How Much Does It Cost to Build a Picnic Table?

Picnic tables are a great way to enjoy the great outdoors in a comfortable and relaxing way. They are great ways to entertain family and friends and can offer a beautiful workspace or dinner table to their owners.

You can buy picnic tables at many chain hardware stores, such as Lowe’s or Home Depot, but if you are more of a do-it-yourself kind of person, you may want to try building a picnic table on your own!

Building a picnic table by yourself may seem very daunting and unnerving for some people, but for others, it may seem like a piece of cake. Regardless of your experience with building or working with lumber, it is important to know your budget and know how much the materials you are planning to buy cost.

Many people will weigh their options, deciding between purchasing a picnic table already built or with some assembly required, or building their own.

Depending on the type of wood you are using, the retailer you are purchasing the lumber or table from, and the state of the economy, one option might be significantly cheaper than the other option. While doing it yourself is often the cheaper option, it may not always be the case. 

If you are planning to build your picnic table, then you have come to the right place! In this insider guide, we will go into all the details and give you all the answers to questions you might have about the cost of building your picnic table!

What’s the Average Cost to Build a Picnic Table?

The average cost to build a picnic table will depend on the type of wood that you were using, whether or not you already have the tools needed to build the picnic table and the prices for lumber and materials in your area.

Generally, a person building a picnic table themselves who already owns the tools they need to build the table will spend an average of $90 on their picnic table.

Of course, for those who need to purchase tools to build the picnic table, the price will be a good bit higher. tools like drills or electric saws can be quite pricey depending on the brand that you are purchasing. 

If you want to keep costs down while building your picnic table but you do not own power tools, then you may want to ask a friend or neighbor if you can borrow their tools to keep your price around $90.

Again, although we believe the average is approximately $90, this can vary depending on the area you live in, the materials you are purchasing, and the economy of course. 

How Much Does It Cost to Build a 6-Foot Picnic Table?

In general, a 6-foot picnic table can be built in around 3 hours by someone who knows what they are doing. It may take a little bit longer for someone who is less experienced with woodworking, lumber, or building things to construct their picnic table.

A 6-foot picnic table typically will cost you around $90 to $100 to build yourself. This depends on the economy, the type of wood the builders using, the cost of other materials like screws, and whether or not the builder already has the tools they need to build the table.

It is also a good idea to factor in the money you might spend due to mistakes and fix those mistakes, especially if you are new to woodworking and building. Always remember when cutting wood to measure twice and cut once. This can help decrease the number of incorrect cuts, which can keep the amount of wood you have to replace lower.

How Much Does It Cost to Build an 8-foot Picnic Table?

Building an 8-foot picnic table will cost you just a little bit more than building a 6-foot picnic table. On average, it will cost you $100 to $120 to build an 8-foot table. It is only a little bit more expensive because you have to buy longer lumber and more screws and other materials.

Again, this price can rise significantly if you do not own the tools you need to build the table. If you are on a budget, definitely ask a friend or neighbor to borrow their tools instead of purchasing your own, especially if you know that you are not someone who builds frequently.

How Much Would it Cost to Hire Someone to Build a Picnic Table?

If you are thinking about hiring someone else to build a picnic table for you, be prepared to do some shopping around. Although the materials for the picnic table will likely cost the same as if you built it yourself, you now have to factor in the cost of labor.

In addition, different woodworkers will charge different rates per hour. More experienced woodworkers will likely charge higher rates per hour while less experienced woodworkers are typically cheaper. Some builders may charge a flat rate for the whole project.

It may take some time to find a builder who is within your budget and has the experience that you want. It is very difficult to say the exact amount or even the average of what it would cost to hire someone to build you a picnic table.

We can assume that if materials cost $90, and the average hourly cost for a carpenter is $26, you will end up spending approximately $170. This is because it typically takes a skilled woodworker 3 hours to build a picnic table, so the hourly rate gets multiplied by 3, and then $90 is added on for materials, which totals approximately $170.

Of course, this cost may be more expensive or cheaper depending on the carpenter, company, and experience of the builder.

How Much Wood Do You Need for a Picnic Table?

To build a picnic table, you need a lot of wood. You will need 14 pieces of 6 ft 2×6 lumber, which you can get by asking a sales associate at the hardware store to cut seven 12 ft 2x6s in half. You will also need 2 pieces of lumber that measure 8 ft 2×4.

Each piece of wood is going to serve a different purpose on the picnic table, so you must get enough wood to complete the project. The six-foot-long pieces of lumber will be for the table top and seats, while the 8 ft pieces will be cut to become the braces underneath the table.

Is it Cheaper to Buy or Build a Picnic Table?

Depending on the picnic table that you buy, it can be cheaper or more expensive. Most picnic tables that you buy will be pre-assembled or need some assembly, and are likely to be more expensive than building your picnic table.

Picnic Table Costs with Different Materials:

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Picnic Table with Pine?

Pine 12 ft 2x6s cost approximately $15, which equals $105. The 8 ft 2x4s cost an average of $5, totaling $10. In total, spending on the cost of wood at your hardware store equals $120.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Picnic Table with Cedar?

Cedar 12 ft 2x6s cost approximately $, which equals $105. The 8 ft 2x4s cost an average of $5, totaling $10. In total, spending on the cost of wood at your hardware store equals $120.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Picnic Table with Teak?

Teak might be a harder wood to build a picnic table out of because it is much more expensive and can be tricky to find in the right dimensions. It can run you around $150 to $200+.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Picnic Table with Acacia?

Acacia is another type of wood that might be hard to find in the size you need for a picnic table at an affordable price. This may increase the price from $150 to $200+.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Picnic Table with Redwood?

This will cost you $200 to $250 to make a table from Redwood, as it is more expensive.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Picnic Table with Cypress?

It will cost you approximately $100 to $150 to build a picnic table out of Cypress.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Picnic Table with Douglas Fir?

It will cost you approximately $100 to $150 to build a picnic table out of Douglas fir lumber.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Picnic Table with Composite Wood?

It will likely cost you around $200+ to build a picnic table out of good quality composite wood.

How Much Would It Cost to Build an Aluminum Picnic Table?

It can cost you between $400 and $1,000 to make a picnic table out of aluminum.

How Much Would It Cost to Build a Metal Picnic Table?

It can likely cost you $300 to $1,000 to build a picnic table out of metal.

How Much Would it Cost to Build a Concrete Picnic Table?

It can cost around $200 to $400 to build a concrete picnic table.

How Much Would It Cost to Build a Folding Picnic Table?

This cost would likely be the same as a wooden picnic table, with the added cost of the material needed to make the table fold.

How Much Would it Cost to Build a Picnic Table Bench?

This depends on the materials that you are using to build. The more expensive the materials, the more expensive the picnic table bench!

What is the Cheapest Material to Build a Picnic Table?

Definitely wood. You can find cheap, durable, and good-quality lumber at a hardware store and use outdoor paint or finish on it to keep it safe from the elements for years.

What’s the Most Durable and Longest Lasting Picnic Table Material?

Metal is the best material for a picnic table, but that is usually not an option for most folks building at home.

What Screws are Best for Building a Picnic Table?

If you are building using wood, long screws and short screws are needed to secure and hold the table together. Other materials may not require screws, like concrete.

Can You Use Nails to Build a Picnic Table?

Yes, you can use nails to build a picnic table as long as they are used in the right places to make sure it does not break.

What’s the Lifespan of a Wooden Picnic Table?

With the proper care and maintenance, you can expect several decades of use from a wooden picnic table.

Do Picnic Tables Require Much Maintenance?

Yes but not a lot. You should be cleaning your table and keeping it as dry as you can, as well as sealing it with an outdoor and weather-protecting finish.

Is Pressure Treated Wood Safe for Picnic Tables?

Pressure-treated wood should be fine to use to build a picnic table.

Do You Need to Be a Carpenter to Build a Picnic Table?

No, you do not need to be a carpenter to build a picnic table. All you need are the materials, a plan, and a dream.

Final Thoughts

It might seem like a challenge to build a picnic table, but it can be fun and easy! All you need is to understand how the table comes together and do it! It is lots of fun for experts and beginner carpenters alike and creates a great place for family and friends to gather around.