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The two 1x12 side panels double as both the bench's structure and its most visible surface, so their pocket holes go in the back face before anything else is attached — drill them early while the boards are still easy to clamp flat. Build outward from those sides: 2x2 corner posts first, then the corner-to-corner braces that square up the whole frame, then the base shelf boards, and only then the top.
Start the top boards from the back and work forward, keeping the back board flush with the back of the bench — that's what creates the slight overhanging lip on the front edge. The slatted back is genuinely optional; the bench is sturdy without it, so treat it as a place to use up leftover thin stock rather than a required step.
| Item | Qty |
|---|
| Pine, 1x2, 8 ft | 2 each |
| Pine, 2x2, 8 ft | 3 each |
| Pine, 1x3, 8 ft | 6 each |
| Pine, 1x12, 6 ft | 1 each |
| 1-1/4" pocket hole screws | 1 box |
| 2" finish nails | 1 box |
| Optional back slats, thin scrap woodAbout 1-1/2" x 1/4" strips, evenly spaced. | 1 each |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Top boardsPine 1x3 | 6 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 37" |
| Base boardsPine 1x3 | 5 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 32 3/4" |
| Base front boardPine 1x2 | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 32 3/4" |
| Side trim and shelf supportPine 1x2 | 9 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 11 1/4" |
| Long frame bracesPine 2x2 | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 32 3/4" |
| Center frame bracePine 2x2 | 1 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 11 1/4" |
| Corner postsPine 2x2 | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 17" |
| SidesPine 1x12 | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 17" |
Buy 12 boards at 8 ft.
3 boards
1 board
6 boards
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 →
Nail two 11-1/4" 1x2s to the face of each 1x12, one at the top and one at the bottom end. These become the two sides of the bench.
Drill pocket holes in the back of each 1x12 side panel.
Attach two 17" corner posts to the sides of each 1x12 using screws through the pocket holes, keeping the posts flush with the 1x2 trim.
Attach a 32-3/4" 2x2 brace to each corner to create the frame of the bench, using pocket holes on each end of the boards.
Attach the center 2x2 brace between the top two long braces. Also attach two 11-1/4" 1x2 trim pieces evenly spaced between the center brace and either end of the bench.
Attach two 11-1/4" 1x2 pieces to the inside bottom of the 1x12 sides to support the base boards.
Attach the five 32-3/4" 1x3 base boards and one 32-3/4" 1x2 to the base of the bench, with the 1x2 at the front.
Attach the six 37" 1x3 top boards, starting from the back and working to the front. Keep the back board flush with the back of the bench so the front edge overhangs slightly, forming a lip.
For an optional back, use leftover thin wood strips (about 1-1/2" x 1/4"), spacing them evenly with a small finish nail to hold the gap as each strip is fastened. Sand and finish the whole bench.
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