An outdoor dining table is essential for outdoor relaxation, entertaining, and making the most of your patio, lawn, or garden. Making your own DIY outdoor dining table is a great way to save money, have fun, and customize your outdoor living space.
Outdoor DIY dining table projects can be challenging, requiring more woodworking skills and tools or simple projects that come together in an afternoon. Here are three great DIY outdoor dining table projects for every skill level.
DIY Outdoor Dining Table Projects
DIY Outdoor Farmhouse Dining Table
A farmhouse dining table is a near-perfect DIY outdoor furniture project. Farmhouse tables are built to be rugged, so they can last for decades of use indoors or outdoors. Even better, farmhouse style is rustic because farmers used to build these tables themselves, using only simple woodworking tools.
For people who are new to making their own furniture or using reclaimed wood, a farmhouse style is forgiving and attractive.
To make this DIY outdoor farmhouse dining table, you will need:
- 3-2x12s @ 61”
- 2-2x6s @ 34”
- 4-4x4s @ 28.5”
- 2-4x4s @ 26”
- 1-2×4 @ 56.5”
- 2-2x4s @ 18.75”
- 2-2x4s @ 49”
- Right angle brackets
- Outdoor wood stain
- Outdoor wood wax (optional)
- You will also need a cordless drill/driver, an orbital sander, a circular saw to make the half-lap joints, a pocket hole jig, and basic woodworking supplies
To build a DIY outdoor farmhouse dining table, follow these steps:
Assemble the Side Panels
- Using a pocket hole jig, drill two holes into each side of the 18.75” short apron pieces.
- Attach the short aprons to the 26” legs, with the apron flush with the back of the leg, creating a slight inset on the face. The pocket holes will be on the inside.
- Use the circular saw to create 1 1/2” relief cuts for the half-lap joints that will connect the legs to the short 26” side stretchers. Use a sharp chisel to chip away the waste between the relief cuts, creating notches in the legs and the side stretchers.
- Create the center notch in the side stretchers that will receive the long stretcher.
- Secure the side stretchers to the legs with glue and a pocket screw in the half-lap joints.
Assemble the Table Base
- Drill two pocket holes on each end of the 49” long apron boards.
- Attach the long apron boards to the side leg assemblies, with the pocket holes on the inside. Attach them flush with the back of the legs to create an inset on the front face.
- Cut the half-lap joints into both ends of the 56.5” long stretcher, and attach it to the side stretchers with glue and screws.
Build the Tabletop
- Use pocket holes and screws to assemble the three 61” longboards for the tabletop, with glue to reinforce the joint. Use clamps to keep the tabletop flat as it dries.
- Use more pocket holes, screws, and glue to attach the 34” breadboards to either side of the tabletop. Use clamps to keep the breadboards flat and flush to the table surface as they dry.
Final Assembly And Finishing
- Use right-angle brackets to attach the tabletop to the table base.
- Sand the table smooth.
- Finish with an outdoor wood stain. Using a dark color emphasizes the grain and imperfections, making the table look old.
- In wet or humid climates, you can apply a layer of wax for additional shine and protection.
DIY Outdoor Picnic Dining Table
A picnic table is a classic in outdoor dining. The traditional picnic table has integrated benches, so it combines dining and seating in one simple project. Picnic tables are also incredibly family-friendly, able to tolerate some rough treatment from kids, pets, weather, and life’s little messes.
Making your own DIY outdoor picnic dining table is a simple project, great for beginners and a spring weekend.
To make a DIY outdoor picnic dining table, you will need:
- 2×8 boards
- 2×4 boards
- 2×6 boards
- Carriage bolts
- Galvanized deck screws, nuts, lock washers, etc.
- You will also need a miter saw to make the miter cuts, a cordless drill/driver, and other basic woodworking tools and equipment
To make a DIY outdoor picnic dining table, follow these steps:
Make the Table Top
- Lay out four 2x8s cut to your table length.
- Choose the “best” side and face it downward, with the “best” edges on the outside
- Add spacers between the boards to allow water to drain from the tabletop and clamp them together.
- Use 2x4s to make the table support pieces. Make two end support pieces with 60° beveled ends angled toward each other. The long side of both end support pieces should be 28”, and the center support piece can be 28” with no angles.
- Use 4” long deck screws to attach the side supports to the underside of the tabletop. The side supports should be placed 7” from the end of the table, with the 2×4 standing up on its long end.
- The center support is placed across the center of the tabletop’s underside, secured with 2.5” deck screws.
Make and Attach the Legs
- Cut 60° mitered angles the ends of the 2×6 boards, with the angles parallel to each other, to make 40” long legs.
- Attach the legs to the outside of the side support pieces on the tabletop, with the mitered angle flush with the tabletop and the tips of both legs meeting in the center.
- Use carriage bolts to attach the legs to the tabletop support pieces.
Make and Attach the Bench Support Pieces
- Use a framing square to measure 14” from the tabletop to the legs, and mark where the supports will be attached.
- Cut 2x4s to 60” long and attach them to the inside of the legs, using more carriage bolts.
- Cut 60° angles to the end of two 2x4s. Measure and cut each to fit as a side brace, with the angled end attached to the center of the bench support piece and the other end notched to fit against the center tabletop support piece.
- Make a brace for each side of the table, and fasten it in place with deck screws.
Attach the Benches for Seating
- Move the table into place in your yard or garden, and set it right side up.
- Cut four 2×6 boards to 68”. Add a short 2×4 support piece to the underside of the center of each of the benches, with a spacer between the longboards to match the tabletop.
- Attach the benches to the bench support pieces.
Finish the Table
- Sand your DIY picnic table smooth. It’s also a good idea to use a router to soften the edges and provide more comfortable seating.
- You may also stain and finish the table if you choose.
DIY Outdoor Dining Table from Wood Pallets
If you have spare wood pallets and 2x4s and want an outdoor dining table that is fast and easy to assemble, this is the perfect project for you. It’s an excellent opportunity to show off your personal style since the wood can be finished, painted, or stained any way you like, and you don’t need many tools or equipment to bring this table together.
To make a DIY outdoor dining table from wood pallets, you will need:
- 2×4 boards
- 2 (or more) wood pallets
- Corner braces
- A cordless drill driver
- An orbital sander
- A saw (or have your boards cut to fit) and other basic woodworking tools and equipment
To make a DIY outdoor dining table from wood pallets, follow these steps:
- Sand the pallets to make them smooth
- Paint or stain your wood and your pallets before you assemble them
Assemble the Leg/Support Pieces
The wood pallets will serve as your tabletop, so your dining table can be as long as the number of pallets you have, or cut your pallets to the desired length.
The length of your table will determine how many leg/support pieces you make—plan on making one support piece for approximately every 40” of table length.
Each support piece is made of 2x4s with:
- 2 legs at 28”
- 1 upper stretcher at 40”
- 1 lower stretcher at 36”
To Build the Table
- Use corner braces to attach the legs to the bottom of the upper stretcher at each end.
- Use corner braces to attach the lower stretcher between the legs, about 5” from the ground.
- Use corner braces to attach the leg assemblies to the bottom of the wood pallets.
Conclusion
These DIY outdoor dining table projects give you so many more outdoor seating options, dining, and entertaining, so pick your favorite and make your own outdoor dining table today.