How to Make a DIY Knife Drawer Block

Updated on February 13, 2024

DIY Knife Drawer Block. Learn how to make a custom knife drawer block to fit perfectly into any sized drawer.

I mentioned last week that I would try to organize my entire house. Normally, I would strategically go room by room and complete one whole room before moving on to the next.

But, with my lack of motivation, I wanted to get the biggest bang for my buck (so to speak). Basically, I want to first work on areas that are bothering me the most or have been on my to-do list for the longest time.

How to Build a DIY Knife Holder

First on my organizing list was creating a new drawer for knife storage. We had a knife block on the counter and a drawer of other kitchen knives.

I would have loved to put all the knives we use in the knife block, but the newer knives we inherited didn’t fit. So, I had duplicates and knives in two different places.

You can see my temporary solution to sorting knives in the drawer using old cardboard boxes cut to size.

Take Inventory of All Knives

The first step was to get out all the knives and see what I had. I had a variety of knives to organize – steak knives, a chef’s knife, a pairing knife, sharpening steel, some longer knives, and smaller knives.

I was able to pare down some of the knives. Since they would all fit in one drawer, I was happy with the knives I got rid of, although I probably could have pared down even more.

Prepare the Drawer

I emptied out the drawer I would be using and vacuumed it well.

Then, I added a shelf liner I had left over from the bathroom organization I purchased at Dollar Tree.

I looked online to find a knife block that would fit in the drawer right by the stove next to my dishwasher. This counter is where I do most of my cooking prep, so it made the most sense. All were either too big or too expensive.

I did a Google image search for DIY drawer knife blocks and saw several options I would be able to do myself.

Build a Knife Drawer Block

Gather your supplies, and I will show you how I created the blocks.

RELATED: More Kitchen Projects

Supplies

• Small Wood Scraps (1 – 2″ square)
• Compound Miter Saw
• Wood Sander
• Wood Stain (optional)

Measure the Drawer and Cut Wood Pieces

Start by measuring the width of your drawer to know the length to cut each piece of wood.

I went to our scrap wood pile to see what I could find. I found some pieces of 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ wood and 1″ x 1/2″ wood.

Using our Ryobi compound miter saw, I cut each down to the width of my drawer.

Cut Notches in Wood Block

I drew lines where I wanted each cut to put the knives in.

My piece of wood was 9 1/8″, and I separated them by 3/4″ to get 11 slots in the larger piece.

Originally, I tried cutting down with the compound miter saw using the attached metal guide. This didn’t work because it was cutting my notches at an angle.

I used a scrap piece of 1 1/2 x 1 1/2″ wood between the metal guide and the piece I was cutting. I was careful to hold the pieces tightly together. Sorry I didn’t have a picture of this, but it was a last-minute adjustment, and I had no more hands.

I cut the shorter piece of wood the width of the drawer for the handles to rest on. 

Sand the Wood

After cutting all the pieces and notches, sanding the wood smoothly was the next step. You could stain the wood if you wanted, but I didn’t bother since the knives were in a closed drawer.

Add Additional Pieces to Fit the Drawer

My drawer is skinny but long. To use the entire space, I created a second set of wood pieces to hold the smaller knives on the side of the drawer.

I then measured from the front of the drawer to the first piece of wood. It was 5″. I made the slots 1/2″ apart since the knives were smaller and didn’t have such wide handles.

I had to cut a larger notch for the crinkle blade for our mandolin-type cutter.

All my knives fit neatly inside the drawer, and I got the knife block off my counter to save valuable counter space. Having fewer things on the counter can make a big difference in a small kitchen.

The few little items left in the original knife drawer are being relocated to my utensil drawer after I find some drawer dividers that will fit in our small drawers.

Other Options to Organize Knives

• Magnetic Knife Holders – attach to the kitchen wall to save counter space
• Drawer Knife Block – purchase a premade knife block for any drawer
• Leather Knife Roll – store knives in a leather case that can be rolled and stored in any drawer

It feels good to get my first project done for Project Organize. What organizing project have you tackled this week?

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