The Adirondack chair is the most recognisable outdoor furniture design ever created. Surprisingly simple to build with basic tools, surprisingly comfortable, and surprisingly durable when built from the right wood. Here are the plans.
Materials
Use cedar, redwood, or pressure-treated pine. One 8ft 2×6, three 8ft 1x4s, and one 8ft 1×6 is enough for one chair.
Cut List Summary
- Back legs: 2x 1x4x35″ (angled at the base)
- Front legs: 2x 1x4x21″
- Seat slats: 5x 1x4x21″
- Back slats: 5x 1x4x42″
- Arms: 2x 1x6x27″ (curved with a jigsaw)
- Front apron: 1x 1x6x21″
The Angle That Makes It Comfortable
The signature recline of an Adirondack comes from the back legs angle (approximately 22°) and the seat pitch (about 5° toward the back). Get these angles right and the comfort follows automatically — no special ergonomic knowledge required.
