20 DIY Cedar Bench Plans You Can Make Today (With Pictures)

A woodworking project is far more satisfying when you don’t have to worry about how it will last for the long term. That’s why cedar is such a worthwhile investment for patio, garden, and backyard pieces. Cedar wood’s resistance to rot and pests offers valuable peace of mind when you’re crafting outdoor furniture, ensuring a beautiful, durable piece every time.

Given its natural hardiness, cedar makes a perfect foundation for a rewarding outdoor bench build. If you’re looking for a woodworking project that will give you form, function, and fulfillment for years to come, check out these DIY cedar bench plans you can make today.

The 20 DIY Cedar Bench Plans You Can Make Today

1. Chevron Pattern Cedar Bench

Precision cuts will make this modern chevron cedar bench look like it was handbuilt by a professional. Angular shapes combine with the vibrant, organic cedar grain to create an engaging blend of dynamism and elegance.

The surface pattern is a step up from many bench designs, but the true centerpiece of this bench is the legs. In this bench plan, the blowtorch chars them to a deep brown color. You can skip this part if you’re worried about damaging the legs but getting it right will give you a gorgeous two-tone aesthetic and unique conversation starter the next time you have company.

2. Modern Cedar Bench Seat

Want to whip up several outdoor seats in a hurry? You can create a uniform set of single-seat cedar benches with this plan that uses little more than a few cuts with a table saw, some Liquid Nails, and patience. The versatile contemporary design allows them to function as seats or end tables in various arrangements.

3. Outdoor Cedar Bench

For under $100, you can build this comfortable and sturdy armless cedar bench. The slight angles to the seat and back require more precise angular cuts than some of the other plans on this list, but the extra comfort is worth the effort in a bench that’s built to last.

4. Live Edge Cedar Bench

Blending rustic and industrial, this heavy-duty live edge cedar bench uses a metal frame to support a live edge slab. It makes for a neat finished product, but it isn’t the easiest construction on this list. Although the seat and back are simple enough, the metal frame requires some welding skill to pull off.

5. Hexagon Cedar Bench

There are a ton of angles in this plan, but if you have the perseverance and poise to pull off precise miter cuts, you can make this stylish hexagon cedar bench. Fashion this 6-seater cedar bench around a full-grown backyard tree or dress it up with a colorful planter in the middle. For seating and display, you’ll enjoy a lot of potential at your fingertips if you have the skill for this project.

6. Cedar Bench with Truss

Clean-lined and simple, this sturdy 4-foot backless bench with a truss is striking nonetheless, a gorgeous complement to a dining set or an outdoor patio arrangement. Subtle angles and hidden hardware make this build more complex than it seems. But with few components to contend with, it doesn’t have to be difficult nor time-consuming to make this versatile addition to your home.

7. Backyard Backless Bench

A straightforward design makes this cedar backyard bench as adaptable as it is easy to build. Give yourself a place to relax in the backyard or a coffee table for your patio. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, this plan will give you a showroom-ready bench you’ll love for years to come.

8. 48-inch Modern Cedar Bench

After trying the single-seat cedar bench, try the large-scale version with these 48-inch modern cedar bench plans. Construction is easy, with a few fasteners and wood glue holding the wood strips together. Dowels covering countersunk screws enhance the look, while a healthy amount of sanding gives the sides a professional finish.

9. L-Shaped Patio Bench

Add a neat piece of modular comfort to your patio with an L-shaped cedar bench. Although it has a corner and a back, the build is arguably the most simplistic on this list. There are no hidden pocket screws or tricky angles—just straight cuts and a few nails to hold everything together.

10. Cedar Garden Bench from 2x4s

With arms and a back, this garden bench made from 2x4s is a comfortable addition to the lawn that doesn’t require much experience to build. Straight cuts and pocket screws are all it takes to make this classic design. The most complex part comes in the subtle arch to the back and the rounded arms, an optional element that’s relatively easy to add with a jigsaw, a steady hand, and some sandpaper.

11. Cedar Bench with Storage

Make a comfortable seat that’s full of function with these cedar storage bench plans. It doesn’t take a ton of skill or precision to make it work, and you get to use a timesaving technique to angle the back. It’s simple yet effective, a great project if this is your first time making a storage bench.

12. Cheap Outdoor Cedar Bench

Don’t let the look of this modern outdoor bench fool you—plenty of careful calculation and precision went into accomplishing the cleanliness. The seating and side pieces are cedar fence pickets that make a mitered shell going over a stout frame. For less than $50, you can make this beautiful hand-crafted piece as a fun afternoon project.

13. Cedar Garden Bench

Spruce up the look of your backyard with an impressive Craftsman-style garden bench. Subtle curves in the seating and arms make all the difference in comfort and class while supplying an extra challenge. Add in the mortise and tenon joinery, and you’ll find there’s no shortage of opportunities to put your woodworking skills to the test.

14. Cedar Bench with Planters

It won’t take much time, effort, or skill to craft this neat cedar bench with planters. The side planters are straightforward Jenga stacks of cedar 2x4s with 1×6 seating running between them. Some straight cuts with a table saw, a few drill holes, and a vibrant floral arrangement are all it takes to kick your patio or backyard up a notch.

15. Classic Garden Bench

Neither the easiest nor the most complicated garden bench on this list, this medium-difficulty garden bench is no doubt one of the comfiest. The gentle sloped back and concave seating are just enough to challenge you and provide some next-level relaxation on a nice sunny day.

16. Cedar Bench with Table

Perfect for a front porch, you’ll have a great time building a two-seater bench with a table in the middle. If you like to relax outside with a drink in hand, this is a fantastic project you can knock out for under $100.

See Also: 32 DIY Cedar Chest Plans You Can Make Today (with Pictures)

17. Easy Cedar Garden Bench

There are no arms or back to overcomplicate this cedar garden bench design. Stacked lumber for legs and cedar boards running between them is all you need to make this attractive landscaping accent.

18. 2-Hour Cedar Bench

There’s something elegant to the coarseness of this unfinished cedar bench, and you’ll appreciate the ease and efficiency of building it. Tack on a few extra minutes to add sand and stain to avoid splintering, and you can probably still complete the project in under 2 hours.

19. Cedar Garden Bench with Handles

It may be written as a cedar garden bench, but with a few tweaks to the dimensions, you’ve got the plans for a gorgeous coffee table as well. A sleek finished product, the simple addition of the handles provides a generous pop of flair.

See Also: 10 DIY Cedar Raised Garden Beds Plans You Can Make Today (with Pictures)

20. Basic White Cedar Bench

Bright and beautiful, this slender modern bench is a low-profile complement to an outdoor dining set or an awesome addition to a deck. Pocket holes hide the hardware for a seamless slatted top, and four chunky legs offer ample support without being too labor-intensive to build.

Related read: 7 DIY Hall Tree Bench Plans You Can Make Today

Final Thoughts

Thanks to its natural beauty and superior weather resistance, cedar is the ideal choice for building a long-lasting outdoor bench. Whether you finish it to a gorgeous sheen or leave it rough cut and rustic, you can be confident that your build will give you years of performance. Start with these plans for inspiration and find out how satisfying it can be to upgrade your backyard with a cedar bench.

See Also: 10 DIY Cedar Planter Box Plans You Can Make Today (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: alleks19760526, Shutterstock