Build a Solid Workbench for Under $150

For two years I worked on a folding table I bought at a warehouse store. It wobbled. It flexed under any real force. I held it in contempt but kept telling myself I’d build a real bench “eventually.” Eventually finally came on a Saturday in February, and I built the whole thing in about six hours for $140 in lumber.

The Design

Simple 2x4 construction, 8 feet long, 24 inches deep, 34 inches tall (standard workbench height). No fancy joinery, no special skills required. Pocket screws and construction screws throughout. A sheet of 3/4-inch plywood for the top.

Materials

• (8) 8-foot 2x4s, about $5 each
• (1) 4x8 sheet of 3/4-inch plywood
• 2.5-inch pocket screws and 3-inch construction screws
• Wood glue for the top lamination if you want extra rigidity

The Build

Build two identical end frames first — two vertical legs with a top stretcher and a lower shelf stretcher. Then connect them with your long horizontal 2x4s front and back. Screw the plywood top down. Add a lower shelf if you want storage.

The Upgrade I Wish I’d Done From the Start

Bolt it to the wall at the back. A workbench that can’t move is twice as useful as one that slides around when you’re trying to apply force. Two lag bolts into studs and it becomes part of the house.

Six hours. $140. No more folding table.