How to Build a Staircase Plant Stand (Beginner Project)

This staircase plant stand is inexpensive, easy-to-build, provides a lot of vertical growing space, and works both in the home and garden. Made from ready-made stringers from a home improvement store, you can build it in an afternoon.

For more easy building projects also see 32 DIY Wood Decor Projects for the Garden.

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DIY Staircase Plant Stand

A staircase plant stand provides a simple way to give container plants of various heights room to grow and soak in the sun.

What makes this project so simple is, you can buy the stringers ready-made, so you just have to add wood for the steps and support posts and you’re done.

Fast & Frugal

• The materials to build the stand cost just $100 Canadian. It will be less in the United States.
• Designed for a beginner builder, this project can be made in an hour or two.

Kitchen Garden-Friendly

• On a stand like this one, you can move the pots around to suit the light needs of the various plants and keep everyone happy. It’s perfect for a container food garden with various vegetables, fruits, and herbs.
• It’s also very handy to have everything in one place for watering.

Tons of Growing Space

• If you make use of the steps, side supports, and the top copper bar, there is a lot of room for potted, climbing, and hanging plants.

Bonus Tip

• If you get the wood cuts done at the store, you should be able to fit all the materials in a mid-size car. That’s what I did.

Year-round Use

• Use it outdoors in the summer and bring it indoors for winter plant storage in front of sliding glass doors.

Related: How to Build a Decorative Garden Ladder

How to Build a Staircase Plant Stand

Before You Start

• If you want to spray paint the metal flanges or copper pipe, do this first.
• Smooth any rough wood edges with sandpaper.
• Pre-drill all screw holes with a 3/32-inch drill bit before attaching pieces together.

1Pre-drill the step boards

• Pre-drill the step boards.
• The staircase is made from two 4-step stringers and eight 3-foot boards.
• Four 3-foot boards will be used for the back step pieces.
• Set aside the remaining four 3-foot boards for Step 2.
• Each board is attached to the step stringer with four screws (two at each end).
• Pre-drill the pilot holes. These holes should be 3/4-inch from the board ends and 1-inch in from the sides. The screws should land right in the middle of the stringer wood. Use a pilot hole to be sure you’re hitting the right spot on the stringers.

2Attach the back step boards to the stringers

• Attach the back step boards to the stringers.
• Place the stair stringers securely against a wall; you may want someone to hold them in place while you work.
• To place the stringers in the correct position, be sure the 8 1/2-inch sections are horizontal and the shorter 7-inch sections are vertical (see diagram above).
• Starting with the top step, line up the edge of the first board with the outer edge of the stair stringer and secure in place with a 2 1/2-inch deck screws.
• Repeat on the other end.
• Attach the three remaining boards.

The entire unit should be 3 feet wide when assembled.

3Attach the front step boards to the stringers

• Attach the front step boards to the stringers.
• The front step boards extend slightly beyond the stringers.
• Leave a slight gap between the front and back step boards to allow for water drainage.
• Drill pilot holes and then attach the front boards to the stringers. Be sure to place these screws so they attach to the stringer wood, not in the overhanging section.

4Assemble the support frame with copper pipe

• Assemble the support frame with copper pipe The support frame is made from two 6-foot pieces of lumber, two 3-foot pieces, and a copper pipe secured with flanges for hanging plants.
• Assemble the support frame with copper pipe and flanges.
• Use 1-inch screws to attach each floor flange to each 6-foot pieces of lumber above the copper pipe. The top edge of each flange should be three inches from the top of the lumber.
• Secure the copper pipe in the flanges.
• Assemble the support frame with copper pipe
• Drill pilot holes and then attach a 3-foot pieces of lumber between the tops of the 6-foot pieces of lumber above the copper pipe.

5Attach the support frame to the staircase steps

• Attach the support frame to the staircase steps.
• Place the staircase steps in a level position and line up the back edge of the support frame with the back edge of the stringers.
• With the staircase level, secure the support frame to the sides of the stringers with four 2 1/2-inch deck screws.
• Attach the remaining 3-foot piece of lumber between the support frame, behind the staircase steps, approximately 16 inches from ground. This gives the whole unit extra stability.

6Stain or paint as desired

• Stain or paint as desired. I opted to give my plant stand a final coat of brown wood stain.

7Add plants

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛