Wood Car Ramps
This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my crafting adventures! Read my site policies here.
Why I Tried This Project
Scrolling Pinterest late at night (a dangerous hobby in itself), I stumbled across an Etsy shop selling simple wooden Hot Wheels ramps—for $100. Don’t get me wrong, they were adorable, but my first thought was: “That’s a hundred bucks for some painted wood with screws? Nope. I can do this myself.”
Plus, my boys have approximately 5,000,003 Hot Wheels scattered across the house. An easy put-up, take-down ramp sounded like the perfect way to corral their energy into something slightly more productive than lining cars across my kitchen counters.
Difficulty, Time & Cost
Difficulty: Easy (beginner-friendly if you’ve got basic tools)
Time: About 2 hours (including painting + assembly)
Cost: Around $25 (much cheaper than Etsy!) *
Verdict: Solid win! (Though, note to self: use ½” or ¾” wood next time to keep the ramp lighter.)
* This assumes you have access to a drill shown in supply list and do not need to purchase for this project.
The Process 🛠️
Pick up your wood. Lowe’s (or any home store) sells 2’ and 4’ precut boards. I grabbed:
1x4” boards for the ramp base
1x2” boards for the sides
Paint before assembly. I painted the sides yellow and the base black. (Painting beforehand = less mess later.)
Add road lines. Attempt #1: white vinyl strips (fail). Attempt #2: painter’s tape + white craft paint (win!). This gave me nice clean lines without the frustration of vinyl peeling up.
Assemble the ramp.
Clamp the sides to the base. Wood glue can be used, but isn’t necessary if you use 2-3 screws along each side.
Predrill holes into the side pieces. This just makes your life easier when you screw everythign together.
Use 1.25” wood screws to secure everything.
Seal it up. Spray with clear coat to give the cars a smooth surface to race down.
Optional personalization. For one ramp I gifted, I cut a vinyl decal that said “Alex’s Speedway.” Such a fun touch!
Supply List (with links!)
Click on the images for links to product examples.
General supply thoughts…
Wood - The 1”x4” board will be your track base, while the 1”x2” boards are the sides. Most stores (such as Lowe’s, Home Depot, Menards) sell pre-cut 4-foot boards. Type of wood is not important, I chose the cheapest option to keep cost low - howeve ensure to find the straightest boards with fewest imprefections to keep your track smooth.
Paint - I purchased a two sample size latex paints for $6 from lowes and had them color it bright yellow and black. Spray paint could also be used, but would require more coats than the latex paint to achieve the same coverage. For the clear coat I used spray paint to give my track a little shine & protect the other colors from wear.
Drill - While my tools are all Milwaulkee brand, you can choose whichever drill best fits your budget. My recommendation is once you start purchaseing cordless tools to stick with the same brand so the batteries are interchangeable!
Finished Project ✨
My boys immediately tested the ramps with a pile of cars, and the verdict was unanimous: these things are fast and fun. The personalized version I gifted to a friend’s son was also a huge hit.
Want to Skip the DIY?
If DIY isn’t your thing (no judgment here), you can purchase a finished wooden ramp from me on Etsy here. It might cost a little more with shipping.
👉 So, what do you think? Worth the DIY save, or would you splurge for the Etsy version?
