How To Build A Comfortable 2×4 Bench And Side Table

In this tutorial, I will show you how to build a bench and a couple of side tables. However, in the video tutorial, I will only be building the bench. The tables are pretty self-explanatory and I had no need for them at the moment so I did not include them in the video build. The bench utilizes pocket holes to secure the slats with no visible screw heads. Don’t worry if you do not have a pocket hole jig. The slats can simply be screwed down from the top as well. I have included a picture near the end of this article to show you the bench without pocket holes.

Click here to download a .zip file containing the SketchUp file for this bench. 

What You’ll Need:

Step 1:

The first step is to cut all of your pieces according to the materials list. You can make every cut with either a hand saw, circular saw, or in my case a miter saw.

2x4 bench plans

With all the pieces cut, arrange them so that the good side is down. We will be building from the inside out to minimize the appearance of screw heads.

Step 2:

To further reduce the appearance of screw heads we can cut pocket holes with a Kreg Jig on the upper horizontal leg pieces (20″) and the back supports (31″). You can locate the pocket holes using the included diagram. Remember to flip the cuts for the left and right pieces so you don’t end up with two left legs. You can skip this step if are going to secure the slats from above with screws.

2x4 bench plans

Step 3:

2x4 bench plans 21The legs are assembled with the horizontal members on top. Start with securing the 20″ piece to both legs first. When these pieces intersect they form a parallelogram. Be sure to put your 2-1/2″ outdoor screws along the long diagonal of this parallelogram as shown with this small image to the left (disregard the colors of this image). This will provide greater support. Use glue and two 2-1/2″ screws at every joint. Use another piece of 2×4 as a spacer to locate the lower horizontal member (23-3/4″).

2x4 bench plans

Step 4:

Next, attach the back supports so that they intersect the top corner of the leg assembly and are flush with the bottom of the lower horizontal leg member. Make sure that you do not overlap any pocket hole locations and that all of the pocket holes face the inside of the bench. Each overlapping parallelogram gets glue and two screws along the long diagonal. It is also important to make sure these are attached at the same angle. I always secure one all the way and start with one screw on the second assembly. This way I can place them on the ground and make a slight adjustment if needed. Then finish securing the second back support.

2x4 bench plans

Step 5:

The 40″ seat stretcher is attached next. This piece connects both leg assemblies together. If you did not use pocket holes you can use two 2-1/2″ outdoor screws to attach directly into the lower part of the back supports. If you used pocket holes make sure you position the board so that the pocket holes are in the back.

2x4 bench plans

Step 6:

I always attach the back seat slat first. Make sure the good side is visible on all of your slats. Push it all the way against the back supports and attach it with glue and screws. If you are using pocket hole screws like me this first slat will be a little tricky to secure. I had to lift the leg assembly slightly and use a 6″ extension for my drill to be able to screw it down. The rest of the seat slats are secured the same way. I designed this bench so that you could use a standard wood pencil as a spacer in between slats. If you don’t have one handy, the gap is 1/4″ between slats.

2x4 bench plans

2x4 bench plans

Step 7:

The back slats are secured the same way. However, I always increase the spacing between the seat and the first back slat just slightly. I use a permanent marker for my first spacing here (about 1/2″). Then I use the pencil again to space the rest of the back slats. I think it just flows a little better this way.

2x4 bench plans

That’s it for the bench. And here is the completed result. Nice and clean…

2x4 bench plans 2x4 bench plans

2×4 Side Table

In the video, I only built a bench but here I want to include the instructions to build a couple of side tables as well. These tables are very easy to make. You will need to use a pocket hole jig for this table. The table will go together pretty fast. Here’s what you need for each table:

  • Two 8′ 2x4s
  • 24 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws (Kreg Blue-Kote)

Step 1:

Cut all of your pieces according to the cutting diagram. To make the legs you will have to make two rip cuts with either a table saw or a circular saw.

2x4 side table

Step 2:

Next, drill all of your pocket holes according to the included diagram.

2x4 side table

Step 3:

Assemble the short side of the table first. It will be impossible to get a drill in here if you start with the long sides.

2x4 side table

Step 4:

Connect both short sides by attaching the longer sides.

2x4 side table

Step 5:

Lay your slats out with a good side facing down and attach your frame to the slats. If you followed the pocket hole schedule you will use two pocket hole screws in each slat. You can add spacing if you like but I have never had a problem without a spacing.

2x4 side table

2x4 side tableThat’s it. I hope you can make this project, with or without the tables. Here is an example of a set I made with the tables and without pocket hole screws. I secured the slats from above with regular outdoor screws.

2x4 bench plans

 


136 COMMENTS

  1. Fantastic work – I have a slew of salvaged 4′ 2×4’s, and a 13’x11′ firepit area to spruce up at the beach for our wedding reception in 2 weeks. You just made my life easy, and my in-laws even happier, ha! And to think they were going to burn all those 2×4’s….

        • I no longer make projects to sell. When I was making these I would batch them out for a local salesman. At that time I could average about 2 per hour, sometimes 3 if I had a large order. At the end of the day it’s just a 2×4 bench. It’s hard to make a killing with outdoor 2×4 furniture.

          • Still, $20/hour honing your skills sounds like a win to me. No one ever paid me $20/hour to do any of my other hobbies.

            The first couple benches would probably take me all weekend though. :-)

            Jay, How many of these would you say you’ve sold total?

  2. Hi Jay
    Could some teenage boy scouts build several of these benches. What is your estimated time for boys with some adult guidance?

  3. I’m a novice woodworker Jay. Very glad I stumbled across your youtube videos. Great guidence. This bench will be a great start to my future woodshop. I’ve been building some hay feeder boxes for my horses, but this will give me another avenue to pursue. Thanks much !

  4. Dreat plan, thanks.
    Do you have the plan for the two connecting benches that fold in to make into a picnic table?

  5. I made the bench, table and chairs for my first ever woodworking project. They turned out great and my neighbor even bought them from me which wasn’t my intention but kinda cool. One thing I need some advice with is level the legs. Is there a system to doing this? Sometimes my chair legs don’t come out quite right and wobble a little. I cut one leg and then another hoping to get it right before I end up with a chair or bench that is two inches tall. I’m a total newbie. Does anyone have any advice?

    • Don’t take too much off. You only need to reduce the length of ONE leg of a four-legged structure to make it sit on all four legs equally. Choose the leg that seems to be bearing the most weight. You’re probably taking too much off at once.

      You can do it this way. BUT, if you adjust a piece of furniture for uneven ground, as soon as you move the piece even slightly, it will wobble again. Better to put dirt, gravel or a wood shim under the leg that’s off the ground. This is usually the way people do it even for indoor furniture on a completely level floor.

    • Cut your first board and write “Pattern” on it. The next board you cut, lay it down on your table and place the pattern board right on top of it. Then take both ends and make sure they are tight together and gently rub your finger over the ends. They should fell as smooth as ever when you do this, this is how you can tell if the boards are aligned as close to perfect as you can get them before cutting. Once you have done these steps you’re ready to cut your board. Once you have cut board #2 take the board that has pattern written on it and repeat the steps until you have all of your boards cut. Here’s some great advice before you go cutting your “Money” lumber, cut a few scraps the same way, the same set up and mark the first board again as “Pattern” and get in the habit of doing that and almost all the time you will get as close to perfect cuts as you can get on cutting any board you put your hands on. This is what I do and I hope this helps you as well. Happy cutting!

  6. Hey Jay great job! As a previous viewer stated I would also like that bench with arms, just like the Swing Bench with legs, Im pretty Handy all around but with your easy to follow instructions I’m pretty sure I can do it. Also I’ve another doubt local hardware stores the treated lumber is very poor quality, mostly stored on moist locations and bent, would I’m better off using regular construction grade lumber and stained and finish it after built?

    • Hey Michael. I’m on my phone so I can’t post a link but for arms check out my horse bench tutorial. Combine whatever features you want from each.

      I actually prefer to avoid treated lumber. Yes, you can use regular lumber and stain. I use thompsons tinted water sealer with good results. Remember that the #1 killer for outdoor furniture is water rotting the legs from below. As long as you get a good sealer on the bottom of the legs and keep it in a non muddy area it should last a long long time.

  7. Awesome and thanks. My parents are in their 80’s and I am going to build a bench and a couple of tables for them. I look forward to your articles.

  8. If you want a bench with arms, cut your legs at 25″ instead of 17. Use jays example on how he builds his chairs, use those arms for your bench.

  9. Hi,
    just built yourmockup using your measurements and they are off. I think your numbers are not the bottom but the tops of the boards. for others who may try in the future. had to tweek a bit but I have a close working model of what you designed

    • Please verify your measurements. Thousands of these benches have been made according to the diagrams with no problems. There are no top and bottom measurements when cutting according to the cutting diagram. They are all longest side measurements.

  10. Jay, would it be possible to add a set of rockers to the bench to turn it into a rocking love seat

    • Yes. I’ve wanted to do that forever but just haven’t gotten around to it. My thoughts would be to make the back legs lower so you lean a little more back and then add the rockers. Let me know how it works out for ya.

  11. hey. i have a question what are the angles for this bench i have no clue where to find them or how to get them. if you could tell me i would greatly appreciate it

    thanks

  12. Thanks Jay! About 6 years ago I built a cappuccino table and appreciate how much mathematics is involved! This was a very easy build for an unskilled craftsman like myself and allows for a double of goofs without needing to start over. I can’t afford to make pocket holes so I subset my screws from the top and that worked great for me. I think I’ll blog about this and post your link! awesome possum.
    http://www.freddythunder.com/blog_images/1415574667image.jpg

  13. in the cut list you mention that all angles are 15 degrees or 90 degrees. I’m pretty sure that what you meant was 75 degrees or 90 degrees.

    • A 75 degree or a 15 degree cut are the same depending on where you measure from. When you are using a miter saw you set the angle to 15 degrees on the miter saw gauge. So yes, it’s a 15 degree cut…which is also a 75 degree cut.

  14. Thanks mate very nice. I had a good time making this bench for my first project. I live in Australia and all our sizes and measurements are different but I made it happen anyway. Thanks again.

  15. My 9 year old grandson built the bench as his first ever wood project. It took him 3 hours plus stain and varnish time and he did all the marking, cutting and screws by himself. I did make sure he did it safely and helped hold the pieces. It turned out great and this week, he will build the end tables. Great plans! Thanks

  16. Jay,

    Do you have any photos available of this bench finished in a stain/water sealer for outdoor use? I’ve read some tips that include using a slow setting epoxy on the end grain of the legs to prevent it from soaking up water, I’ll be sure and do that as well.

  17. Hey I was wondering how much stain you would have to use to cover the bench and table, do you have any idea?

  18. What is the measurement from the front of the stretcher to the front end of the bench slat? I would like to make one of these benches to go in our storm shelter and store supplies under it. The tote with supplies is 20″ deep — so I need to make sure there is plenty of depth under the bench. I will probably have to lengthen the depth of the bench seat to accomodate.

    Great looking design though!

      • Thanks Jay! I guess I’ll add 10″ to all of the horizontal leg pieces and that should allow for 3 additional seat slats. This should provide enough depth for storage below the seat. What is the height to the bottom side of the seat slats?

  19. Jay, thanks for posting this bench plan. I like the fact that it doesn’t have arms, I have been looking everywhere for plans to build a bench to sit outside and play my guitar on.

  20. When I was connecting the short skirt pieces to the 1.5″ legs, my 2.5″ pocket screws went through the leg and out the other side. I believe the plans called from 2.5″ pocket screws. Is this correct, or should I be using 2″ screws.

    It may be the pocket hole machine I was using…an air compressor powered one from a friend that doesn’t allow for much adjustment to the holes I make. Any suggestions? Thanks again for your plans and your youtube channel. Keep rocking it!

  21. jay , how hard would it be to make this bench in 6 or 8 foot. i imagine there would have to be some extra support in the middle. have you made a longer one? if you have a couple minutes could you walk me though.

    • I’ve seen a couple 8′ versions. Just make the slats as long as you want them to be and make a third leg assembly. Put the third leg assembly right in the middle. Super easy.

  22. Great bench design Jay. I modified this a bit to use the remaining composite deck pieces I had laying around. I made the seat and back from the decking, and added support underneath and behind to keep the decking material from flexing. These are really solid benches!

  23. It looks like you aren’t using pressure treated material, but I could be wrong. What do you use to treat for outdoor use?

  24. I would be interested in making a couple for my house and some for sale (I curently make coffee and end tables along with dinning room tables mostly on the higher end) I’m looking at producing something on the lower end of the money and I think these would work plus they are a nice design what do you get for them as I need a starting point
    Thanks

  25. I want to thank you for the easy pattern and great video. Last night I purchased the supplies and today I’m sitting on a new bench! I have never built anything from scratch and was able to make this bench without any problems. I was kind of nervous to use a saw, but I read the instructions and followed your pattern exactly. Yay! I am so proud of myself. I am going to build two tables and two chairs as well now that I have the confidence.

  26. I have just finished this project, using recycled wood and coated with a satin varnish. It has a beautiful appearance. Full credit to Jay on this one, well done.

  27. Hi Jay,

    Made one of these for my house and the mother in law was so impressed she demanded I make one for her! I improvised a bit and didn’t put the last slat on the back rest, then cut off the top of the support, this allowed it to sit under the window at my house. Great plans, thanks for sharing

  28. Jay
    These little benches are great! just made one out of some 2x4s I scavenged off of some 10′ pallets that I rescued from the dumpster…great plans and videos thanks for sharing!

  29. Jay I need the dimensions for the chairs…I made the bench and table already, I just added a cross piece of 2 x 4 in the front for them to rest their feet on, I hope you don’t mind…some couple saw this on you tube and asked if I can make it for them…I just need to make 2 chairs…I need the dimensions for the arm rest and the cross piece the seating slats go….after this I’m going to make a set for me and my daughters….
    Thnx Jay

    Joe Sarmiento from Guam U.S.A.

  30. Jay-I just finished building the bench but I used Redwood instead. Very sturdy, comfortable and finished it in less than an hour. 1 down 3 to go. Thanks for the plans!

  31. I made one of your benches in a 6′ version with great results at first, but after about a month all the legs don’t sit even on the concrete . I used pressure treated lumber and everything looked great at first . What did I do wrong ? Should I have used another material like cedar or cypress ? Any help would be greatly appreciated . ! Love your videos and website, thanks for all you do !

    • Wood will move slightly regardless of what you do. Sometimes it’s hard to predict. Pressure treated lumber is normally the wettest when you use it. Sounds like after a month or so the pressure treated lumber dried out slightly causing the wood to move a bit. Regardless, you have a couple options. You could determine how much one leg is elevated off the ground when the other three are flat and remove that much material from the closest leg. Or you can drill a hole in the bottom of the leg and use a small galvanized lag screw to level the foot from below.

  32. Just built two of the benches and a backless version, too. My timber wasn’t quite 2×4, but real easy to adapt the dimensions. Looks really good and is rock solid. £70 spent on materials to seat 6; compared to £200+ from IKEA. Thanks for the design and great instructions. Next project will be to follow the same kind of design and build a matching table.

  33. Hi Jay…. I made your bench today with structural pine 70 x 35 mm. I improvised a little and added an arm rest on either side. This bench is awesome and a fantastic project for the family and it now looks grand standing on my porch . I stained it with Danish oil. Thanks mate. Edd.

  34. made a bench today with premium white wood lumber and I would like to protect the wood from the rain and sunshine. I like the natural look so what would you suggest to cover it with?

  35. Jay, Your not going to expect this one! I just made two of your benches and four side tables, they worked beautifully on the sides of a gazebo entrance to my apartment. This is in Kingston, Jamaica :) Thanks!

  36. Hi Jay, I like your bench plans. I want to make one for my daughter for Christmas. She would like one with arms.
    Can you please send me the cut list for this modification? and any other helpful hints.
    Thank you- Richard

  37. A big improvement would be to make the seat sculpted. All you would have to do is change the two 2X4’s that the seat screws into into 2X6’s and cut a curve into them. I have built several English Garden Benches with sculpted seats and they are very comfortable to sit in. I always use Pressure Treated Lumber as well as it will last much much longer outdoors. These aren’t living room furniture!

    A properly sculpted seat starts down more sharply near the back and then gradually rises near the front of the bench. Just make sure both sides have the same sculpted shape and are installed with the same orientation.

    Also, you could build it as shown and purchase cushions to make the bench more comfortable to sit on.

  38. Hey Jay.

    awesome job!
    Can you please tell me the model number of the drill you are using? It seems to be a Bosch Impact drill, but I’d like to know the model number.

    Thanks!

  39. Hi Jay, I used your design to build the bench during the Christmas Holidays. Boy, what a stress reliever. Thanks again and I’ve recommended your site to a few of my friends.

  40. Very easy to follow design. I just made one for our front porch in about 45 minutes. Thank you very much for sharing!!!

  41. This was great – thank you so much. Made one in a few hours, added 18inches and another support. Your plans were spot on. Thank you!

  42. Love this pattern. Made one and got requests for two more from friends!!! Very easy to make!

  43. “Click here to download a .zip file containing the SketchUp file for this bench.” After I clicked and extracted all files and it won’t open. Can you send me a link for SketchUp?
    Thank you,
    Mike

  44. Thank you for posting the schematics. It was really easy to build with some recycled wood I found. The wife loves it and I have you to thank. Your awesome????????

  45. Jay:

    We want to stain the 2×4 bench with Penofin brand. Do you suggest we stain each piece of wood before we build the 2×4 bench or we stain after the bench is completely built? Which is easier to do from your experience?

    Thanks,
    Wlee

    • Yes. Absolutely. I’ve made more without pocket holes than with pocket holes. Just screw through the other side of the adjacent board. No problem.

  46. Just made a bench today which the wife loves very easy to do and great plans easy to follow thanks for the plans and video I see me and my son making more of these together.

  47. Thanks Jay,
    Really easy to follow instructions and video.
    Bought myself a Kreg pocket hole jig 320 and made the bench this weekend.

  48. We needed a simple bench plan for my grandson and I to build together, and came across your website. The goal was to make something useful and at the same time help him learn how to safely use the shop tools. He has now completed 5 benches, is excited about making the picnic table next. Your layouts and directions are so easy to follow. Thank you for sharing on your website!

  49. Really like your video and plans for the bench with back. I am a beginner at this kind of project, so I have an ignorant question. If I want to use treated lumber, I have been told that the glue will not be effective, as it cannot penetrate the wood. If this is so, should I substitute bolts for the screws on the weight and torque bearing joints?

  50. Thanks for the plans. I modified them a bit to use some leftover high end pressure treated wood, some 2×4’s, 2×8’s and deck boards. Much easier than I thought it would be because of your easy to follow plans. Not bad for my first project. Wish I could post a picture!

  51. Best directions and easiest project ever. I am building three for trail benches in our 31 acre woods. This is the first time I have seen clear directions on one of these sites. Not much of a builder, but these turn out nice.

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