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Simple workbench plans – Plans include a free PDF download (link at bottom of blog post), shopping list, cutting list, drawings, and step-by-step instructions.
Simple Workbench Plans – Overview
Simple Workbench Plans – Material List
Shopping List
Shopping List
- 2 – 4×4 – 8′
- 5 – 2×4 – 8′
- 2 – 3/4″ plywood – 2’x8′ sheet
- 4 – locking casters
- 2″ deck screws
- 3″ deck screws
Cutting List
Cutting List
- A – 4 – 4×4 – 2′ 7 1/4″
- B – 2 – 2×4 – 5′
- C – 2 – 2×4 – 4′ 5″
- D – 8 – 2×4 – 1′ 9″
- E – 1 – 3/4″ plywood – 2’x5′
- F – 1 – 3/4″ plywood – 2’x3′ 10″
Cut four 4×4’s to 2′ 7 1/4″ long (A). Notch the 4×4’s (A) as shown on illustration above.
Cut two 2×4’s to 5′ long (B). Cut two 2×4’s to 4′ 5″ long (C). Assemble as shown on illustration above, pre-drill holes and screw 3″ deck screws through (B), (C), and into (A).
Cut eight 2×4’s to 1′ 9″ long (D). Pre-drill holes and screw 3″ deck screws through (B), (C), and into (D).
Cut a 3/4″ plywood to 2’x5′ (E). Cut a 3/4″ plywood to 2’x3′ 10″ (F). Pre-drill holes and attach the plywood to the workbench using 2″ deck screws.
Attach locking casters to workbench legs (A).
Love all of these
Can you tell me what the load capacity is for the simple workbench plans? I am building this to hold a commercial printer that weighs 336 lbs. It will be positioned evenly.
I do plan to use carriage bolts to bolt B and C to A.
Thanks
will depend on the weight load of the casters if applied
How do you cut the notch that is 3 1/2” from the end of the 2 x4?
I used the table saw to that and it worked out perfectly
You can also use a circular saw and make cuts about 1/8 to 1/4 in along the notch set to a depth of 1.5”. After all the cuts, knock them out and clean up with a chisel.
Take all 4 legs and clamp them with the floor ends perfectly even. Use a circular saw to mate the two cuts at the end of the dado and then hog out the rest. Finish with a wood chisel and then unclamp and continue the project.
what size locking casters do you recommend for the simple workbench?
Bonjour je suis Français serait il possible d’avoir les plans en mesure métrique svp merci
If the width of the plywood top is 2′ and if the width of B is 2″, shouldn’t the length of D be 1’8″ instead of 1’9″? I mean, we have (width of B + length of D + width of B) = width of plywood.
What am I missing?
The cross pieces are 1 foot 9 inches, or 21 inches. The combined measurement of the two 2×4’s on the outside is 3 inches which give you a total width of 24 inches.
In other words, 2×4 ‘s are not really 2 x4” about 1.5” x 3.5”
I just built this workbench. Easy to follow plans. Had to make a couple modifications though… I made my 4×4’s by screwing 2 2×4’s together and I left a 3″ overhang on the table top all the way around. I find it easier to clamp workpieces with a bit of a lip. Thanks for the plans
I built this over a year ago. I added a receptacle on mine.
I love it so much I am modifying the plans to make it a 7′ tech workbench.
I built two tables and can hook them together if I need a wider table. The tables were built to used as run-off tables for my table saw. I also faced the plywood with hardboard sheeting – no slivers!
Dont build the table too large for the doorway
Hi there! I don’t have any idea what kind of wood am gonna buy at home depot. They have red pine ground contact pressure-treated timber, ground contact pressure-treated SYP timber or pressure-treated timber? Thank you!🙂
Since this workbench will be inside and not buried in the ground, you don’t need pressure treated lumber. Just standard 4x4s and 2x4s.
Made a slight change to the legs so I wouldn’t have to notch the 4×4 posts and still have the lower shelf. I liked the whole project. Thanks
With this bench, what Size Casters are Used/Recommended Thank you in advance!
Ok, built this over the weekend. Is solid and mobile. Used some 3″ locking casters rated at 350 lbs. each, makes this bench a beast. Adding an end vise and narrowed the top to 21 and took out 3 inches from the frame width. Adding a 12 inch extension to the top width by making a fold down piece. I will add a set of drawers on one side of the base. The top is made out of pallet wood, ripped 2 1/2 inches wide, face glued and used 28 for the main top and an additional and 16 pieces for the fold down top. Thanks for the basic idea
Nice ideas to build!
Just finished building the workbench.
Great plans, well illustrated.
Thanks
God bless
As a beginning wood worker I just want to say,, thank you. I have been looking for bench plans on the internet and get easily overwhelmed by the barrage that followed. I believe I can build this bench thanks to your plans. Simple, straightforward language and drawings make me think I can do this.
Thanks
Kevin C
What would the plans look like if I wanted a 2×8 work bench ?
Excelente
The best thing about these plans is that they are so easily modified to suit individual wants and needs. I made mine 6 feet wide by 28 inches deep. I moved the 4×4 legs out to meet the side-rim 2×4’s to avoid notching. I skipped the casters and still made the bench 36 inches high with 34.5 inch 4 x 4’s and a 1.5 inch top made from 3 layers of 1/2 inch plywood bonded (liquid nails) and screwed together (it’s what I had on hand) and the lower shelf is a single piece of 1/2 inch plywood cut to 6 feet by 18 inches. All pieces except for the plywood were cut with a miter saw and, whenever possible, clamped together before cutting to ensure exact matches. The only issue I ran into was making sure the screws didn’t intersect. That was a little tedious, but worked out OK. I bolted a vise at the left end.
I want to make this
We have several projects that we are focused on completing this year that a bench was a necessity, so I built this one and am totally happy with it! Have not built anything in a while and it was a satisfying sense of accomplishment to look at the results. Everything is straight forward in the build, a good project for someone needing a sturdy bench. This one sort of lit the bug for me and now I am looking forward to using it in our upcoming ranch improvements!