Simple DIY Birdhouse Plans

There’s something uniquely rewarding about building something with your own hands. It’s even better when that something becomes a cozy, safe home for the wildlife in your backyard. Creating a DIY birdhouse is one of the most accessible and enjoyable woodworking projects for all skill levels. It’s a fantastic way to connect with nature, add charm to your garden, and provide critical shelter for local birds.

Whether you’re a seasoned woodworker or have never picked up a drill, you can build a sturdy, safe, and bird-approved house in just an afternoon. This guide will walk you through everything you need, from the simplest, most popular one-board birdhouse plan to tips on placement, painting, and attracting your first tenants.

Here’s a beautiful example of a classic wooden birdhouse:

Build a Home for Your Feathered Friends:

Why Build a Birdhouse?

You might wonder if birds really need our help. In many areas, especially suburban and urban ones, natural nesting spots like old trees with cavities are becoming scarce. Your simple birdhouse can be a lifeline.

• Provides Safe Shelter: A well-built birdhouse protects small birds from predators and harsh weather, from scorching sun to freezing rain.
• Supports Local Ecosystems: Many small cavity-nesting birds, like wrens, bluebirds, and chickadees, are voracious insect eaters. By housing them, you’re investing in natural, 24/7 pest control for your garden.
• A Front-Row Seat to Nature: The best part? The entertainment. Watching a bird pair inspect their new home, build a nest, and raise their young is a captivating experience. It’s a wonderful way to teach kids about nature and the perfect companion to your window bird feeders.
• Do birds sleep in birdhouses? Yes, they do! While primarily for nesting, many birds like chickadees, wrens, and bluebirds will use birdhouses as a warm, safe roosting spot to get through cold nights, especially in the winter. You can learn more about if birds sleep in birdhouses and if they use them in winter.

Tools and Materials: What You’ll Need

The beauty of this classic plan is its simplicity. You don’t need a professional workshop. This entire project is based on one single 1″ x 6″ x 6′ pine board, a common, inexpensive item at any U.S. home improvement store.

Essential Tools

• A Saw: A simple hand saw works, but a miter saw or jig saw will make your cuts faster and cleaner.
• Cordless Drill: Essential for assembly and for drilling the entrance hole, drainage, and ventilation.
• Drill Bits: You’ll need a standard bit for pilot holes (like 1/16″) and a larger bit for the entrance. A 1 1/8″ or 1 1/4″ spade bit is perfect for wrens and chickadees.
• Tape Measure & Pencil: Accuracy matters!
• Clamps (Optional but Recommended): A pair of C-clamps makes assembly much easier for a one-person job.
• Safety Gear: Always wear safety glasses and, if you’re sanding, a dust mask.

Materials List

• (1) 1″ x 6″ x 6′ Pine or Cedar Board: Cedar is the best wood for birdhouses as it’s naturally rot-resistant, but untreated pine is a great, affordable second choice. NEVER use pressure-treated wood, as the chemicals are toxic to birds.
• (Approx. 20) 1 1/4″ Exterior Wood Screws: Screws are much stronger and more durable than nails. Ensure they are rated for outdoor use (galvanized or stainless steel).
• Wood Glue (Optional): A bead of non-toxic, waterproof wood glue on the joints adds significant strength and weather-resistance.

Pro Tip: While you’re getting your garden tools organized, keeping a spare key for your shed or garage can be a lifesaver. A discrete key hider rock blends right into the garden bed and saves you from getting locked out.

Recommended Gear from Amazon

If you’re building your toolkit, here are some highly-rated buy-it-for-life options that are perfect for this project and countless others around the home.

DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill

This is the gold standard for DIYers. It’s powerful enough for any home project, the battery life is fantastic, and it will last you for years. An essential tool.

BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Jig Saw

A jig saw is incredibly versatile. It’s great for cutting the straight lines on this project and perfect for cutting curves if you ever get more adventurous with your plans.

Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue

If you want your birdhouse to last for a decade, use this. Titebond III is waterproof, non-toxic once cured, and provides a bond that is stronger than the wood itself.

The Classic One-Board DIY Birdhouse Plan

This plan is famous for its efficiency. You can get all seven pieces for the birdhouse from one standard 1″ x 6″ board (which is actually 5.5″ wide).

Step 1: Mark and Cut Your Pieces

Set your miter saw or your Speed Square to a 90-degree angle for all cuts except the roof. Accuracy here makes assembly a breeze.

Here’s a visual guide to cutting your board:

Your Cut List:

• Back: 1 piece @ 14″ long
• Front: 1 piece @ 8″ long
• Side (x2): 2 pieces @ 9″ long on the low side, cut with a 22.5-degree angle to a 10″ long high side. (This angle creates the roof slope).
• Floor: 1 piece @ 4″ long (This will be 5.5″ x 4″)
• Roof (x2): 2 pieces @ 7″ long. (One will overlap the other).

Step 2: Drill Your Holes (BEFORE Assembly)

It is much easier to drill holes while the pieces are flat. Don’t skip these!

1. Entrance Hole (Front Piece): Mark the center of your 8″ front piece (2.75″ in from the side) and about 6″ up from the bottom. This height protects nestlings from predators reaching in. For wrens and chickadees, use a 1 1/8″ drill bit. For bluebirds, use 1 1/2″. Check our birdhouse dimensions chart by species for a full list.
2. Ventilation Holes (Side Pieces): Drill two 1/4″ holes near the very top of both side pieces. This allows hot air to escape and is crucial for keeping the babies from overheating.
3. Drainage Holes (Floor Piece): Drill four 1/4″ holes in the corners of your 4″ x 5.5″ floor piece. This lets any rain that blows in drain out, preventing the nest from getting soggy.

Important: Do NOT add a perch. Perches are not necessary for birds and only give predators (like jays or squirrels) a convenient handle to stand on while they raid the nest. For more protection, you can add birdhouse entry protectors after assembly.

Step-by-Step Assembly

This is the fun part! The whole process shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes. If you’re curious about the average time, we have a whole article on how long it takes to build a birdhouse. Grab your drill, screws, and wood glue (if using).

Follow these steps for a sturdy build:

1. Attach Sides to Floor: Stand the 4″ floor piece on your workbench. Apply a bead of glue to the 4″ edges. Place the two angled side pieces on either side of the floor. Secure them by driving two screws up through the bottom of the floor into each side piece.
2. Attach the Front: Apply glue to the front edges of the floor and side pieces. Line up the 8″ front piece (with the entrance hole) and attach it to the sides and floor with 1-2 screws per side.
3. Attach the Back: This is the 14″ piece. The extra length provides a built-in mounting bracket. Apply glue and line up the back piece, ensuring it’s flush with the bottom of the floor. Attach it with screws to the sides and floor.
4. Attach the Roof: Take your two 7″ roof pieces. Attach the first one, letting it overhang the front and sides slightly. Secure it with screws into the top edges of the front and side pieces. Take the second roof piece and overlap it on top of the first piece (at the roof’s peak) to create a waterproof ridge. Secure it with screws.

That’s it! You’ve built a birdhouse. Give it a final check for any sharp edges or split wood.

Finishing, Painting, and Placement

You’re almost ready to hang your new birdhouse. But where you put it and how you finish it are the most important factors for actually attracting birds.

To Paint or Not to Paint?

This is a common question. The short answer: it’s better not to. The best paint for a birdhouse is often just letting the natural cedar or pine weather to a silver-gray. Birds are naturally drawn to this.

If you absolutely want to paint it for aesthetic reasons:

• NEVER paint the inside. The fumes can be toxic, and the slick surface can make it hard for baby birds to climb out.
• ONLY paint the outside.
• Use a non-toxic, water-based latex or acrylic paint (like exterior-grade no-VOC house paint).
• Stick to natural, earthy colors. Tans, light grays, or olive greens are best. Curious about what colors birds like for a birdhouse? Bright colors like red, orange, or white can attract predators or overheat the house.

Where to Hang Your Birdhouse

This is the most critical step. A perfect birdhouse in a bad location will stay empty forever.

• What direction should a birdhouse face? In most of the U.S., the ideal direction is facing East. This shields the entrance from the hot afternoon sun and the prevailing winds and rain, which typically come from the west. Learn more about what direction a birdhouse should face.
• How high? This depends on the species. For wrens and chickadees, 5-10 feet high is perfect. Bluebirds prefer 5-8 feet. Read up on where to hang a birdhouse for more species-specific tips.
• Location, Location, Location: Mount your birdhouse on a dedicated birdhouse pole with a predator baffle if possible. This is the safest option. Mounting on a fence or tree trunk is less ideal as it gives squirrels, cats, and snakes easy access. You can also use sturdy birdhouse hooks to hang it from a branch, but ensure it’s not banging in the wind.
• Give Them Space: Don’t cluster birdhouses together. Many birds are territorial. A single house in a quiet corner of the yard near some shrubs (for cover) is perfect.

Attracting Your First Tenants

Now, you wait! It can take time for birds to find and claim a new house. Sometimes it happens in days, sometimes it takes a full season. To speed up the process:

• Open for Business: Put your house up in late winter or early spring, before nesting season begins.
• What to put inside a birdhouse? Absolutely nothing. This is a crucial rule. Do NOT add nesting material, wood shavings, or anything else. Birds are very particular and want to build their own nest from scratch. Adding material may actually cause them to reject the house. Find out more about what to put inside a birdhouse.
• Provide Food & Water: The best way to get birds to nest in your birdhouse is to make your whole yard attractive. A nearby bird bath and a feeder with high-quality bird seed will signal that your yard is a 5-star resort.
• Target Specific Birds: If you want wrens, learn how to attract wrens specifically (they love houses near brush piles!).

Once a family moves in, give them space. You can monitor from a distance. A great next-level project is installing a birdhouse with a camera to watch the magic unfold.

Annual Maintenance: The Must-Do Step

After the nesting season is over (by late fall), you MUST clean out the old nest. Birds will not reuse an old, dirty nest. This is also why it’s helpful if one side of your birdhouse is hinged for easy access (a common modification to this plan). Learn the simple steps for how to clean a birdhouse to get it ready for next spring.

Alternative DIY Birdhouses: Go Natural with Gourds!

Not a fan of woodworking? You can create an amazing, natural birdhouse with almost no building at all by using gourds. Certain birds, especially wrens and chickadees, absolutely love them.

• You can buy pre-dried birdhouse gourds ready for hanging.
• Or, you can grow gourds for birdhouses in your own garden. It’s a fun summer project!
• After harvesting, you’ll just need to follow the steps on how to dry birdhouse gourds. After that, it’s as simple as drilling an entrance hole and hanging it up.

Birdwatching: Your New Favorite Hobby

Once you start, it’s hard to stop. This simple DIY project might just be your gateway into the wonderful world of birdwatching. You can learn all about a bird’s 24-hour clock or explore a birdwatching road trip guide for more adventures. Many enthusiasts graduate to setting up a wireless birdhouse camera to get an intimate look at the nesting process without ever disturbing the birds.

Check out our birdhouse reviews for more ideas on different types of houses and feeders to add to your collection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will cardinals use a birdhouse?

No, unfortunately. Cardinals will not use a birdhouse. They are not cavity-nesters. They prefer to build their cup-shaped nests in dense shrubs, vines, and thickets.

Will hummingbirds nest in a birdhouse?

This is another common question, but hummingbirds will not nest in a birdhouse either. They build tiny, intricate, cup-shaped nests on tree branches, often covered in lichen for camouflage.

How do I get birds to use my birdhouse?

Patience is key! But the most important factors are: 1) The correct entrance hole size, 2) Proper placement (facing east, 5-10 feet high), 3) A clean, empty interior, and 4) A safe location away from predators. We’ve got a full guide on how to get birds to use a birdhouse.

What kind of birds use birdhouses?

Only cavity-nesting birds will use a birdhouse. In the U.S., this includes birds like bluebirds, wrens, chickadees, titmice, tree swallows, and nuthatches. The type of bird you attract is determined almost entirely by the size of the entrance hole. See our full list of what birds use birdhouses.

Do birds sleep in the same place every night?

It varies! Many birds have a home range with several preferred, safe roosting spots (like a dense evergreen or, yes, a birdhouse) and they may rotate between them. However, a nesting female will sleep on her nest every night. Learn more about if birds sleep in the same place every night.