Building a TV unit yourself costs €80 to €300 in materials. Ready-made designer TV units of comparable quality cost €200 to €800. Building your own saves 50–70% — and you choose exactly the dimensions, colour, and style that suit your interior. A TV unit is one of the most popular beginner furniture projects — no complicated joints, and it comes together relatively quickly. In this article you’ll find a complete step-by-step guide.
Build your own vs. buy: cost comparison
| | Build your own | Buy |
|—|—|—|
| Lowboard 120 cm (simple) | €80 – €150 | €200 – €450 |
| Lowboard 160 cm with doors | €150 – €250 | €300 – €700 |
| Full built-in TV wall | €300 – €600 | €1,500 – €4,000 |
| Saving | 50–70% | — |
Design: choose your style
Lowboard (the most popular type)
Low, wide unit on legs or a plinth. Typical dimensions: 120–200 cm wide, 40–50 cm deep, 35–50 cm high. Space for AV equipment, doors for hiding cables and devices.
Floating TV unit
Wall-mounted, no legs. Gives a light, airy feel and is easier to clean. Requires the wall to have sufficient load-bearing capacity (use wall plugs for solid masonry).
TV wall (media wall)
Full wall unit around the TV, with shelves, lighting, and sometimes a fireplace surround. See also the media-wall-build article for a more detailed guide.
Required materials (lowboard 160 cm, 4 bays, with legs)
| Material | Dimensions | Quantity | Price |
|—|—|—|—|
| MDF 18 mm (side panels, dividers, top, base) | Various | 2 sheets 244×122 | €50 – €100 |
| MDF 9 mm (back panel) | 160×40 cm | 1 piece | €10 – €20 |
| Legs (hairpin legs or wooden feet) | 15–20 cm high | 4 pieces | €20 – €60 |
| Hinges (soft-close) for doors | | 4 pieces | €10 – €20 |
| Doors (MDF or solid timber) | 40×30 cm | 2 pieces | €20 – €40 |
| Screws, dowels, plugs | | | €10 – €20 |
| Primer + paint or foil | | | €25 – €50 |
| LED strip (optional) | | 2 metres | €15 – €30 |
| Total | | | €160 – €340 |
Step-by-step guide: build a TV unit in 8 steps
Step 1: Determine the dimensions
Before you start, check:
- TV width: the TV unit must be at least as wide as the TV’s stand feet (or the TV itself for wall mounting)
- Height: the bottom of the screen should be at eye level when seated. Rule of thumb: TV centre at 100–110 cm height = unit height + TV height/2 = 100 cm. With a 50 cm tall TV: unit max. 75 cm high.
- Depth: 35–50 cm is standard. Allow sufficient space for cables at the back (5–10 cm).
Step 2: Create a cutting plan
Draw all components on paper with dimensions. Create a cutting plan for the MDF sheets — how do you cut the components to minimise waste?
Have the large sheets cut to size at the builders’ merchant (€1–€3 per cut). More accurate and less work at home.
Step 3: Routing for cables (optional)
Route or cut cable openings:
- Back panel: round opening Ø40–50 mm for cable feed-through per bay
- Side panels: cable management slot if you want to run cables along the side
Step 4: Prime and paint (before assembly)
Paint all MDF components before assembly — this is much easier than painting after construction. Apply one coat of MDF primer (MDF is very absorbent without primer), sand lightly, then apply 2 coats of topcoat.
Want a different finish?
- Vinyl wrap / self-adhesive film: easy to apply, many patterns (wood effect, matt black, etc.)
- Stucco finish: gives a luxurious, matt feel
- HPL laminate: very durable, professional result
Step 5: Assemble the carcass
Join the side panels to the top and base panels using dowels + wood glue (or countersunk screws). Add the divider panel(s) for the bay layout.
Check after each step that the unit is square (measure the diagonals). Use a set square in the internal corners if needed.
Step 6: Fit the back panel
Screw the back panel (9 mm MDF) to the frame. The back panel gives the unit its rigidity. Apply a thin bead of wood glue to the frame edges for a solid bond.
Step 7: Attach the legs
Screw the legs (hairpin legs, tapered wooden feet, or square feet) to the underside of the unit. Hairpin legs are popular for a Scandinavian / industrial look. Use the supplied mounting plates for a flush fit.
Check that the unit stands stable — if needed, add a rubber foot pad to the most loaded leg.
Step 8: Hang the doors and organise cables
Fit the doors using soft-close hinges. After fitting, adjust the hinges (height, depth, sideways) for even door alignment.
Cable management:
- Use cable feed-through holes behind each bay
- Cable ties to bundle cables together
- Cable trunking on the back for mains cables to the socket
Adding LED strip lighting (optional):
Attach an LED strip to the back of the top panel for indirect lighting behind the TV. Connect to an RGB controller or dimmer. Connect to a 12V plug-in power supply. Costs €15–€30.
Fitting a floating TV unit to the wall
Use a specialist floating shelf system or mount directly to the wall:
- Mark the wall position and check with a spirit level
- Drill holes in the wall (use a masonry bit for hollow blocks)
- Use wall plugs of at least 70 mm (for solid walls)
- Hang the unit using heavy-duty brackets or a separate wall rail
Load bearing: a TV unit of 40 kg + TV of 20 kg = 60 kg. Use plugs and bolts rated to carry at least 100 kg.
Frequently asked questions
Which material is best for a TV unit?
18 mm MDF is the most common choice: takes paint well, cuts accurately. Plywood is stronger but harder to get a smooth paint finish on. Chipboard is cheaper but less durable.
How do I get the doors flush?
Use adjustable soft-close hinges (35 mm cup hinges). After fitting you can fine-tune the doors in height, depth, and lateral position using the adjustment screws on the hinge.
How do I hide the cables behind my TV?
Use cable trunking (white plastic channel on the wall), cable feed-through holes behind the unit, or cable sleeves. The neatest result: have the mains cable run behind the wall (have this done by an electrician).
Ready to start building with professional plans? At fredsdiyplans.com you’ll find building plans for all your wood projects, complete with material lists and step-by-step instructions.
Ready to get started? Browse thousands of step-by-step plans at fredsdiyplans.com.