How to Start a Furniture Making Business in Nigeria (2026): Workshop, Tools, Costs, Prices and Customers

Start a furniture making business in Nigeria in 2026: workshop and tool costs, what furniture sells and for how much, pricing a piece, where to buy timber…

Published September 2026 · Business · by Skillnaija Team

Nigeria imports a large share of its furniture and pays dearly for it, while every new estate, office, school, church, hotel and shop needs beds, wardrobes, tables, chairs, shelves and fittings. A furniture workshop that makes solid, well-finished pieces and delivers on time has more orders than it can fill. This guide covers how to start in 2026: the workshop, tools, materials, what sells, how to price, and where orders come from.

What sells — and what a beginner should make first

Start with the high-demand, simple pieces: beds, TV stands, shoe racks, study and dining tables, kitchen and wall shelves, and wardrobes. They are quick to make, easy to price and easy to sell online. Fit-outs (kitchen cabinets, office desks, shop shelving, church pews, school desks) come next and are where contracts and volume live. Upholstered sofas are a separate skill and a later addition.

Workshop and tools: what it costs in 2026

• Hand tools — tape, square, marking gauge, hand saw, chisels, mallet, hammer, clamps, hand plane, sandpaper: ₦40,000 to ₦80,000
• Power tools — circular saw or jigsaw, drill/driver, orbital sander, router: ₦100,000 to ₦300,000
• Bench, sawhorses, extension cables, PPE: ₦30,000 to ₦70,000
• Later: table saw (₦250,000 to ₦800,000), planer/thicknesser, edge-banding machine for board work
• Space: a shed or shared workshop from ₦100,000 a year; a dedicated workshop ₦200,000 to ₦800,000 a year
• Power: a small generator or inverter if the grid is poor

A practical start is ₦200,000 to ₦500,000 for tools and a modest space; many beginners rent bench time in an established workshop for their first pieces, which the free Furniture Making Basics course plans for.

Materials and where to buy them

Timber markets in every city (Owode-Onirin and Sabo in Lagos, Timber Market in Onitsha, Kasuwar Katako in Kano) sell hardwood (iroko, mahogany, afara, opepe) by the plank; board markets sell MDF, plywood, particle board and laminated board by the sheet (a 4 × 8 ft 18 mm MDF sheet ₦20,000 to ₦35,000 in 2026; 18 mm plywood ₦25,000 to ₦45,000). Hardware (hinges, runners, handles, screws), adhesives and finishes (lacquer, stain, varnish, paint) come from building-materials markets. Buy per job after a deposit; keep only a small stock of screws, glue and finishing supplies.

What furniture sells for in 2026

• Bed frame (queen): ₦80,000 to ₦300,000; with headboard and storage more
• Wardrobe (two- to three-door): ₦120,000 to ₦400,000
• Dining table with six chairs: ₦150,000 to ₦600,000
• TV stand or console: ₦40,000 to ₦150,000
• Office desk: ₦60,000 to ₦250,000
• Kitchen cabinets: ₦80,000 to ₦200,000 per running metre installed
• Bookshelves and wall units: ₦50,000 to ₦300,000

Materials typically take 40% to 60% of the price; the rest is labour, overhead and margin.

Pricing a piece

Draw it with dimensions, write a cut list, price every board, plank, hinge, runner, screw and litre of finish at today's cost, add 10% for waste, add labour by the hours it takes at your rate, add a share of rent, power and tool wear, then a margin of 25% to 40%. Check the total against what similar pieces sell for on Instagram and Jiji and adjust the design, not the margin. Take a 50% to 70% deposit and put the delivery date in writing. The estimating lesson in Furniture Making Basics gives a worksheet, and the course's graded project is a complete build plan and price for one piece.

Getting orders

Instagram and WhatsApp with good photographs of finished pieces; Jiji listings; estate developers and property agents furnishing flats; interior designers who need a reliable workshop; offices, schools and churches for fit-outs; and referrals from every satisfied customer. A showroom is not needed to start — a phone gallery and a delivery bike are. Register a business name for corporate orders, and keep records so you know which pieces make money.

What separates workshops that last

Accurate cutting (where beginners lose material and money), square and strong joints, a finish that looks shop-bought, and delivery on the promised date. Safety matters too: guards on saws, dust extraction or masks, eye protection, and no loose clothing near spinning blades. Add upholstery, spray finishing or CNC cutting as the business grows; add Small Business Accounting from the first order.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to start a furniture business in Nigeria in 2026?

₦200,000 to ₦500,000 for hand and basic power tools, a bench and a modest space. A table saw and planer come later. Many beginners rent bench time in an established workshop for their first pieces.

Is furniture making profitable in Nigeria?

Yes. A one-person workshop with steady orders earns ₦200,000 to ₦600,000 a month in 2026; workshops that win office, school and estate fit-outs earn far more. Materials take 40% to 60% of the price; finishing quality and delivery dates decide referrals.

What furniture sells best for a beginner?

Beds, TV stands, shoe racks, study and dining tables, wall shelves and wardrobes — quick to make, easy to price and easy to sell on Instagram and Jiji. Fit-outs and upholstery come later.

How do I price furniture in Nigeria?

Cut list and every material at today's price plus 10% waste, labour by hours, a share of overhead, then a 25% to 40% margin, checked against market prices. Take a 50% to 70% deposit and put the delivery date in writing.

Where do furniture makers buy wood and board in Nigeria?

Timber markets such as Owode-Onirin and Sabo in Lagos, Onitsha Timber Market and Kasuwar Katako in Kano for hardwood, and board markets for MDF, plywood and laminated board — an 18 mm MDF sheet costs ₦20,000 to ₦35,000 in 2026.