A garden bench is one of the most universally useful outdoor woodworking projects. It works in any garden, lasts decades when built from the right material, and costs a fraction of what you would pay at a garden centre. Here are plans for the classic design.
Basic Backless Bench (Fastest Build)
Two end frames + two long seat boards = a bench in 90 minutes. Each end frame is two legs joined by an H-brace. The seat boards span between them.
Cut List
- Legs: 4x 2x4x17″ (standard bench height)
- H-brace: 2x 2x4x13″
- Seat boards: 2x 2x6x60″
- Stretcher (optional): 1x 2x4x56″ (connects the two frames underneath)
Adding a Back
To add a back, extend the rear legs to 36″ and add two horizontal back rails (top and middle). Attach vertical back slats at 1″ spacing. The angled back (10–15° from vertical) makes it significantly more comfortable for long sitting.
