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The Leopold bench is about as simple as outdoor seating gets: six pieces cut from three boards, held together with screws at a single 30° angle. No mortises, no dowels, nothing to glue.
The angle is the whole design. Cutting the leg tops at 30 degrees off square is what gives the seat its slight recline and the bench its name and silhouette. Get that one angle consistent across all four leg pieces and the rest of the build is just square crosscuts and screws.
Built from construction lumber, it costs next to nothing and takes an afternoon — which is why it shows up on back porches, at campsites, and in scout-troop projects everywhere.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Pine or fir, 2x8, 10 ftThe four leg pieces. | 1 each |
| Pine or fir, 2x6, 4 ftThe backrest. | 1 each |
| Pine or fir, 2x10, 4 ftThe seat. | 1 each |
| 2-3/4" self-tapping wood screws | 20 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Long legs2x8Both ends cut 30° off square, ends parallel. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 7 1/4" × 35" |
| Short legs2x8Both ends cut 30° off square, ends parallel. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 7 1/4" × 18" |
| Backrest2x6 | 1 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 48" |
| Seat2x10 | 1 | 1 1/2" × 9 1/4" × 45" |
Buy 4 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
2 boards
1 board
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 →
Cut the two long legs to 35" and two short legs to 18", angling both ends of every leg piece 30° off square, ends parallel. Cut the backrest (48") and seat (45") square — no angles on those two.
Cut every angled piece in the same saw session without adjusting the angle setting. That consistency is what makes both leg assemblies match.
Stand a short leg against a long leg, align the top edges, and screw them together. Repeat for the second pair — you now have two matching leg assemblies with the angled cut giving each one a lean.
Screw the 2x6 backrest across the tops of the two leg assemblies, keeping the top edges flush. This ties the two leg assemblies together and sets the bench's overall width.
Set the frame on a flat surface and screw the 2x10 seat across the tops of the legs, centered side to side, driving screws from both the top face and the outside face of the long legs for a solid connection.
Sand all edges and corners smooth, then finish with an exterior stain or paint rated for outdoor use.
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