Workshop Planning Tools
Free tools to help you plan, organize, and optimize your woodworking workshop.
Workshop Space Planner
Enter your shop dimensions and select your tools. We’ll calculate if everything fits, estimate electrical requirements, and suggest layout considerations.
Step 1: Shop Dimensions
Step 2: Select Your Tools
Click to select the tools you have or plan to have. We’ll calculate space and electrical needs.
Your Workshop Analysis
Tool Space Breakdown
Layout Recommendations
Electrical Considerations
'; }); grid.innerHTML = html; }
function spToggleTool(toolId, el) { if (spSelectedTools.has(toolId)) { spSelectedTools.delete(toolId); el.classList.remove('selected'); } else { spSelectedTools.add(toolId); el.classList.add('selected'); } }
function spCalculate() { const length = parseFloat(document.getElementById('sp-length').value) || 20; const width = parseFloat(document.getElementById('sp-width').value) || 12; const height = parseFloat(document.getElementById('sp-height').value) || 9; const electrical = parseInt(document.getElementById('sp-electrical').value) || 20; const has220 = document.getElementById('sp-220v').value === 'yes';
const totalSqFt = length * width; const selectedTools = spTools.filter(t => spSelectedTools.has(t.id));
// Calculate totals let toolFootprint = 0; let maxClearance = 0; let totalAmps = 0; let needs220 = false;
selectedTools.forEach(tool => { toolFootprint += tool.footprint; if (tool.clearance > maxClearance) maxClearance = tool.clearance; totalAmps += tool.amps; if (tool.needs220) needs220 = true; });
// Working space needs (aisles, movement) const workingSpace = toolFootprint * 0.5; // 50% additional for working around tools const totalNeeded = toolFootprint + workingSpace; const spaceUtilization = Math.round((totalNeeded / totalSqFt) * 100);
// Determine status let spaceStatus = 'success'; if (spaceUtilization > 85) spaceStatus = 'danger'; else if (spaceUtilization > 70) spaceStatus = 'warning';
let electricalStatus = 'success'; if (totalAmps > electrical * 0.8) electricalStatus = 'danger'; else if (totalAmps > electrical * 0.6) electricalStatus = 'warning';
// Render summary document.getElementById('sp-summary').innerHTML = `
`;
// Render alerts let alerts = ''; if (spaceUtilization > 85) { alerts += '
'; } else if (spaceUtilization > 70) { alerts += '
'; } else { alerts += '
'; }
if (needs220 && !has220) { alerts += '
'; }
if (totalAmps > electrical) { alerts += '
'; } else if (totalAmps > electrical * 0.8) { alerts += '
'; }
if (maxClearance > length * 12 && maxClearance > width * 12) { alerts += '
'; }
if (height < 9) { alerts += '
'; }
document.getElementById('sp-alerts').innerHTML = alerts;
// Render breakdown let breakdown = '
'; selectedTools.forEach(tool => { breakdown += `
`; }); breakdown += `
`; document.getElementById('sp-breakdown').innerHTML = breakdown;
// Render recommendations let recs = ''; const hasTableSaw = spSelectedTools.has('table_saw') || spSelectedTools.has('table_saw_cabinet'); const hasMiterSaw = spSelectedTools.has('miter_saw'); const hasWorkbench = spSelectedTools.has('workbench'); const hasDustCollector = spSelectedTools.has('dust_collector') || spSelectedTools.has('dust_collector_large'); const hasPlaner = spSelectedTools.has('planer'); const hasJointer = spSelectedTools.has('jointer') || spSelectedTools.has('jointer_8');
if (hasTableSaw) { recs += '
'; } if (hasMiterSaw) { recs += '
'; } if (hasWorkbench) { recs += '
'; } if (hasDustCollector) { recs += '
'; } if (hasPlaner && hasJointer) { recs += '
'; } if (spaceUtilization > 60) { recs += '
'; } recs += '
'; recs += '
';
document.getElementById('sp-recommendations').innerHTML = recs;
// Electrical notes let elecNotes = ''; elecNotes += `
`; elecNotes += `
`; if (totalAmps > 20) { elecNotes += '
'; } if (needs220) { elecNotes += '
'; } if (hasDustCollector) { elecNotes += '
'; } elecNotes += '
'; elecNotes += '
';
document.getElementById('sp-electrical-notes').innerHTML = elecNotes;
// Show results document.getElementById('sp-results').classList.add('show'); document.getElementById('sp-results').scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth' }); }
function spRestart() { spSelectedTools.clear(); document.querySelectorAll('.sp-tool-item').forEach(el => el.classList.remove('selected')); document.getElementById('sp-results').classList.remove('show'); window.scrollTo({ top: 0, behavior: 'smooth' }); }
spInit();
Workshop Planning Tips
Minimum Shop Sizes
| Shop Type | Min. Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hand Tool Only | 80 sq ft | Workbench + storage |
| Basic Power Tools | 150 sq ft | Table saw, drill press, bench |
| Serious Hobbyist | 250 sq ft | Full stationary tool setup |
| Full Workshop | 400+ sq ft | Milling, assembly, finishing areas |
The Work Triangle
Professional shops arrange the three most-used stations in a triangle to minimize walking:
- Primary machining (table saw)
- Assembly/hand work (workbench)
- Secondary machining (miter saw or bandsaw)
Electrical Planning
- Minimum: Two 20A circuits for a basic shop
- Recommended: Dedicated 30-50A subpanel
- Large tools: Cabinet saws, large dust collectors, and 8″+ jointers typically need 220V
- Lighting: LED shop lights (5000K) provide excellent task lighting at low power draw
More Workshop Tools Coming Soon
We’re building more planning tools:
- Dust Collection CFM Calculator
- Electrical Load Calculator
- Shop Heating/Cooling Estimator
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