Wine rack from a recycled pallet

This DIY idea is not only a cheap, simple, and easy-to-do project, but also an elegant way to store wine bottles and glasses!

Now we know that some of you prefer storing wine bottles horizontally. This storage idea is perfect for wine lovers who don’t leave their wine unconsumed for too long. :)

BUT this pallet wine rack can definitely be used in slightly different ways! Instead of hiding beautiful empty wine bottles in your garage or storage room while thinking of bottle recycling projects, why not display them with this rack? Mount the pallet rack in your kitchen or dining area and you now have a decor/storage! You can also use this storage for other bottles such as liquor.

Read on to learn how to make this DIY pallet wine rack! And while you’re at it, how about making some for your wine-loving friends, too? :)

Materials:

Pallet
3″ Screws
2 1/2″ Screws
Wood Stain (optional)

Tools:

Saw
Hammer
Pry
Drill
Sander
Wood Clamps

Steps:

Use a circular saw or hand saw and cut in the indention of the pallet where forklift forks go. The height of the wine rack will be roughly 16-17 inches tall depending on where you cut it.

You’ll need two boards for the bottom of the wine rack, you can use the center of the pallet to get these boards. Using a hammer and a pry bar or whatever you have to get in between the boards, hammer it in and pry them off. This may take some practice and be frustrating because the ends tend to crack and break, but eventually, you’ll get the hang of it or get quality wood that won’t crack.

You’ll need 3 smaller pieces to separate the board that holds the glasses and supports the bottom. You can get these by cutting up the bigger section of pallet that the boards are nailed in to. The pieces need to be the length of the board and 1×1 or a little bigger if you’d like. You can use a hand saw to cut them up or whatever you have. I used a circular saw to cut them off the pallet then used a band saw to cut them to dimension.

Pallets are usually rough so I sand them down to make them look better and prevent getting splinters. Depending on how rough it is, I just used 120 grit and then 220 grit to finish.

On one board you need to make holes for the wine glasses. Most pallets are going to be around 40 inches wide and I used around the standard size wine glass but you can make the sizes fit your needs. For mine, I mark 4.5 inches in from the edge and then mark 3 more holes of that one 4 inches from the next. The depth I make them is 1.5-1.75 inches into the board. Then I do the same to the other side.

I use a 1-3/8 inch Forstner bit on my drill press but you can use a hand drill if you don’t have one, and drill out your marked holes.

I just use a piece of wood around an inch wide, center it on the hole, and mark where I need to make the cuts. Using whatever saw you have, cut the pieces out and sand the rough edges.

I put the boards together and line them up with the bottom of the rack to make sure everything goes together well. I clamp them to my table and pre-drill the holes and countersink them. I use 3-inch screws to put it all together but you can use smaller screws and put it together in sections if you’d like. Make sure you pre-drill all your holes either way so it doesn’t split the wood.

The wine rack is done, now all you have to do is hang it. I use 2, 2.5-inch screws and put them in studs because of all the weight from the wine bottles. Depending on where you’re hanging it and the location of the studs, I put them in one stud, skip one, and put them in the other so there are 32 inches between screws. Make sure you use a level before putting in the second screw.