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Kids Picnic Table

Build a simple DIY kids picnic table using just 2x4s.

DIY Kids Picnic Table

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It’s time for another At Home DIY challenge – this month is all about projects you can do with 2x4s! I was originally going to build a basic workbench, but I accidentally published the post too early … yep … smooth move, I know. So I had to come up with a new 2×4 project.

It worked out for the best though. You need a sheet of particleboard for the workbench, so it’s not exactly a straight-2x4s project. But this simple kid’s picnic table IS! Just grab yo’self a pile of 2x4s and you’re ready to go. Plus, your kids will love it!

DIY Kids Picnic Table

Assembling this picnic table is kinda a bear. I did my best to explain it in the plans, but I recommend checking out the video as well. It’s just a quick time-lapse, but it at least gives you some sort of an idea of how it went together. If you come up with a better way, by all means – go for it!

Enjoy the plans!

Tools & Supplies:

Lumber:

  • 8 | 2 x 4 @ 8′

Cuts:

  • 4 | 2 x 4 @ 21″ cut at 30 degree parallel miter (legs)
  • 2 | 2 x 4 @ 19 1/2″ (top leg supports) **see cut diagram**
  • 2 | 2 x 4 @ 40 1/2″ (seat supports) **see cut diagram**
  • 9 | 2 x 4 @ 32″ (seat slats and tabletop)
  • 2 | 2 x 4 @ 16″ (truss supports) **see cut diagram**

Leg and Seat Supports:

Cut the leg supports (top board in the diagram) to 19 1/2″. Mark 1 1/2″ down from the top of the board and 1 1/2″ in from the end of the board along the bottom. Draw a line between both marks, align your saw with the angle, and cut. Repeat for the other side.

Repeat the same process for the seat supports (bottom board in the diagram).

DIY Kids Picnic Table

If you watch the video, you may notice that I cut the leg and seat supports a little differently than shown. I cut the ends off at an angle from the top corner back 1 1/2″, rather than starting the cut 1 1/2″ down and then cutting back. The issue is then there wasn’t enough room to drive screws through the outside tabletop and seat boards, so I had to improvise. I recommend cutting the supports as shown above to avoid that issue.

Truss Supports:

Cut the truss supports as shown in the diagram. Make sure to write the angles on the sides so you know which way they attach to the table. The 48 degree end goes against the bottom of the tabletop. The 41 degree end goes against the inside of the seat supports.

DIY Kids Picnic Table

I sanded all the boards separately before assembly, as well as the whole table after assembly. There are a lot of corners and angles that are pretty impossible to reach once it’s all together. Since this is for the kiddos, I recommend sanding everything really well – don’t want any splinter catastrophes!

Now on onto assembly:

Step 1.

Once you finish all the cuts, assemble the legs of the table as shown with wood glue and 2 1/2″ screws.

DIY Kids Picnic Table

Drive screws through the back of the supports into the legs to hide them on the inside of the table.

Build two sets of legs.

DIY Kids Picnic Table

Step 2.

Connect both sets of legs with the seat slats.

DIY Kids Picnic Table

Place the inner seat slat flush against the legs and space the outer seat slat 1/2″ apart.

DIY Kids Picnic Table

Attach the seat slats with wood glue and 2 1/2″ screws through the slats into the seat supports.

Step 3.

Make sure the legs are square and standing perfectly vertical. Attach the tabletop boards with wood glue and 2 1/2″ screws.

Drive the screws through the top of the boards into the leg supports.

DIY Kids Picnic Table

There should be a 2 1/2″ overhang from the leg supports on either end of the tabletop (ignore the missing pieces in the diagram below – I hid the seats so you can see the tabletop measurement).

DIY Kids Picnic Table

Step 4.

Flip the table upside down and attach the center truss supports.

The 48 degree end goes against the bottom of the tabletop. The 41 degree end goes against the inside of the seat supports.

DIY Kids Picnic Table

When you put the truss supports in place, they’ll space each other correctly. Just make sure both ends are flush against the tabletop or seat support and they meet in the middle.

DIY Kids Picnic Table

I used wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws to attach the truss pieces. I drove the screws directly through the angled ends into the tabletop and seat supports.

kids picnic table

Countersink all the screws so they don’t stick up and get it the way (or at least drive them until they’re flush with the boards).

DIY Kids Picnic Table

Hit it one more time with the sander, and then finish as desired! I left it the natural pine color and simply sealed it with Exterior Spar Urethane.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the 2×4 DIY ideas:

See more What Can I Build With A 2×4 Projects
Bitterroot DIY
DIY Kids Picnic Table

Criss Chang

Sunday 16th of May 2021

Thanks for posting this! I'm going to build this as a gift for our daycare provider. One question. For the - 4 | 2 x 4 @ 21″ cut at 30 degree parallel miter (legs), do I make a straight cut at 21" and then make the 30 degree cuts? Or do I have to cut longer than 21" to miter the angles so I get the final piece to be 21" in length on each side of the board? Thanks!

tylynn_sattler

Saturday 22nd of May 2021

What a great gift!

The final piece should be 21" with a 30 degree miter on each end.

Shaun Shannon

Saturday 10th of April 2021

I made this for my granddaughters from pallets and it was perfect. Thanks for the clear instructions!

tylynn_sattler

Monday 12th of April 2021

That's wonderful! Glad the plans were easy to follow

Dejan

Wednesday 7th of April 2021

Great instructions, thank you.

I will give this a try, but similar to Allison, I’m wondering what the height and other dimensions are?

I have a tall 5 year old and a 3 year old and would like to get some future proofing out of it!

Thanks

tylynn_sattler

Wednesday 7th of April 2021

32" h x 40 1/2" w total overall

James

Saturday 18th of July 2020

Great DYI project! Your write up and diagrams were super helpful - didn’t have to think much at all. I did end up making it a little longer (47.5”) and wider (22”) but except for a couple cuts I was able to follow your instructions to the tee. Thanks!

Doug

Wednesday 7th of October 2020

James, agreed with you and went with 48" length. Base was same except for 2 spar supports beneath top.

Michelle Roberts

Sunday 28th of June 2020

How do I get a copy of the plans? This is awesome.

tylynn_sattler

Monday 29th of June 2020

I don't have a downloadable version of these plans but everything you need to know is listed in the step by step in the post on this page.

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