How much does woodturning cost?
A proper start · 2 things
That is buying your own. Trying it first costs about $500.
Woodturning cost at a glance
What it takes to try woodturning, what it costs to keep going, and what a first year adds up to. The kit above is what buying your own costs today.
- Trying it first$500The cheapest sensible way in, before you buy your own.
- Each month after$30The things below, as you keep going.
- First year$860The kit plus twelve months, for about 156 hours of woodturning.
What you keep spending on
- Taster classPaid per class, so there is nothing to commit to up front.$80/class
Cost per hour
$6 an hour
A first year costs about $860 for roughly 156 hours. At $500 to start, woodturning costs more than 96% of the 396 hobbies we price.
What each thing is for
Everything you might buy for woodturning, what it is for, and which of our guides covers it.
- Turning ChiselsEssentialRoughing gouge, spindle gouge, skew, parting tool.Our pick: Best Pen Turning Chisels →
- Wood LatheEssentialMini benchtop lathes (10-12" swing) handle pens and small projects.Our pick: Best Lathe for Pen Turning →
- Buy this firstTurning ChiselsRoughing gouge, spindle gouge, skew, parting tool.
- Ways to save
- Borrow first · Borrow from a friend or buy second-hand first. Upgrade once you know you will keep going.
- Pay as you go first · Taster class is $80/class, and you buy nothing to do it.
- Tick what you have · The kit above drops anything you already own out of its total.
- Read before the big one · Our gear guides pick one thing for most people, then a cheaper and a fancier option.
Hobbies that cost about the same
Woodturning cost questions
How much does woodturning cost to start?
About $500, taking the cheapest sensible option for each thing you need.
How much does woodturning cost each month?
About $30 a month once you're going, for classes, fees or materials.
Is woodturning an expensive hobby?
382 of the 396 hobbies we price cost less to start, and the middle one is $30. With about $30 a month on top, a first year is about $860, which makes woodturning one of the pricier hobbies to get into.
What should I buy first for woodturning?
Our guides to woodturning gear pick one thing for most people, then a cheaper and a fancier option, with what each is for.