Carpentry is a skilled trade or occupation that involves making, installing, and repairing things, usually by cutting and joining timber. Carpenters are tradespeople that usually work in the field or at construction/job sites, both indoors and outdoors.

While a carpenter is usually more involved in construction, a woodworker is involved more in production, e.g., shaping and prepping the wood so that it can be installed in homes. A woodworker is someone you would call if you wanted customized wood fixtures in your home, such as cabinets or stair railings.

Good carpenters know how to read blueprints and building plans, and they work to ensure they are met - to the letter. You've heard the saying, “Measure twice, cut once”? These professionals have to be precise and meticulous in their work. There is little room for error.

A cabinet maker builds fine furniture and cabinets and works primarily in a workshop with a vast array of woodworking machines, hand tools and work-benches. Carpentry is a skilled trade. A carpenter works mainly on site, building structures out of wood and wood substitutes.