Clean lines, solid build, and standout style—this DIY outdoor table and bench set is made to impress and built to last. With a durable cedar top and sturdy, deck-inspired framing using 2x lumber and chunky 4x4 legs, it delivers a modern, high-end look without the high-end cost.
And the best part? The plans are completely free—perfect for DIYers of all skill levels.
Whether you're hosting backyard dinners or just enjoying a quiet morning coffee, this set brings bold, modern style to your outdoor space.
- Free step-by-step woodworking plans
- Includes shopping list, cut list, and detailed diagrams
- Real build photos to guide your project
- Cedar topped for added durability with clean, slatted design
- Strong 2x framing and 4x4 legs for long-lasting support
- Costs about $200 total to build (table + two benches, including fasteners and finish)
This is outdoor furniture that’s made to be used, admired—and proudly built by you.
The image above is a digital rendering, created to scale based on my actual woodworking plans. This is not an AI-generated image. This saves on photography and staging costs, helping us keep plans free. Scroll down to see real build photos from the completed project.
This Free Plan Sponsored by Kreg Tool Company
Big thanks to Kreg Tool Company for sponsoring this outdoor dining set build! I used the Kreg 520PRO Pocket Hole Jig to create strong joints, their Versa Grip clamps to hold everything in place, and the cutting guide system for making clean, straight cuts. I also used Kreg screws for a professional, durable hold.
These tools made the process faster, easier, and way more enjoyable. Highly recommend for any DIY builder!
Why I Built this Project
We have a big family and need a big table for outdoor dining! Outdoor dining sets can be expensive, and we are limited on design choices up here in Alaska. I was able to build this entire set for about $200 (including screws and stain).
We have been using this table for outdoor parties and it holds up well and looks so much better than a plastic table or a picnic table! I'm excited about the cedar top, expecting to get many years of use out of this set!
8 Seat Square Version with Free Plans!
You may recognize this design - our website manager Jennifer built a square version a couple years ago, and it turned out amazing. She did a two-tone finish and screwed the top boards on. Here are the plans with video and lots of photos of the build and final product.
How I Built this Project
This project is built using basic methods, with just a few tools! I built both the table and the bench. Here's some photos of the bench being built.
Essential to building with 4x4 posts is a Kreg Jig - it's very difficult to join to a 4x4 post with out pocket holes. The Kreg Jig I recommend is the Kreg 720. The auto-adjusting feature makes going between 2x and 1x materials quick and accurate, and drilling pocket holes is fast and easy.
In the plans, you'll drill two pocket holes on ends of all the aprons boards to tie into the 4x4 legs.
You can see how this would be very difficult to do with screws from the outside - trying to screw accurately all the way through the 4x4 post would take precision and leave a big old hole on the outside of the post.
I always clamp, and love the new Kreg VersaGrip Clamps.
When building the leg sets, on the sides, you can make it work with the standard Kreg driving bit, but using the shorter bit really helped (or a right angle drill if you have one!)
Can you see the double aprons on this leg set? I wanted this bench to be super strong, so doubling up doubles the pocket holes, increasing the overall strength of the joint!
Once the end legs are done, then just add the two side aprons in the same way.
I added extra blocking at the corners here too, to strengthen the joint to the leg.
Here's the bench with the aprons attached. I did end up adding some extra bracing, thinking with the length the extra support could be a good idea.
The frame of the table is made out of red-toned 2x lumber. I have spent many years testing different lumber for outdoor projects, and have found that the red-toned lumber is the most durable, even more durable than cedar, for exterior projects. It does not expand and contract as much as softer woods. Another option is treated wood, but it is more expensive and treated with harsh chemicals.
But for the flat pieces, like tabletops and benches, you really want a cedar or other naturally weather resistant wood, as water will sit on top. Standard cedar boards for decking can be expensive. I have been using cedar fence pickets (when properly supported like done in this plan) with great success for many years.
But you DO have to send them, and I recommend sanding before cutting.
Here's what a sanded cedar fence picket looks like vs a non-sanded. This is much easier to do before cutting.
Next up was cutting the cedar fence pickets for the top -
To keep the cuts consistent and make cuts quickly, I used my Kreg Precision Trek and Stop Kit - I have been using this system for many years and it saves me so much time!
Here's the entire set with the cedar fence pickets on top. With it's natural weathering superpowers, the cedar on top should be more durable than softwoods or whitewoods, and a tiny fraction of the cost of hardwoods.
And then after spraying, this is how it turned out!
Watch! Build Video for This Project
Free Plans to Build Your Own Outdoor Table Set with Cedar Fence Picket Tops
Ready to build this yourself? Here's the free plans, enjoy!
Pin For Later!
Preparation
Shopping List for Outdoor Table
- 1 - 4x4 @ 10 feet long (Douglas fir red toned or treated for outdoor use)
- 4 - 2x4 @ 8 feet long (red toned or treated for outdoor use)
- 7 - 5-1/2" wide cedar fence pickets, not dogeared, 72" long
- 32 - 2-1/2" long Kreg Pocket Hole Screws, blue coated
- 40 - 2-1/2" long self tapping exterior screws (for attaching blocking to corners)
- 84 - 1-1/4" long exterior screws for cedar (for attaching tabletop boards) or galvanized nails
Shopping List for ONE Outdoor Bench
- 1 - 4x4 @ 6 feet long (Douglas fir red toned or treated for outdoor use)
- 2 - 2x4 @ 8 feet long (red toned or treated for outdoor use)
- 3 - 5-1/2" wide cedar fence pickets, not dogeared, 72" long
- 24 - 2-1/2" long Kreg Pocket Hole Screws, blue coated
- 8 - 2-1/2" long self tapping exterior screws (for attaching blocking to corners)
- 24 - 1-1/4" long exterior screws for cedar (for attaching seat tops boards) or galvanized nails
Shopping List for TWO Outdoor Bench
- 1 - 4x4 @ 12 feet long (Douglas fir red toned or treated for outdoor use)
- 4 - 2x4 @ 8 feet long (red toned or treated for outdoor use)
- 6 - 5-1/2" wide cedar fence pickets, not dogeared, 72" long
- 50 - 2-1/2" long Kreg Pocket Hole Screws, blue coated
- 16 - 2-1/2" long self tapping exterior screws (for attaching blocking to corners)
- 50 - 1-1/4" long exterior screws for cedar (for attaching seat tops boards) or galvanized nails
- Exterior finish recommendation - 1 gallon of solid color or semi-transparent penetrating stain suitable for exterior fences
- Choose fine finished cedar fence pickets and sand with medium grit sandpaper before assembling
Cut List for Table
- 4 - 4x4 @ 29-1/4" - table legs
- 2 - 2x4 @ 28" - table end aprons, 1-1/2" pocket holes drilled on each end
- 2 - 2x4 @ 73-1/4"" - table side aprons, 1-1/2" pocket holes drilled on each end
- 1 - 2x4 @ 77-1/4" - table center support, 1-1/2" pocket holes drilled on each end
- 8 - 2x4 @ 5" one end cut at 45 degree bevel, long point measurement - corner blocking - 1-1/2" pocket holes drilled on straight end
- 4 - 2x4 @ 12-7/8" both ends cut at 45 degree bevel, long point to long point measurement - corner brace
- 14 - 5-1/2" wide fence pickets @ 35"
Cut List for 1 Bench
- 4 - 4x4 @ 17-1/4" - bench legs
- 2 - 2x4 @ 10" - bench end aprons, 1-1/2" pocket holes drilled on each end
- 2 - 2x4 @ 14" - bench seat supports, 1-1/2" pocket holes drilled on each end
- 2 - 2x4 @ 61-3/4" - bench side aprons, 1-1/2" pocket holes drilled on each end
- 4 - 2x4 @ 5" - corner blocking, 1-1/2" pocket holes drilled on one end
- 12 - 5-1/2" wide fence pickets @ 17"
Cut List for 2 Benches
- 8 - 4x4 @ 17-1/4" - bench legs
- 4 - 2x4 @ 10" - bench end aprons, 1-1/2" pocket holes drilled on each end
- 4 - 2x4 @ 14" - bench seat supports, 1-1/2" pocket holes drilled on each end
- 4 - 2x4 @ 61-3/4" - bench side aprons, 1-1/2" pocket holes drilled on each end
- 8 - 2x4 @ 5" - corner blocking, 1-1/2" pocket holes drilled on one end
- 24 - 5-1/2" wide fence pickets @ 17"
Trim ends to make sure square
Cut with a miter saw for straight cuts
Set your Kreg Jig to the 1-1/2" setting for all pocket holes in this plan.
Instructions
Step 1
Drill two pocket holes on each end of the end aprons.
Attach to the 4x4 posts, so the back edges are flush.
Build two of each.
Step 2
For the bench, the sides can be optionally reinforced by adding a second apron inside the first, attaching with both pocket hole screws and self tapping screws. This puts more pocket hole screws into the legs, strengthening the joint.
This blocking is not in the cut list.
Step 3
Connect two leg sets together with side aprons using 1-1/2" pocket hole screws. For the table, add the center support.
Step 4
Cut the blocking and drill pocket holes on one end
For the table, the blocking can be cut at a 45 degree angles to add additional corner bracing (next step). I recommend this to keep the table square and added longevity for the table.
Screw the blocking to the aprons with 2-1/2" self tapping screws, and then attach with the pocket hole screws to the leg posts. This helps by creating four pocket hole screws into each leg.
Step 5
For the table, cut the corner bracing and add to the blocking, also attaching to the aprons. Adjust the table frame for square before attaching the tabletop blocking.
Step 6
Add the two bench bracing pieces as shown, this helps strengthen up the bench, since the bench could support multiple people.
Step 7
Adjust the frames for square and make sure the table is sitting on a flat level surface.
Layout the fence picket boards, so ends are flush and gaps are even.
Attach with the shorter screws suitable for fencing.
NOTE: We are testing using galvanized 15 gauge nails to attach the tabletop boards. This would be a cheaper and more refined method, but I want to make sure it will hold up before I recommend this method. I will update this post next year on the results of using nails to attach the cedar fence pickets to the top.
What I used was Benjamin Moore exterior penetrating stain in solid color "Wrought Iron" sprayed on with a handheld power sprayer.
