The global CNC market is projected to grow from $101.2 billion to a staggering $195.6 billion by 2032, expanding at 9.9% annually. As an entrepreneur, this offers a golden opportunity to start a profitable business.
While social media connects you to worldwide customers and digital marketing tools simplify audience targeting, an affordable CNC machine removes the final barrier: mass production costs.
Unlike dropshipping or print-on-demand services, creating custom designs with CNC technology can deliver profit margins of 10% to 30% while reducing material waste.
Want to turn your creativity into profitability? Explore 26 successful CNC projects and get inspired to start your business.
What is a CNC router?
A CNC router is a computer-operated cutting tool that acts as a combination panel saw, spindle molder, and boring machine. It carves complex shapes out of materials like wood, metals, plastics, and glass.
CNC stands for “computer numerical control,” a fancy way of saying the device operates using programmable automation, similar to 3D printing. It allows builders to design complex parts that can be cut cleanly, quickly, and on a massive scale.
You can even buy a small-scale CNC machine on a shoestring budget. It doesn’t occupy much space, easily fitting in a garage, basement, or bedroom. Plus, there are a ton of online resources and tutorials to support your CNC experiments.
26 CNC projects that sell
The shrinking size and price of CNC machines have fueled a boom in CNC-crafted goods, flooding online markets like Etsy, Amazon, and Facebook Marketplace, and in-person at places like local craft fairs.
CNC routers can cut any shape from a variety of materials. There’s an extensive list of products you can create with a CNC machine.
What makes a great project? Here are some proven CNC projects that sell, broken down into the following categories:
- Home décor products
- Kitchen and barbecue tools
- Office supplies
- Custom signage
- Toys and games
- Other CNC products to sell
Home décor products
Home décor products are great for first-time CNC businesses. Buyers tend to value uniqueness and exclusivity, advantaging smaller retailers. Plus, if you make several types of home décor products, you have a chance at repeat purchases from buyers who value aesthetic continuity. Here are some home décor products to consider:
1. Bookends
Bookends must be sturdy to hold books in place on a bookshelf. As long as they are heavy enough, a variety of shapes and designs are suitable.
Some are complex works of sculpture art, others are abstract shapes intended to match a variety of décor. Bookends are perfect for entrepreneurial artists who value creative freedom.
2. Wall art
Making wall art is a creative exercise. You can use recognizable templates, like the US flag, or design something new. Projects are easily adaptable to all sorts of branding.
Since wall art affixes to a flat surface, designs can be simple. This makes it a good fit for entrepreneurs getting the hang of their CNC machines.
3. Shelving
Shelving might not seem particularly creative, but unconventional designs can be real attention grabbers.
You might craft and sell individual shelves, complex shelving systems, or large shelving units. Create intricate patterns or custom shapes to stand out from the pack.
4. Furniture
Furniture can be quite advanced if you consider upholstery and assembly; luckily, simple furniture routing designs like wooden benches, end tables, desks, and accent chairs are popular.
Inspired by minimalist and Scandinavian styles—which emphasize clean lines and functional aesthetics—even novice woodworkers can make sophisticated pieces.
5. Picture frames
Offer your customers a unique display for their treasured moments with a one-of-a-kind line of CNC-crafted picture frames.
You can craft picture frames from nearly any material, in a variety of shapes and sizes, and in nearly any aesthetic, meaning there’s a huge volume of potential customers.
6. Candle holders
Nothing accentuates the calming glow of a flickering candle like a well-crafted candle holder. From sleek candlesticks to glass lanterns, there are all kinds of candle holders you can craft and sell with a CNC machine.
📚 Learn more: 12 Woodworking Projects You Can Sell Online
7. Wooden crosses
With a multibillion-dollar market for spiritual products on the rise, a wooden cross is an excellent CNC project to consider.
Crosses aren’t just for walls. You can also craft wooden crosses as ornaments or keychains to expand your market and offer more product choices.
Kitchen and barbecue tools
The global cookware market is valued at more than $23 billion and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% from 2025 to 2033, meaning there will likely be a huge demand for kitchen and barbecue products over the next decade.
Here are some kitchen and barbecue tools you can craft with a CNC machine:
- Cutting boards
- Wooden serving utensils and bowls
- Coasters
- Wooden serving trays
- Wood-mounted bottle openers
8. Cutting boards
Cooks use cutting boards (sometimes called chopping blocks) every day, in kitchens around the world. Thanks to its natural antiseptic qualities, wood has been the material of choice for cutting boards for centuries, but you can make them from plastic, too.
Customizing cutting boards with personal touches opens up a variety of potential niche markets.
9. Wooden serving utensils and bowls
It’s relatively easy to find CNC woodworking designs for common household items such as wooden spoons and salad-serving forks. Since buyers usually want these items to match, you could sell whole utensil sets with your own branding.
Avocrafts is a San Diego–based retailer of wood-crafted kitchen goods and home décor products. Its unique utensil sets resonate with buyers who value exclusivity.
10. Coasters
Coasters are great products to make and sell with a CNC machine. Buyers often are looking for one-of-a-kind items, giving new brands an edge.
While coasters are often made from wood, they can also be crafted from cork, bamboo, plastic, clay, marble, concrete, leather, and fabric.
11. Wooden serving trays
Wooden serving trays are typically used to transport food and drinks or to accent dining room décor. This dual purpose makes them a great product idea to sell to frequent hosts.
Serving boards also come in various shapes and sizes, catering to several aesthetic preferences and functions.
12. Wood-mounted bottle openers
Wood-mounted bottle openers perform a singular function, so they can be made from simple templates. They come in all sizes, can be sleek and functional or ornate and decorative, and can be mounted on walls or stand alone.
Office supplies
With more people working from home, the demand for home office supplies has skyrocketed.
Here are some CNC-crafted office supplies you might make and sell.
13. Pencil holders
A decorative pencil holder can showcase personality. Since pencil holders have few design requirements, they offer several stylistic possibilities.
You might build utilitarian pencil holders, or you might go big, affixing a holding mechanism into an extravagant desktop sculpture.
14. Charging docks
Nearly every consumer has devices that need to be charged. Charging docks are small structures designed to organize several charging cables and accessories in one place.
Custom charging docks can be lucrative for woodworkers looking to expand their product offerings. These functional and attractive items appeal to a wide range of customers, so you can make good money selling them.
15. Craft supply boxes
Craft supply boxes are versatile. Painters and sculptors might use larger ones to organize tools, while sewing enthusiasts may use smaller boxes to store their supplies.
Sometimes supply boxes are decorative—built more for their style than to hold specific items. The type of boxes you build should depend on your audience and their primary needs.
16. Desk organizers
Desk organizers are small boxes kept atop a desk or table. They consist of divided compartments for storing notebooks, charging cables, writing utensils, and, occasionally, easy-to-lose items like keys and loose change.
Custom desk organizers are useful for professionals who need stylish and personalized workspaces.
Custom signage
Custom signage might be used for special events, to give directions on hiking trails, or to add decorative labels to spaces like kitchens and home gardens. It also serves as personalized lawn décor.
Here are some different types of signage you could sell:
17. Name signs
Name signs are a staple item in souvenir shops. With a CNC machine, you can create personalized name signs for bedrooms, offices, or any other place your customers want to label, including dog houses, horse stables, and cat trees.
18. Rustic wood signs for outdoors
Whether it’s for the cottage, the barn, or the backyard, an outdoor wooden sign is part instructional tool, part accent piece.
These signs can be customized to fit any style or message, appealing to customers who want to lend a rustic touch to their outdoor environment.
19. Changeable letter signs
Why not give your customers the option to craft their own signs? Changeable letter signs can be a fun addition to any room in the house, with family members and housemates leaving fun, custom messages for each other.
Toys and games
CNC machines can craft several types of toys, including educational toys for young children, dolls, action figures, chess pieces, and more.
Here are a few toy ideas to consider.
20. Children’s letter blocks
Learning the basics of spelling and grammar is crucial for young children, which might be why alphabet blocks are so timeless.
And wooden blocks don’t just have to be a learning aid for the alphabet. You could inlay blocks with numbers, raised letters, shapes, or animals, too.
21. Board games
Popular board games like chess, checkers, cribbage, and backgammon are all in the public domain, meaning anyone can build and sell pieces for them. Boards for common games like this also tend to be decorative, providing the chance to add artistic flair.
Since your CNC machine lets you mass produce board game parts, why not invent your own game? Building a community of fans around a new game will take time, but it can be incredibly profitable.
22. Dollhouses and accessories
Dollhouses are timeless children’s toys. Dollhouse accessories (often called “miniatures”) have robust online communities of collectors, where you’ll find many potential customers.
Plus, if you’ve already created CNC designs for furniture and home décor products, you can reuse them. Just remember to make them much smaller.
23. Puzzles
CNC machines are perfect for carving out custom puzzles. You can carve a flat design into pieces or even craft 3D puzzles.
Michaud Toys is a family business rooted in woodworking and fine crafts traditions passed down through four generations. Michaud specializes in traditional wooden game boards, creating family heirlooms.
Other CNC products to sell
Some CNC ideas are harder to categorize, but they make great products all the same. Here are some more ideas you can make with a CNC machine.
24. Jewelry
Jewelry buyers on online marketplaces seek unique pieces that reflect their personalities.
Why not use your CNC machine to start a jewelry making business? You could sell wooden earrings, necklaces, bracelets, or pendants. My Roots, for example, sells stylish, handcrafted wooden jewelry.
25. Tree ornaments
In the lead-up to the holiday season, there’s a huge demand for unique tree ornaments. While it might be easy for buyers to find standard bulbs and angels, originality is hard to come by, opening niche possibilities.
On the downside, ornaments are seasonal, so you may need to sell alternatives to supplement off-season sales.
26. DIY project kits
DIY project kits make for a fun and creative afternoon, appealing to parents, buyers looking for kids’ gifts, and crafty adults alike.
Do-it-yourself CNC project kits typically include assorted parts and a step-by-step guide for building all sorts of cool stuff: toys, birdhouses, garden planters, home décor, model cars, miniature architecture, and more.
Sustainable materials for CNC projects
Consumers’ appetite for planet-positive products isn’t just talk. Sustainability translates to higher basket sizes.
PwC’s 2024 Voice of the Consumer survey found shoppers will pay an average 9.7% premium for sustainably produced items, virtually unchanged from 2023, despite inflationary pressure. For CNC makers, eco-friendly substrates and finishes are both ethical and smart to capture that price premium.
Here are some sustainable materials to consider.
Eco-friendly wood alternatives
- Bamboo plywood. Grows in just three to five years, captures more carbon than most woods. Works well with routers and lasers. Use it instead of birch or maple.
- Hempwood boards: Made from hemp stalks (harvest-ready in four months), 20% harder than hickory, and stores carbon rather than releasing it.
- Richlite paper composite: Made from certified recycled paper mixed with natural resin. Cuts like hardwood and works great with carbide tools.
- Responsible plywood: When you need regular plywood, choose FSC- or PEFC-certified Baltic birch or plantation eucalyptus.
Recycled and upcycled materials
- Recycled HDPE sheet (“plastic lumber”): Made from 100% recycled plastic, resists impact and moisture. Good for outdoor projects and keeps plastic out of landfills.
- Recycled aluminum: Reusing aluminum needs only 5% of the energy of making new metal. Many shops sell leftover pieces perfect for small projects.
- Reclaimed hardwood: Old flooring, barn wood, or even skateboard decks offer unique looks with much less environmental impact than new wood.
Low-impact finishes and treatments
- Water-based polyurethane: Modern versions are durable with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of less than 275 grams per liter, keeping your shop air cleaner and meeting US air-quality standards.
- Plant‑based oils and hard‑wax oils: Pure tung oil has zero VOCs, protects wood, and is food-safe, perfect for cutting boards and tables.
- Low‑VOC powder coating for metals: Creates almost no fumes and makes a tough finish with less heat than regular paint.
- Non-toxic dyes and dewaxed shellac: Alcohol-based dyes with shellac stay under 100 grams per liter VOCs that add bright colors.
How to start a CNC business
How do you go from tinkering with a CNC machine in your garage or basement to owning a successful CNC business? It might seem daunting now, but remember that every successful entrepreneur started in the same place.
Building a brand from CNC wood projects won’t happen overnight, but the satisfaction that comes with creating something unique is immediate.
Follow these steps to get your CNC business off the ground.
1. Purchase a CNC router
Choosing the right router is the single biggest capital decision in any CNC business startup, so evaluate specs against your long‑term product mix instead of chasing the lowest price.
There are many CNC routers on the market, each with pros and cons. Some require assembly, others don’t. Some are expensive but service large work areas, others are inexpensive and small. Many offer payment-plan options to spread the costs over time.
To choose, consider the size and complexity of your designs, and whether your router works on your preferred materials. Also note that while most CNC routers can cut along the X and Y axes, some require additional spindle attachments for Z-axis cutting (depth). If you’re planning many deep cuts, make sure to pick up a Z-axis CNC router.
Here are some common models:
- Materials: The Carbide 3D Shapeoko 4 is able to cut through medium density fiberboard (MDF) and soft metals (such as aluminum).
- Work area: The Carbide 3D Shapeoko 4 comes in three different cutting area sizes: Standard (444 mm x 444 mm x 101 mm), XL (838 mm x 444 mm x 101 mm), and XXL (838 mm x 838 mm x 101 mm).
- Price: $1,800, or $113/month.
- Materials: The Sain Smart Genmitsu 3018-Pro cuts through plastics, soft aluminum, wood, MDF, and acrylics.
- Work area: The Sain Smart Genmitsu 3018-Pro has a 300 mm x 180 mm work area, plus a spindle that can cut a depth of 45 mm.
- Price: Starting at $199.
- Materials: The Ooznest Original WorkBee Z1+ cuts wood, plastics, foam, and acrylic non-metals.
- Work area: The Ooznest Original WorkBee comes in six sizes, with workspaces available at 300 mm x 270 mm, 550 mm x 520 mm, 550 mm x 770 mm, 800 mm x 770 mm, 800 mm x 1,270 mm, and 1,300 mm x 1,270 mm.
- Price: Starting at $1,335 for the smallest size and topping off at $1,595 for the largest.
Once you’ve found the CNC router that’s right for you, consider which CNC software to use. Some CNC machines come with built-in routing software, but if yours doesn’t, check out these options:
There are a ton of free DXF files available online to help you get used to using your CNC machine. DXF files are the most common file type for CNC project designs.
2. Decide on your first woodworking project
Once your equipment is ready, it’s time to start validating your product ideas to ensure there’s a market for them. There are a few ways to gauge demand for your products:
- Sell on demand. Since your new CNC router is at the ready, you don’t necessarily need to manufacture stock ahead of time. If you’ve got a product idea, why not test it out directly?
- Conduct a competitive analysis. Explore the current market and research your competitors. What are they selling? What types of audiences want their products?
- Perform keyword research. Having a good keyword research strategy is great for unearthing customer pain points, spotting available niches, and assessing consumer interest.
- Start a crowdfunding campaign. Equity crowdfunding helps you determine your target customer’s brand support and willingness to pay for your product.
- Meet customers directly. Go to trade shows and events where potential customers are likely to gather. Meeting customers in person can provide crucial clues to the marketability of your ideas.
3. Create a business plan
Set yourself up for success by crafting a solid business plan. Business plans are crucial to identifying potential issues and ensuring you have the resources to scale your business.
It’ll also cover how you price your products. Some pricing strategies to consider are:
- Cost‑plus: (Material + Machine time + Labour + Overhead) × markup (2.0–2.5×) → best for staple SKUs you batch‑produce.
- Time and materials: Hourly shop rate × build hours + hard costs → ideal for one‑off commissions with variable complexity.
- Value‑based: Price set by the problem solved or emotional payoff (eco‑luxury décor, heirloom quality), often 40%–60 % gross margin.
- Tiered “good better best”: Offer the same design in ascending feature levels—Standard, Premium, Limited—anchoring most customers to the mid‑tier.
A good business plan will help you prioritize your time, understand how to achieve your goals, and clarify your vision for potential investors. If you’re unsure where to start, find inspiration in these business plan examples.
4. Build your online store
Once you’ve developed a business plan, you’ll have a better understanding of your products, brand characteristics, and target audience.
At this point, you should have all the info you need to start building your online store. You’ll be able to add your CNC products, sort them into collections, and begin developing the visual aspects of your brand.
In addition to your own website, you may want to consider selling on Etsy, which has a reputation for handmade goods and one-of-a-kind products (although it is hard to scale using this platform alone).
5. Develop a sustainability strategy
Establish baseline measurements for energy consumption, waste generation, and resource efficiency. Translate the audit into KPIs like kWh per spindle‑hour, percentage of recycled chips captured, and VOC grams per finished part. Tie your KPIs to recognized frameworks, such as ISO 14001.
“When we started focusing on sustainable materials in our products, we saw a 32% increase in conversion rates,” says Emma Chen, founder of EcoWood Designs. “Today’s consumers don’t just want beautiful items. They want to know their purchase is environmentally responsible.
Make sure to source low-impact materials like FSC-certified timber, laminated bamboo, or recycled HDPE. Secure chain‑of‑custody documentation from suppliers and build a simple bill‑of‑materials tracker to report on the recycled or renewable share of every job.
Extend your sustainability commitment with Shopify Planet’s carbon-neutral shipping. The program allows customers to participate in environmental efforts, which can increase conversion rates by 20% or more and support verified carbon removal projects.
6. Market your products
Digital marketing gives you access to a wide range of audiences, which is perfect if you’re on a shoestring budget. The channels you choose to market on should depend on the audiences you want to reach. It’s always a good idea to direct potential customers to an email marketing list or social media profile so they have the opportunity to keep up with your brand.
💡Invest in high‑impact product photography to give online shoppers the confidence they’d normally get in a store. Shoot well‑lit close‑ups that reveal grain direction, engraving depth, and scale.
7. Launch your store
With your website established, your products added, and your CNC mill at the ready, it’s time to launch your online store. Launching is one of the most exciting moments of starting a business, but it can turn stressful quickly if you don’t have a solid launch plan.
Review your business plan, make a test purchase in your store to be sure it’s functional, create a shipping strategy, and review our store launch checklist so you know you haven’t missed anything in your planning.
Marketing your CNC products online
Craft a compelling brand story
People don’t just buy CNC products because they’re useful. They buy into your values as a maker.
Having a clear brand story (why you make things, where your materials come from, and who you make for) helps your products stand out from mass-produced imports and allows you to charge higher prices.
Suppose you’re a two-person CNC workshop in Portland that builds every product listing around “urban lumber rescue.” Each product page displays the city tree from which the wood originated and the amount of carbon saved by reusing it.
⚡ Take action:
- Write a one‑sentence origin story that answers “Why my brand?” in simple language.
- List the sustainable or artisanal choices you make.
- Weave those details into product descriptions, About pages, and packaging inserts.
Differentiate your CNC products
Competing on price alone is a race to the bottom. Stake out a niche that makes comparison with mass-produced look-alikes near impossible.
Some ideas include:
- Personalisation at scale. Offer name or logo engraving, custom dimensions, or “choose‑your‑finish” options. Customization justifies higher price points and boosts repeat sales.
- Limited‑edition drops. Release numbered batches (e.g., “50 desks from a 1921 Portland water‑tower”) to create urgency and buzz for collectors.
- Digital‑plus‑physical bundles. Sell the finished product and the editable DXF/STL file or build‑along video.
- Story‑rich packaging. Include the tree’s GPS coordinates or reclaimed source on a seeded‑paper tag. Memorable details encourage word of mouth and social shares.
Pick one tactic above, weave it into every product title and the first 100 words of each description, then track the lift in click‑through rate and conversion.
Choose an ecommerce platform that amplifies your craft
Your online store should handle payments, track inventory, and manage shipping while also showing high-quality images and your environmental commitments.
Platforms like Shopify offer built-in AR previews (so customers can see products in their own space), product customization apps, and the Planet plug-in for carbon-neutral delivery without requiring advanced coding skills.
The Polder family successfully used Shopify to grow their handcrafted wooden spoon business, Old World Kitchen, beyond what was possible on Etsy. Shopify enabled them to fully control their brand presentation, expand into reselling complementary products from other brands, and build their marketing strategy.
Overall, Shopify supported their transition from a small craft business to a higher-priced luxury brand while maintaining their handcrafted ethos.
Sell on social media
Short videos and multi-image posts allow shoppers to feel textures, hear your CNC machine in action, and watch raw wood transform into art. It can fill in the gaps left by typical online shopping. Behind-the-scenes content builds trust and creates shareable moments.
The example below shows how short videos on TikTok can showcase:
- The creation process (seeing the CNC machine in action)
- The transformation of raw wood into a finished product
- Technical details that interest potential customers
- The craftsmanship involved
⚡ Take action:
- Record multiple process videos at once—cutting patterns, finishing, workshop tips—and schedule them with captions that highlight material choices.
- Post Instagram Reels, TikTok videos, and Pinterest pins with direct links to product pages.
- Be active daily. Answer comments within an hour, share customer photos, and run polls about upcoming designs to make followers feel like co-creators.
CNC market trends for 2025
Sustainability and eco-friendly materials
Demand for sustainable CNC projects is accelerating as buyers look for low‑carbon goods and regulators tighten environmental rules.
On the shop floor, bamboo-laminated panels and hemp-based composites are gaining traction because they mature faster than hardwood, store more CO₂, and machine cleanly on routers. Expect more CNC entrepreneurs to highlight reclaimed wood content, FSC chain of custody, and carbon‑neutral shipping badges as standard points of differentiation.
Consumer preferences
In the US alone, CNC machining center revenue is projected to rise 5% annually through 2030. Much of that momentum comes from buyers who now expect rapid, custom manufacturing options, like quotes in minutes, lead times in days—all thanks to digital fabrication marketplaces that aggregate spare machine capacity.
This “Amazon effect” is creating ground for CNC entrepreneurship. Small shops that specialise in niche materials, short‑run parts, or personalised décor can tap a global audience without hefty sales overhead.
Technology integration and automation
Industry 4.0 capability—a catchphrase describing a company’s ability to leverage technology, automation, and big data into its processes—is moving from buzzword to baseline. Market analysts cite automation and robotics integration as one of the strongest growth drivers for machine tools through 2029.
From collaborative‑robot loaders to AI‑driven scheduling and edge analytics that tune feeds and speed in real time, the signs are everywhere. Fully automated CNC production cells cut labor costs, slash scrap, and keep spindles turning after hours, benefits that can offset capital expenditures for high‑mix job shops.
Read more
- 25 Best Ways to Make Money From Home in 2024
- 17 Unique Business Ideas for You To Try This Year
- What is Shopify and How Does it Work?
- How to Start a Dropshipping Business- A Complete Playbook for 2024
- How to Start a Pet Business + Ideas
- What To Sell on Shopify: Top 12 Things To Sell (2024)
- How To Source Products To Sell Online
- Free Business Plan Template- A Practical Framework for Creating Your Business Plan
- How to Sell Furniture and Home Decor Online- The Ultimate Guide
- 10 Small Business Trends To Watch (New Research)
CNC projects FAQ
How do you use a CNC machine?
Not every CNC router operates the same way, so how you use your CNC machine will depend on which one you choose. In general, it’s best to start by designing your product, cutting it out, sanding it down, testing your design, and refining it until your product looks and functions as it should. You can download free CNC project files to get experience using your new machine.
Can you make money with CNC router projects?
Yes! From decorative items to kitchen tools to toys, there are many CNC-based businesses that can make money online.
What can I make and sell with a CNC machine?
You can sell kitchen tools like cutting boards and wooden utensils, décor like coasters, wall art, and shelving, plus a whole lot more. Review the list above for CNC project ideas.
What are some CNC projects that sell well?
Common household items like cutting boards and coasters tend to sell well, since there’s a large market of potential customers. Just remember, there’s competition with common items, so you’ll need a unique selling proposition that differentiates your business from competitors.
