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Plan OL-005 · Block collection

Block Coffee Table

A solid waterfall coffee table, made to your size: pick the length, depth and height and the plan is drawn for you.

$29for the plan · PDF + 3D guide, instant download

Level 1About 3-1/2 hours8 boards, all 8 ft

Choose your size48 × 28½ × 16 in

Standard: most 3-seat sofas

Not sure of the size? Buy now and change it any time in your plan library.

Buy it finished$1,000+
Build it yourselfFrom $130in pine · materials

Prefer premium cedar? From $335 at this size. Shopping lists for both are below.

Build-ready or your money back. If anything in the plan doesn't work as drawn, email us within 30 days for a full refund.

  • Printable plan and interactive 3D build guide
  • One-trip Home Depot shopping list
  • Yours to keep. Build it as many times as you like
What’s in the plan

26 parts, 5 cut letters, only 4 lengths. At any size.

Every part gets a letter you pencil on its end. The drawings, the cut list, the cutting diagrams and the 3D guide all use the same letters, so you always know exactly which board you are holding.

  • DrawingsFront, side and top views with dimensions
  • Cut listEvery part by letter, board and length
  • Cutting diagramsWhich part comes from which 8 ft board
  • 7 stepsEach with time, check and common mistake
Exploded view of the Block Coffee Table with every part labeled by letter
The Block Coffee Table with its top left off, showing the end panels, cleats, corner blocks, aprons and center support
Under the top: how it goes together. Every structural screw is hidden once the top boards go on.
Free 3D preview

Try the build guide before you buy.

The first 2 of 7 steps are free. It’s exactly what you’ll follow in the garage, on your phone or laptop.

  • Watch each step build itself, board by board, screw by screw.
  • Spin and zoom the model with your finger or mouse.
  • Tap any board to see its letter and cut size.
Open the free preview at your size
Try steps 1–2 free
Materials

One list. One trip to Home Depot.

ItemQty
2x6 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine, #2 Prime5
2x4 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine, #2 Prime3
2-1/2" exterior screws, rated for treated lumber58 (1 lb box)
2-1/2" exterior trim-head screws, rated for treated lumber20 (1 lb box)
5" structural wood screws (GRK RSS or SPAX)8
Behr semi-transparent stain & sealer, Cedar Naturaltone1 qt
Estimated build cost
$130–$145
Building in pine
  • Pick #2 Prime boards and sight down each one. Take the straightest and grab one spare of each size.
  • Treated pine comes wet. Stack the boards flat with scrap spacers between them, out of the sun, for 2–3 weeks before you cut. Dry boards don't shrink or twist after you build.
  • Use screws labeled for treated lumber (most coated exterior screws are).
  • Sand the faces and edges smooth, then stain once the wood is dry. A cedar-tone stain gives it the honey look in the photos.
  • Wear a dust mask when cutting and sanding treated wood, and never burn the scraps.

Estimates based on typical Home Depot prices; your store may vary. Same cuts and same steps in either wood. The list updates with the size you pick.

The build

7 steps · about 3-1/2 hours

  1. 1Cut the partsFree in 3D40 min
  2. 2Build the two end panelsFree in 3D40 min
  3. 3Add the corner blocks15 min
  4. 4Stand the ends up and add the aprons30 min
  5. 5Lay the top boards30 min
  6. 6Flip it and add the center support15 min
  7. 7Finish1 hr + drying

Good to know

How does the custom size work?

Pick a length from 36 to 60 inches in half-inch steps, one of three depths, and a height from 14 to 20 inches. The cut list, cutting diagrams, shopping list, drawings and 3D guide are all generated for that exact size, and every size is checked so each screw lands in solid wood.

Why only three depths?

The top boards run down the ends, so the depth is set by how many boards wide the top is: 4, 5 or 6. That keeps every cut straight across a stock board, with no ripping.

Can I change the size after I buy?

Yes. The plan is yours at any size. Open it from your plan library, pick a new size and download a fresh plan and guide. Handy if you build a second one for the patio.

How tall should it be?

Most coffee tables sit 1 to 2 inches below the sofa seat. Measure from the floor to the top of your seat cushion and subtract an inch or two.

Which tools do I need?

A drill/driver, a miter saw or circular saw, a tape measure, a speed square, two clamps and a sanding block.

Can I build it in pine to save money?

Yes. Every size comes with a second shopping list in pressure-treated pine, with the same cuts and the same steps. Pine needs a few weeks to dry and a coat of stain, but costs about a third as much as cedar.

Is it sturdy enough to sit on?

It's built for feet and trays rather than as a bench, but the top boards are carried by both ends and a center support, the aprons are lapped onto solid blocks, and the joints were checked in 3D at every size.