I learned woodworking from magazines long before YouTube was a thing, and I still keep a subscription to four of them. There is something about a printed project plan on the bench that a phone screen never quite replicates, especially when your hands are covered in sawdust and finish.
Most of the credible woodworking magazines have survived the digital shake-out and the ones that are left are genuinely good. I have read every issue of these five for at least three years and the differences in voice, depth, and project quality are worth knowing before you commit.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Woodworking Magazine Subscription | Best overall | 4.8/5 |
| Wood Magazine Subscription | Beginners | 4.6/5 |
| Popular Woodworking Magazine | Hand tools | 4.7/5 |
| Woodcraft Magazine Subscription | Project plans | 4.5/5 |
| American Woodturner Magazine | Turning | 4.8/5 |
1. Fine Woodworking Magazine - Best Overall
Fine Woodworking is the gold standard. Articles run long, techniques go deep, and the photography of joinery details is genuinely instructive. Worth every dollar.
2. Wood Magazine - Best for Beginners
Wood Magazine pitches itself at the home shop and lands the tone perfectly. Projects are achievable in a weekend, tool reviews are honest about price, and the cut lists are accurate.
3. Popular Woodworking - Best for Hand Tool Fans
Under Christopher Schwarz’s long shadow, Popular Woodworking has stayed committed to hand tool techniques and traditional joinery in a way nobody else has.
4. Woodcraft Magazine - Best for Project Plans
Woodcraft leans heavier on full project plans with measured drawings. If you like to build straight from an issue without modifying, this is the one to grab.
5. American Woodturner - Best for Turning
If you turn, American Woodturner is the only specialty magazine that goes deep enough to actually teach. Tool grinds, hollow form techniques, and gallery features that are genuinely inspiring.
What Matters Most
Match the magazine to your style. A hand tool purist will hate a magazine full of CNC builds and vice versa. Read a sample issue before committing to a year.
My Setup
I keep a binder of cut-out articles organized by joinery technique. Five years of issues become a genuine reference library that way.
Common Mistakes
Subscribing to all five at once and then drowning in unread issues. Pick two that match your style and add a third later.
Final Recommendation
Start with Fine Woodworking for depth and Wood Magazine for breadth. Those two will keep most home woodworkers happy for years.
Frequently asked questions
Is print still worth it when YouTube is free?+
For me yes. Magazines force depth where videos chase clicks, and a paper plan on the bench beats pausing a tablet covered in sawdust.
Which magazine is best for absolute beginners?+
Wood Magazine. The projects are scoped honestly, the tool lists are realistic, and the step-by-step photography is excellent.