DIY Outdoor Dining Table Plan

Directions

• Choose your lumber

  Choose your lumber. Some lumber is better outdoors than other lumber. Redwood and Cedar are more weather resistant than most other species of lumber. If the table will be outdoors, I suggest using Redwood boards. You will also want to make sure you are using hardware that is meant to withstand outdoor conditions. I recommend using Kreg Blue Kote screws.
  

• Cut legs

  Cut four 4x4 posts for the table legs. The legs will be 28 ½”, mitered at a 10 degree angle on both ends.
  

• Create both leg assemblies

  You will be making TWO leg assemblies for the table, so make sure you double this step.
  For each leg, cut one 39” 2x4.
  For each leg, cut one 31” 2x4, mitered at 10 degrees on both sides. (Measurement is taken on the long side. See plans). Drill pocket holes in both ends of the 31” board.
  Using wood glue and 2 ½” outdoor pocket hole screws, attach the 31” board to the 4x4 legs. This board will be 5 inches from the bottoms of the legs.
  Using wood glue and 2 ½” outdoor wood screws, attach the 39” 2x4 on the top of the 4x4 legs, leaving a 4 ½” overhang on each side.
  

• Cut stretchers

  Cut a 94” 2x4. Drill pocket holes in each end.
  Cut a 96” 2x4. Drill pocket holes in each end.
  Using wood glue and 2 ½” outdoor pocket hole screws, attach the 96” bottom stretcher board to the center of the 31” mitered leg support we just attached..
  Using wood glue and 2 ½” outdoor pocket hole screws, attach the 94” top stretcher board to the center of the top leg support 2x4. The pocket holes will be on the underside of the board.
  

• Add supports

  Cut two 28 ¼” 2x4’s, mitered at 45 degrees on both sides. Drill pocket holes in each end of both boards.
  Using wood glue and 2 ½” outdoor pocket hole screws, attach the angled boards between the long 2x4’s we just attached.
  The diagonal supports will be 12” from each edge of the bottom 2x4.
  

• Build table top

  Our table base is built, so now we will begin building the table top.
  Cut twelve 47 ½” 2x6’s. Drill pocket holes in each end.
  Cut one 34 ½” 2x6.
  Using wood glue and 2 ½” outdoor pocket hole screws, attach the 47 ½” planks to both sides of the 34 ½” board.
  Start on each side, and work your way inward, leaving ¼” gaps between the boards for drainage.(hint: use carpenter’s pencils for your spaces between boards. They are exactly ¼” thick.)
  

• Create table top frame

  Cut two 111 ½” 2x6’s. Both ends of each board will be mitered at 45 degrees. Drill pocket holes along one side of each board.
  Cut two 45 ¼” 2x6’s. Both ends of each board will be mitered at 45 degrees. Drill pocket holes in both ends of each board.
  Using wood glue and 2 ½” outdoor pocket hole screws, attach these boards to create a frame around the table top planks.
  

• Attach table top to base

  Place the table top on the base. Make sure you are centered and square.
  Using wood glue and 2 ½” outdoor wood screws, attach the table top to the table base from the underside.
  Predrill to avoid splitting, and screw through the 2x4’s into the table top.
  Make sure to check the length of your screws so your screws don’t go all the way through your table top and poke out the top.
  

• Plug pocket holes, sand and finish table

  Plug your pocket holes. Sand your table and finish with paint or stain and polyurethane. If your table will be outdoors, make sure you use outdoor finishing products. You can see which products I used on my website, www.TheCreativeMom.com/build-outdoor-dining-table and see video of the entire build on my instagram page www.Instagram.com/thecreativemom