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About Project
Our preschool picnic table is one of the most popular plans available online. Due to the simple design, easy building instructions, and perfect sizing for preschoolers, hundreds if not thousands of these tables have been built. Try a bright bold color for added flair. Special thanks to Allie for sharing her photos.
One of my first project ever was a simple kid's picnic table. It must have been years ago, because here is Grace blowing out two candles Notice the red console table in the background? That's another of my early pieces.
And here she is making lunch at our cabin
Yes, I'm the health nut who eats Ezeckiel Bread, Yum! And see the dirt? My husband and I hand dug the front of our cabin level, as in with a shovel. It took us about 3 weekends. Don't have to work out!
Dimensions
Materials and Tools
1 – 1×6, 8′ Long (About $5.00 Each)
Cut List
3 – 1×6 @ 31″ (Tabletop Pieces)
General Instructions
General Instructions. Work on a clean level surface and use proper safety precautions. Check for square after each step. Predrill and countersink all screws.
Step 1
Tabletop and Supports. Begin by cutting the support board ends off at an angle as shown above. Then fasten the top boards to the supports using 2″ screws and glue.
Step 2
Top Support. Attach the top support, centered on the end supports and the center tabletop board, as shown above. Use 2″ screws and glue. It is very important that you have checked for square before fastening.
Step 3
Legs. Cut your legs from 1×3 boards with a starting overall length of 22 7/16″. Use the above diagram to guide you.
Step 4
Legs to the Top. Fasten the legs to the top of the table, as shown above. Notice how the tip of the leg comes even with the outer tabletop boards? And the side of the leg meets up with the end of the support? Use 1 1/4″ Screws and glue to fasten in place. Notice the marks on the legs with a measurement of 12 3/4″? Make these marks on the legs, this is where the tops of the step 5 boards will be placed.
Step 5
Seat Supports. Using the marks from step 4 and 1 1/4″ screws and glue, fasten the seat supports to the legs. Use a level to make sure the seat boards are fastened level to the tabletop. Just rest the level on the top of the board, in the diagram where you see the measurement 30 1/2″. The overhang from the legs on the tops of the seat supports should be close to 6 1/4″.
Step 6
Bottom Support. As you did in step 2, fasten the remaining support board in place, using 2″ screws and glue. It is a good idea at this step to square up your project by taking a square of the bottoms of the legs.
Step 7
Seat Boards. Mark the seat boards 2″ from the ends. Position the outer seat board flush with the ends of the seat supports and fasten in place with 2″ screws and glue. Leave a 1/2″ gap and fasten the next seat board in place in the same manner.
Step 8
Finishing. Fill screw holes with wood filler, sand and finish as desired.
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Oh I am so excited to see
Oh I am so excited to see this! My littles are probably nearing the top end of the age range for this, but I can't wait to build it anyways!!!
What a cute and nice table!
What a cute and nice table!
thank you so much for posting
thank you so much for posting this! i can't wait to make this!
Yay! I am so excited! We are
Yay! I am so excited! We are in an apartment right now, but will soon move to a place with more room and a.....garage! This will defintely be one of my first projects, although I am a little intimidated by the diagonal cuts! Think I can talk the guys at HD to help me cut, or do they only do straight cuts???
This is adorable! I have so
This is adorable! I have so many things from your site i want to build I don't know where to start! Thanks for posting this. I can't wait to see it in a full size version.Thanks again!
YES! This came at the
YES! This came at the perfect time! I was just looking for table plans yesterday! This will do quite nicely. Thanks again, Ana!
Adorabel! I definitely want
Adorabel! I definitely want to try this :) Thanks!
I'm so excited that you
I'm so excited that you branched out into outdoor furniture! Though I have to admit, I already have plans for a kids picnic table in a woodworking book.
Yay for Ezekiel Bread!!!
Yay for Ezekiel Bread!!! Great warmed up with natural hazelnut butter. Mmmm. I'm making this picnic table for my little girls for sure!! Bring on summer!
By the way, I'm new here. I'm really inspired by the site and am in the process of working (around the hours I have my daughters and the other hours I work) on my first project. Exciting!
Haven't been able to decide
Haven't been able to decide what project to start on first and then I saw today's post. Just came from the lumber yard and can't wait to spend the day on this!
Ana - you are AMAZING! I
Ana - you are AMAZING! I can't wait to start some of these projects today! I'm headed to Home Depot... Pics coming soon!
Bring on the outdoor fun!
Bring on the outdoor fun! Can't wait to make this. Thank you.
Another to add to the "To Do"
Another to add to the "To Do" list!
This is GREAT!! You
This is GREAT!! You constantly amaze me.
Request: A larger size, appropriate for elementary school-aged kids, but smaller than the adult-sized ones. My boys, especially my 10yo, would knock their knees on this.
Very cute! I just sent this
Very cute!
I just sent this link to my husband to see if he's up for a little companionship type weekend project with me.
Yup, adding this one to the
Yup, adding this one to the list! Thanks!
Fabulous! I hope this is
Fabulous! I hope this is just the start of many other outdoor projects. . .spring is in the air, and I could really use some outdoor/patio furniture! Ooh, and maybe some planter boxes for the front porch too? :)
Yay!! I have so many projects
Yay!! I have so many projects I want to do and this is going on top of the list! Thanks so much.
I can't wait to try this! I
I can't wait to try this! I was waiting for a project that seemed easy and fast, and that I could paint a funky color. I think I might make this be our date night this week. Thanks!
I love it!!! I am going to
I love it!!! I am going to use my leftover paint from Audrey's bed for my picnic table! It will be great for our campground!
I'm your 4000th follower!!
I'm your 4000th follower!! Yeah!! I love love love your blog! Can't wait to get started on some projects!
YAY!! This looks like the
YAY!! This looks like the perfect weekend project. The weather is getting warmer and the kids would love to be able to eat on the porch.
I was just telling DH we
I was just telling DH we needed a kids picnic table this is too cute :)
Wahoooo I think I have enough
Wahoooo I think I have enough wood from an old futon frame....laying around I could build this...
That is a lovely picnic
That is a lovely picnic table. It's spring time, the perfect time for picnics. Thanks for sharing this and I'm sure a lot will benefit from this post.
This looks like something I
This looks like something I can handle! My sister and I are going to tackle it together, but I want to "amp it up" a bit since my kids are on the tall side. I'm going to use 1x8s instead of 1x6s, and I'd like to make it a touch taller...aside from longer supports holding the top together, can I just add length to the legs and call it good? LOVE your site!
This is one thing I might be
This is one thing I might be able to make during nap times! I have been looking for plans... thanks.
I am going to make this my
I am going to make this my first project! I have been wanting something like this for my kids. Thanks so much for the plans. I love your blog and all of your plans!!
Would it be possible to add a
Would it be possible to add a back to the bench? Would you suggest doing this? Might be good for the younger kids. Your blog is so awesome-thank you!!!
I love this! I was just
I love this! I was just looking at the Little Tykes table at Walmart last week - $70!!! This plan is much cuter!!!
Would it be difficult to make
Would it be difficult to make this in an adult size? What changes would need to be made? Thanks for your help!
I am so excited about this
I am so excited about this project that I showed it to my 5yr old daughter and told her, "mommy is going to build you your own picnic table", and she told me "you don't know how to do that"! So thanks to your easy plans to follow I am pretty confident I can do it and eager to prove myself to my daughter! :) wish me luck!
Love it! Finished it! Here:
Love it! Finished it! Here: http://cierraperaphotography.com/blog/?p=487
I am so excited to build this
I am so excited to build this picnic table for my children. If it goes smoothly, I might build one for my niece's birthday next month!! My list of projects that I want to build is getting longer!
I am so excited about this!
I am so excited about this! I built it this week and have posted it on my blog. It is still unfinished, but I couldn't NOT post about it! Thank you so much for coming up with the plans!
http://domesticallydevon.blogspot.com/2010/03/first-wood-project-picnic-...
What a fantastic photograph!
What a fantastic photograph! I want to have lunch with her!
Oh my goodness! I absolutely
Oh my goodness! I absolutely LOVE it! We are moving to an apartment on a lake and this will be perfect for my little guy and new friends!
Thanks for this plan, it
Thanks for this plan, it inspired me to build a table of my own for my boys. I'm a metal worker by trade so woodworking is slightly new to me. I think it came out good, even better being it only set me back seven bucks and an afternoon. The pictures are in my blog at http://chippedhammer.blogspot.com/2010/04/first-project-is-tabled.html
I made this picnic table this
I made this picnic table this week for my little girl. It was my first attempt at using power tools. This plan was very easy to follow and I LOVED building this table. It turned out so cute. Thanks for the plans and for the inspiration!
Wish I could have done it for
Wish I could have done it for $15 but the plans worked out great. I'll have to wait a few days until the humidity drops here to get it finished but it's built and my little girl things it's wonderful.
I just built mine this past
I just built mine this past week. My 4 year old daughter was helping me. I didn't tell her what we were making but after laying out the top she knew exactly what it was. I knew then that I could finish and she'd be happy! I am so very excited with the end result and LOVE IT!!! (my neighbor came home while we were painting and though that we had bought it as is... then he thought that it was a kit I bought. NO, NO, NO!!)
THANK YOU
My husband just made this
My husband just made this yesterday...and we all love it! Thank you so much!
We could SO not find decent
We could SO not find decent wood that cheap at Home Depot. The only wood near that price had huge nasty chunks out of every piece. I was so sad! I'm calling the next closest place 'cause it's at least 30 min away.
Yippppeeee! A perfect plan
Yippppeeee! A perfect plan for my dollhouse picnic table! Thank you SO much!!!!!
blogged herewonderful plans!
blogged here
wonderful plans! my first planned-out project. thank you so much! i will be back
*my store didn't have 1x3s so I used 1x4s and only had to refigure the seat support pieces. not a big deal.
Just made this out of old
Just made this out of old pallet wood. Only had to change a little to make it work. I can't wait to paint it!! =) It's gonna be bright and happy! =)
OMG. I just found your site
OMG. I just found your site and have fallen. in. love. My husband is getting his Master's in woodworking and I am so excited to build some of these thing with him. THANK YOU for all the great photos and plans - can't wait to put something together!!
Just built this today with a
Just built this today with a girlfriend for her 1 year old! It turned out perfect and the plans made it simple! Thank you so much for making these free! Love it!
this picnic table its next on
this picnic table its next on my list. my husband and i are super excited to build this for our son.
thanks Ana.
My husband and I are going to
My husband and I are going to make this picnic table this weekend for our niece for her Christmas Present! I love it!
My husband surprised me with
My husband surprised me with a miter saw today (great black friday deals!). This is my first project that I am working on this weekend. Thanks so much for all the awesome plans! I love your site
Thank you! Built a modified
Thank you! Built a modified one for my kids for Christmas. Turned out great. Less than 3 hours to build on a Saturday night, the painting is another story...
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