Build a Square Outdoor Handmade Coffee Table with Wood X Base

The steps below follow the order of the work for this furniture project.

Build your own outdoor coffee table. This Handmade square wood coffee table or ottoman woodworking plan features a cross-brace wood X base, built with either pocket hole joinery or mortise and tenon joints.

Build A Handmade Outdoor Coffee Table With Faux Stone Top, Inspiration Bekob

Hi it’s Amy from Hertoolbelt, back with another build plan. Cassity’s outdoor coffee table on her deck has made a few appearances on Bekob like here and here, and I love it.

By popular request, I’ve put together a woodworking plan inspired by this piece (no longer available in stores) so you can build your own Handmade outdoor coffee table.

Square Outdoor Coffee Table With Wood X Base, Bekob

Of course, this square coffee table could be right at home in your living room, too, so don’t let the “outdoor” part fool you!

Handmade Square Outdoor Coffee Table

The original outdoor coffee table has a stone top. To recreate the look, you’ll need to find a 34″ x 34″ stone piece or make the top from an alternate material. (See more options at the bottom of the post.)

You could use wood planks instead or a sheet of plywood or other solid surface (which could then be painted like zinc or marble or given some creative treatment like any of these Handmade countertops, appropriately sealed for outdoors).

You could also pour your own concrete table top by creating a form following the instructions here and here.

See more Handmade table top options at the bottom of this post.

You might also like: Build an Outdoor Coffee Table with Drink Cooler Trough

How to Build an Indoor or Outdoor Wood Coffee Table Base

The outdoor coffee table woodworking plan includes 2 options to build the X base for the table: complex (for advanced builders) and direct (for beginning builders).

This is the well fitted outdoor coffee table for the deck, love the X base. Build a Handmade outdoor coffee table with these free plans.

The direct version of the wood coffee table base is a little more “chunky” than the original. It uses lumber that is readily available at the home improvement store, with pocket hole joinery. Recommended for advanced first-time builders.

The complex version of the coffee table base more closely matches the original inspiration table dimensions and construction. It is built using mortise and tenon joints and rough cut wood (dimensions actual 2″ x 2″ and 1″ x 2″) which you’ll have to purchase at a wood distribution store. Because it is more complex, this version is recommended for more advanced builders who are already familiar with cutting mortise and tenon joints as well as lap joints.

What size is a square coffee table?

Both versions of this woodworking plan build coffee table bases that are 34″ W x 34″ D x 18″ H (base only, tabletop will add height). This is the well fitted outdoor coffee table for the deck, love the X base. Build a Handmade outdoor coffee table with these free plans.

Handmade Outdoor Coffee Table with X Base Materials

open this to purchase the woodworking plan with cut list and assembly instructions.

direct Pocket Hole Joint Version – first-time

Estimated lumber cost: $22

1 – 4″ x 4″ x 8′ post (actual 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″)
6 – 2″ x 3″ x 8′ boards (actual 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″)
2 1/2″ pocket screws
wood glue
sandpaper
34″ x 34″ top
Stain/top coat

Complex Mortise and Tenon Joint Version – Advanced

Estimated lumber cost: varies by region and species of wood

1 – 2″ x 2″ x 8′ board (actually 2″ x 2″)
8 – 1″ x 2″ x 8′ boards (actually 1″ x 2″)
1 1/2″ pocket screws
1″, 2″ brad nails
wood glue
sandpaper
34″ x 34″ top
Stain/top coat

You might also like: Build an Octagon/Round Outdoor Coffee Table with Lattice Base

Handmade Coffee Table Stone Table Top options

After building the wood table base, add a 34″ x 34″ top. Since purchasing a slab of stone can be pricy, here are a few options of alternate materials to the stone:

Use 2″x 6″ or 2″ x 8″ boards to create the planked look, like this octagon/round coffee table
Pour your own concrete table top
Build a wood frame and tile top (similar to this)
Faux paint a stone tabletop, such as Faux Zinc or Faux Marble
Use a countertop painting kit for a different faux stone tabletop look
Create a metal wrapped table top

**Note that the table base may need additional reinforcement for a particularly heavy table top, such as concrete.

How to Weatherproof an Outdoor Wood Coffee Table

After building the base, you’ll want to make sure to give it some weather protection. Depending on the harshness of the elements in your area, a paint or stain meant for outdoors might suffice.

For extra protection, we recommend using a clear coat (like the drink cooler patio table) or spar varnish (like the outdoor sectional sofa). You could also try using a wood-penetrating sealer like the one used on these Handmade wood countertops.