These plans for a DIY serving tray are the fourth in our new series of free serving tray plans and they are adding some additional refinement to our plan for a serving tray with handles. Instead of using 3/4″ lumber for the bottom that is nailed in, we’re using 1/4″ boards recessed in a dado. The 1/4″ boards should be strong enough to hold most anything you plan on serving on this tray, and since they are resting in a dado there are less nail holes that need to be filled. You can actually assemble this DIY serving tray with no nails if you use a strap clamp.

If you build a serving tray from these plans, or build anything from any of our plans, we would love to see how your project turns out. Please take a few minutes to share your build, so we can appreciate your work and know that our plans are helping a community of DIY enthusiasts.

Materials Needed

• 2 – 1/4″ x 3″ @ 3′
• 1 – 1 x 3 @ 6′

Tools Needed

• Miter saw or circular saw
• Jig saw or band saw (optional)
• Drill and 3/4″ bit (optional)
• Router and straight bit (optional)
• Handle routing template (optional) and double-sided tape
• 18 gauge brad nailer and 1 1/2″ brad nails (optional)
• Wood glue
• Strap clamp (optional) (build your own strap clamp)
• Sander & sandpaper

Step 1: Cut and join the bottom boards

We’ll start these plans similarly to how we started the originals, by cutting the boards for the base. However, this time we’re cutting them each to 16 7/8″ long. The extra 3/8″ will allow them to sit in the dado you’ll cut in the end pieces in the next step, but still leave them a little short so they have wiggle room. You want these to be exactly the same length, so I recommend using a miter saw with a stop block. You don’t want to glue these boards together at all. They each will be free floating independently.

Step 2: Cut the sides and the ends

Before you start cutting the pieces for the sides and the ends of this DIY serving tray, you’ll want to find the measurements of the four tray bottom pieces as they are laid out next to each other. Take these measurements, and add approximately 1 1/8″ to both measurements. These will be the outer lengths of your short and long pieces. For example, if you four bottom boards equal exactly 12″ x 17″, your end boards would be 13 1/8″ while your side boards would be 18 1/18″.

Make certain to cut your boards with non parallel 45° miters. Then, on the inner sides of each board you need to cut a 1/4″ high x 1/4″ deep dado, 1/8″ up from the bottom edge. You should now be able to dry fit all of the pieces together.

Before you glue things together you will need to cut out the handles using either a drill and a jig saw, or your router and a router template. I prefer the router template for speed and efficiency, and also because it is easier to create a variety of handle shapes in a repeatable fashion.

It doesn’t matter if your handle cutouts are the same dimensions as the image below. As long as they are large enough to allow four fingers to pass through you can make them any size and shape you wish.

Step 3: Attach all four sides

The last step in these plans for a DIY serving tray with handles is to glue (or brad nail) all four sides in place. I prefer to just glue the mitered corners and use a strap clamp to pull everything tight. Alternatively, you can use 1 1/2″ brad nails through the corners to attach the sides to the ends. You don’t want to glue the bottom boards into the dados, you want them to be able to free float. This gives them the ability to expand and contract with the seasons.

Step 5: Sand, paint or stain

Time for the finishing touches on your new DIY serving tray. Use at least 120 grit sandpaper to lightly sand the entire piece.

Not certain what type of finish you want to add to your new piece? Check out our series on eco-friendly wood finishes. We detail options for oils, waxes, water-based finishes, shellac, milk paint, and citrus and plant based solvents. We give you all of the details you need to make an informed choice about the right type of finish to choose for your latest project.

If you have any questions or comments about these plans for a DIY serving tray, leave us a note in the comments section below.

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