Whether you are thinking of taking up woodworking or an expert, the picnic table is a great project! In fact, it may be the perfect project. You can make it as simple or as complex as you like, and it will provide years of enjoyment. It is very forgiving and as long as seats and tabletop are level and sturdy, you’ll have a great time breaking bread with family and friends.
Find Plans
It is nice when you have a complete plan for what you are doing. You don’t have to worry about creating a materials list. The plan will tell you exactly what you need. You don’t have to worry about creating the cut list. All measurements are right there for you to use.
There are all sorts of plans available for purchase or free. All you need to do is search for them online. And they range from simple and traditional to complex. One of the interesting ones I’ve seen is a bench with a backrest that folds over to make a tabletop.
A set of plans removes doubts and adds confidence that everything will come together the way you expect it. Very important for someone new to woodworking. You can focus on using your tools properly and bringing the table to life.
Design Your Own Picnic Table
This is where you can unleash your creativity. You can put your own style into what you are building. You can also practice some joinery techniques that you have been wanting to try. A scissor leg style is time tested. A trestle style will give your skills a little more of a workout. This is the style I went with, but your choices are unlimited (even within that style).
Some people add built-in coolers to the tabletop. Others do elaborate inlay or breadboard ends. Your imagination is the limit. Look online at other people’s designs and see what kind of creative stuff you can add to your table.
Picnic Table Dimensions
When selecting the dimensions of a picnic table, there are a few rules of thumb to keep in mind.
Generally, the height of the table should be between 28” and 32” tall. I’d aim for 30”. That puts the tabletop at a comfortable height.
Benches between 16” and 18” tall. My preference is to build at least 17”. If the bench is too short, it feels like you are reaching up to eat from the table. It is a little awkward. Remarkable how just an inch or two can make such a huge difference in comfort.
My Suggestion! If you are building free standing benches as opposed to attached benches, build one and test out how it feels when you sit at the table. If it feels good, make the second one exactly the same. Should it feel a little high or low, make a slight adjustment to the height on the second bench.
The number of people you want to seat will determine the length. If you are looking to seat six people at the table, you should aim to make it 72” long and around 30” wide. Six people, six feet. If you want to share a meal with 8 people, make the tabletop 96” long.
Get Building
You now know where to find plans and/or design inspiration! Use your favorite search engine! Decide what you want to build and get out in your shop! I promise you will love sitting with your people, sharing a meal and creating memories. And you can take some pride in a job well done!
If you would like to see the YouTube video of my build, click here.
