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This is the little table that belongs next to a pair of Adirondack chairs — somewhere to set a drink and a book. It's about the simplest outdoor build there is: a slatted frame, four legs, and a slatted top, all from 1x3 and 1x4 stock with the gaps left open so rain drains through instead of pooling on the top.
The only decision worth making up front is material and hardware. Build it from cedar or another rot-resistant species if it lives outside, and use exterior deck screws — plain steel screws rust and streak, especially in cedar, which bleeds dark stains around steel fasteners within a season. Stainless or coated exterior screws cost a little more and save the table's looks.
Joinery is forgiving: a countersink bit and screws with glue is the easy path, or pocket holes if you have a jig. Either way the top slats should overhang the frame slightly for a finished look and to shed water past the frame.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x3, 8 ftFrame and legs. Cedar or another rot-resistant species for outdoors. | 2 each |
| 1x4, 8 ftTop slats. | 1 each |
| Exterior deck screws, 1-1/4"Stainless or coated — plain steel rusts and stains cedar. | 1 box |
| Waterproof wood glue | 3 oz |
| Exterior finish (optional)Or leave cedar to silver naturally. | 1 kit |
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Frame ends1x3 | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 14 1/2" |
| Frame sides1x3 | 3 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 15" |
| Legs1x3 | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 16 1/4" |
| Top slats1x4 | 5 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 18 1/2" |
Buy 3 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
2 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Build the basic table frame from the 1x3s. The easiest joinery is a countersink bit with screws and glue; pocket-hole users can use 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket screws instead. Keep it square.
Attach the four legs to the outside of the frame. Keep them flush at the top and check that the table stands without a wobble before moving on.
Lay out the five top slats with even gaps between them so water drains through, and a slight overhang past the frame. Mark, predrill, and attach.
Enjoy it as-is — cedar will silver to grey outdoors and last fine — or apply an exterior finish if you want to hold the color. Ease any sharp edges first.
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