Free DIY Sawhorse Plans for Beginners

Every workshop starts with a surface to work on. Before you dive into complex furniture builds, you need the right support. That is why we are offering our Foldable Sawhorse Plan completely free. This project is designed to be fast, sturdy, and beginner-friendly, giving you a reliable pair of supports that fold flat for easy storage.

The Build Process

Our sawhorse design relies on a folding shelf mechanism that locks the legs rigidly at a 15-degree splay, ensuring they bear weight directly wood-on-wood rather than putting stress on your hinges.

• Cut the Legs: Cut four 2x4s to 29-3/4 inches with 15-degree miter cuts at both ends to create a stable base.
  
  
• Prepare the Runner: Attach the legs to your runner using non-mortise door hinges.
  
  
• Add Cross Supports: Install supports 3-1/8 inches from the bottom of the legs to keep the structure square.
  
  
• Install the Top Plate: Attach a 2x6 top plate, centered with a 1/2-inch overhang.
  
  
• The Folding Shelf: The shelf acts as your locking mechanism. Position the shelf lock strip exactly 13-3/8 inches from the edge to ensure the legs sit at that perfect 15-degree angle when open.
  
  

Important Shop Tips

• Protect yourself: Always wear safety glasses and hearing protection.
  
  
• Cut on the waste side: Your blade removes 1/8 inch of wood with every pass.
  
  
• Glue is optional: Screws do the heavy lifting here, but wood glue adds stiffness to the joints.
  
  
• Use a spacer: If a step asks you to hold something at a height, use a scrap piece of wood as a spacer block.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE FOLDABLE SAWHORSE PLAN HERE 

What is Next?

Once you have mastered this build, you are ready to tackle larger projects. If you are looking to upgrade your workshop further, check out our First Workshop Collection, which includes our most popular plans:

• First Workbench Plan
• Compact Miter Saw Station
• Compact Router Table
• Rolling Cabinet Storage
• French Cleat Wall System + 5 Attachments

The goal is not perfection. The goal is to build something with your own hands. Grab the full plan, head to the store, and let us make something worth keeping.