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2x4 Outdoor Sofa

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Submitted by Ana White on Sat, 03/16/2019 - 13:11
Difficulty
Beginner
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Build your own outdoor sofa with just 11 2x4s.  Ana White plans include step by step diagrams and shopping and cut list.

We also have a plans to convert this sofa to an outdoor sectional, a matching outdoor coffee table plan, and outdoor wood finishing secrets.

outdoor sofa sectional made from 2x4s with blue cushions
outdoor sofa stained chocolate brown with white cushions and matching coffee table

Build your own outdoor sofa!  You'll just need some 2x4s and screws!  

Turn your outdoor sofa into a sectional with these plans:

We also share our outdoor wood finishing secrets in this post.

Dimensions
dimensions diagram for outdoor sofa
Dimensions shown above. Recommend: Build to suit cushions

Preparation

Shopping List

11 - 2x4x10’ (prefer cedar boards)

150 - 2-1/2” to 3" long, self-tapping exterior decking screws  (#8, #9 or #10 will all work) 

Cut List

RECOMMEND: Build to suit cushions.  

9 - 2x4 @ 72”  (or cushion width x times 3)

13 - 2x4 @ 25-1/2” (or cushion depth plus 1-1/2")

2 - 2x4 @ 28-1/2” (or cushion depth plus 4-1/2")

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Drill
Miter Saw

Instructions

Step 1

Cut the seat framing boards with compound miter saw or similar.

Screw together with self tapping screws.

Step 2

Now for the arms.

Cut the boards.

Attach longer 2x4 to two of the shorter 2x4s with screws.

Step 3

Screw together with screws.

Step 4

Screw together with screws, also attach to board from step 3.

Step 5

Step 6

Attach seat boards to top of seat frame with 2-3/4" screws.

Step 7

Screw back piece at an angle into the arms with 2-3/4" screws.  You can also use pocket holes.

Step 8

Some builders add a middle row to the back/sides to help keep cushions in line.

Help Improve This Plan

We apologize if there was an error in this plan. Please help us out and report any errors here.

Project Type
Sofa
Outdoor Seating and Lounging
Room
Outdoor
Style
Coastal or Beachy Style Furniture
Farmhouse Furniture
Rustic Furniture Plans

Comments

RASMALICE

Fri, 05/24/2019 - 08:11

Hi! I previously made two of these sofas into a sectional (amazing, easy, everyone loves them) and I'm planning on adding a third this weekend to make a u shape sectional.  My question is: Do you have a cut list for the 11 2x4's?  I used more than 11 each time. and I also had alot of waste...

Steph84

Mon, 08/05/2019 - 00:58

Hey Anna just a quick one , how many 2x4s do I need to build both the two arm and one arm pieces????

emiliemag

Fri, 07/12/2019 - 21:03

Cut your 9 2x4x10 at 72” first, then use scraps for 25 1/2

use the 10th 2x4x10 to cut the 4 other 25 1/2

the last 2x4 could be only 6” as you will cut your 2 last at 28 1/2

That’s 10 - 2x4x10 and 1 - 2x4x6 with 11 scraps (9x 22.5 - 1x19 - 1x15)

it is plenty! 

 

nickus

Sun, 06/23/2019 - 12:09

Your cut list is deceiving. If I’m building to suit specific cushions I don’t need 13 pieces that length. 4 of them still need to be the length of the height of the arms. Kind of a pain in the ass when you’ve pre stained/sealed based on the cut list and then end up with pieces that won’t work.

carpenter_eagle

Sun, 08/25/2019 - 07:03

Thank you for this build. I just built the couch last night. My only question is this:

Step 5 doesn't have any instructions. It's kind of self explanatory as to how to connect the arms in Step 4 to the seat base of the couch, but what isn't clear is how many screws to use?  I only attached the arms to the seat with 3, #10, 2 1/2" wood screws. So that's 3 wood screws on each arm holding up a lot of weight when you take into account the weight of the top of the couch and anyone sitting on the couch.Is this enough to hold the weight?.... or should I find a place to bolt the arms to the seat.

That particular piece of wood in Step 4 already has a ton of screws in it. It has pocket screws in each end and pockets screws in the side to attach it to the board in Step 3, and then it has 3 wood screws attaching it to the seat base. 

Any help?

phil1964

Fri, 09/27/2019 - 09:26

First, I would not use pocket holes for this project. Second, when you are attaching the seat to the arm/leg assembly trying driving two screws at an angle into the legs. This will give you a lot more holding strength. 

carpenter_eagle

Sun, 08/25/2019 - 07:04

Thank you for this build. I just built the couch last night. My only question is this:

Step 5 doesn't have any instructions. It's kind of self explanatory as to how to connect the arms in Step 4 to the seat base of the couch, but what isn't clear is how many screws to use?  I only attached the arms to the seat with 3, #10, 2 1/2" wood screws. So that's 3 wood screws on each arm holding up a lot of weight when you take into account the weight of the top of the couch and anyone sitting on the couch.Is this enough to hold the weight?.... or should I find a place to bolt the arms to the seat. 

That particular piece of wood in Step 4 already has a ton of screws in it. It has pocket screws in each end and pockets screws in the side to attach it to the board in Step 3, and then it has 3 wood screws attaching it to the seat base. 

Any help?

oc man

Wed, 09/04/2019 - 18:36

Hi 

 

That's exactly I was thinking about as there is not much info provided for step 5. Even if we are using pocket holes, that is a lot of weight for 2x4s to lift (considering if 3 people are actually sitting on this sofa) 

Hope to get some assistance on this topic