Choose a six- or eight-foot table, and whether one end should leave room for a wheelchair. The plan gives you the lumber and bolts to buy, every cut with its angle, and each step with a drawing.
Choose a six- or eight-foot table, and whether one end should leave room for a wheelchair. The plan gives you the lumber and bolts to buy, every cut with its angle, and each step with a drawing.
Reviewed by FigureYard editorial teamUpdated October 9, 20269 sources
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Item
Qty
Price each
Total
2x6, pressure-treated or cedar, 16 ft long
5 boards
–
2x4, pressure-treated or cedar, 12 ft long
1 board
–
Galvanized carriage bolts, 3/8 in by 3 1/2 in, each with a nut and washer2 at each place a leg crosses a cleat or a seat support
16 bolts
–
Exterior deck screws, 3 in54 needed plus 6 spares
60 screws
–
Exterior stain or water-repellent sealer
1 quart
–
Total for the items you priced
–
Cut list
Part
What it is
Lumber
Size
Cut
A
Top boards
2x6, pressure-treated or cedar
72 in
5
B
Bench boards
2x6, pressure-treated or cedar
72 in
4
C
Legsboth ends cut at 25°, parallel
2x6, pressure-treated or cedar
31 1/2 in
4
D
Seat supports
2x6, pressure-treated or cedar
58 1/2 in
2
E
Top cleatstwo at the legs, one in the middle
2x4, pressure-treated or cedar
27 1/2 in
3
F
Bracesends cut at about 31°; trim the second to fit
2x4, pressure-treated or cedar
23 5/8 in
2
Where to cut each board
Each bar is one board you buy, drawn to scale. Measure from the left end, cut, then measure the next piece from the fresh cut; the saw blade takes about 1/8 in each time. Hatched ends are offcuts.
2x6, pressure-treated or cedar
2x4, pressure-treated or cedar
Tools
Tape measure, pencil and a speed square
Miter saw or circular saw for the angled cuts
Drill/driver, a 3/8 in bit long enough to pass through two boards, and a wrench
Two or more clamps
Sandpaper or a router with a round-over bit
Safety glasses and hearing protection
Step by step
Cut the parts
Cut the top boards A and the bench boards B to 72 in. Cut the four legs C to 31 1/2 in, with both ends at 25° and parallel, so each leg stands flat on the ground and fits flat under the top.
Cut the seat supports D to 58 1/2 in, the three top cleats E to 27 1/2 in, and the two braces F to 23 5/8 in with ends cut at about 31°. Round over or sand every sharp edge.
Build the two end assemblies
On a flat floor, lay a top cleat E and a seat support D on two legs C: the legs' top ends flush with the cleat's ends and its top edge, the seat support's top edge 15 1/2 in up from the legs' feet, centered.
Square it up, clamp it, and drill 2 holes of 3/8 in through each crossing. Fit the carriage bolts from the leg side, with washers and nuts on the other, and tighten. Build the second end the same way.
Carriage bolt through the leg and the cleat or seat support
Join the ends with the benches
Stand the end assemblies up with the cleats and seat supports facing each other, 48 in apart outside to outside. Each stands 12 in from its end of the table. Screw the bench boards B to the seat supports, 1/2 in apart, their front edges 2 in out from where the top's edge will be.
Fasten the top
Lay the top boards A across the cleats with 1/2 in spacers between them, the ends flush, and screw each board to each cleat with two screws. Screw the third cleat E under the middle of the top.
Add the braces
Fit each brace F between a seat support and the middle cleat, and screw it at both ends. The braces stop the table from racking.
Seal or stain the wood, and let pressure-treated lumber dry first if it is still wet.
Good to know
Use pressure-treated lumber rated for outdoor use, or a rot-resistant wood such as cedar. Wear a dust mask when cutting treated wood and do not burn the offcuts.
For a wheelchair space at one end, choose the accessible version above: the top runs further past the legs there.
This is the classic picnic table with the benches attached: angled legs bolted to a top cleat and a seat support at each end, the benches resting on the supports, and two braces from the supports up to the middle of the top to keep it from racking.
How to use this calculator
Choose the length.
If someone at the table uses a wheelchair, choose the accessible version: one end of the top runs further past the legs.
Buy pressure-treated lumber or cedar, cut the parts, and follow the steps: two end assemblies, then the benches, the top and the braces.
Worked examples
A six-foot table
Table length: 6 ft
Picnic table
6 ft long, top 29.5 in wide
Top height
30 in
Seat height
17 in
Boards to buy
6
An eight-foot table
Table length: 8 ft
Picnic table
8 ft long, top 29.5 in wide
Top height
30 in
Seat height
17 in
Boards to buy
12
A table with a wheelchair space
Table length: 8 ft · Wheelchair space at one end: Yes: the top runs past the legs at one end
Picnic table
8 ft long, top 29.5 in wide
Top height
30 in
Seat height
17 in
Clear space under the top at the accessible end
18.5 in
Boards to buy
12
Two tables for a backyard party
Table length: 6 ft · How many tables: 2
Picnic table
6 ft long, top 29.5 in wide
Top height
30 in
Seat height
17 in
Boards to buy
13
Picnic table dimensions
A comfortable table puts the top 30 inches off the ground and the seats 17 inches, the standard dining and bench heights. A classic National Park Service design book gives the same ranges, 28 to 30 inches for the top and 16 to 18 inches for the seat, with the front edge of the seat 1 to 3 inches out from the table edge.
The legs are cut at 25 degrees at both ends, parallel, and boards are spaced 0.5 inch apart so rain runs off. Each leg is held by 2 bolts carriage bolts where it crosses the cleat and the seat support.
A table a wheelchair user can pull up to
The US Access Board's guide to outdoor areas asks for a table top 28 to 34 inches high, knee clearance at least 30 inches wide and 8 inches deep at 27 inches high, and toe clearance 17 inches deep. A wheelchair space is 30 inches by 48 inches, with 36 inches of clear ground around the table.
The accessible version of this plan moves one end assembly in, so the top runs far enough past the legs at that end. These rules bind federal sites; for a backyard, they are a good guide.
Wood and finish
Use pressure-treated lumber rated for outdoor use, or a rot-resistant wood such as cedar.
Galvanized carriage bolts, 0.375 inch by 3.5 inches, with nuts and washers: one table takes 16 bolts.
Round over the edges and sand the top and seats, then seal or stain the wood once it is dry.
Common questions
How tall is a picnic table?
About 30 inches to the top, with the benches at 17 inches.
How many boards do I need to build a picnic table?
This six-foot design uses five top boards, four bench boards, four legs and two seat supports from 2x6 lumber, plus three cleats and two braces from 2x4. The shopping list counts the boards to buy for your length.
What angle are picnic table legs cut at?
25 degrees at both ends, parallel to each other, so the leg stands flat on the ground and fits flat under the top.
What size bolts for a picnic table?
Galvanized carriage bolts 0.375 inch by 3.5 inches, 2 bolts at each leg joint.
What wood is best for a picnic table?
Pressure-treated pine is the most common and lasts outdoors; cedar is lighter, naturally rot-resistant and nicer to sit on, but costs more.
This is the classic picnic table with the benches attached: angled legs bolted to a top cleat and a seat support at each end, the benches resting on the supports, and two braces from the supports up to the middle of the top to keep it from racking.
How to use this calculator
Choose the length.
If someone at the table uses a wheelchair, choose the accessible version: one end of the top runs further past the legs.
Buy pressure-treated lumber or cedar, cut the parts, and follow the steps: two end assemblies, then the benches, the top and the braces.
Worked examples
A six-foot table
Table length: 1.83 m (6 ft)
Picnic table
1.83 m long, top 75 cm wide
Top height
76.2 cm
Seat height
43.18 cm
Boards to buy
6
An eight-foot table
Table length: 2.44 m (8 ft)
Picnic table
2.44 m long, top 75 cm wide
Top height
76.2 cm
Seat height
43.18 cm
Boards to buy
12
A table with a wheelchair space
Table length: 2.44 m (8 ft) · Wheelchair space at one end: Yes: the top runs past the legs at one end
Picnic table
2.44 m long, top 75 cm wide
Top height
76.2 cm
Seat height
43.18 cm
Clear space under the top at the accessible end
46.99 cm
Boards to buy
12
Two tables for a backyard party
Table length: 1.83 m (6 ft) · How many tables: 2
Picnic table
1.83 m long, top 75 cm wide
Top height
76.2 cm
Seat height
43.18 cm
Boards to buy
13
Picnic table dimensions
A comfortable table puts the top 76 cm off the ground and the seats 43 cm, the standard dining and bench heights. A classic National Park Service design book gives the same ranges, 71 to 76 cm for the top and 41 to 46 cm for the seat, with the front edge of the seat 2.5 to 7.6 cm out from the table edge.
The legs are cut at 25 degrees at both ends, parallel, and boards are spaced 1.3 cm apart so rain runs off. Each leg is held by 2 bolts carriage bolts where it crosses the cleat and the seat support.
A table a wheelchair user can pull up to
The US Access Board's guide to outdoor areas asks for a table top 71 to 86 cm high, knee clearance at least 76 cm wide and 20 cm deep at 69 cm high, and toe clearance 43 cm deep. A wheelchair space is 76 cm by 122 cm, with 91 cm of clear ground around the table.
The accessible version of this plan moves one end assembly in, so the top runs far enough past the legs at that end. These rules bind federal sites; for a backyard, they are a good guide.
Wood and finish
Use pressure-treated lumber rated for outdoor use, or a rot-resistant wood such as cedar.
Galvanized carriage bolts, 9.5 mm by 8.9 cm, with nuts and washers: one table takes 16 bolts.
Round over the edges and sand the top and seats, then seal or stain the wood once it is dry.
Common questions
How tall is a picnic table?
About 76 cm to the top, with the benches at 43 cm.
How many boards do I need to build a picnic table?
This six-foot design uses five top boards, four bench boards, four legs and two seat supports from 2x6 lumber, plus three cleats and two braces from 2x4. The shopping list counts the boards to buy for your length.
What angle are picnic table legs cut at?
25 degrees at both ends, parallel to each other, so the leg stands flat on the ground and fits flat under the top.
What size bolts for a picnic table?
Galvanized carriage bolts 9.5 mm by 8.9 cm, 2 bolts at each leg joint.
What wood is best for a picnic table?
Pressure-treated pine is the most common and lasts outdoors; cedar is lighter, naturally rot-resistant and nicer to sit on, but costs more.