If you want to make a wooden box with a rounded shape and decorative sides, this free laser cut pattern gives you the parts to build one from flat sheet material. The design includes a removable lid, a central lifting handle and an open pattern around the body. You can download the DXF, SVG, CDR, DWG and PDF drawings together in one ZIP.
We designed the box around a simple question: how could we create the appearance of a cylinder without bending the wood? Our answer was to arrange nine flat panels around the body. Each panel forms one side of a nine-sided shape, while the flower-like edges around the base and lid help the whole box feel softer and more rounded.
How Nine Flat Panels Create a Cylinder-Style Wooden Box
Flat sheet material gives each wall a straight face. However, when we place the nine walls next to one another at different angles, they surround the center and create a rounded outline. The box therefore keeps its polygonal construction while suggesting the shape of a cylinder.
We wanted to soften those straight sides further. For this reason, we extended the base, upper frame and lid into a series of rounded lobes, like the petals around a flower. These edges draw the eye around the box and make the corners of the body less visually dominant. Engraved lines follow the scalloped areas, adding detail to the broad surfaces around the edges.
The natural tone of the wood also contributes to the design. Against a lighter wooden face, the darker edges produced during laser cutting can outline each opening and each curve. This contrast helps reveal the pattern, although the final edge color will vary with the material and cutting conditions.
Decorative Box Panels Inspired by Bark, Branches and Woven Strands
The overall shape was only part of what we wanted to achieve. We also wanted the sides to feel more organic than a set of solid wooden walls. To create that character, we filled the panels with long cutouts that change direction as they travel vertically.
You might see the texture of tree bark in these lines, or branches winding around one another. They can also suggest the repeating strands of a woven basket. We liked these associations because they bring a sense of movement to a stationary object.
The openings let you see through parts of the walls, so the contents and the space behind the box become part of its appearance. On a desk, dressing table or open shelf, the pattern remains visible from several directions. If you use the box for loose accessories or keepsakes, a small pouch inside can keep them together without hiding the character of the outer walls.
The lid continues the decorative idea with a different arrangement. Instead of running vertically, its lines spread from the circular center toward the edge. We designed this pattern to suggest a star and its rays. The handle stands at the center, giving the eye a clear focal point and giving you a place to lift the lid.
How the Removable Lid and Wooden Box Fit Together
The side panels have tabs at their upper and lower ends. These tabs enter matching slots in the base and upper frame, bringing the nine walls together to form the box.
The lid uses two layers. The upper layer carries the star-like cut pattern, while a solid nine-sided piece sits underneath it. When you close the box, this lower piece enters the opening in the upper frame. It acts as a locating insert, helping prevent the lid from sliding sideways.
We also gave the handle a role beyond lifting the lid. Its two upright pieces interlock, and the projecting connection passes through both lid layers. The connection extends through the 3 mm patterned top and the 3 mm solid insert beneath it, joining the two pieces through a total depth of 6 mm. In this way, the handle helps hold the lid assembly together. We chose this arrangement to reduce the need for glue.
The pattern uses nominal dimensions, so prepare the joints for your actual stock and machine. Also assign the geometry in the separate engraving layer to an engraving operation. If you resize the box, remember that the slots and tabs change size too and must still match your chosen sheet thickness.
- Total pieces to cut: 15.
- Nominal sheet thickness: 3 mm.
- Assembled dimensions: approximately 160 mm wide × 162 mm deep × 106 mm high, including the handle.
- Material options: suitable plywood, MDF or wood sheet.
- Download package: five files in DXF, SVG, CDR, DWG and PDF formats.
Download the Free Wooden Box Laser Cut Files
To make your own version, visit the download page and get the complete cylinder-style wooden box pattern in one ZIP. Choose the format your drawing and laser software supports, then prepare the parts for your selected sheet material.
The dimensions of this cylinder-style wooden box:
- Width: 16 cm (6.30 inches)
- Depth: 16.2 cm (6.38 inches)
- Height, including the handle: 10.6 cm (4.17 inches)
- Material thickness: 3 mm (0.12 inches)
