Kids picnic table, 4 ft
Every board for this picnic table counted, cut and priced before you drive to the lumberyard. The whole plan is on this page. The full plan set to take to the yard is $19.
- Length
- 4' 0"
- Seats
- 4 people
- Top height
- 21"
- Leg angle
- 27.1°
- Materials
- $189
The list you take to the lumberyard
Every board, sheet and box of nails, packed into the stock lengths the store sells, so nothing is a guess at the counter.
- Lumber
- $91
- Hardware and finish
- $98
- 112x6 x 8 ft$82.28
- 22x4 x 8 ft$8.70
- 12Carriage bolts 3/8" x 4" with nuts (each)$17.76
- 1Exterior construction screws 3" (5 lb box)$39.98
- 1Exterior paint or stain (1 gal)$39.98
Typical Home Depot and Lowe's shelf prices, October 2026. Your store will differ by a few percent.
Cut list
Every piece, how many, and how long. Tape it to the saw.
| Qty | Board | Cut to | Part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2x6 | 4' 0" | Top board1/4 in gaps |
| Qty | Board | Cut to | Part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2x6 | 4' 0" | Seat supporton edge, ends cut at 45° |
| 2 | 2x4 | 2' 3-1/2" | Top cleaton edge under the top, ends cut at 45° |
| 4 | 2x6 | 2' 3/4" | Legboth ends cut parallel at 27.1° |
| 2 | 2x4 | 1' 7-1/2" | Diagonal bracecenter top cleat to seat support, ends cut to fit |
| Qty | Board | Cut to | Part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2x6 | 4' 0" | Seat boardtwo per side, 1/4 in gap |
Which piece comes from which board
13 boards, laid out so the offcuts stay small.
Build it in this order
- 01
Cut the legs
Cut four 2x6 legs 2' 3/4" long, both ends parallel at 27.1°.
- 02
Make the two leg frames
Lay two legs in an A on the floor, the top cleat across the top and the seat support across at 10-1/2" from the ground. Square, clamp, drill and bolt with 3/8 in carriage bolts.
- 03
Attach the top
Stand the frames 2' 6" apart and screw the five top boards down with 1/4 in gaps.
- 04
Attach the seats
Screw two seat boards to each end of the seat supports, overhanging the frames equally.
- 05
Brace it
Cut the two diagonal braces to fit from the center top cleat down to each seat support and screw them in. This stops the table racking.
- 06
Finish
Round the edges with sandpaper and stain it. Pressure-treated lumber works too but must dry before finishing.
- Every drawing at full page size, dimensions on every member
- The cut list on one page, grouped the way you build
- The cutting diagram for every board
- The materials list ready to hand to the lumberyard or load into a store cart
- The build steps with a check at the end of each
- Your exact size, not the nearest one we had
Before you cut
What lumber is best for a picnic table?
Pressure-treated pine is the classic and lasts outdoors for years; cedar is lighter and nicer to sit on. Let pressure-treated wood dry for a few weeks before staining.
How many people does it seat?
This one seats 4. Allow about 24 in of bench per adult.
Bolts or screws?
Bolt the legs to the seat supports and top cleats with 3/8 in carriage bolts; screw the boards. Bolted joints stay tight as the wood moves.