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A planked 1x8 headboard and footboard on a 2x4 leg frame, sized for a California king mattress with a joist frame that adjusts for a box spring or not.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headboard panel trim Measure your actual panel width before cutting; approximate. | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 72 1/2" | Pine 1x4 | ☐ |
| Headboard panel ends | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 30" | Pine 1x3 | ☐ |
| Headboard panel boards | 9 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 30" | Pine 1x8 | ☐ |
| Headboard inner legs | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 34 1/2" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Headboard outer legs | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 54" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Headboard top rail Measure and cut to fit. | 1 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 78 1/2" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Headboard top trim Measure and cut to fit. | 1 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 80 1/2" | Pine 2x6 | ☐ |
| Headboard bottom leg piece Adjust to your actual side-rail thickness. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 10" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Footboard panel trim Measure your actual panel width before cutting; approximate. | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 72 1/2" | Pine 1x4 | ☐ |
| Footboard panel ends | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 15" | Pine 1x3 | ☐ |
| Footboard panel boards | 9 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 15" | Pine 1x8 | ☐ |
| Footboard legs | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 21" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Footboard top rail Measure and cut to fit. | 1 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 78 1/2" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Footboard top trim Measure and cut to fit. | 1 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 80 1/2" | Pine 1x6 | ☐ |
| Side rails | 2 | 1 1/2" × 9 1/4" × 87 1/2" | Pine 2x10 | ☐ |
| Side cleats | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 88 1/2" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Joists Spaced every 12" shown — space at least every 6" if not using a box spring. | 8 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 69 1/2" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Pine, 1x8, 8 ft | 9 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 1x3, 8 ft | 1 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 1x4, 8 ft Panel trim — omitted from the source's own shopping list, added here to cover the cut list. | 6 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 2x6, 8 ft | 2 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 1x6, 8 ft Footboard top trim — thinner than the headboard's, since the footboard carries less load. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 2x10, 8 ft Side rails — also omitted from the source's own shopping list. | 2 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 2x4, 8 ft | 13 each | ☐ |
| Self-tapping wood screws, 3" | 1 box | ☐ |
| Self-tapping wood screws, 2-1/2" | 1 box | ☐ |
| Self-tapping wood screws, 2" | 1 box | ☐ |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" | 1 box | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 5 oz | ☐ |
| Sandpaper, assorted grit | 4 sheet | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Hammer. Materials: Pine, 1x8, 8 ft, Pine, 1x4, 8 ft, Wood glue
Lay out the panel boards on a clean, level surface. Measure the total assembled length and cut the trim boards to this measurement (approximately 78-1/2"). Fasten the trim to the panel with 1-1/4" nails and glue, attaching from the back to hide nail holes.
Tools: Hammer. Materials: Pine, 1x3, 8 ft, Wood glue
Fasten the back trim pieces to the headboard the same way, using glue and 2" nails. This side, with visible nail holes, becomes the back of the headboard.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Drill Bit Set. Materials: Pine, 2x4, 8 ft, Wood glue
Predrill and countersink your screws, then attach the inner legs to the headboard panel with 3" screws and glue.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Drill Bit Set. Materials: Pine, 2x4, 8 ft, Wood glue
Fasten the outer legs to the inner legs with 3" screws and glue, countersinking again, keeping the top and outside edges flush.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 2x6, 8 ft, Pine, 2x4, 8 ft, Wood glue
Attach the top rail and top trim to the headboard with 3" screws and glue.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 2x4, 8 ft, Wood glue
Measure your actual side rails before cutting this piece — it may need to be shorter or longer depending on their thickness. Attach with 2" screws and glue, countersinking your screws.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Hammer. Materials: Pine, 1x8, 8 ft, Pine, 1x3, 8 ft, Pine, 1x4, 8 ft, Pine, 1x6, 8 ft, Pine, 2x4, 8 ft, Wood glue
Assemble the footboard the same way as the headboard, except the footboard leg pieces are all identical in size and there's no separate bottom leg piece.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 2x10, 8 ft, Pine, 2x4, 8 ft, Wood glue
Build the frame with 3" screws and glue. Space the joists every 12" as shown, adding more if you won't use a box spring (standard maximum slat spacing is 6"), or fewer if you have a strong box spring — remember a California king often uses two box springs side by side. Attach the side rails to the frame with front edges flush; the bottom edge of the frame overhangs the rails by 5/8". Adjust the frame height as needed depending on your box-spring situation.
Tools: Drill / Driver
Predrill and countersink, then attach the side rails to the headboard with 2-1/2" screws — only a few screws are needed per side, since the bottom leg piece carries the weight. Do not use glue on this joint.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander. Materials: Sandpaper, assorted grit
Fasten the bottom frame joists directly to the footboard panel with 2" screws. Do not use glue.
Sand every surface and finish.