Kitchen Reface with Milk Paint project out by clicking the link below.

Steps to make a DIY Stove Shelf

Step #1 Get Materials

What materials are needed to make a Stovetop Shelf? Below is a list of tools and materials you will need to make this project.

Once you pick which wood you need, you will then need wood glue, Kreg Jig screws and drills, a measuring tape to find out what size wood cuts to make, a level to assure your shelf is leveled, and various other tools.

• 4 Kreg J screws
• Kreg Jig
• Clamp
• Wood glue
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Level
• Wood
• Various Saws
• Drills

The Kreg Jig and clamp are most likely the most important part of this project as it helps to make pocket holes for hidden screws. The clamp helps you clamp down the guide, and then you use the provided drill bit.

Glue is also important, as you will need to put glue on each piece prior to screwing them together. Not only does the screw hold the pieces of wood together, but wood glue is vital in keeping them from separating over time.

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Step #2 Measure

The first step to make a DIY Stove Shelf is to measure the space and to find the materials you want. Tyler has a stash of scrap wood in the garage to pick from. These are various types of wood in different lengths and finishes. In the stash, we have oak, hickory, cherry, walnut and more.

Once the materials were picked and measured, Tyler got his tools out to start this project.

This DIY Stove Shelf will only have three pieces of wood. The top shelf and the two sides that hold it next to the stovetop. The two sides will most likely be the same length.

You may also need to make a small cut-out from the back of the side pieces to fit around your countertop or backsplash.

Write down your Stovetop Shelf measurements!

Once you measure the height you will need, write them down on a piece of paper. Then, measure the length you will need for the top piece of your shelf and write it down as well.

Measuring is the #1 MOST IMPORTANT thing to do when doing any project. If you don’t measure correctly, you will always make mistakes.

“Measure TWICE cut ONCE.”

Double-check those lengths and make sure you have them perfect, so you don’t end up making mistakes and using twice the amount of wood and materials than you’d otherwise do.

Cut your Stovetop Shelf pieces

Now you have your measurements perfectly written down, you are ready to cut your pieces to the right lengths. For this DIY Stove Shelve, you will actually only need to do 6 cuts. Really! Only 6 cuts total for this project. (You may need to do extra cuts on the backside against the countertop if you want it to be cut around it.)

For the top piece, you will want to slice off a piece off one end to make it straight. Then, once that sliver is off, you can then measure from the freshly cut end down the length and mark where to cut. Once marked, with the measurement checked for accuracy, use a table saw to cut your piece making the second cut. Cutting the sliver off the end helps the piece of wood be straight and gives you the right spot to measure off of.

Set the top piece of the shelf aside.

Double check the measurements for the height on the side pieces against the height of the stove back, then make sure you have at least 1-inch clearance between the shelf and the stove backing. The shelf should not be directly on the stove back.

For the two side pieces, cut a sliver off the end to make sure it is square, then measure the length on the wood and mark it and cut it to the correct length. Do the same with the second side of the Stove Shelf.

Dry Fit Your Stovetop Shelf Pieces

Now that your pieces are cut, dry fit the pieces together to make sure it fits well. Dry fit means to put your pieces together without a permanent fix, to check for fit.

Now that you are sure your pieces fit together, you can then check them in a Dry Fit against your stove. Set the two side pieces on the countertop and then lay the top piece of your Stove Shelf on top, and make sure they work with the size of your stove. This is the most important part, as this fit helps make sure your cuts were accurate.

Kreg Jig Your Stovetop Shelf Pieces

Now that your fit is good, you can then make your drill holes as to where your screws will then adhere the pieces together.

Using a Kreg Jig helps to accurately make holes for your screw holes with the right screws to use.

Use a clamp to clamp the Kreg Jig to the pieces, there will be one on each side, then drill with the included bit into the piece. Drill all of your holes on the right sides.

Attach and assemble your Stovetop Shelf

Once drilled, slightly blow out any sawdust or residue, then piece the first two together and screw in the screws to join two pieces. Then, once joined, screw the second leg to the top piece.

Your Stovetop Shelf is now assembled! With three pieces of wood and up to 4 screws, you too can make a Stovetop Shelf yourself. This project took no more than two hours from start to finish.

This post was all about how to make a Stovetop Shelf yourself to rest above your stove.
~Monica

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