How to make dog stairs out of boxes

If you have any senior pets at home, you know how difficult even the simplest of movements can be for them at times, and their access to the bed or sofa can become severely restricted. Pet ramps or stairs can help solve this problem, and they are ideal for enabling an older cat or dog access to elevated parts of your home, such as the bed, sofa, or car. There are pre-made pet stairs and ramps available, but they tend to be fairly expensive, unsteady, and uniformly sized — it can be tricky to find the exact height and design that you need.

So, why not build your own dog steps for beds, sofas and more? Building your own pet stairs and ramps is inexpensive and can be built to your exact specifications and made the perfect height and size for your pet. In this article, we’ll look at simple and quick DIY pet stair and ramp projects that even a novice DIY enthusiast can construct in a weekend or less. Let’s get started!

Build Your Own DIY Dog Stairs (15 Ways)

These beautiful DIY pet steps from build-basic.com are easy to build and have a wood finish that we love. The detailed plans and building instructions are easy to follow, and the build should only take you 3 or 4 hours. Depending on your pet, you can then line the steps with grippy material or simply leave the beautiful wood finish.

These Ottomanbystyle pet steps are easy to build but may take a bit more time than some of the other plans on this list. This is because you need to build three separate parts. It’s definitely worth the extra effort, though, as you’ll have three different steps to use in different places, a comfy perch for your pet to nap on, and functional steps. Also, we love that the steps all slide into one another for easy storage.

Using just two wooden crates, you can build a functional set of steps in under an hour. Simply glue a smaller crate on top of a larger one — or three small crates, if it’s better for your pet — and then paint them the color of your choice. These steps are basically free to build, customizable, and lightweight, making them one of our favorite DIY designs.

Pallet furniture has become popular in the last few years, as pallets can be found for free or for little cost. Instead of using the entire pallet, you can easily take it apart and use the scraps to make a set of surprisingly attractive pet stairs. The best part about this plan is that the stairs are reversible, meaning you can use the taller side for pets that really need help or use it upright and have the braces be extra storage shelves!

This cute two-step design is easy to build, the materials cost next to nothing, and it looks great! According to the instructions, these dog steps for beds or a sofa are a cinch to build even for the novice DIY enthusiast and will only take a few hours to complete. A drill, a power saw, screws, and a few 2x4s are all that’s needed!

Ramps are a great idea for some pets, as they may be easier for them to use. This simple ramp idea is a breeze to build, consisting of a simple wooden base that is carpeted for grip, with a small hinged stand. It’s solid and easy to move, and best of all, it folds flat and can easily slide under the bed for storage.

These wall step plans are a great way to save space. They are easy to build — it will take a couple of hours or less — and can easily be attached to the wall next to your bed. They are sturdy and safe, and we love the wraparound rope grip on the steps!

If you are looking for a simple and quick option that requires no wood, screws, or power tools, this simple design is ideal. It’s also a good test run for building wood steps! We all have cardboard boxes lying around the home, and with a pair of scissors and some glue, you can create a perfectly safe set of pet stairs in less than an hour. For cats and small dogs, these steps are great.

This pet ramp design is about as simple as it gets! A large ½ plank of wood and a smaller one for the stand, along with some carpeting and a hinge (even tough rope or chain will suffice), are all that’s needed to make this functional and stable pet ramp.

We all need extra storage space around the home, and this design gives you that and a simple pet ramp, rolled into one! The shelving under the ramp can be used for books, blankets, or even as a little nap pad for a cat or small dog, and it can be customized any way you like. It may take a bit more time and materials than some other designs, but the extra space is well worth it!

Pet ramps can easily sell for over $100, but with this design that uses parts that can be found cheaply at Home Depot, you can build a stable, solid, and safe pet ramp for a fraction of the cost. With simple closet shelves, carpeting, and zip ties, you can build this simple pet ramp in less than an hour.

This simple pet ramp design has a handy perch at the top, which is perfect for cats and useful even as a standalone perch. It has a simple four-legged table design with a ramp attached, and you can cover the ramp with your choice of carpeting or fabric. It’s also lightweight and easy to move, and your feline will love being above the action!

This simple pet ramp will take you 30 minutes or less to complete and can be built for little to no cost. All you’ll need to build this DIY dog ramp is two 12-inch planks, six strips of wood beam, and screws and carpeting, and you have a simple and functional pet ramp. We like this ramp because it is large and can be incorporated for a wide variety of uses.

Have your pet sleeping comfortably beside you with this combination bed/step design. You can use it as a standalone raised bed or as steps for an older pet to gain access to high spots. A big plus is the extra space underneath the bed that can be used for storage or as a second bunk for another pet!

If you need a set of pet stairs but storage is an issue, this DIY collapsible design is ideal. The stairs have a hinge on the base stand, allowing the steps to simply be folded flat and stored under the bed or upright in a closet. This design may be slightly complicated to build, but we think that the result is certainly worth it!

Final Thoughts: DIY Dog Stairs

Pet ramps and steps can be expensive, and there is no need to pay so much when you can build a stable, attractive ramp for a fraction of the cost and to your own specifications. From simple cardboard steps to complicated storage ramps, there are designs for everyone, many of which will take you no more than an hour to build.

Featured Image Credit: Ljutikov-713, Shutterstock

Do you maintain a no-dogs-on-the-furniture household? Or is bedtime a literal snuggle fest? If you’re like us, then it’s probably the latter! If you own a toy or small breed, however, getting on and off the bed (or sofa) can be not just difficult but outright dangerous for your pup.

Jumping off of tall furniture can wreak havoc on your dog’s joints, especially if they’re predisposed to conditions like hip dysplasia or arthritis. On top of that, there’s a good chance that they won’t be able to get back up on the bed, couch, or their favorite armchair after jumping down.

With a set of dog stairs, you can relax knowing your dog has the freedom to go wherever they want without hurting themselves in the process. Here are 10 DIY projects that teach you how to build dog stairs at home.

The 10 DIY Dog Stair Plans

Why waste valuable floor space with a set of bulky pet stairs? HGTV offers easy-to-follow instructions for how to build dog stairs with convenient storage space hidden underneath — perfect for tucking away dog toys when not in use.

The best part about this project is that it’s easily tailored to your home décor with paint and your choice of rug.

With this tutorial from IKEA Hackers, you can eliminate the hard work of building a set of dog stairs and jump straight to enjoying them in your own home. All you need are a few affordable supplies from your local IKEA (if you don’t live near an IKEA retail store, these items are also available online), glue, and staples.

You can customize the final look of your steps with paint and your choice of fabric color.

Live Laugh Rowe has a detailed tutorial on constructing simple but elegant dog steps with just a few pieces of lumber and tools. While you’ll need specific tools and hardware to get this project done, it’s quite simple as far as woodworking goes.

Once your new dog stairs are constructed, apply a layer of primer and your favorite paint color. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can also add carpeting or cushions to the steps.

Difficulty: Easy

If wooden stairs are a bit too heavy duty for your needs or you want a set of stairs that are ultra-portable, check out this tutorial from Instructables. These foam dog stairs are quick and easy to make and don’t require an extra layer of carpet on top.

You can leave the foam exposed or create a fabric cover to go over the stairs. The latter option might take a little more time, but will allow you to customize the look of your new pet steps.

Are you looking for something that looks professionally made (without the price)? If you or a loved one have woodworking experience under your belt, then this project from Build Basic is exactly what you’re looking for.

Once complete, these stairs can be customized with paint, wood stain, fabric, cushions, carpet, and more.

We all know someone who is constantly trying to get rid of old wood pallets. With this guide from Karell Ste-Marie, you can transform those pallets into a rustic-inspired doggie staircase.

While you can always paint the pallet boards once your stairs are constructed, we like the all-natural look of this project!

For owners of toy and small breed dogs, heavy-duty wood stairs aren’t always necessary. This ingenious tutorial from Mild Mile shows how to construct the set of pet stairs by Build Basic with double-walled cardboard instead of lumber.

If you want to spice up this set of stairs, we suggest applying ready-to-stick wallpaper to the cardboard before putting all the pieces together.

Most ready-made dog stairs are designed for sofas and low beds. But if you have an extra-tall bed and a pooch who loves to snuggle, then the custom dog stair plans from Digital Peer may just do the trick.

Of course, you can always use a wood stain or paint to match your new doggie stairs to your existing home décor.

If you have access to a bunch of scrap lumber, then you’re probably not too interested in building dog steps that require buying even more wood. Fortunately, this tutorial from Instructables will show you how to use old scrap wood to create a set of functional pet stairs.

The author of this project also notes that these stairs are reversible — you can lay the stairs on their “back” to create a shorter staircase for your sofa or other low furniture.

When using scrap wood, make sure you know what, if any, treatments it may have been subjected to. Some wood treatments may be unsafe for your dog.

Don’t have access to an IKEA store? Fret not, because you can easily make a set of dog stairs from almost any wooden crate! Hometalk shows us how to use affordable crates from Michael’s to create a functional set of steps for a small dog.

As you can see in the picture above, this project also works great for dogs who are too small to jump into your vehicle on their own.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking to avoid the expense of store-bought pet stairs or just want to roll up your sleeves for the day, these are just a few of the great projects you can build for your four-legged friend. There are even multiple options for dog owners who don’t have the equipment or skills needed to construct a set of stairs from wood.

As always, don’t be afraid to adjust these DIY dog stairs & steps to fit your own needs — change paint colors, step heights, or whatever else you see fit. Assuming you have the tools and experience necessary, there’s no limit to your creativity!

So, what are you waiting for? A set of custom-made steps for your dog are sure to make your and your pup’s lives a little bit easier.

How does your dog get on and off the furniture? Have you ever used a set of pet stairs?

Featured Image Credit: Switlana Sonyashna, Shutterstock