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This potting bench is two shelf grates — a lower work shelf and a raised back shelf — built onto a pair of leg sets that make the front legs shorter than the back legs, giving the whole bench a slight forward-tilting work surface that's genuinely more comfortable for potting soil and containers than a perfectly level bench.
Build both shelf grates first, checking each one for square before it ever meets a leg — a shelf that's already square goes onto the legs cleanly, while a racked shelf fights every subsequent step. Exterior decking screws (installed per the manufacturer's packaging, since coatings and installation depth affect their actual water resistance) are the fastener of choice throughout, since this bench lives outside and takes dirt, water, and fertilizer runoff regularly.
Check the whole assembly for square and level at every single step, not just at the end — the source repeats this deliberately, because a potting bench that's slightly out of true doesn't just look wrong, it makes pots and trays slide or tip during actual use. The last step trims the sharp outside corners off the top shelf supports, a small detail that matters more on a bench people lean against and brush past while working than it would on furniture that stays still.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 2x4, 8 ft, cedar or exterior treated | 7 each |
| 1x6, 8 ft | 1 each |
| 1x3, 8 ft | 1 each |
| 1x2, 4 ft | 1 each |
| Exterior decking screws, 2" | 60 each |
| Wood glue, exterior rated | 3 oz |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Shelf boards2x4, 8 ft, cedar or exterior treated | 10 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 36" |
| Shelf side supports2x4, 8 ft, cedar or exterior treated | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 19 1/2" |
| Shelf center supports1x2, 4 ft | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 19 1/2" |
| Front legs2x4, 8 ft, cedar or exterior treated | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 36" |
| Back legs2x4, 8 ft, cedar or exterior treated | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 48" |
| Top shelf boards1x6, 8 ft | 2 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 39" |
| Back supports1x3, 8 ft | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 39" |
Buy 10 boards at 8 ft.
7 boards
1 board
1 board
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 →
Attach the shelf boards to the side supports with exterior decking screws (installed per the manufacturer's packaging). A pocket-hole jig lets you fasten from the underside and hide all screw holes. Build two shelves and check both for square. Glue is recommended.
Mark the center of the underside of each shelf and attach the center support with 2" screws.
Mark the back legs 36" from the bottom. Attach the shelves to the legs from the insides to hide screw holes, predrilling and countersinking every screw.
Check the whole bench for square by measuring diagonally across the back, and level the legs with a level. Repeat this check at every subsequent step, not just at the end.
Attach the top shelf side supports to the top shelf. Trim the sharp outside corners off for safety. Sand and finish.
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