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This arch is two boards and a notch. Each leg gets a 45° cut at the peak end and a 22-1/2° cut at the foot, so the pair leans inward and meets at the top at the angle that gives the design its shallow triangular silhouette — steeper than a typical A-frame, which is the point.
The joint where the two legs cross is a HALVING LAP, and it's cut without a dado stack: dry-fit the two angled boards so their 45° peak cuts align, trace the overlap onto both pieces with a pencil, then set a circular saw's depth to 3/4" (half the board's thickness) and make a series of cuts about 1/4" apart across the whole overlap area. Break out the waste between the kerfs by hand and clean up the bottom of the notch with a chisel until the two boards lap together flush. It's slower than a router jig and needs no jig at all — a fair trade for an arch you'll build once.
Decide before you cut fasteners whether this is a one-time build or a repeat rental piece: 1-1/4" screws at the lap joint make a permanent arch, while 1-1/2" bolts with washers and nuts let you knock it down for storage and reassemble it for the next ceremony. Either way, finish (or leave it raw) before final assembly if you can — reaching a brush into an assembled lap joint is a losing effort.
2x4 stock substitutes directly for the 2x6 called out here with no change to the cut list — lighter, cheaper, and a slightly less substantial look. On the day, plan for tent anchors and heavy fishing line if the venue has any wind; a decorated arch catches more of a breeze than the bare frame does.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 2x6, 10 ft (or 2x4 for a lighter, cheaper build)The two legs — cut list is unchanged if substituting 2x4. | 2 each |
| 2x6, 8 ft (or 2x4)Cut into the four base feet. | 1 each |
| Self-tapping star bit screws, 1-1/4"Fastens the lap joint permanently. | 10 each |
| Self-tapping star bit screws, 2-1/2"Attaches the base feet. | 10 each |
| Bolts, 1-1/2", with washers and nutsOptional — use instead of screws at the lap joint if the arch needs to knock down for repeat use. | 2 each |
| Tent anchors and heavy fishing lineRecommended for anchoring outdoors, especially with fabric or garland draped over the arch. | 1 each |
| Wood stain or paint | 1 qt |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Legs2x6One end cut at 45°, the other end cut at 22-1/2° off square, long point to long point measurement. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 104 5/8" |
| Base feet2x6 | 4 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 24" |
Some parts are longer than a 8 ft board, so there is no honest board count to show here. Open the board plan to pick a longer stock length — it names every part that does not fit.
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 →
On the two long legs, mark and cut the angles per the cut list: one end at 45°, the other end at 22-1/2° off square. The 22-1/2° cut is measured as an angle off a square (90°) cut — on a miter saw, simply dial the angle to 22-1/2° and cut directly.
Lay the two cut legs so their 45° peak cuts meet and match each other, exactly as the finished arch will stand. Trace the overlapping area onto BOTH boards with a pencil — this traced outline is your cutting guide for the notch on each piece.
Set the circular saw's cutting depth to 3/4" — half the board's thickness. Clamp each board to a stable surface and make a series of cuts about 1/4" apart across the whole traced overlap area.
Break the small waste pieces out by hand, then clean up the bottom of the notch with a chisel until it's flat and even. Repeat on the second board's overlap area.
Lap the two legs together at the peak and test the fit — the two boards should sit flush where they cross. This is a good point to apply finish before final assembly, since the lap joint is far easier to reach with a brush now than once it's fastened.
Join the legs with 1-1/4" screws for a permanent arch, or 1-1/2" bolts with washers and nuts if you want to disassemble and reuse the arch for future events.
Screw the four base feet to the bottom of each leg with 2-1/2" screws, crossing them perpendicular to the legs for a stable, self-supporting stance.
Stand the arch on real ground before the event — a lawn is never as flat as a garage floor — and plan on tent anchors or sandbags at the feet if the venue is windy.
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