13 DIY Sukkah Plans for Sukkot

The Jewish holiday of Sukkot is fast approaching and building a Sukkah is a must to celebrate it traditionally. We've collected the best 13 DIY sukkah plans for your reference, so you can be ready to build your own from wood, lattice, metal pipes, PVC or even bamboo.  

Everyone can participate in building a sukkah. It's a fun family and friends getting together type of event. It's also a joyful event for both kids and adults.

It helps to have a good plan. Remember ... sukkah is a dwelling that needs to only last for 7 days, and so it should be built as an inexpensive temporary structure. It can be disposed after or disassembled and stored for the next year.

We have DIY sukkah plans that satisfy both requirements - a more costly but more robust plans and a less costly and less robust plans. You choose the one that fits you needs.

When building a sukkah, there are rules to follow.

Sukkah Building Rules

Building a sukkah is to commemorate the time the Israelites spent in the desert after they were freed from slavery in Egypt. So sukkahs are simple structures that mimic the dwellings they were living in then.

A basic sukkah plan consists of a roof made of organic material supported by walls made from material of your choice. It's the roof design that is the most important.

There are few basic rules:
- A Sukkah Must have a shade roof but you must be able to see the stars through it! So it can be flimsy.
- Must not be installed in the shadow, not under a tree or another shade.
- The roof must be done from materials that grow from earth.
- A kosher sukkah must have at least 3 walls, and each wall must have a minimum length of 28 inches.

If you live in FL or CA, palm leaves seem to be the common choice for the roof. Otherwise, tree branches with leaves or pine branches will work just as good. Reed and bamboo are also two common choices.

FREE PLANS

1. Lattice and Reed Sukkah Plan

This is a great DIY sukkah plan by MyKosherHome. They offer a very detailed step-by-step building instructions, including pictures, assembly diagrams, all measurements, cut sizes and lumber specs. Even the types of screws and hardware is provided, in addition to the list of tools required.

As according to the author, for just around $150 you can build this large lattice sukkah in one and a half hours with only basic tools, and with not much of experience.

And don't worry about making precision cuts. As long as you use a tape measure you'll be fine.

A trip to Home Depot or Lowes should bring back home some of the materials needed: 1x4's, 2x4's, joist hangers, sheetrock screws, etc.

The roof is constructed from reed mats supported by wooden planks. The walls are lattice sheets. If you think lattice is too costly for this plan, replace it with cloth or canvas that you can also find in the hardware store, as author suggests.

2. PVC Pipe Sukkah Building Plan

Want to easily build a sturdy, reusable and inexpensive sukkah? Then using PVC pipes could be your best decision. In this plan, they use 1.5" PVC for all the pipes, Don't buy a more expensive Furniture Grade PVC. Go with the cheaper 330-PSI Pipe.

We figured, to build a square 8'x8' wide by 7 feet high sukkah, you're going to need about 130 feet of pipe. For about $5 per 10', it'll cost you close to $70, plus the cost of the connector fittings (see if you can buy them in packs).

Start with the base. Lay out all the pieces on the ground, assembled them by inserting the corner sections into the "T" connectors, and go from there. Once the base is built, simply start adding more pipes one by one as you follow the very clear instructions. There are photos to illustrate every step. For some steps, you would need a second person to help out.

This PVC plan should be easy to complete for anyone. Most important is to buy and cut the right PVC parts. And for that the author included the detailed PDF file.

If you need to build a larger sukkah then build two square ones and install them alongside, to have a more stable design, as recommended by the author.

For the walls, you could use bed sheets. As suggested by the author, sew on straps to tie sheets to the top rails. Discounted tab curtains from Ross or TJMax would do also

The best part ... you don't have to glue the parts. According to the author, it's enough to just "tamp joints really hard with the rubber mallet".  After 7 days, disassemble and store it for the next year.

The entire plan, including the walls' material, shouldn't cost you more than $120-140.

3. PVC Pipes, Shower Curtains and Chicken Wire Design

From Congregation Kol Ami, in NY state, comes another PVC Pipes plan.

Similarly to the one above, this square sukkah plan is also easy and inexpensive to build. It connects PVC pipes using T- and Elbow Connectors to form the frame. But it has less verticals posts, so it could be less expensive to assemble. It also 2 feet wider and taller - it's a 10' cube.

But here's the most exciting and clever part - they use chicken wire to establish a roof support. You use cable ties to secure chicken wire to the roof pipes. Check out the complete PDF file for detailed instructions.

Place branches or some greenery over it and your roof is complete.

4. Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT) and Sun Blocker Tarp Sukkah Plan

Just when you think wood and PVC are the only DIY options, CreativeShelters.com offers another great material to use to construct a small sukkah. 1" Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT) conduit you can buy at Home Depot. Yes, the common steel conduit the electricians use.

They come up with a complete, easy to make 8' x 8' x 8' plan. It uses their heavy duty steel connectors and Heavy Duty Sun Blocker Tarp to assemble a sukkah from EMT tubes. You buy a standard 8-feet long conduit and don't even have to make any cuts. Simply use CreativeShelters' connectors to put together a small dwelling in no time.

Then attach tarp for walls using ball ties. Attach a few horizontal planks for the roof support and you're done.

Their website offers the entire DIY list of parts to obtain, all dimensions, step-by-step instructions and helpful tips for assembly. You only need to buy EMT yourself at your local home building store. If you're planning to build a sukkah for a small family of 3 or 4 or limited in space, this is the way to go.

With a span of 8 feet, it'll be no problem to assemble a sturdy structure. Just to proof our point look at this image below - here's someone built a 20' x 20' canvas canopy from EMT. Scroll down to see reviews and project photos.

5. How to Build a PVC Sukkah with only 31 Cuts

If you're a fan of PVC for DIY projects then here's a plan to build a sukkah with only 31 cuts. And it uses a great helpful tool to make those cuts with ease.

Ro Pinto at JourneyTtoMessiah offers her sukkah DIY plan in a format of a step-by-step photo journal. She built it using a Ratcheting PVC Cutter, an improvised ladder and some rope.

The roof is made of palm branches found by her house, To support the branches, she tied rope back and forth between the pipes. But she thinks using a fishing net as a roof base could be a better idea.

As for the walls, Ro hung 8′ long roll up shades on shower curtain hooks.

It's a pretty large sukkah that fits 8 people easily.

6. How to Build a Simple Sukkah

This simple sukkah plan is by Rabbi Russ Resnik at UMJC Rabbinic Counsel. Not only Rabbi has a plan, he also offers the exact steps on how to make it kosher: "A kosher sukkah is supposed to be makeshift and flimsy."

Even if you're not extremely handy you should still be able to assemble an easy DIY sukkah. Just follow his simple instructions.

Some of the good tips from a rabbi:
 - One wall can be your house wall.
 - Attach posts to cinder blocks to prevent sukkah from being blown away by wind.
 - The roof should be flimsy enough so you can see the stars through it.
 - A small Sukah should at the minimum fit in a table and a few chairs.
 - A larger size roof is harder to keep from sagging.

There are even tips for decorating your sukkah.

7. Lattice Sukkah Assembled with Zip-Ties

This picture makes building a sukkah look so easy, doesn't it? Indeed, this sukkah DIY plan offered by ImaAndOffTheBima does look like something you could put together in a couple of hours.

This small and clever plan is maybe all you need to celebrate Sukkot this fall inside your own proudly built sukkah.

We like the idea of using framed lattice panels connected together with large zip-ties. This plan is easy to assemble and re-assemble every time.

We figure you'll need 9 diamond lattice panels, 2' x 6' or 2' x 8' for the walls, a pack of zip-ties and a couple of cinder blocks, to tie it all together and keep it steady.

Unless you're able to get those panels cheaper, they could be going for around $25-30 a piece. It sums up to $225-270 which makes this plan a more expensive one. But on a bright side, you'll be able to easily reassemble it each year. As for the roof, lay a few wood planks across. I would not waste money for lattice on the roof.

8. DIY Sukkah from Galvanized Steel Pipes and Kee Klamps

One of the Simplified Building's customers shared his own DIY succah plan. It uses galvanized steel pipe and Kee Klamps to assemble the basic structure. It includes a complete materials list and step-by-step instructions.

The roof appears to be made up of what could be cane, bamboo or reeds sticks. Or you can just use thin wood planks.

This succah is quite large. So if your desire is to fit more people and to have a very sturdy dwelling, this could be one for you.

This is a more costly plan but it can be easily disassembled and reassembled.

9. Bamboo Sukkah Plan

Rabbi David L. Kline strongly believes that bamboo is the best material for a sukkah. Read his guide and you'll be convinced too. So if you live near a bamboo forest or if you're able to obtain bamboo then you'll find his guide very helpful.

Unfortunately, he did not provide any images of the finished work ... but this idea speaks for itself. Just look at the plan pictured above. The plan allows you to build a large 16 by 20 foot sukkah that, according to Rabbi, can fit in up to 30 people.

And building it is quite straight forward. This is how we would do it. You use larger diameter bamboo (4-in diameter) for the vertical posts. You make a U-shaped slot in each of them! This will hold horizontal beams in place. You then use heavy rubber bands to tie the posts and the beams together. Rabbi suggestion is to cut them from an inner tube of a car tire.

Read the DIY guide for details.

10. PVC Sukkah Plan - Canvas Tarps, Reed Mats and Ball Bungees

Kudos to the author of this very detailed DIY guide. He invested his time to create one of the most complete PVC sukkah building tutorials.

There are lots of helpful images, complete with step by step instructions. The DIY guide goes into great detail on how to connect all of the parts. All cut dimensions are provided. And there is a list of all purchases that need to be made, and even the best online sources are included.

We like this guide's attention to detail. We especially appreciate the instructions on how to stake the sukkah to the ground in the case it gets windy.

This sukkah takes little room to store it off-season, and it re-assembles in about 3 hours by just one person.

11. Double Size DIY Wood Sukkah - Bolts, Screws and Framing Brackets

We think the wood is still the king. It offers the most flexibility. And this Sukkah plan by Gary Garb is a proof.

You can build a single or double size sukkah with this plan. See the two images above.

For the mere of $125 you can build an 8' x 8' sukkah that accommodates 7-8 people. Or you can double size it to fit a larger number of people.

With only modest DIY skills you can accomplish either one, while all of the materials are readily available at Home Depot, where you could make all of the cuts, btw. The plan comes with a printable bills of materials that you take to the store.

The best part is that this wood plan comes with lots of detailed images, assembly and part fabrication diagrams, lists of tools and parts. Gary has thought about every detail. There is even a printable PDF file with all the details included.

12. Soul Sukkah Kit - an Airy and Elegant Design

Please note right way - shown above is a Sukkah Kit, not a DIY plan. The kit is no longer available but they have dimensions you can use to improvise it!!! This is an unusually gorgeous Sukkah design that is hard not to include. The wall material is what makes it so unique.

If you are a handy DIY type you could try to re-create this awesome plan yourself. A large nylon fishing net can be purchased from Walmart for cheap.

Notice, the kit used to be available in 3 different sizes.

There are special instructions include on how to secure the sukkah to the ground.

If you love the airiness and the openness of this design then spending time and effort to re create it will be all worth it. Have fun!

We've given it a 5-star difficulty rating because there are no plans available.

13. Lattice Panels Only Sukkah Plan

There are no dimensions or instructions for this lovely small sukkah ... there is only this video. But we find this idea fascinating. The designer uses no screws or nails, and practically no tools.

Finally ... this maybe the most simplistic sukkah DIY plan of them all ... simply connect the lattice panels and you're done.

Sukkah Design Inspirations

A sukkah design by Tori Avey (above)

Above is a sukkah at night decorated with lights.

An alternative sukkah idea (image above) - build it with straws, sticks and bricks - by Leisure Time Tours.

A sukkah made from a Kit (see above).

Inside of a large sukkah made from a kit, with a white net for walls (see above).

A sukkah design with white sheet walls.

Inspirations from Design Megillah.

Now you have 13 Sukkah plans to choose from. Happy building!