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One great DIY project that is sure to bring attention to your outdoor area is a pair of Adirondack chairs. One of the main features that make an Adirondack chair look stylish is the slanted bottom and back.
The Adirondack rocking chair plans shown here are broken down into simple to follow steps. The plans include free PDF download (link at bottom of blog post), illustrations, patterns, shopping list, cutting list, and assembly instructions.
Adirondack Rocking Chair – Overview
Adirondack Rocking Chair Plans – Material List
Shopping List
Shopping List
2 – 2×6 – 8′
5 – 1×4 – 8′
1 – 2×4 – 8′
1 – 1×6 – 8′
deck screws
10 – carriage bolts, nuts, washers
Cutting List
Cutting List
(A) 2 – 2×6 – 3′ 2″
(B) 7 – 1×4 – 2′
(C) 1 – 1×4 – 2′
(D) 2 – 2×4 – 2′ 1 1/8″
(E) 2 – 1×4 – 2′ 7″
(F) 2 – 2×6 – 3′ 3″
(G) 1 -1×4 – 1′ 9″
(H) 2 – 1×6 – 2′ 10″
(I) 1 – 1×4 – 3′ 3″
(I) 2 – 1×4 – 3′ 2″
(I) 2 – 1×4 – 3′ 1″
(J) 2 – 2×6 – 8″
Adirondack Rocking Chair Assembly Instructions
Each square = 1″
Seat support (A) pattern. Start by cutting out the seat support using a 2×6. Cut two pieces of 2×6’s to 3′ 2″. Draw the pattern as shown in illustration above. Once you cut out the first one you can trace the pattern to the second seat support.
Cut seat slats (B) out of 1×4 boards. Cut seven 1×4’s to 2′ for the seat slats and one 1×4 to 2′ for the bottom back support rail (C). Cut out the bottom back support (B) as shown in illustration below. Predrill all holes and screw deck screws through the slats and into the seat support.
Each square = 1″
1×4 bottom back support pattern (C).
Install the front and rear legs. Cut two 2×4’s to 2′ 1 1/8″ for the front legs (D). Cut two 1×4’s to 2′ 7″ for the rear legs (E), cut the top as shown in illustration below.
Predrill holes and install using carriage bolts, washers, and nuts. See illustration above for assembly details.
Cut the top of the 1×4 rear legs (E) as show in illustration above.
Each square = 1″
Rocker (F) pattern. Cut two 2×6’s to 3′ 3″ for the rockers (F). Cut as shown in pattern above. Once you cut out the first one you can trace the pattern to the second rocker.
Install rockers (F) as shown in illustration above using carriage bolts, nuts, and washers.
Each square = 1″
Top back support rail (G) pattern. Cut a 1×4 to 1′ 9″ for the top back support rail (G) cut as shown in illustration above.
Each square = 1″
Arm (H) pattern. Cut two 1×6’s to 2′ 10″ for the arms (H) cut as shown in illustration above.
Install the arms (H) and top back support rail (G) using deck screws. Predrill all holes. Screw deck screws through the arm and into the front legs. Screw deck screws through the rear legs and into the arms. Screw deck screws through the top back support rail and into the rear legs.
Back slats (I). Cut one 1×4 to 3′ 3″, two 1×4’s to 3′ 2″, and two 1×4’s to 3′ 1″. Once the 1×4’s have been cut to size, cut from the bottom to the top as shown in illustration above. Optional you can round the corners as shown in overview illustration.
Each square = 1″
Arm brace (J) pattern. Cut two pieces of 2×6’s to 8″ Next cut as shown on pattern above.
Install back slats (I) and arm brace (J) using deck screws. Predrill all holes. Screw deck screws through the back slats and into the back support rail. Screw deck screws through the arm brace and into the front legs.
would like to have a set that I can download and save, and print to take to my shop.`
I like all of them can’t wait to get started
Love your plans however I would like an easily readable PDF version of this and other plans please.
To make a pdf all you need to do is print the plans and change from the printer to a pdf device and save.
These chairs turn out very large. Recommend reducing everything for a normal size. I just made 2 of these and my feet don’t touch the ground. And I’m 5’11”.
My very amateur opinions:
1. I agree the chairs are pretty big. Completing the chair, minus the rocker, and they’re still pretty tall.
2. The dimensions for the rocker portion simply don’t work. I found some better articles that explain the math / science to make a proper rocker. I will try those next, but if I fail these will become plain chairs.
3. Tapering the back slats at the bottom to 1.5″ is probably not required, and gives the chair a strange look once completed. You could save those cuts to the end, and make your own decision.
4. My wife likes the feel, but I think the lower back support could have been moved forward possibly for some more lumbar support.
5. The arms can also be lowered in the front and back, very easy adjustment even post project if you wanted. I am 6’3″ and this chair swallows me up.
6. I completed construction out of order because adding the rockers without the rest of the construction done could get you into trouble later trying to make sure everything else is true.
7. Would loved to have known not to get true 2×4’s, 1×4’s etc. I bought milled wood, and ran into this problem.
8. Better dimensions for all of the carriage bolt placements would help us “rookies” out here.