Do you want a farmhouse table, but don't want to spend thousands of dollars? Have you thought about building your own? Thousands of people have with minimal tools and woodworking experience using these very plans!

Preparation
- 8 – 2x4 8 feet long
- 6 – 2x2s 8 feet long
- 1 - 2×8 8 feet long
- 7 – 2x6s 8 feet long
- 2 3/4″ Self Tapping Wood Screws (About 100) (try spax brand or similar)
- 4″ Self tapping wood Screws (About 20)
A) 4 - 2×4 @ 28 1/2″ (Outside Legs)
B) 4 – 2×4 @ 28 1/2″ (Inside Legs)
C) 2 -2×4 @ 34 1/2″ (Bottom End Supports for the Stretcher)
D) 1 – 2×4 @ 81″ (Stretcher)
E) 2 – 2×4 @ 81″ (Side Aprons)
F) 2 – 2×4 @ 28 1/2″ (End Aprons)
G) 2 – 2×2 @ 28 1/2″ (Overhang Supports, Ends)
H) 2 – 2×2 @ 78″ (Overhang Supports, Sides)
I) 10 – 2×2 @ 28 1/2″ (Under Tabletop Supports)
J) 2 – 2×8 @ 38 1/2″ (Breadboard Ends)
K) 7 – 2×6 @ 81″ (Tabletop Pieces)
Start by cutting all your boards. The best way to cut is with a compound miter saw. You can also use a circular saw with a guide - good square cuts are very important.
Always use glue. Use the longest possible screws, and predrill with a countersink bit to hide the screw heads.
Instructions
Step 1
Step 2
Step 4
Step 6
Screw the support, C, into the legs, as shown above. Make sure you use 2 screws on the inside leg and 2 screws on the outside legs per side of the end supports. NOTE: If you would like the support to be on the outside, rotate the legs, keeping the inside legs on the inside, and add 4″ to your stretcher, D. This will reduce your leg room for end chairs, but the notch out will be more visible, like my table and the Restoration Hardware table.
Step 8
Step 9
Fit the apron frame into the base of the table as shown above. Use the long screws to screw at an angle through the apron into the legs. Use 3 screws per leg on all legs. Lots of glue here. Now is a good time to check your table for square. Visit the HOW-TO section if you do not know how to check for square.
Step 10
Step 11
Step 13
Step 14
Step 15
Step 16
Add the next tabletop boards, K, as shown below. As you screw each board down, take special care to line up the edges with the existing boards. You do not want a gap between the boards on the tabletop. Remember to screw through the top on the ends and then screw through the bottom of the under supports to the underside of the tabletop boards.
After all the boards are screwed in place, then use the long screws to screw through the tabletop boards into the breadboard ends, as shown above.
Sand the entire table with 120 grit sandpaper, working in the direction of the wood grain.
Refill holes with wood filler if needed.
Sand table with 180 grit sandpaper.
Stain or paint. If the table feels rough between coats, lightly sand with 180 grit sandpaper.
A final coat of poly on the top can help keep the top easy to finish and wipe cleanable.
Comments
Kelly (not verified)
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 15:39
Just finished building this
Just finished building this and I LOVE IT!!! Never built anything before, but I'm quite in love with the feeling of a saw in my hand! This thing is HUGE for our big family of 7 and I have my grandmother's old dining chairs that will be added with a bench (our next build) and we'll have plenty of seating. About to head to the garage to apply my stain in Cabot's Peppermill and Tannery semi-transparent... Can't wait to see it. I have pics and will post them to my blog soon!!!!
KGJ (not verified)
Sun, 10/14/2012 - 17:23
Farmhouse Table
What kind of wood did you use? Was it pine or something else?
Cottage Panach… (not verified)
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 10:45
Wow Ana ~ right now I am
Wow Ana ~ right now I am doing the ~ I AM NOT WORTHY bow to you! I googled "plans for a farm table" and found your blog ~
You Rock
Maureen
SarahLynne (not verified)
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 17:02
We are hoping to do this
We are hoping to do this table soon. I was wondering if it would look strange to do the top in Oak and the rest in pine? Would that be totally noticeable and not cool?
Clarke (not verified)
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 04:52
You have very good blog with
You have very good blog with images and details. Please keep on posting the more stuff.
Priscilla (not verified)
Tue, 04/20/2010 - 04:31
I've been reading all your
I've been reading all your entries and can't get enough of them! Its making me feel so ambitious - I can't wait for the weekend to start! We just finished building a deck by ourselves, and if I can do that, I'm sure I can make my own patio set! =P Thanks for all your plans and inspiration!
Avi (not verified)
Wed, 04/21/2010 - 08:27
Hi Ana,I am very interested
Hi Ana,
I am very interested in make this table. I would love to make it a bit wider from 38.5" as in the plans to 47.5". I would do that by adding another 2x6 and an additional 2x4 down the middle. I am having a little trouble figuring out the rest of the dimensions for the table bottom ie the end support for the stretcher and end apron.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Avi
Christy (not verified)
Tue, 04/27/2010 - 07:22
I too would love to make this
I too would love to make this table a little wider and possibly shorter. Ana, could you tell us how to modify the plans??? This is on my "to-do" list with many other projects to finish up our remodel but first I plan on making some nightstands and a bench from some of your plans! Thanks Ana for showing me that I don't have to spend tons of money for great furniture!
Avi (not verified)
Wed, 04/28/2010 - 09:09
Ok, I am not professing to be
Ok,
I am not professing to be that great at math but I think I figured out how to make the table 47.5” up from the 38.5” posted. Please feel free to double check my math…I plan on starting this project over the weekend.
Here is my shopping list and cut list:
Shopping List
8 (2x4)
9 (2x2)
1 (2x8)
7 (2x6)
Cut List
A) 4 - 2x4 @28.5" (Outside Legs)
B) 4 - 2x4 @28.5" (Inside Legs)
C) 2 - 2x4 @ 43.5" (Bottom End Support) =(-4" off width of the table which is 47.5")
D) 1 - 2x4 @81" (Stretcher)
E) 2 - 2x4 @81" (Side Aprons)
F) 2 - 2x2 @37.5" (End Aprons) =(-6" off bottom end support from leg to leg which is 43.5")
G) 2 - 2x2 @37.5" (Overhang Support Ends) =(End Apron dimension which is 37.5")
H) 2 - 2x2 @78" (Overhang Support Sides)
I) 10 - 2x2 @47.5" (Under-table Top Supports)
J) 2 - 2x8 @47.5" (Breadboard Ends)
K) 8 - 2x6 @81"
1 - 2x4 @81" (Table Top Pieces) (the 2x4 goes down the middle)
Thanks,
Avi
Kelli99 (not verified)
Thu, 06/14/2012 - 11:54
How did it go?
Would love to hear how your project worked out. Were your dimensions correct?