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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.

Outdoor dining table made from build plans

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

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I love this large picnic table. It's perfect for entertaining on the patio. Get the outdoor dining table plans at Housefulofhandmade.com.

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…

Outdoor dining table with bench

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!

Overhead view of a diy outdoor dining table with build plans

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.

This easy to build picnic table is perfect for a large family gathering. The dining table and benches can be built on a budget. Get the free plans from Housefulofhandmade.com.

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:

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

Tools:

Supplies:

  • PDF Build Plans
  • Wood products:
    • 4×4 boards
    • 2×4 boards
    • 2×6 boards
    • 2×8 board
    • 2×10 boards
    • 1×6 board
    • 1×4 board
  • Outdoor wood glue
  • 1 1/4″ construction screws
  • 2 1/2″ construction screws
  • 4″ construction screws
  • 2 1/2″ Kreg screws
Buy button for the PDF woodworking plans for 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.

Plan for attaching feet to the table legs of the diy outdoor dining table

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.

Plan to attach the table leg post for the outdoor dining table build plan

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.

Final part to the outdoor dining table build plan table legs

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.

Plan to build the base of the outdoor dining table woodworking plans

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.

Image of the table top on the patio dining table plans

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

Sketch up render of outdoor trestle table plans

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.

plans for the bench of the large outdoor dining table

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.

Plan to attach the leg post to the bench of the diy outdoor dining table

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.

Plan for attaching feet to the table legs of the diy outdoor dining table

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.

Sketch up image of bench top for the outdoor dining table woodworking build plan

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.

Build the bench tops for the outdoor dining table plans. Housefulofhandmade.com

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.

Sketch up image of completed bench for  the diy outdoor dining table build plans

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!

Finished image of outdoor dining table woodworking plans

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

-Kati with picture of blog author Kati

Frank Campos

Sunday 27th of August 2023

Hi Kati, I really like your plans for the patio table and I have been wanting to build one for several months but been afraid to pull the trigger. I want to model my table and eating area after one that I saw in a picture of Food & Wine magazine of an outdoor table and pergola in an Italian house. So I have a couple of questions that I'm hoping you will answer to get me over my fear. 1. Can your plans be modified to extend the table ends (or shorten the distance between the legs)? I would like to seat 3 persons on each side and one person on each end (total of 8 places) without having "knee-knockers" and not having the end persons having to lean over to reach their plate. 2. Since I want to place my table under an outdoor pergola (exposed to elements) would you recommend changing the wood type or different finishes (stains/ varnishes)? I will add vines around the pergola that will eventually cover the top to provide shade in late spring/ summer/ early fall. But would be bare in the winter. 3. Eventually, I want to add a second table to one end to be able to entertain more people (extending the pergola, as well). 4. I don't need the benches as I will use individual outdoor chairs so people can adjust distance to table to their preference.

Can you help me? Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

Rob

Tuesday 15th of August 2023

How did you keep the wood from warping?

Kati

Tuesday 22nd of August 2023

Seal it with outdoor sealer and cover when not in use to prevent standing water.

Kari Rustici

Friday 16th of April 2021

Just purchased the plan and it shows 5 Boards on the pictures for the table top but plans are for 4 boards. I would rather it be the 5 Boards so now do I need to adjust the whole plan? I bought this based on the pictures being 5

Kati

Monday 19th of April 2021

To make the table with 5 boards, you can use 2x8 boards instead of 2x10s. The 5 2x8 boards will be 36 1/4" wide when attached since they are 7 1/4" each. So you will need to cut the table top ends to 36 1/4".

QChawks

Monday 5th of April 2021

Great table and easy to follow directions. Although I believe the table ends should be 2X8? Because at the end I ended up one 2x6 short and had the 2x8 extra? Other than it was straight forward. Thank you!

Kati

Monday 19th of April 2021

Thanks for your feedback.

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