If you want to learn more about building a simple bench, we recommend you to pay attention to the instructions described in the article. There are so many designs and plans to choose from, that we really recommend you to browse through the related plans before buying the materials and starting the assembly. Work with attention and invest in high quality materials.
If you want to get the job done in a professional manner, we recommend you to plan everything with attention, as to prevent costly mistakes and to build a professional bench. Invest in high quality materials, such as cedar, pine or redwood, as the bench will be exposed to all kinds of weather. Apply a few coats of paint over the components, to enhance their appearance and to protect them from bad weather.
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Simple Bench Plans
Building a bench
Materials
- 1 – 2 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 14 1/2”, 4 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 5 1/2″ LEGS
- 2 – 2 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 14 1/2″, 2 pieces – 41″, 1 piece – 11 1/2″ FRAME
- 3 – 2 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 48″, 1 piece of 2×4 lumber – 48″ SLATS
- 4 – 1 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 44″ STRETCHER
- 3 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 8 ft
- 1 piece of 2×6 lumber – 10 ft
- 1 piece of 2×2 lumber – 4 ft
- wood stain
- wood glue
Tools
- Hammer, Tape measure, Carpentry square
- Miter saw, Drill machinery, Screwdriver, Sander, Router
- Safety Gloves, Safety Glasses, Respiratory Mask
Time
- One day
Building a simple bench
Building the legs
The first step of the woodworking project is to build the legs for the simple bench. As you can easily notice in the plans, we recommend you to cut the curved components out of 2×6 lumber and the main components from 2×4 lumber. Drill pocket holes or pilot holes through the curved components and lock them to the vertical components with galvanized screws. Add waterproof glue to enhance the bond of the components.
Building the frame of the bench
Build the frame of the bench out of 2×4 lumber, making sure you lock them tightly with galvanized screws. Check if the corners are right-angled and drill pilot holes before inserting the 2 1/2″ screws, to prevent the wood from splitting. Secure the frame to the legs with screws, after making sure the frame is horizontal and the legs plumb.
Fitting the seat slats
Lay the slats on a level surface, making sure they are equally-spaced. Drill pocket holes through the frame and insert 2 1/2″ screws into the slats. Align the slats at both ends before inserting the screws.
Attaching the stretcher
Fit a stretcher between the sides of the simple bench. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the stretcher and secure them to legs with galvanized screws and waterproof glue. See my other plans for a large patio bench, here on my blog.
Simple bench plans
Last but not least, you should take care of the finishing touches. Therefore, we recommend you to check if the components are locked into place properly and structure is rigid enough to support the soil. Make sure there are no protruding screws or sharp edges.
PRO TIP: Fill the holes with a good wood filler and smooth the surface with medium-grit sandpaper. Apply several coats of paint or stain over the components, in order to protect them from decay. Check out the rest of the project to learn more about building garden projects.
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