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A low, leaned-back outdoor chair from two 2x4s and two fence pickets — cheap enough per chair to batch-build eight at a time around a fire pit.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base front and back | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 20 3/4" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Base sides One end cut at 10° off square (angle, not bevel), long point measurement — this tips the seat back. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 24 1/4" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Front legs One end beveled 5°, long point measurement. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 13 3/4" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Back legs 5° bevel at the bottom, 25° bevel at the top, long point to short point. Batch-cut: all legs at 5° first, then one saw change to 25°. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 22 1/2" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Backrest rail | 1 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 23 3/4" | 2x2 | ☐ |
| Seat slats Cut all three from the same picket so color and width match. | 3 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 23 3/4" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| Back slats Same-board rule again. | 4 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 17 3/4" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", not dog-eared (Cedar) Seat and back slats. Quantities are per chair — multiply by the batch. | 2 each | ☐ |
| 2x4, 8 ft Red-toned or pressure-treated — the frame sits in the weather at ground level. | 2 each | ☐ |
| 2x2, 2 ft Backrest rail. One 8-footer covers four chairs. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Exterior screws, 2-1/2", self-tapping Frame joints. | 25 each | ☐ |
| Exterior screws, 1-1/4", self-tapping Slats. | 30 each | ☐ |
| Exterior wood glue | 2 oz | ☐ |
| Solid-color penetrating stain Fence-rated. About a pint per chair; buy a gallon for a batch of eight. | 1 pint | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Speed Square. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Exterior screws, 2-1/2", self-tapping
Lay out the base rectangle — front, back, and the two 10°-angled sides — with both angled sides oriented the same way, long point down. Screw together with the 2-1/2" screws, two per joint.
That 10° is the recline of the finished chair. If one side goes in flipped, the base twists and nothing after this step fits.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Exterior screws, 2-1/2", self-tapping, Exterior wood glue
Flip the base upside down — it's much easier to register the legs that way — and attach each front leg with three 2-1/2" screws and glue, matching the leg's 5° bevel orientation to the base so the foot will sit flat on the ground.
Glue matters on these joints: legs on outdoor chairs work loose from racking long before the wood fails.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Miter Saw. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Exterior screws, 2-1/2", self-tapping, Exterior wood glue
The back legs carry the fussiest cuts in the build: 5° bevel at the floor, 25° bevel at the top, long point to short point. Batch them — cut every leg at 5° both ends first (23-1/2", ends parallel), then change the saw once to 25° and recut the tops of the whole stack.
Attach with two screws per joint. The 25° tops are what the backrest rail lands on.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 2x2, 2 ft, Exterior screws, 2-1/2", self-tapping
The 2x2 rail attaches across the back leg tops at the recline angle, which makes it an awkward screw. Pre-drill everything — a 2x2 driven at an angle without a pilot hole splits, full stop. Pocket screws driven from the inside faces are a clean alternative; the seat slats cover them later.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Tape Measure. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", not dog-eared, Exterior screws, 1-1/4", self-tapping
Attach the front and back seat slats first with the 1-1/4" screws, then center the middle slat with even gaps.
Gaps aren't cosmetic on outdoor seating — rain has to drain through or the slats cup and rot. Cut all three slats from the same picket so the seat reads as one surface.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", not dog-eared, Exterior screws, 1-1/4", self-tapping, Solid-color penetrating stain
Set the two outer back slats first, screwed into the backrest rail and the rear seat slat, then space the middle slats evenly and attach.
Sand every edge — pickets throw splinters until you do — and finish with the penetrating stain. Then build the next seven; the second chair goes twice as fast, and by the fourth you'll have the angles memorized.