Woodworking plans · Woodworking
2x4 bench plans
A simple bench all from 2x4s: a slatted seat screwed down onto leg frames (a third frame in the middle past 1.4 m), the frames joined by a stretcher. Free, any size: open it in uCAD, change the sizes or the lumber you can buy, or just tell its AI what you need, and the parts, the screws and the cut list follow.
Level: easy · Time: about 3 h · Shown: Bench 1200 mm
Make it your size
- Length: 600 to 2400 mm (1200 in the cut list below)
- Seat boards: 3 to 5 (3 in the cut list below)
- Height: 350 to 500 mm (450 in the cut list below)
- Lumber: 38 × 89, 40 × 100, 45 × 95, 50 × 100
In uCAD, change any of these in the part's panel: the model is built again, joints and all.
What you need
Tools: saw, drill, 3-4 mm drill bit with countersink, wood screws (the lengths in the cut list), wood glue (outdoors: exterior screws and glue), sander.
Fixings (and wood glue):
- screw 5x70: 32
Cut list
At the sizes shown above. Letters match the drawings below.
| Part | Qty | Length | Width | Thickness | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | seat board | 3 | 1200 mm 47 1/4" | 89 mm 3 1/2" | 38 mm 1 1/2" |
| B | stretcher | 1 | 964 mm 37 15/16" | 89 mm 3 1/2" | 38 mm 1 1/2" |
| C | leg | 4 | 412 mm 16 1/4" | 89 mm 3 1/2" | 38 mm 1 1/2" |
| D | top rail / low rail | 4 | 279 mm 11" | 89 mm 3 1/2" | 38 mm 1 1/2" |
Lumber to buy
US lumber, 8, 10 and 12 ft boards, 4 × 8 ft sheets:
- 2x4: 1 × 10 ft, 2 × 8 ft
In millimetres
Boards 2400 and 3000 mm long, 2440 × 1220 mm sheets:
- 38 × 89 mm: 1 × 3000 mm, 2 × 2400 mm
Your store sells other lengths or sections? Put in yours in uCAD's cut list: what to buy and how to cut it are worked out again.
How to cut it
From US lumber, a 1/8" saw kerf between the pieces; the hatched ends are left over.
2x4
Build it step by step
Make the leg frames: lay two legs flat, the top rail across them flush with their tops and the low rail lower down; glue, pre-drill and drive two screws through each rail into each leg.
Stand the frames up, lay the stretcher flat across the low rails in the middle, square everything up and screw it down: two screws into each low rail.
Lay the seat boards on the frames, 6 mm apart (use spacers), overhanging the ends equally; pre-drill and drive two screws through each board into each top rail.
In uCAD, Build steps plays these one by one on the model, the wood see-through so you can see where every screw goes.
Questions
Can I change the size?
Yes: open it in uCAD and type the sizes you need in its panel. The parts, the joints, the screw lengths and the cut list follow.
My store doesn't sell 2x4. What then?
Choose what yours sells in the plan's panel (38 × 89, 40 × 100, 45 × 95, 50 × 100): it's built again for that lumber, with screws to match.
Is it free?
The plan, uCAD and the cut list are free, no sign-up.
Tell us what you need. We’ll do it.
uCAD’s AI draws it in real sizes, and changes it when you ask.
Can’t make the furniture fit?
We’ll lay it out for you, every piece at its real size.
Want a new kitchen?
We’ll design it: the units, the worktop, the appliances, to your walls.
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It will: we work out the steps from your floor height and show you.
Love a house, a garden or a room you saw?
Show us the photo: we’ll build one like it, to real sizes.
Building a shelf, a bench, a workbench?
You get the cut list, what to buy and how to put it together.
Need a floor plan?
Tell us the rooms: we’ll draw the flat or the house, walls, doors and windows.
You say it, we draw it
No CAD to learn: write what you need the way you’d tell a builder or a designer.
Not right? Say so
“Move the sofa to the window.” “A metre wider.” Every change can be undone; nothing can break.
Free to try
Nothing to install: it opens in your browser. A new account tries the AI free.
More plans
Build it your size
Open the plan, change the sizes, print the cut list.