Luthier Shop Layout Planner
Drag-and-drop workshop floor plan tool — built for instrument makers
Whether you’re setting up your first repair bench in a spare bedroom or designing a full production shop, getting the layout right makes everything easier. Place workbenches, tools, walls, doors, and windows to design your ideal workshop — right in your browser, no software to install.
Starts with a sample luthier workshop you can customize or clear and start from scratch.
Built for Luthiers, By Luthiers
Most floor plan tools are designed for kitchens and living rooms. This one was built by J. Roadman specifically for instrument makers and repair shops. The starter layout includes a workbench, assembly table, band saw, drill press, router table, spray booth, and wood storage — all sized to real-world dimensions. Delete what you don’t need, add what you do.
What You Can Do
Design Your Room
Set custom dimensions in feet or metric with snap-to-grid precision. Add interior walls for finish rooms, tool alcoves, or spray areas.
Place Equipment
Add rectangular or circular items with custom names and dimensions. Color-code by category — benches, power tools, storage, furniture.
Architectural Details
Place doors with configurable swing direction, windows along any wall, and text labels to annotate your plan. Interior and exterior walls render distinctly.
Save & Export
Auto-saves in your browser between visits. Download as JSON for backup. Export a clean, print-ready PDF with custom header text.
Why Layout Matters
A well-planned shop isn’t about having more space — it’s about using what you have efficiently. Think about workflow: tonewood comes in the door, gets rough-cut near the entry, moves to the workbench for shaping, then to assembly, finishing, and finally setup. Your layout should follow that flow without backtracking.
- Table saw placement — needs clearance on all four sides for sheet goods and long stock. Position it near the entry so you can break down lumber as it comes in.
- Workbench access — you need at least three sides clear. A bench shoved against a wall limits how you can clamp, plane, and work around a body or neck.
- Finish area separation — dust is the enemy of finish work. Even a simple interior wall between your sanding area and spray booth makes a huge difference.
- Wood storage — store planks and sheet goods vertically on edge to save floor space. Milled wood should be stickered on wall racks or overhead, not on the floor.
- Lighting — plan bench positions relative to windows. Good natural light on your primary work surface improves your finishes dramatically.
- Dust collection routing — if you’re running a central collector, plan the ductwork paths before you commit to tool placement.
Works on Any Screen
The planner runs entirely in your browser — nothing to download, no account required to start. It works on desktop, laptop, and tablets. Right-click and drag to pan, scroll to zoom, and use keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+Z to undo, [ and ] to rotate) to work quickly.
Free to use. No signup required to start designing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Shop Layout Planner free?
Yes. The planner is free to use with no signup required. Some features like PDF export and file save/load are available to Looth Group members.
Do I need to create an account?
No account is needed to design your layout. Creating a free Looth Group account lets you save your work as files and export PDFs.
Can I save my layout and come back later?
Your layout automatically saves in your browser, so it’s there when you return on the same device. For backup or transferring between devices, members can download their layout as a JSON file.
What size shop can I plan?
Any size — from a 6×8 foot closet shop to a 40×60 foot production facility. Enter your dimensions in feet or metric and the planner scales to fit.
Can I plan a multi-room shop?
Yes. Use interior walls to divide your space — a common setup is a main workshop with a walled-off finish room and separate storage area.
Can I print my shop layout?
Members can export their layout as a PDF with a custom header, sized for standard letter paper. The PDF includes all walls, doors, windows, items, labels, and dimensions.