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How to Build a DIY Picnic Table

Wood Picnic Table in Grass
By:Meghan Paynter| Last Updated:06/20/2023
Time to Read: 8 min
Project Overview
Difficulty
Advanced
Time to Complete
2-3 days
Project Cost
$

How to Build a Picnic Table

Eating outside is one of the best parts of the summer. Make serving meals alfresco easy by adding a sturdy, modern picnic table to your backyard that also shows off your DIY skills.

Use this picnic table design and step-by-step guide to build an A-frame table. This project should take around four hours and will leave you with a basic picnic table that will be hearty, yet lightweight enough to move around.

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Materials for DIY Picnic Table

For this intermediate DIY project, you will need multiple power tools. If you don’t have the right tools, check with your local hardware store about rentals.

List of Supplies for an A-Frame Picnic Table

Tools

  • Miter saw
  • Electric drill and 3/8-inch drill bit
  • Hammer
  • Tape measure
  • Adjustable wrench

Hardware and Other Supplies

  • Ten 16d nails
  • Water-proof construction adhesive
  • One box of 3-inch decking screws
  • One box of 4-inch decking screws
  • Four 3/8-diameter x 3 1/2-inch galvanized carriage bolts, nuts and washers
  • Sandpaper, medium grit

Lumber

  • 11 pieces of construction-grade lumber measuring 2 inches by 6 inches by 6 feet
  • Three pieces of construction-grade lumber measuring 2 inches by 4 inches by 8 feet
  • Two pieces of pressure-treated lumber measuring 2 inches by 6 inches by 6 feet

Choosing the Best Wood for Your Picnic Table

When choosing the lumber for your picnic table, select a durable, weather-resistant wood. Softwood species like Cedar, Redwood and Douglas fir are all good options that are both weather-resistant and available at most lumber yards. These are the best woods for picnic tables because they are lightweight and extremely tough.

Choosing a hardwood species for this picnic table design will add unnecessary weight.

For the legs, consider purchasing pressure-treated lumber, since the legs will come in contact with the ground. This will make the legs as durable as possible.

Quotation Mark Icon

“Use tight-knot cedar decking. Cedar is a great outdoor wood that’s naturally rot-resistant and has a great, warm look and using decking will mean your wood is smooth on all four sides.”
 
Dunn Lumber
    

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How to Build an A-Frame Picnic Table

Now that you have all of your supplies, use these picnic table plans to build a simple, traditional table for your yard.

These picnic table designs are for a 6-foot-long table. If you choose to make a longer table, you will need to adjust some of the measurements.

Step 1: Cut and Sand the Wood

Start your picnic table by cutting pieces to the following measurements.

Piece

Amount

Length

Materials

A

Legs

4

31 1/4 inches

Two 6-foot-long two-by-six, Pressure Treated Lumber

B

Table Cleats

3

26 inches

One 8-foot-long two-by-four, Construction Grade Lumber

C

Seat Cleats

6

10 inches

One 8-foot-long two-by-four, Construction Grade Lumber

D

Seat Supports

2

61 inches

Two 6-foot-long two-by-six, Construction Grade Lumber

Cutting Instructions

A: Cut each leg to be 31 1/4-inches long from the pressure-treated lumber. Set the miter saw to 25 degrees and cut the top and bottom of each leg.

B: Cut three cleats for the tabletop using one two-by-four. Each cleat will be 26 inches long. Optional: Using the miter saw, bevel the bottom corner of each cleat so it will hurt less when you bump your knees on them under the table.

C: Cut six 10-inch cleats for the seats using one two-by-four.

D: Cut two seat supports using two of the two-by-sixes. Each seat support will be cut to 61 inches in length.

Set aside one 8-foot-long two-by-four for the table braces, which will be cut later.

After completing each cut, sand each piece to remove any splinters and rough edges.

Quotation Mark Icon

“Use a sander to buff out cut edges and remove splinters. The amount of effort you expend here is a question of how smooth you want your table to be. At the very least, you definitely want the end splinters sanded so you’re not injuring people as they sit at your table.”
 
Dunn Lumber
    

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Step 2: Construct the Tabletop

Top of the DIY Picnic Table

Lay five of the remaining 6-foot-long boards on your work surface. Place the better-looking sides down so you are looking at the underside of the table.

  • Arrange the boards parallel to each other, making the ends flush to form your tabletop. Create uniform spaces between each board by placing two 16d nails between each board, one near each end. The gap should be about 3/8th of an inch wide.
  • Measure the length of the tabletop to find the center at 36 inches. Install the first cleat (B) in the center, running the cleat perpendicular to the longer boards.
  • Use the adhesive to place the cleat and then use 10 screws, two per each tabletop board, to permanently secure it. Be careful when drilling. The screws should not break through the other side of the tabletop.
  • For the next two cleats, measure 12 inches from each end of the table and repeat the installation process.

Step 3: Build the Picnic Table Seats

Repeat the process from the tabletop to build the tops of the seats.

  • Place two 6-foot-long boards parallel to each other and create a space between them using the 16d nails.
  • Measure the length and find the center of the boards at 36 inches and use the adhesive to place the center cleat (C) and use four nails to secure it.
  • For the final two cleats, measure 6 inches from each end of the boards and attach.
  • Repeat process to build the second seat.

Step 4: Create the A-Frame Legs

A-Frame Picnic Table Plans

Next, build the A-frame of the DIY picnic table which consists of the table legs and the seat supports. For this section you will need the two 61-inch seat supports (D) and the four 31 ¼-inch legs (A).

  • Measure 14 3/4 inches in from both ends of a seat support. Mark it with your pencil.
  • Measure 18 inches up from the bottom from the bottom of each leg. Mark it with your pencil.
  • Place each leg at the 14 3/4-inch mark on the seat support so that the top of the seat support is even with the 18-inch mark on the leg.
  • Using your speed square, measure the outside angle under the seat support where it meets the leg and set the leg at a 65-degree angle.
  • Attach the leg with adhesive.
  • Repeat steps with second leg, at opposite end of seat support, ensuring that the two legs are angled toward each other and the bottoms are level to create a level A-frame to support your table.
  • Further secure each leg with two 3-inch deck screws.

For the second A-frame, lay materials on top of your first A-frame as a template and then repeat the steps.

Step 5: Attach the Legs to the Tabletop

With your tabletop still upside on your work surface, begin attaching the legs. Using the adhesive and clamps, attach the top of the A-frame to the outside of the side cleat.

Secure the legs with two 4-inch deck screws per leg. Repeat process on the other end of the table.

Step 6: Cut and Install Tabletop Brace

DIY Picnic Table Brace

Using your final two-by-four, it’s time to measure, cut and install the brace between the center of the table and the A-frame legs.

  • Measure the distance from the middle cleat to the center of the seat support. It should be 24 7/8 inches if all other measurements are exact.
  • Cut two braces to that length.
  • Hold your braces in place and use your pencil to mark where and at what angle the ends need to be cut to fit into this space.
  • Use your speed square to measure the angle of each end and set your miter saw. Depending on your measurements, it should be approximately 28 degrees.
  • Support the A-frame legs to ensure they remain at a right angle while you push the braces into place. If the braces are too long and push the legs wider than 90 degrees, trim the brace further until it fits correctly.
  • Use two 3-inch deck nails to attach each end of the brace to the middle cleat of the tabletop and to the center of the seat support.

Step 7: Install Carriage Bolts to Further Support Your A-Frame Picnic Table

To add extra support to the seats and A-frame, install carriage bolts where the legs and seat support intersect.

  • Using a drill and 3/8-diameter drill bit, create two holes side by side on the legs of the picnic table.
  • Use a hammer to drive the carriage bolt into the holes.
  • On the threaded end of the carriage bolt, add a washer then a nut to secure it in place.
  • Secure the nut with an adjustable wrench.

After you’ve installed the carriage bolts, it is time to flip your table over so it is standing on its legs.

Step 8: Attach Seats

Using the last four two-by-six boards, install the seats of your DIY picnic table. Place your seats cleat-side down on the seat supports, making sure the ends are flush with the ends of the tabletop.

Use the 4-inch deck screws to attach the seats to the seat support. Drill into the top of the seats and through the seat supports.

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How to Stain Your Picnic Table

Materials for Staining a Picnic Table

  • Wood Stain and/or protective topcoat, such as a urethane finish
  • Small paint roller
  • Paintbrush
  • Drop cloth
  • Rag

Important: If you didn’t sand your boards before building your picnic table, complete this step before you begin staining.

Quotation Mark Icon

“If it is pressure treated lumber, you should let it age for about 6 months prior to applying a finish and protective topcoat.”
 
Jen Newell | Brand Manager, Rust-Oleum
    

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If you would like to change the color of your picnic table you will need to add a wood stain first. If you are just looking to protect your table from deterioration, you can simply add a finishing coat.

Using your paintbrush or roller, apply stain or protective coat on every piece of the DIY picnic table. Use a paintbrush or rag to smooth over any drips. “A synthetic paint brush or simple staining rag will work,” according to Newall.

Let your table dry based on the product instructions and then flip it over on the drop cloth and apply product to the underside of the table. Protecting the underside of the table as well will help you extend the life further.

Apply as many coats as suggested by the product label, following the instructions for wait time between coats. If you chose to stain your table, repeat this process with your protective coating when ready.

Quotation Mark Icon

“How often it should be refinished will be dependent on the weather it is exposed to throughout the year. All of [Rust-Oleum’s] spar urethane finishes are tested to endure multiple freeze thaw cycles and should protect your outdoor furniture for multiple years.”
 
Jen Newell | Brand Manager, Rust-Oleum
    

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