First Workbench Plans

Every project gets easier once you have a surface that stays put. Around $97 in lumber and plywood gets you six feet of flat, solid bench at standing height, with a full shelf underneath for the tools stacked in the corner. Follow the cut list, follow the diagrams, done. No table saw, no experience, no guesswork. If you can drive a screw and run a circular saw along a straightedge, this build is already within reach.

• Build time: one afternoon
• Materials cost: around $97, less than a flat-pack bench that wobbles by month two
• Tools needed: drill, circular saw, clamped straightedge (no table saw)
• Size: 72" long, 28" deep, 35-3/4" tall
• Includes: doubled 2x4 frame, four braced legs, full-length bottom shelf
• Skill level: first-time builder friendly