Summertime means it’s time to help young entrepreneurs learn how to make a lemonade stand. Selling lemonade is a great way to get the kids outside and have fun while learning.  To get you started here is my free lemonade stand plan with instructions you can build in an afternoon. Let the fun and learning begin!

If you don’t have time to build your own lemonade stand but still want the fun, here are some free lemonade stand printables.

how to make a lemonade stand with friends selling lemonade

How kids Benefit from a Lemonade Stand

As a mom and educator, I’ve always believed kids understand best when you make learning fun. Allowing your kids to have a lemonade stand helps them in so many ways. For instance, they develop valuable social skills and grow their confidence with each customer they greet.  In addition, they can also begin to understand business and money skills which are valuable throughout their life.

For more benefits for selling lemonade check out “6 Reasons Why Having a Kid Lemonade Stand is Good for Them.”

Supply List For this DIY Project

  • 4′ X 8′ X 1/2″ sheet of plywood (for the structure)
  • 4′ X 4′ X 1/8″ sheet of Masonite (for signs)
  • 4 – 4″ strap hinges (hooks sides to front)
  • 2 – 3″ door hinges (hooks top to front)
  • 36 – 8 X1/2 flat head Phillips wood screws
  • 2- 8 X 5/8 Philips metal screws (hooks plastic PVC coupler to sign)
  • 2 nails approximately 2″ long
  • Drill
  • Drill bit #8 or 11/64″
  • 2 – 6′ x 1″ schedule 40 PVC pipe (for banner poles)
  • 2 – 1″ PVC slip couplers
  • 2 – 3-inch L-brackets
  • 4 – 8 x 3/8 flat Phillips metal screws
  • Paint (of your choosing)

free lemonade stand plansHow to Make a Lemonade Stand 

Before you start building precut the structural and sign components.

Cut from plywood:

  • Countertop 48″ x 18-1/2″
  • The Face of the Stand (Front) 36″ x 48″
  • Side Panels 36″ x 18-1/2″

Cut from Masonite:

  • Sign for the front of the stand 22″ x 32″
  • Top sign (Banner) 18″ x 48″

Note: You can make the banner extra fancy by adding a few curves to the rectangular cutout. 

Building Plan:

Step 2 - two side and one front panel with four strap hinges securing the panels together; detail 1 presents securing the hinges with 6 screws for each hinge

Note: Ensure there is a little gap (pencil-sized) between the side panels and the face to allow for the sides to fold properly for storage.

Step 3 - Side and front panels with top attached with a door hinge and six screws; top panel has two holes large enough for 1 inch pipe drilled in the front right and left corners for the sign mounts

Step 4 - L brackets secured with two screws to the bottom of each side panel about 6 inches in from the back of each panel to add balance to the stand

To stabilize the base of the stand, secure the two L-brackets with two wood screws to the base of each side-panel.

Step 5 - insert the 6' x 1" PVC piple into the holes in the top of the stand and then secure the sign to the PVC with screw and slip coupler, one in each of the upper left and right corners. Secure the top of the stand to the side panels with a nail in both the back right and left corners.

Here, detail D4 depicts how to attach the banner.

Now for the fun part, the kids have been waiting for.  Have fun painting your stand and decorating your signs however you like.

The best part is when you are finished selling lemonade the stand folds flat for easy storage! To fold the stand, remove the banner poles and the two nails you inserted into the countertop.  Once this is done, the top will fold down in the back of the stand. The two side panels will fold forward, over the face of the stand.

Lemonade stand folded together for ease of storage

These girls are on their way to making their first million!

Little girls selling lemonde to friends from their stand

Grab some extra PVC pipe to make a marshmallow shooter. This will keep them busy in between customers.

As always my DIY supplies are from my goto store Lowes.

Enjoy!

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Print Pin

HOW TO MAKE A LEMONADE STAND

Skip To My Lou's Free How to Make a Lemonade Stand Plan
Author Cindy Hopper

Equipment

  • Drill
  • Drill bit #8 or 11/64"

Ingredients

  • 1 4' X 8' X 1/2" sheet of plywood (for the structure)
  • 1 4' X 4' X 1/8" sheet of Masonite (for the signs)
  • 4 4" strap hinges (hooks sides to front)
  • 2 3" door hinges (hooks top to front)
  • 36 8 X 1/2 flat head Phillips wood screws
  • 2 8 X 5/8 Philips metal screws (hooks plastic PVC coupler to sign)
  • 2 nails approximately 2" long
  • 2 6' x 1" schedule 40 PVC pipe (for banner poles)
  • 2 1" PVC slip couplers
  • 2 3"-L-brackets
  • 4 8 x 3/8 flat Phillips metal screws
  • The paint of your choosing

Instructions

Cut from Plywood

  • Countertop 48" x 18-1/2"
  • The Face of the Stand (Front) 36" x 48"
  • Side Panels 36" x 18-1/2"

Cut from Masonite

  • Sign for the front of the stand 22" x 32"
  • Top sign (Banner) 18" x 48"

Building Instructions

  • Secure the side panels to the face of the stand with the 4" strap hinges and flat head Phillips wood screws. You will need six screws for each hinge.  The hinges should be placed on the exterior side of the stand. Each hinge should be placed approximately 9" from the top and bottom of the panels, as depicted here. See Note 1.
  • Prepare and attach the countertop.
    2A: Drill two 1-1/16" holes into the countertop, so that the 1" PVC banner poles can be inserted later on. The holes should be approximately 3" from the edge of the countertop as pictured below.
    2B: Next, secure the countertop to the face of the stand using two 3" door hinges and six wood screws, as pictured below. Be sure to place the door hinges to the inside of the stand to allow it to fold down for storage. It's important to leave a small gap (pencil-sized gap) to allow the countertop to fold properly.
  • To stabilize the base of the stand, secure the two L-brackets with two wood screws to the base of each side-panel.  The brackets should be 6" from the back edge of the stand and flush with the ground. Refer to the picture for the positioning of the brackets.
  • Attach the banner.
    4A: Put the 1" PVC couplers on top ends of both 6' pipes. The added thickness will help support the weight of the sign aka banner.
    4B: Secure the sign to the two PVC pipes using the two 8 x 5/8 metal Phillips screws. Be sure the screws go through the coupler and pipe.
    4C: Next, insert the two 6' x 1" PVC pipes with the sign attached into the holes in the countertop.  The pipes should touch the ground when inserted. Finally, tack two nails into the back edge corners of the countertop securing it to the side panels. See note 2.
  • Have fun painting your stand and decorating your signs however you like.
  • The best part is when you are finished selling lemonade the stand folds flat for easy storage! To fold the stand, remove the sign and the two nails you inserted into the countertop.  Once this is done, the top will fold down in the back of the stand. The two side panels will fold forward, over the face of the stand.

Notes

Note 1: Ensure there is a little gap (pencil-sized gap) between the side panels and the face to allow for the sides to fold properly when in storage. 
Note 2: Remove the nails when you collapse the stand for storage.

Want more DIY Projects – Try these:

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Comments

  1. I can’t get the doors to collapse to the front and have everything fold in on itself. How did you do this?

  2. Sides are 36×18. Also when connecting the sides you will need place the side board in position to make the fitment right which will allow enough room for opening and closing.

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