How to build Outdoor Bar Stools

These outdoor bar stools are the perfect addition to an outdoor bar table. They are quick and inexpensive to build.

Last year we built a 2×4 outdoor bar table. Such a fun outdoor DIY project!

The only thing missing from making it the perfect outdoor table for us, were outdoor bar stools.

Cheaper to build stools than buying

We kept going back and forth on whether we would buy stools or build our own.

Buying stools meant we would have them right away and building them might take a while.

The cost is different too, stools tend to be expensive especially when you are buying at least 4 of them. Most basic models start at least $60 each.

With this month’s At Home DIY Challenge: Build it cheaper than buying it. I figured it would be the perfect occasion to see if we could build our own stools for cheaper than buying them.

At Home DIY challenge is a year long DIY challenge. Every month we have a new challenge. Last month’s challenge was Build to Organize, my project was a DIY controller stand. At the bottom of this post you’ll find more built it cheaper than buying it projects.

I found these really pretty bar stools from Shanty 2 Chic absolutely gorgeous. They were however not quite the right style to go with our outdoor table.

Then I came across Rogue Engineer’s easier bar stools and found the bar stool frame to be closer to what we were looking for. 

We did some math and figured we would be able to build 4 outdoor bar stools for $50 using pressure treated wood including the deck screws to assemble them. That’s $12.50 each! Cheaper than buying them!

How to build outdoor bar stools

Supplies:

To make 1 stool:

• 2x Treated Wood Brown – 2″ x 2″ x 8′
• 1x Treated Wood Brown – 1″ x 4″ x 8′
• Brown Square Deck Screws – #8 x 3″
• Brown Square Deck Screws – #8 x 1.5″

To make 4 stools:

• 8x Treated Wood Brown – 2″ x 2″ x 8′
• 3x Treated Wood Brown – 1″ x 4″ x 8′
• Brown Square Deck Screws – #8 x 3″
• Brown Square Deck Screws – #8 x 1.5″

Tools:

• Measuring Tape
• Pencil
• Square
• Miter saw
• Drill

Cut List:

To make 1 stool:

• 4x 2×2 cut at 24″
• 4x 2×2 cut at 11.5″
• 4x 2×2 cut at 7.75″
• 3x 1×4 cut at 15″

To make 4 stools, multiply the cut list by 4.

Instructions:

Step 1: Cut one of the 2×2’s with a miter saw.

• Two pieces of 24″
• Two pieces of 11.5″
• Two pieces of 7.75″

Step 2: Repeat the above step with a second piece of 2×2.

Step 3: Cut a 1×4 with a miter saw into 3 pieces 15″ long.

Step 4: Sand rough edges.

Step 5: Place two 24″ pieces on a flat surface with one 11.5″ piece in between at the top.

Step 6: Use a drill to pre-drill a hole through the top of the 24″ piece into the 11.5″ piece.

Step 7: Screw a 3″ screw into the pre-drilled hole to attach the two pieces together.

Please note that we did not use carpenter’s glue. You can definitely add glue between the wood pieces before adding screws.

Step 8: Flip the piece over and repeat steps 6 and 7 on the other side in order to attach the 11.5″ piece into the 24″ piece.

Step 9: Place a 11.5″ piece at 6″ from the bottom.

Step 10: Like the previous pieces, pre-drill a hole then insert a 3″ screw into the pre-drilled hole to attach the pieces together.

As a mentioned previously, you can use carpenter’s glue along with a screw for an even better hold.

In fact, the next time we make some, we will put glue as I find that the bottom pieces turn a little when we put our feet on them.

Step 11: Flip the piece over and repeat the above step to attach the 11.5″ piece to the other side. 

The first side of the bar stool is complete.

Step 12: Repeat steps 5 through 11 to make the other side piece.

Step 13: Time to attach the 4 pieces of 7.75″ onto one of the frames.

Position one piece at each intersection.

Pre-drill a hole making sure the hole is not lined up with the screw already in place.

Insert a 3″ screw into the pre-drilled hole to attach the piece onto the frame.

Repeat until all 4 pieces are attached to the frame. (Make sure they are all pointing towards the same direction.)

Step 14: Take the remaining frame piece and pre-drill holes at the 4 intersections making sure to avoid the screws.

Step 15: Place that frame piece over the 4 pieces of 7.75″.

Step 16: Insert 3″ screws in the 4 pre-drilled holes in order to attach everything together.

Step 17: Turn the frame upwards and place the 3 boards of 15″ 1×4 centered on the top.

Step 18: Pre-drill holes on the 3 boards, 2 on each end.

Step 19:  Drill 1.5″ screws into each pre-drilled holes.

Step 20: If you are making 4 bar stools. Repeat all the steps to make more stools.

Once we were finished, we had 4 bar stools measuring 11″ x 15″ x 24.75″ each.

DIY Outdoor Bar Stools

The bar stools turned out awesome!

They look fabulous around our 2×4 bar table! There’s enough room around the table that we can easily build 2 more stools!

How to build Outdoor Bar Stools for around $12.50 each

I’m so happy with our bar stools. I love how they look and I love that they cost us around $12.50 each! Woot Woot!

We could have built them for even cheaper had we not used pressure treated wood.

Have you ever built something that was cheaper to build than to buy? I’d love to hear about it!

Have a beautiful day!

Christine