Are you dreaming of building an outdoor kitchen and food prep area for summer entertaining? Not only will a mobile grilling station be useful, but with this portable cooler stand you can bring the party to wherever you are!

What Do I Need to Build an Cooler Stand?

You can use hand tools or power tools to cut and assemble your outdoor kitchen, but power tools help the job go more quickly than hand tools. You’ll be cutting angles for joints so a miter box, a circular saw with adjustable cutting angle, or a miter saw are needed.

Clamps will hold together boards that are glued while you’re screwing them together. This will make sure the pieces don’t slide while you’re fastening them.

A screwdriver or powered fastener.

What Type of Wood Should I Use?

You can use Douglas fir but you’ll need to prime and paint your cooler stand with an exterior paint or stain and seal it when you’re finished. You can skip those steps if you use western red cedar. Western red cedar is naturally insect and water resistant, and ages over time to a silvery gray patina.

And while there’s a parts list with the project plan, you’ll still end up cutting some boards for length. Getting the shortest boards you need will save you money and time cutting lumber to size.

What Type of Fasteners and Accessories Should I Use?

You’ll want corrosion-resistant fasteners. Stainless steel screws will work for this project. And if you’re going to attach casters to make the cooler stand easier to move around, make sure they’re for outdoor use too.

Watch How To Build Your Cooler Stand

Thanks to Real Cedar for the plans!