Drag to turn it. 3D model render, drawn from the plan itself; photos of the finished piece are coming soon.
Swell Rocker
Lie back and rock. The sides follow one continuous curve from your heels to your head, and the deep middle is the rocker itself: a single 42-inch-radius arc. You trace every curve from full-size templates you print at home, so both sides match exactly, and each side is two layers of 2x12 screwed together with the joints staggered. Thirty 2x2 slats run across the top. No cushions needed.
- Skill
- Maker · Level 3
- Build time
- About 8 hours
- Size
- 23½" × 61⅜" × 33¼"W × D × H
- Lumber
- 13 boards, all 8 ft
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.
You buy the materials at Home Depot, not here. Cedar: from $400.
- Printable plan and interactive 3D build guide
- One-trip Home Depot shopping list
- Yours to keep. Build it as many times as you like
44 parts: 12 curved side pieces from 6 full-size templates, 30 slats and 2 stretchers.
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
- 8 stepsEach with time, check and common mistake
Try the build guide before you buy.
The first 2 of 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2x12 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine, #2 | 4 |
| 2x2 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine | 8 |
| 2x4 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine, #2 Prime | 1 |
| 3" exterior trim-head screws, rated for treated lumber | 120 |
| 2-1/2" exterior wood screws, rated for treated lumber | 40 |
| 5" structural wood screws (GRK or SPAX) | 8 |
| 1/4" hardboard, 4 × 4 ft, for the template masters | 1 |
| Behr semi-transparent stain & sealer, Cedar Naturaltone | 1 qt |
- Estimated build cost
- $170–$200
- 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.
8 steps · about 8 hours
- 1Make the mastersFree in 3D1 hr 30 min
- 2Cut the stringer piecesFree in 3D2 hr
- 3Cut the slats and stretchers45 min
- 4Build the left side30 min
- 5Build the right side30 min
- 6Stand the sides and add the stretchers20 min
- 7Fit the slats1 hr 30 min
- 8Finish and rock1 hr + drying
Good to know
What's a Maker plan?
Our Easy Build plans keep to straight cuts and four cut lengths. Maker plans go further when the design needs it: this one has curves you cut with a jigsaw. You don't draw them yourself. Every curve comes from a full-size template, every step still has a check and a common mistake to avoid, and every screw was checked in 3D to land in solid wood.
How do the templates work?
They're in the plan PDF, drawn at full size on letter pages. Print them at 100%, check the 1-inch test square, tape the pages together on the round targets, and glue each one to a sheet of 1/4-inch hardboard. Cut those six masters out once and trace them for every board, so both sides come out the same. No printer? The plan also has a table of points for drawing each curve straight onto the board.
Does it rock safely?
With an adult in it, it rests close to level and rocks back about 17° on the curve, always swinging back on its own: its center of weight sits far below the rocker's center. Rocked forward, the foot end touches down at about 19°, which makes a handy step for getting in and out. Keep it on flat, level ground; it's built for one adult.
Do I need cushions?
No. The slats follow the curve of your back and legs, so it's comfortable bare. A thin chaise pad works if you want one.
How heavy is it?
About 61 pounds in cedar. Pressure-treated pine is sold wet, so a pine build weighs about 106 pounds at first and gets lighter as it dries.
Can I build it in pine to save money?
Yes. The plan has a second shopping list in pressure-treated pine: same cuts, same steps, same screws. Pick straight 2x12s without big knots near the edges, let them dry for a week or two, and finish with a cedar-tone stain.
Which tools do I need?
A jigsaw with clean-cut blades, a drill/driver, a miter saw or circular saw for the slats, a few clamps and a sander. A printer for the templates helps, but the point table works without one.