dog food stand diy
16 DIY Elevated Dog Bowl Stands You Can Build Today (With Pictures)
If youre tired of the same food and water bowls getting knocked over and scooted around your floor, having a raised bowl stand for your dog may eliminate those issues for good. Also, while bending to eat may not be a significant issue for smaller breeds, it can be quite a task for larger breeds. So, it may be beneficial to have a shoulder-level feeding stand to make this process easier.
Raised dog bowls and feeding stations can get pricy. Grabbing a few tools and materials can cut out hundreds of dollars in the processliterally. Weve found free DIY dog bowl stands that you can create yourself with a little expert guidance.
Top 16 DIY Elevated Dog Bowl Stand Plans
1. Practically Functional Elevated Dog Food Bowl
- Skill level: Intermediate
This DIY-raised dog food bowl by Practically Functional is a wonderful way to upcycle an old item. Alternatively, you can find a small dresser at a thrift store or possibly even online marketplaces. You will also need two rimmed dog bowls. They estimate that this design will take under five hours to complete in total.
You wont need too many tools with this DIY elevated dog bowl stand, though it will require experience with and access to things like a jigsaw, screwdriver, and drill.
2. Jen Woodhouse Large Dog Feeding Station
- Skill level:Intermediate
The large dog feeding station guided by Jen Woodhouse is ideal for larger breeds, as the name implies. Your big guy or gal wont be craning their necks to eat their floor-level food anymore. This design even has a drawer for storage.
There are printable PDF plans that will go over all the materials, tools, and measurements required. Jen added non-slip footpegs to the finished product, and a DIY elevated dog bowl stand will be an optional feature depending on your preference.
3. Happy Go Lucky Dog Food Feeding Station with Storage
- Skill level:Intermediate
This dog feeding station with storage from Happy Go Lucky is an easy setup that will have your dog eating higher up in no time. Its a similar design to our other two selections, but it has a personalized nameplate and side handles for easy mobility. You can also store the food in a tote container beneath the food bowls.
The process is broken down for you with photos and straightforward explanations, so you wont have issues doing it at your own pace. They go over each item and measurement that you will need to get the finished product that you desire.
4. Meg Allan Cole Dog Feeder
The dog feeder by Meg Allan Cole is designed with tiny dogs in mind. Meg has two small rescues that she used when creating this idea. This option would not be suitable for larger dogs, and it wont be sturdy enough for a destructive kind either.
However, if you have a toy or small breed, the supplies for this raised food dish are inexpensive, and its effortless to produce. Megs video provides a fantastic visual guide, making the creation process uncomplicated and speedy.
5. A Shade of Teal Raised Dog Feeder
You wont need many supplies to create this sleek raised dog feeder design from A Shade of Teal. The instructions show glass bowls, but you can use any rimmed dishes you desire. Youll simply cut down your boards, do a bit of woodworking, and be good to go.
This DIY elevated dog bowl stand does require the use of a nail gun, so if you dont have one handy, feel free to use a standard hammer and nails.
6. DIY Huntress Dog Bowl Stand
The dog bowl stand from DIY Huntress is easy to assemble and looks adorable as well. The cuts are standard, so there are no intricate steps needed to create this stand. You can even customize it with any paint or stain you prefer, but in the tutorial, they show a popping red color that stands out.
You wont need many tools to get started, as this requires the same basic ones as the otherslike the miter saw, jigsaw, and drill. The instructions show you step by step how to build an elevated dog bowl stand, with written explanations and added photos so you can finish at your own pace.
7. Anikas DIY Life Simple Dog Stand Plans
The simple dog food stand from Anikas DIY Life is a modern style design sure to fit in with any contemporary home. It is a simple wooden design with bowls fitted on separated square pieces. The bottom portion was painted in black for the tutorial, but you could paint it any color. This gives it a feeling as if it were dipped in paint.
There are minimal materials, so you wont have to pay much to get this look.
8. Ugly Duckling House No-Slip Dog Feeder
This no-slip dog feeder design by Ugly Duckling House is ideal for dogs who tend to push their food around. The legs will stay in place, making it hard to move around for your dog, so you dont find it halfway across the room. For forceful eaters, it also keeps it from tipping over because it tends to be somewhat top-heavy.
If you were looking at the options on the list with no storage compartments and are worried about the sturdiness, you may want to go for this DIY over the others.
9. Workshop Addict Raised Dog Bowl Stand Youtube
This is a video tutorial from Workshop Addict to create a raised dog bowl stand. John walks through the whole process, teaching you how to build an elevated dog bowl stand including how to measure and exactly how everything fits together. Its beneficial, especially for someone who isnt too tool-savvy.
The result is a standard, well-made wooden piece that can be stained or painted to your liking.
10. Jackal Woodworking Raised Dog Feeder Youtube
Jackal Woodworking guides you through a video tutorial on how to create your own raised dog feeder. This is a beautiful design using metal legs for a unique and stylish look. The metal piping for the legs is easy to assemble and leaves out most of the cutting and nailing that our other DIY feeders have.
The overall design fits dcor from rustic to even steampunk. It may be a tad more expensive for materials than some others, but it will look terrific in any main space.
11. Casual Builds Dog Bowl Stand with Storage Youtube
- Skill level: Intermediate
This video made by Casual Builds shows you how to make an adorable wooden dog bowl stand with storage for your pooch. It has another slide-out drawer feature, providing a compact space to store the food. It makes things extremely simple when it comes to feeding time.
They even guide you through how to make the wooden bone to add to the front if you want to get extra creative.
12. Maker Gray Concrete Dog Bowl Stand Youtube
The Maker Gray channel created this video to guide you through how to make an extremely durable concrete dog bowl stand. This will take a bit more effort over some of the others but dont fret too much. She guides you through the concrete mixing steps flawlessly.
This is especially good for dogs who like to gnaw on wooden edges. If the tabletop is concrete, there will be no destruction of the main design. It looks terrific and is made to last.
13. CNTHINGS Big Dog Bowl Stand Youtube
In this tutorial, CNTHINGS shows you how to make a large dog bowl stand for a big breed. He mentions in the beginning that he is creating this explicitly for his 200-pound Mastiffso this can be a good indication of whether this stand will work for you.
The ultimate design has a hinged top, so you can open and close the top portion, using the inside for storage. Its efficient and more natural to put together than you would assume at first glance.
14. Steve Carmichael Raised Dog Food & Water Bowl Stand Youtube
- Skill level: Intermediate
For another compact combination, Steve Carmichael walks you through a guided tutorial to create a wooden dog food and water bowl stand with bottom storage. There is an adorable paw print design on the side to give the lifted bowl character.
Steve mentions in the video that under the description link, there is a downloadable PDF plan that you can use to create this piece at your own pace.
15. Sterling Davis Pet Water & Food Stand Youtube
- Skill level: Intermediate
This pet water and food stand design by Sterling Davis is a bit more complicated than our other choices. Not only does it use a three-bowl top, but it also has a three-piece glued wood design for the top pieces. Then, he made it even more crafty by using a scroll saw to create intricate designs on the sides.
This type of DIY would only be suitable for an experienced woodworker if you plan to get a fraction as detailed as he does in this video. So, if you are a beginner, you may want to consider other raised bowls. Still, its a beautiful design thats totally customizable for someone with the skills to create it.
16. Animal Wised Homemade Dog Feeder Youtube
The homemade dog feeder design by Animal Wised is a cute and practical piece for your pet. It is made from a fruit crate that you can customize with your pets name and paint how you desire. Rather than using fancy tools like a jigsaw, the material used for the top is thin enough that you can cut it with a utility knife.
Fruit crates are inexpensive and potentially free if you look around. You wont need to cut wood or build this, as all the hard work is already done. Use your personal touches to tailor it to your sense of style.
Conclusion
As you can see, these appealing stands differ in skillset and appearance. You can customize the perfect elevated dog bowl to correspond with your dcor while making meals more enjoyable for your dog. Its amazing what you can do with a little wood and a solid plan. Whether you choose a simplistic or intricate design, you are sure to come up with a unique DIY elevated dog bowl stand that adds character to your home. With a few simple cuts and general guidance, you can turn these hypotheticals into a reality.
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Featured Image Credit: Peteris Zalitis, Shutterstock
13 DIY Dog Bowl Stand Plans You Can Make Today (With Pictures)
Dog bowl stands can make meals more enjoyable for your dog. Raised bowls can help ease joint and neck pain in elderly dogs and those with arthritis. They can also help large breeds eat easier without having to lower their heads to the point of discomfort. The raised bowls help reduce strain on your dogs hips and shoulders. The food also moves easier from your dogs mouth to their stomach as they eat.
Dog bowl stands can even keep the feeding area cleaner by making it more difficult for dogs to move their dishes around. The benefits dont just stop at dogs either. Humans will have to bend less to pick up and put down the food bowl. This eliminates strain on dog owners joints and muscles too.
Best of all, these stands dont have to cost a fortune. If youre a DIYer, you may be interested in making one yourself. We have some DIY dog bowl stand plans you can get started on today to give your dog a more comfortable experience during their next meal.
The 13 DIY Dog Bowl Stand Plans
1. Medium Dog Bowl Stand by DIY Huntress
| Materials: | Wood boards, wood, dog bowls, wood glue, screws, nails, large drill bit, wood putty, paint or stain of your choice |
| Tools: | Miter saw, jig saw, drill, wood clamps, Kreg Jig Pocket Hole System |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to moderate |
This medium dog bowl stand can cost around $100 in stores. But with these materials, the cost averages around $18 to build it yourself. You can also adjust the measurements to fit your dogs bowls. The wood can be painted any color that you choose to match your dcor or brighten up a room. If youre a handy DIYer, you can build this in about a day. However, beginners shouldnt be afraid to tackle this one, as its not complicated.
2. Simple Raised Dog Bowl Stand by Anikas DIY Life
| Materials: | Lumber, wood glue, pocket hole screws, paint or stain of your choice, dog bowls |
| Tools: | Kreg Jig K4 or Kreg 320, right-angle clamp, power drill, miter saw, sander |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This raised dog bowl stand is easy and inexpensive to make. The wooden frame comes together quickly and holds two dog bowls. You can paint or stain this stand any color youd like. Its best to buy the dog bowls that you want to use first so you can customize the measurements of the stand to accommodate them.
3. Converted Dresser Dog Bowl Stand by Practically Functional
| Materials: | Two-drawer dresser, dog bowls with rims, paint, varnish, large drill bit |
| Tools: | Jig saw, screwdriver, cordless drill, pencil, paintbrush, wood glue, quick grip clamps |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
If you have an old two-drawer dresser lying around, you can easily convert it into a raised dog feeding station. If you dont have a dresser, you can probably find one at a garage sale, thrift store, or online marketplace. Theres no need to buy a new piece of furniture for this unless youd prefer to. If it isnt the color that you want, it can be painted or stained your desired shade. Without painting the piece, this project should take around 2 hours. You can also use the bottom drawer to store dog food, treats, and other supplies.
4. Butcher Block Dog Bowl Stand by Well She Tried
| Materials: | Dog bowls, butcher block, butcher-block finish, hairpin legs, 80-grit sandpaper, soft cloth, denatured alcohol |
| Tools: | Router, circular saw, palm sander, tape measure, drill, compass |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
Using a butcher block and hairpin legs, you can build this butcher block dog bowl stand for your dog. This project takes a bit of skill because a few of the cuts can be challenging.
5. Dog Bone Sided Dog Bowl Stand by Daddy by Day
| Materials: | Wood boards, dog bowls, wood screws, pencil, spray paint |
| Tools: | Compass, tape measure, drill, daredevil spade bit, jigsaw with a wood blade, miter saw |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate to difficult |
This cute dog bone-sided dog bowl stand looks like it came from an upscale boutique, but you can make it yourself with the right tools and materials. It may be more difficult to do than some other plans listed here, but the result is adorable. You can paint this stand any color, and the bottom has a handy shelf for storage. The wooden dog bones on the sides give this stand a stylish look.
6. Wall Mounted Dog Bowl Stand by Martha Stewart
| Materials: | Stair tread, dog food bowls, sandpaper, primer and paint, wall bracket kit, wood screws, wood filler, pencil |
| Tools: | Jig saw, measuring tape, drill |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This easy wall-mounted dog bowl stand is made with a repurposed stair tread and a wall bracket kit. Even if you only have basic tools, this project should be a snap for you. You can place this at any height on the wall that will be comfortable for your dog. Just measure the distance from the floor to the place where your dogs legs meet their chest. The shelf catches any spills or food crumbs and keeps them from going all over your floor. The bowls fit securely on the shelf so they cant be moved around.
8. Modern DIY Dog Bowl Stand by Woodshop Diaries
| Materials: | Wood scraps, wood screws, wood glue, dog bowls |
| Tools: | Drill, jig saw, nail gun |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
You can make this modern DIY dog bowl stand out of any wood that you have left over from other projects. If you dont have wood scraps, plywood will work fine. You can also check out a video tutorial for this project. Its easy to adjust this stand to accommodate your dogs height. You even have the option to add a few decorative strips along the front, but theyre not necessary.
9. Small Dog Bowl Stand by Amber Oliver
| Materials: | Dog bowls, wooden board, wood glue, paint of choice, sandpaper |
| Tools: | Jig or scroll saw, drill, corner clamps |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This dog bowl stand works well for small dogs. The bowls are easy to remove and clean but difficult for dogs to spill. Once youve finished building this stand, it can be painted or stained however you like. Even if youre a beginner when it comes to power tools, this is still a project that you can do easily. It takes about one afternoon to complete, and you can use either a jig or scroll saw, whichever you have.
10. Multi-Dog Dog Bowl Stand By Kelly Concepts
| Materials: | Dog bowls, wood board, hairpin legs, polyurethane |
| Tools: | Jig saw, table saw, drill |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
If youre handy with tools, this multi-dog dog bowl stand may not be difficult for you to do. Novices may find it a bit challenging, but you can still get it done by following the step-by-step directions. This stand holds two dog bowls with a large, shared water bowl in the center. It makes mealtimes and cleanup easier. A coat of polyurethane gives it a perfect finish.
11. Concrete Dog Bowl Stand by Tori Mistick
| Materials: | Plastic planters or bowls, dog bowls, quick-drying concrete, water, rocks, sandpaper, spray paint |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
These concrete dog bowl stands are for single-bowl use, but theyre easy to make, so you can craft as many as you need. They can be painted any color and will add a bit of style to any room. If you dont have tools but still love a good DIY project, this one is for you. The height and weight of the stands ensure that dogs cant tip them over while eating or drinking. While this is an easy project, it still may take several days to complete due to the concrete needing to dry.
12. Large Dog Food Station by Jen Woodhouse
| Materials: | Plywood, drawer slides, drawer knob, pocket screws, brad nails, wood glue, marble contact paper |
| Tools: | Wood clamp, Kreg Pocket-Hole Jig, drawer slide jig, tape measure, drill, nail gun, sander, circular saw |
| Difficulty Level: | Difficult |
This large dog food station is covered in marble contact paper to give it a classy look, but you can use any contact paper that you like, though its best if its water resistant. This stand includes a drawer that can be used for dog food storage, making mealtimes convenient. The stand is ideally built with large dog breeds in mind. If youd love to make this stand for a small dog, the tutorial includes instructions for a smaller version.
13. Dog Feeding Station With Storage by Jennifer Stimpson This Old House
| Materials: | Drill bit, contact paper, paint, dog bowls, wood boards, paintbrush, sandpaper |
| Tools: | Screwdriver, compass, rasp, jig saw, drill, combination square |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to moderate |
This sturdy feeding station has a storage compartment for convenience. Your dogs food can be kept close by for easy feeding. The station can be built in 11 steps. If youre handy with tools, this will be easy for you. Since youll have to wait for the paint to dry, this project will take a few hours over 2 days to complete. Its a piece that looks expensive but can be made at home for about $40 worth of supplies.
Conclusion
While these dog bowl stands vary in appearance, you can find the right one to work for your dog. Many of these plans are customizable, so no matter what size dog you have, there is a DIY dog bowl stand plan that will be comfortable and practical for them to use. You also dont have to be an expert woodworker to make a dog bowl stand that your dog will love. We hope that youve enjoyed these plans and have found one to get started on today!
Featured Image Credit: Ingrid Yeh, Writer
