Woodwork Merit Badge History
Introduced1927
Preceded byCraftsmanship, Carpentry, Wood Turning
StatusActive
Earned through 2020999,863
Best year194521,589 earned
All-time popularity#44official, as of 2020#43by 2025 (estimate)
The Story
Woodwork grew out of Craftsmanship, one of the original 1911 merit badges. In 1927 Craftsmanship was split into separate craft badges, Basketry, Bookbinding, Cement Work, Leathercraft, Metalwork, Pottery, Wood Carving, and Woodwork (then written "Wood Work"), each with its own design.
The earliest pamphlets came from that Craftsmanship family. Printings from 1920 to 1927 carry the title "Craftsmanship – Wood." The badge that followed was Wood Work, and its symbol was a small stool.
In 1952 three badges became one. The January 1952 pamphlet cover reads "Woodwork, replacing Wood Work, Carpentry and Wood Turning merit badges," and it shows a woodworking plane, the symbol the original 1911 Carpentry badge had used. The stool stayed on the patches through Type E. Type F (1961-1968) shows the plane, and since 1969 the badge has shown a group of woodworking tools.
Carpentry came back for one year only in 2010, as one of four historic badges for Scouting's 100th anniversary.
Woodwork was at its most popular during World War II, peaking at 21,589 badges in 1945. By the end of 2020 Scouts had earned 999,863 Woodwork badges, just 137 short of one million.
1940 Wood Work requirements
- Design and build a small piece of furniture that uses mortise-and-tenon or dowel joints, such as a plant stand, small table, chair, footstool or writing desk.
- Draw plans, or a careful rough sketch, of the piece you chose.
Source: Handbook for Boys (1940), summarized
Timeline
1911 Craftsmanship and Carpentry are among the 57 original merit badges.
1920 The first "Craftsmanship – Wood" pamphlet (Type 2) is printed.
1927 Craftsmanship is split into eight craft badges and Woodwork is born.
1928 First year of Woodwork counts: 12,680 earned.
1930 A separate Wood Turning merit badge is added.
1945 All-time high: 21,589 Woodwork merit badges earned.
1952 A new Woodwork badge replaces Wood Work, Carpentry and Wood Turning, and takes Carpentry's plane as its symbol.
1969 The badge is redesigned with a group of woodworking tools in place of the plane.
2010 Carpentry returns for one year as a historic badge for Scouting's 100th anniversary.
2020 Pandemic year: 3,066 earned, down 32%.
2024 Type 11A cover, the first Woodwork pamphlet with a Scouting America number.
Merit Badge Patches
Select a patch to enlarge it; many include the back.
- Type A1928 - 1933heavyweight cloth
- Type B1934 - 1935heavyweight and depression cloth
- Type C1936 - 1942heavyweight and lightweight cloth
- Type D1942 - 1946fine twill and war cloth
- Type E1947 - 1960
- Type F1961 - 1968rolled edge
- Type G1969 - 1971cloth back
- Type H1972 - 2002blue, clear, and molded
- Not madeType I
- Type J2002 - 2009Scout Stuff back
- Type K2010 - 2014BSA 2010 back
- Type L2015 - 2025Since 1910 back
- Photo neededType M2025 - currentScouting America back
What do the patch types mean?
- Type A
- Square (1911 - 1933). Embroidered on tan cloth and cut into squares. The Scout folded the edges under when sewing it on.
- Type B
- Wide border crimped (1934 - 1935). The maker folded the edge under and pressed it round, leaving a wide cloth border. Made on depression cloth and heavyweight cloth.
- Type C
- Tan narrow border crimped (1936 - 1942). The same crimped edge with a narrow border of about 1/8 inch, on tan cloth.
- Type D
- Fine twill (1942 - 1946). Wartime badges on lighter, finer-weave cloth (fine twill and war cloth) while heavier cloth went to the war effort.
- Type E
- Khaki narrow border crimped (1947 - 1960). Back to heavier cloth after the war, now in khaki.
- Type F
- Rolled edge twill (1961 - 1968). The embroidered border is rolled over the edge instead of crimped, with a gauze backing.
- Type G
- Cloth back (1961 - 1971). Fully embroidered with a cloth back. By about 1969 every merit badge was made this way.
- Type H
- Plastic back (1972 - 2002). A plastic stiffener on the back. Collectors tell them apart by the back, which can be clear, white, or a very light blue plastic, with waffle-textured and smooth molded versions. These are sorted into variations H1 through H5.
- Type I
- Computer designed (1993 - 1995). Flat-edged badges with machine (computer) embroidery and a wider border. Only some badges were made this way.
- Type J
- Scout Stuff back (2002 - 2009). The "Scout Stuff" Supply Division logo printed on the back.
- Type K
- BSA 100th anniversary back (2010 - 2014). The BSA 2010 anniversary logo printed on the back.
- Type L
- Since 1910 back (2015 - 2025). The "Since 1910" logo printed on the back, in large and small logo versions.
- Type M
- Scouting America back (2025 - current). The Scouting America logo printed on the back. Wildland Fire Management and Competitive Gaming, both new in 2026, start with Type M.
Dates are approximate and can vary by badge.
Merit Badge Pamphlets
The printings come from Scoutmaster Bucky's own collection and research.
Select a cover to see its back covers and every known printing.
104 printings:86 in collection13 confirmed, not in collection5 unconfirmed
- Type 21920 - 1924Craftsmanship – Wood
- Type 3A-1 over 21925Craftsmanship – Wood
- Type 3A-11925 - 1926Craftsmanship – Wood
- Type 3A-21927Craftsmanship – Wood
- Type 3B1929 - 1939
- Type 3C1936 - 1941
- Type 3D1938 - 1939
- Type 41941 - 1943
- Type 5A1944
- Type 5B1945 - 1951
- Type 5C1952
- Type 61952 - 1966
- Type 7A1966 - 1968
- Type 7B1970 - 1972
- Type 8A1973 - 1975
- Type 8B1977 - 1979
- Type 9A-11980 - 1993
- Type 9A-21994 - 2002
- Type 9B-12003 - 2005
- Type 9B-22007
- Type 10A2008
- Type 10B2009
- Type 10C-12010
- Type 10C-22011 - 2015
- Type 10D-12017 - 2019
- Type 10D-22020 - 2023
- Type 11A2024
Type 2 1920 - 19244 backs · 5 printings · 1 in collection
back 2 Boy Scout Diary 25c1920 - 1923 · No. 3316
- 1920craftsmanship-wood
- 1923craftsmanship-wood
back 2 Regular Publications1923 · No. 3316
- 1923craftsmanship-wood
No photo
back 2 Blank1923 · No. 3316
- 1923craftsmanship-wood
back 2 Boy Scout Diary 15c1924 · No. 3316
- 1924craftsmanship-wood
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 3A-1 over 2 19251 back · 1 printing · 1 in collection
back 31925 · No. 3316
- 1925craftsmanship-wood - 1924 printing with back-2-boy-scout-diary-15c
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 3A-1 1925 - 19261 back · 3 printings · 3 in collection
back 31925 - 1926 · No. 3316
- 1925craftsmanship-wood
- 1926craftsmanship-wood - intro 1 - page iv ends with 200 Fifth Ave address
- 1926craftsmanship-wood - intro 2 - page iv ends with 2 Park Ave address
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 3A-2 19271 back · 1 printing · 1 in collection
back 31927 · No. 3316
- 1927craftsmanship-wood
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 3B 1929 - 19391 back · 12 printings · 4 in collection
back 31929 - 1939 · No. 3316
- 1929Wood Work
- 1929 OctWood Work
- 1929 DecWood Work
- 1930 MayWood Work
- 1931 FebWood Work
- 1931 MarWood Work
- 1932 Feb · 1MWood Work
- 1933 May · 1MWood Work
- 1934 Jun · 1MWood Work
- 1935 Feb · 1MWood Work
- 1936 Feb · 1MWood Work
- 1939 Oct · 2MWood Work
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 3C 1936 - 19411 back · 3 printings · 2 in collection
back 31936 - 1941 · No. 3316
- 1936 Nov · 2MWood Work
- 1939 Oct · 2MWood Work
- 1941 Mar · 2MWood Work
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 3D 1938 - 19391 back · 3 printings · 1 in collection
back 31938 - 1939 · No. 3316
- 1938 Apr · 1MWood Work
- 1939 Feb · 1MWood Work
- 1939 Oct · 2MWood Work
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 4 1941 - 19431 back · 3 printings · 3 in collection
back 41941 - 1943 · No. 3316
- 1941 Mar · 2MWood Work
- 1942 Apr · 2MWood Work
- 1943 Apr · 3MWood Work
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 5A 19441 back · 1 printing · 1 in collection
back 5A1944 · No. 3316
- 1944 May · 3MWood Work
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 5B 1945 - 19512 backs · 6 printings · 6 in collection
back 5blank1945 - 1950 · No. 3316
- 1945 Sep · 5MWood Work
- 1946 Oct · 4MWood Work
- 1948 Aug · 3MWood Work
- 1949 Sep · 3MWood Work
- 1950 Oct · 3MWood Work
back 6A1951 · No. 3316
- 1951 Jul · 1MWood Work
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 5C 19521 back · 1 printing · 1 in collection
back 6b Woodwork1952 · No. 3316
- 1952 Jan · 5M
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 6 1952 - 19668 backs · 14 printings · 14 in collection
back 6B-11952 - 1953 · No. 3316
- 1952 Sep · 5M
- 1953 May · 8M
back 6B-21954 - 1956 · No. 3316
- 1954 Jun · 7M
- 1955 Apr · 10MHard cover HCJV1
- 1956 Nov · 8M
back 6b Woodwork1957 · No. 3316
- 1957 Oct · 8MHard cover HCJV1
back 6c Woodwork1959 · No. 3316
- 1959 Jan · 8MHard cover HCJV1
back 6D1960 - 1961 · No. 3316
- 1960 May · 7MHard cover HCJV2
- 1961 Feb · 7M
back 6F1962 - 1963 · No. 3316
- 1962 Apr · 7M
- 1963 Mar · 7MHard cover HCJV2
back 6H1964 - 1965 · No. 3316
- 1964 Mar · 8MHard cover HCK
- 1965 Feb · 8MHard cover HCK
back 6I1966 · No. 3316
- 1966 Jan · 9M
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 7A 1966 - 19681 back · 3 printings · 3 in collection
back 71966 - 1968 · No. 3316
- 1966 Dec · 9MHard cover HCL
- 1968 Jan · 9M
- 1968 Dec · 10.5M
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 7B 1970 - 19721 back · 3 printings · 3 in collection
back 71970 - 1972 · No. 3316
- 1970 Jun · 11MHard cover HCR
- 1971 Mar · 10MHard cover HCM
- 1972 Feb · 10MHard cover HCSV1
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 8A 1973 - 19752 backs · 3 printings · 3 in collection
back 8A-21973 - 1974 · No. 3316
- 1973 Apr · 10MHard cover HCSV2
- 1974 Feb · 15MHard cover HCT
back 8B1975 · No. 3316
- 1975 May · 15M
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 8B 1977 - 19792 backs · 2 printings · 2 in collection
back 8C-21977 · No. 3316
- 1977 Jun · 7M
back 8D1979 · No. 3316
- 1979 Jan · 5M
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 9A-1 1980 - 19935 backs · 14 printings · 11 in collection
back 9A1980 - 1983 · No. 3316
- 1980 Jan · 5M
- 1981 Feb · 5M
- 1982 Jan · 5M
- 1983 Jan · 5M
- 1983 Oct · 5.5M
back 9B-11984 · No. 3316
- 1984 Sep · 6M
back 9B-21985 - 1989 · No. 3316
- 1985 Dec · 6M
- 1986 Nov · 6M
- 1987 Oct · 6M
- 1988 Oct · 6M
- 1989 Aug · 6.5M
back 9C-11991 · No. 3316
- 1991 Feb · 6M
back 9C-21992 - 1993 · No. 33316
- 1992 Feb · 6M
- 1993 Mar · 6M
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 9A-2 1994 - 20022 backs · 8 printings · 8 in collection
back 9D1994 - 1997 · No. 33316
- 1994 Mar · 6M
- 1995 Sep · 5M
- 1997 Sepfront has revised 1980 20 19 18 17 back has 9-1-96
back 9F1998 - 2002 · No. 33316
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 9B-1 2003 - 20051 back · 3 printings · 3 in collection
back 9G2003 - 2005 · No. 33316A
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 9B-2 20071 back · 1 printing · 1 in collection
back 9H-22007 · No. 33316A
- 2007
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 10A 20081 back · 1 printing · 1 in collection
back 1008B12008 · No. 35968
- 2008
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 10B 20091 back · 1 printing · 1 in collection
back 1009B12009 · No. 35968
- 2009
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 10C-1 20101 back · 1 printing · 1 in collection
back 1010B12010 · No. 35968
- 2010
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 10C-2 2011 - 20152 backs · 4 printings · 4 in collection
back 1010B12011 - 2013 · No. 35968
- 2011
- 2013
back 1013B12014 - 2015 · No. 35968
- 201401268-AL
- 201501268-AL
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 10D-1 2017 - 20191 back · 3 printings · 3 in collection
back 1016B12017 - 2019
- 2017No. 3596800358-AL
- 2017No. 35968358
- 2019No. 35968 / 647963358
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 10D-2 2020 - 20231 back · 3 printings · 3 in collection
back 1016B12020 - 2023
- 2020No. 35968 / 655715358
- 2022No. 35968 / 655715358
- 2023No. 35968 / 659870358
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 11A 20241 back · 1 printing · 1 in collection
back 1125B12024 · No. 35968 / 659870 / 300086620
- 2024358
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Hard Cover Varieties
Earned by Year
First earned in 1928. Peak year 1945 with 21,589. Hover over or tap a year for its numbers.
Known count No data available
"—" means merit badges were earned that year but the exact number is not currently known. "#94 of 141" means the badge was number 94 of the 141 merit badges earned that year. National counts have not been published since 2020, but the rankings have. The grand total comes from official reports and includes the years without a known count. The 2025 all-time place is an estimate, because the counts for 2021 to 2025 are worked out from each year's official ranking and the total number of merit badges earned that year.
192812,680#13 of 88
192913,623#15 of 89
193014,488#14 of 92
193117,107#14 of 96
193216,414#12 of 98
193317,095#13 of 101
193415,232#14 of 101
193516,755#14 of 101
193614,065#14 of 101
193714,553#14 of 102
193818,332#13 of 105
193919,494#14 of 106
194019,521#13 of 106
194117,078#14 of 106
194215,712#14 of 110
194316,863#14 of 112
194421,025#14 of 111
194521,589#11 of 111
194617,052#13 of 111
194716,193#12 of 111
194813,619#15 of 111
194914,569#15 of 111
195017,430#15 of 111
195118,642#15 of 111
195218,523#15 of 120
195314,824#19 of 105
195414,261#23 of 103
195513,001#29 of 100
195611,334#30 of 100
195710,291#32 of 100
195810,424#32 of 101
195910,746#33 of 101
196012,258#34 of 100
196113,303#34 of 101
196213,097#33 of 101
196313,656#32 of 102
196414,169#35 of 107
196513,487#36 of 109
196613,158#34 of 110
196714,396#35 of 112
196815,229#31 of 112
196914,386#34 of 113
197014,548#33 of 113
197115,416#31 of 113
197215,412#34 of 124
197313,168#40 of 122
197416,645#45 of 121
197515,756#45 of 128
197613,864#46 of 130
197712,088#46 of 130
19789,811#45 of 131
19798,008#47 of 132
19804,930#48 of 132
19817,635#47 of 134
1982—
1983—
1984—
1985—
1986—
1987—
1988—
1989—
1990—
1991—
1992—
19935,733#61 of 123
1994—
1995—
19964,315#72 of 135
1997—
1998—
1999—
20005,749#70 of 129
20014,037#81 of 130
20024,809#78 of 129
20035,284#82 of 143
20045,219#78 of 122
20054,846#80 of 122
20064,990#77 of 122
20074,621#81 of 122
20084,418#84 of 121
20095,217#84 of 122
20105,866#82 of 125
20115,590#85 of 127
20124,962#90 of 130
20135,602#87 of 133
20145,198#88 of 136
20155,242#86 of 138
20164,975#85 of 138
20175,212#87 of 139
20184,939#87 of 139
20194,503#93 of 138
20203,066#99 of 137
2021—#84 of 137
2022—#85 of 138
2023—#91 of 138
2024—#88 of 138
2025—#94 of 141
Grand total through 2020: