Birdhouse Plans
Print a birdhouse plan sized for the bird you want to attract. Choose one of 8 cavity-nesting birds (eastern bluebird, carolina chickadee, carolina wren, house wren, tufted titmouse, red-headed woodpecker, northern flicker and screech owl) and the plan sets the floor, the depth, the entrance hole and its height from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department table. Pick a gable, slant or flat roof and the plan works out a cut list from one 3/4 in board (1×6 to 1×12), lays the pieces out on the board to scale, and draws the assembled birdhouse and four assembly steps from those same pieces. Page 3 is a full-size template for the entrance hole, vents and drain holes. Every plan has floor drain holes, side vents, a side that opens for cleaning and no perch. Download a PDF, 300 DPI PNGs or SVG. Nothing is uploaded.
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Print at 100% (Actual size). Page 1 is the assembled view and the facts, page 2 the cut list, board layout and steps, page 3 the full-size hole templates.
Safety: saws and drills can cause serious injury. Wear eye protection, clamp small pieces, and have an adult do or supervise all cutting and drilling.
Birdhouse
Board
Runs in your browser with our own code: nothing is uploaded or saved. The plans and drawings are our own; hole and box sizes are from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. You may use what you make here, including commercially, with no credit needed.
How to print and build a birdhouse plan
- Choose the bird. The plan sets the box size, the entrance hole and the hole height for it.
- Choose a gable, slant or flat roof. Leave the board on Auto to get the narrowest, shortest board that works.
- Download the PDF and print at 100% (Actual size). Check the 1 in bar on page 3.
- Cut the pieces in the order of the board layout, then drill the entrance, vent and drain holes using the full-size template.
- Assemble in the four steps on page 2, then mount the box at the height given for your bird.
What you can use it for
- A first woodworking project with children (adults do the cutting)
- Bluebird trails and nest box projects
- Scout, school and club builds from one board each
- Replacing an old box with the right hole for your bird
- Gifts for gardeners and bird watchers
- Planning a box before you buy the wood
Hole sizes and box sizes by bird
| Bird | Entrance hole | Floor | Depth | Hole above floor | Mount height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern bluebird | 1½ in (38.1 mm) | 5¾ × 5½ in | 10 in | top of hole 8¾ in | at least 5 ft, on a metal pole |
| Carolina chickadee | 1 1/8 in (28.6 mm) | 4 × 4 in | 8 to 10 in | 6 to 8 in | 4 to 15 ft |
| Carolina wren | 1½ in (38.1 mm) | 4 × 4 in | 6 to 8 in | 1 to 6 in | 6 to 10 ft |
| House wren | 1¼ in (31.8 mm) | 4 × 4 in | 8 to 10 in | 1 to 6 in | 6 to 10 ft |
| Tufted titmouse | 1¼ in (31.8 mm) | 4 × 4 in | 8 to 10 in | 6 to 8 in | 6 to 15 ft |
| Red-headed woodpecker | 2 in (50.8 mm) | 6 × 6 in | 12 in | 10 in | 10 to 20 ft |
| Northern flicker | 2½ in (63.5 mm) | 7 × 7 in | 16 to 18 in | 14 to 16 in | 6 to 20 ft |
| Screech owl | 3 in (76.2 mm) | 8 × 8 in | 12 to 15 in | 9 to 12 in | 10 to 30 ft |
| Barn owl (not in the plan maker) | 6 in | 10 × 18 in | 15 to 18 in | 4 in | 12 to 18 ft |
| Wood duck (not in the plan maker) | 4 × 3 in oval | 10 × 18 in | 10 to 24 in | 12 to 16 in | 10 to 20 ft |
Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Birdhouses (read 11 November 2026). Where TPWD gives a range, our plans use a value inside it and print the range next to it. Barn owl and wood duck boxes are too big for a one-board plan.
Board needed for each plan
| Bird | Gable roof (45°) | Slant roof (15°) | Flat roof |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern bluebird | 1×8, 8 ft (uses 77 1/2 in) | 1×8, 6 ft (uses 65 1/4 in) | 1×8, 6 ft (uses 60 1/8 in) |
| Carolina chickadee | 1×6, 6 ft (uses 62 3/4 in) | 1×6, 6 ft (uses 52 5/16 in) | 1×6, 6 ft (uses 48 5/8 in) |
| Carolina wren | 1×6, 6 ft (uses 58 3/4 in) | 1×6, 6 ft (uses 48 5/16 in) | 1×6, 4 ft (uses 44 5/8 in) |
| House wren | 1×6, 6 ft (uses 62 3/4 in) | 1×6, 6 ft (uses 52 5/16 in) | 1×6, 6 ft (uses 48 5/8 in) |
| Tufted titmouse | 1×6, 6 ft (uses 62 3/4 in) | 1×6, 6 ft (uses 52 5/16 in) | 1×6, 6 ft (uses 48 5/8 in) |
| Red-headed woodpecker | 1×10, 8 ft (uses 86 3/4 in) | 1×10, 8 ft (uses 73 15/16 in) | 1×10, 6 ft (uses 68 5/8 in) |
| Northern flicker | 1×10, 10 ft (uses 106 3/4 in) | 1×10, 8 ft (uses 92 13/16 in) | 1×10, 8 ft (uses 86 5/8 in) |
| Screech owl | 1×12, 8 ft (uses 94 3/4 in) | 1×12, 8 ft (uses 79 5/8 in) | 1×12, 8 ft (uses 72 5/8 in) |
Boards are 3/4 in thick (actual). 1×6 = 5 1/2 in wide, 1×8 = 7 1/4 in, 1×10 = 9 1/4 in, 1×12 = 11 1/4 in. The board lengths allow a 1/8 in saw kerf between pieces and 1 in spare to square the end.
Example cut list: house wren, gable roof
| # | Piece | Length (along the grain) | Width | Cuts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Front | 11 1/2 in (292.1 mm) | 5 1/2 in | cut the two top corners at 45° |
| 2 | Back | 13 1/2 in (342.9 mm) | 5 1/2 in | cut the two top corners at 45°; the extra 2 in at the bottom is for mounting |
| 3 | Left side | 9 1/2 in (241.3 mm) | 4 in (rip) | bevel the top edge at 45° (the outside face is the short one) |
| 4 | Right side (opens) | 9 1/2 in (241.3 mm) | 4 in (rip) | bevel the top edge at 45°; this side swings open on two pivot nails for cleaning |
| 5 | Floor | 4 in (101.6 mm) | 4 in (rip) | fits between the sides |
| 6 | Roof, left | 7 in (177.8 mm) | 4 5/8 in (rip) | square ends; the top edge meets the apex |
| 7 | Roof, right | 7 in (177.8 mm) | 5 3/8 in (rip) | square ends; 3/4 in wider, it covers the edge of the left roof at the ridge |
One 1×6 board, 6 ft long; the pieces use 62 3/4 in. For other projects, the Cut List Optimizer lays out any list of parts, and the Board Foot Calculator prices the wood.
What every plan includes
| Feature | Why |
|---|---|
| Entrance hole sized for the bird | Lets your bird in and keeps larger birds out |
| 4 drain holes in the floor (3/8 in) | Water drains out |
| 2 vent holes in each side (5/8 in) | Hot air escapes near the top |
| Side that swings open | Clean out old nests each year |
| No perch | A perch helps predators and house sparrows |
| Back 2 in longer at the bottom | Screw it to a post, pole bracket or tree |
| Full-size hole template | Drill in the right place at the right size |
| Safety line | Adults cut and drill; eye protection; clamp small pieces |
Vent, drain and no-perch advice follows NestWatch (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), Features of a Good Birdhouse.
Which tool to use
| You want | Use |
|---|---|
| A birdhouse plan sized for one bird | Birdhouse Plans (this page) |
| A cutting layout for any list of parts | Cut List Optimizer |
| The board feet and cost of your wood | Board Foot Calculator |
| A plan for the whole garden | Garden Planner |
Also handy: the Garden Planner and Inches to mm for converting the plan sizes.
More free tools
Woodworking and garden projects?
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Frequently asked questions
What size hole does a birdhouse need?
It depends on the bird, and it matters: the hole lets the bird you want in and keeps bigger birds out. From the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department table: Carolina chickadee 1 1/8 in, house wren and tufted titmouse 1 1/4 in, eastern bluebird and Carolina wren 1 1/2 in, red-headed woodpecker 2 in, northern flicker 2 1/2 in and screech owl 3 in. Page 3 of each plan is a full-size template.
What wood should I use?
Untreated, unpainted wood about 3/4 in thick, such as cedar or pine: it insulates and lasts. Do not use pressure-treated wood, and do not paint or stain the inside. A light, natural colour outside keeps the box cooler.
Should a birdhouse have a perch?
No. Cavity-nesting birds do not need one, and a perch gives predators and house sparrows a foothold. None of our plans has a perch.
Why are there holes in the floor and the sides?
Four small drain holes let water out of the floor, and vent holes near the top of the sides let hot air out. Both are drawn on the plan and on the full-size template.
How do I clean the birdhouse?
The right side swings out on two pivot nails driven through the front and back into the top of the side; a nail or screw low on the front keeps it shut. Clean out old nests after the young have left.
How high should I mount it?
The plan prints the height for your bird from the TPWD table, for example 6 to 10 ft for house wrens and at least 5 ft on a metal pole for eastern bluebirds. The back is 2 in longer than the box at the bottom, with two screw holes for mounting.
Is the drawing accurate?
Yes. The assembled view and the step pictures are drawn from the same cut pieces as the cut list, placed in 3D. Our tests check that the pieces close into a box with no gaps or overlaps, that the entrance hole opens into the box, and that the cuts fit on the board.
Is this safe for kids to build?
With an adult doing or supervising all sawing and drilling, yes. Wear eye protection, clamp small pieces and keep hands away from blades and bits. Children can sand, nail and paint the outside.
Is it free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The plans are drawn by JavaScript in your browser and nothing you choose is sent anywhere.