Build a garden bench — step by step
A simple pine bench — one weekend, a place to pause.
This is a complete guide to build a garden bench yourself — step by step, with a material list, tools, a timeline and what it costs. It's written for anyone building at home without professional experience: count on 1 weekend and a material cost of around 800–2,500 kr.
Showing method: Classic bench with backrest
The price is an estimate based on typical material prices and can vary depending on size, material choice, location and store.
Which method suits you best?
Best for: Along the house wall, by the gravel path or in front of the flower bed.
Please note: Material quantities, prices and building methods are guidelines. Always check current prices, local regulations and product instructions before starting a project.
How a garden bench comes together
A classic garden bench is a perfect beginner project: few parts, straight measurements, and a result in an afternoon. Here we build a sturdy bench for two in pressure-treated pine with a backrest and armrests.
Materials for a garden bench — full list
Check items off while you shop — the list stays with you on the page.
Build a garden bench step by step
- 01
Cut all the parts
A bench for two = seat length ~120 cm, height 45 cm, backrest 40 cm. Cut four legs from 45×95 mm (two front at 45 cm, two rear at 85 cm), two seat-frame rails (110 cm), two cross rails (35 cm), four seat boards (120 cm) and three backrest slats (120 cm). Lay all the marked parts out on a flat surface.
Tip: Double-check every measurement before you cut — it saves both time and timber. - 02
Build the seat frame
Screw the two long and two short rails together into a rectangle (110 × 35 cm) with 5×80 mm screws. Pre-drill to avoid splitting. Check the diagonals — they should be equal.
- 03
Attach the legs
Screw the four legs to the inner corners of the seat frame — short legs at the front, long legs at the back. Check that everything is plumb and that the seat sits 45 cm high.
- 04
Screw on the seat boards
Lay the four seat boards on top of the frame with a 4–5 mm gap so water can run off. Screw with two decking screws per board at each end and in the middle.
- 05
Build the backrest
Screw the three backrest slats vertically to the back of the rear legs. The lowest at seat height, the top one level with the top of the legs, the third in the middle.
- 06
Fit armrests (optional)
Cut two armrests (40 cm) from 28×70 mm and screw them flat on top of the legs at the front and back edges. This makes the bench more comfortable and more stable.
- 07
Sand and oil
Sand all edges and surfaces (P120 then P180) until they're smooth. Apply two coats of wood oil or exterior stain — let it dry between coats.
Tip: Sand the corners lightly rounded — more comfortable to sit on and it lasts longer.
Help specific to build a garden bench
How the time breaks down
A simple garden bench is built in 4–6 hours including finishing. Done in a weekend morning.
- Shopping & planning1 hour
- Cutting all the parts30 min
- Building seat frame + legs1 hour
- Seat boards + backrest + armrests1.5 hours
- Sanding30 min
- Oiling (two coats + drying time)30 min + 1 day
How to save time
- Ask the builders' merchant to cut the parts for you — then assembly takes just two hours.
- Build two benches at once — roughly the same time and you end up with two seats.
- A screw magazine attachment on the drill gives even spacing and doubles your speed.
Questions and answers about build a garden bench
How do you build a garden bench?
A classic garden bench is a perfect beginner project: few parts, straight measurements, and a result in an afternoon. Here we build a sturdy bench for two in pressure-treated pine with a backrest and armrests. The guide breaks the work into 7 steps — you start with cut all the parts, build the seat frame and attach the legs and work your way forward at your own pace.
How much does it cost to build a garden bench?
Material cost is typically 800–2,500 kr. Total cost 800–2,500 kr. Pressure-treated pine is cheapest; untreated pine also works but needs more upkeep. The biggest items are joists 45×95 mm (~6 m) 300–500 kr, planks 28×120 mm (~8 m) 300–600 kr and planks 28×70 mm (~3 m) 100–200 kr. The price varies with size, material choice, location and store.
What materials do you need for a garden bench?
You'll need things like joists 45 × 95 mm pressure-treated, planks 28 × 120 mm pine, planks 28 × 70 mm pine, stainless wood screws 5 × 80 mm and stainless decking screws 4.2 × 55 mm — the full material list with quantities is in the guide and can be checked off while you shop. Tools you'll need at home: drill & batteries, mitre saw or circular saw, tape measure & pencil and spirit level.
How long does it take and how hard is it?
Count on 1 weekend for a garden bench. A simple garden bench is built in 4–6 hours including finishing. Done in a weekend morning. The difficulty level is easy, so you can manage it without professional experience if you follow the steps in order.
Which method should I choose for a garden bench?
There are 3 common ways to build it: classic bench with backrest, simple bench without backrest and built-in bench on the deck. Choose a method at the top of the page — the guide, material list and cost then adapt to that solution.
What's the most common mistake?
The mistakes we see most often: timber too thin — the bench wobbles after a year. 45 × 95 mm on the legs is the minimum, skipping pre-drilling — pressure-treated pine splits easily around screws and no gap between the seat boards — water collects and the wood rots. Read through the whole guide once before you start — that way you'll avoid most of them.
And that's it, done.
Take a step back, pour a cup of coffee and enjoy. You built it yourself.
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