Drag to turn it. 3D model render, drawn from the plan itself; photos of the finished piece are coming soon.
Block Slat Bench
A 60-inch backless bench of 2x4 slats standing on edge, with the top running down into the legs. The slats alternate long tops and long legs, so every corner laps and the bench holds with screws alone: no glue, no brackets. Spacer blocks set every gap, so there's almost nothing to measure. You build it face-down one slat at a time, and only the back face shows screw heads. Four cut lengths, every one a straight crosscut, and every screw was checked in 3D to land in solid wood.
- Skill
- Level 1
- Build time
- About 4 hours
- Size
- 60" × 19½" × 18"W × D × H
- Lumber
- 10 boards, all 8 ft
You buy the materials at Home Depot, not here. Cedar: from $320.
- Printable plan and interactive 3D build guide
- One-trip Home Depot shopping list
- Yours to keep. Build it as many times as you like
81 parts, only 4 lengths.
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
- 6 stepsEach with time, check and common mistake
Try the build guide before you buy.
The first 2 of 6 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.
Try steps 1–2 freeOne list. One trip to Home Depot.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 2x4 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine, #2 Prime | 10 |
| 2-1/2" exterior wood screws, rated for treated lumber (spacer blocks, hidden) | 220 (3 × 1 lb box) |
| 2-1/2" exterior trim-head screws, rated for treated lumber (the back slat) | 20 (1 × 1 lb box) |
| Behr semi-transparent stain & sealer, Cedar Naturaltone | 1 qt |
- Estimated build cost
- $125–$135
- 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) and galvanized brackets.
- 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.
6 steps · about 4 hours
- 1Cut the partsFree in 3D45 min
- 2Lay out the front slatFree in 3D10 min
- 3Add blocks and the second slat30 min
- 4Build up slats 3 to 61 hr 30 min
- 5Add the back slat25 min
- 6Stand it up and finish45 min + drying
Good to know
How big is it?
60 inches long, 19-1/2 inches deep and 18 inches tall, the height of a dining bench. It seats two comfortably and three at a squeeze.
Does it need cushions?
No. The slats are the seat. Throw a long pad on it if you like, but the plan doesn't need one.
Why does it hold without glue?
Most slat benches butt each top board onto its own leg, so only glue keeps the corners tight. Here the slats alternate: four have a full-length top on short legs, three have full-height legs with a shorter top between them. Spacer blocks screwed to both sides tie a continuous top to a continuous leg at every corner, which makes a real lapped joint.
Can I use it indoors?
Yes. Build it in cedar or in kiln-dried whitewood 2x4s for indoors (the same cuts and steps). Outdoors, use cedar or pressure-treated pine, and add felt or plastic glides under the legs on a deck so the end grain isn't sitting in water.
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. Every joint is wood on wood with screws: no pocket holes, no glue-ups, no brackets.
Can I build it in pine to save money?
Yes. The plan comes with a second shopping list in pressure-treated pine, with the same cuts and the same steps. Pine needs a couple of weeks to dry and a coat of cedar-tone stain, and costs about a third as much as cedar.