Outdoor Dining Table Plans

Create the perfect entertaining space with these outdoor dining table plans.

Enjoy your outdoor space more with these outdoor dining table plans. An easy to build large picnic table is the perfect way to add lots of entertaining space to your home.

A large picnic table with benches is a wonderful way to enjoy dinner outside with your guests.

This beautiful rustic dining table has a strong base and matching dining benches creating seating for 8 or more people.

The final part of our tropical oasis was to create a place for our family to gather outside. Our kids absolutely love eating dinner in the backyard, but until now, we didn’t have a way to do it.

We would try to enjoy meals outdoors by letting the kids eat on their nautical picnic table while the adults balanced plates on their laps. It just didn’t work. But not anymore…

Now we have a beautiful place to have family meals outside!

Our patio has been transformed into a beautiful dining space and at the center of it is this giant outdoor dining table. It’s the perfect place for the whole family to gather (with room for plenty more).

We even got the chance to enjoy some time outside this last weekend, including playing some card games. The patio is my new favorite place for family game night!

The table top was purchased from a local furniture store as a scratch & dent (just like the table top for our outdoor kitchen island). I didn’t realize just how big it was until I finally pulled it out of storage to add the legs. This table top is 96″ x 38″.

So I built large, extra deep benches to go on either side. Now we can easily fit our family plus more and enjoy the new pergola.

The entire space is just coming together so great! I cannot wait to share the reveal with you in just a couple days. And don’t miss out on the rest of the DIYs we used to create the perfect tropical oasis:

• Build a Patio Pergola attached to the House
• Installing a Clear Pergola Roof
• Outdoor Kitchen Island Build Plans
• Easy Tropical Wall Art DIY

UPDATE: Our high-end scratch & dent table top was not actually solid wood. It did not survive the winter without damage so I ripped it off the base (that did survive) and made a new top. See the new wood picnic table plans here. 

How To Build the Outdoor Dining Table

Make the Table Base

Cut four 5 1/2″ pieces from the 1×6 boards for the feet. Then cut four 30″ pieces from the 4×4 with each end cut at 45 degree angle for the leg tops and bottoms.

If you want to add a decorative top to the table feet, use a router to add a decorative edge to all 4 sides of all 4 feet.

Attach the feet to the bottom of the table leg bottoms with wood glue and 1 1/4″ construction screws. Be careful not to attach the feet too close to the outside of the leg bottoms where it is angled or the screws will come through the top. Repeat for the other table leg.

Cut four 22 1/2″ table leg posts from the 4x4s.

Attach the table leg posts to the top of the table leg bottoms. Space the posts so they are 8″ apart from each other and centered on the leg bottom.

Predrill 1″ deep holes in the bottom of the leg bottoms and secure the legs with 4″ screws through the predrilled holes into the leg posts. Repeat for the other table leg.

Attach the table leg top to the top of the leg posts in the same manner as you attached the posts to the table leg bottoms. Make sure the posts are 8″ apart and center on the leg top. Repeat for the other table leg.

Assemble Table Base Together

Cut three 77″ long pieces from the 2×4 boards.

Build the table base by attaching the table top supports with pocket holes so they are flush with the outside of the table leg posts. Add pocket holes to the top of the table top supports to attach the table top.

Attach the table leg support between the two table leg bottoms so they are centered on the table legs. Secure them with pocket holes.

Build Table Top

From the 2×6 boards, cut two 38″ pieces for the table top ends. Then cut four 81 1/2″ long pieces from the 2x10s.

Build the table top with pocket holes by attaching the 4 table top boards together along the length of the boards. Then add the 2 table top ends to the ends with pocket holes.

Secure the table top to the table base with pocket hole screws. Finish the table with outdoor approved stains and sealers.

How to Build the Outdoor Dining Benches

Build Bench Legs

For the top and bottom of the bench legs, cut twelve 15″ piece with both ends cut at a 45 degree angle. Then cut two 72″ pieces for the leg supports.

Attach the 3 of the bench leg tops to the bench leg support with 2 1/2″ screws. The two outer ones should be flush to the outside of the leg support and the center one should be centered. Repeat for the other bench.

Cut twelve 12 3/4″ pieces for the leg posts from the 2x4s.

Attach the bench leg posts to the bench leg tops. Clamp them so they are flat against the leg tops. Secure the legs with 2 1/2″ screws through the leg tops into the leg posts. Repeat for the other bench.

Cut twelve 3 1/2″ pieces of 1×4 for the bench feet.

Attach the feet to the bottom of the bench leg bottoms with wood glue and 1 1/4″ construction screws. Be careful not to attach the feet too close to the outside of the leg bottoms where it is angled or the screws will come through the top. Repeat for a total of 6 bench legs.

Attach the bench leg bottoms. Use a scrap of 2×4 to space the posts and make sure they are centered on the leg bottoms. Secure with 2 1/2″ screws through the bottom of the leg bottoms into the leg posts. Repeat for the other bench.

Build Bench Top

Cut six 80″ long pieces from the 2×6 boards.

Build the bench tops by securing the 3 bench top boards together with pocket hole screws.

Assemble Bench Together

Secure the bench tops to the bench legs with the 2 1/2″ screws through the bottom of the leg tops into the bench tops. Finish the table with outdoor approved stains and sealers.

And now you have the perfect outdoor dining table and dining benches. Go ahead and have a big party, you will have plenty of seating!

If you are curious, here is the complete patio reveal.