What is the best wood for outdoor furniture?

Cedar is the best all-around choice: naturally rot-resistant, insect-resistant, lightweight, beautiful, and easy to work with. Cost: $3-$8 per board foot. Pressure-treated pine is the most affordable ($1-$3/bf) and widely available. White oak is the most durable premium option. Avoid standard pine, poplar, or other non-weather-resistant woods outdoors — they rot within 1-3 years without treatment.

How much does it cost to build outdoor furniture?

Adirondack chair: $40-$160 DIY (vs. $150-$400 to buy). Outdoor bench: $25-$80 DIY. Picnic table: $80-$200 DIY. Dining table: $100-$300 DIY. Building your own saves 30-60% compared to buying quality furniture. The cost varies by wood choice (pine is cheapest, cedar and oak cost more) and size.

Is it hard to build outdoor furniture?

Beginner projects (bench, Adirondack chair, simple table) require only basic tools (circular saw, drill, measuring tape) and basic woodworking skills. Free plans are widely available online. A simple bench can be built in 2-4 hours. No advanced joinery is needed — most outdoor furniture uses screws and bolts rather than mortise and tenon or dovetail joints.

Do I need to seal outdoor furniture?

Recommended but not required for naturally rot-resistant woods (cedar, teak, white oak). Untreated cedar weathers to an attractive silver-gray. To maintain the original wood color: apply a UV-protectant exterior stain or oil annually. For pressure-treated pine: stain or paint after drying (2-4 weeks for wet-treated; KDAT is ready immediately). Always use exterior-rated finish products.

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Outdoor Living

Outdoor Furniture Building Guide: Materials, Plans & Costs

Lumberama Editorial Team, Woodworking & Outdoor Living Specialists Jun 11, 2026 12 min read

Why Build Outdoor Furniture

Store-bought outdoor furniture is expensive ($200-$2,000+ per piece for quality), often poorly constructed (particle board with veneer, thin metal, cheap fasteners), and limited in style. Building your own outdoor furniture costs 30-60% less, uses better materials (real wood, quality hardware), can be customized to your exact dimensions and style, and lasts significantly longer. And the satisfaction of using furniture you built with your own hands is hard to beat.

Best Wood for Outdoor Furniture

Cedar: Naturally rot-resistant and insect-resistant. Beautiful grain and color (reddish-brown that weathers to silver-gray if left untreated). Lightweight and easy to work with. The premium choice for outdoor furniture. Cost: $3-$8 per board foot. No chemical treatment needed. Treat with a UV-protectant oil or stain to maintain color, or let it weather naturally.

Pressure-treated pine: The most affordable option. Treated with preservatives to resist rot and insects. Widely available at every lumber yard and home improvement store. Green tint when new (fades to gray). Cost: $1-$3 per board foot. Must dry for 2-4 weeks before staining (or use kiln-dried after treatment, KDAT). Use exterior-rated stain or paint for the best appearance.

White oak: Extremely durable and naturally rot-resistant. Dense and heavy (sturdy furniture). Beautiful grain. More expensive and harder to find than cedar or pine. Cost: $5-$10 per board foot. A premium choice for heirloom-quality pieces.

Redwood: Similar to cedar (naturally rot-resistant, beautiful color). Increasingly expensive and limited availability. Cost: $6-$12 per board foot. Best for: high-end projects in regions where redwood is available.

Beginner Projects

Adirondack chair: The classic outdoor furniture project. Comfortable, attractive, and relatively simple to build. Materials: approximately 20 board feet of cedar or pine (6-8 boards). Tools: circular saw or miter saw, drill, jigsaw (for the curved back slats). Time: 4-6 hours. Material cost: $40-$80 (pine) or $80-$160 (cedar). Plans: widely available free online.

Outdoor bench: A simple and useful first project. Basic bench: two leg assemblies, seat slats, and a back rest. Materials: 10-15 board feet. Time: 2-4 hours. Material cost: $25-$
6
Can be built with just a circular saw and drill.

Picnic table: A practical weekend project. Standard 6-foot picnic table uses about 40 board feet of lumber. Time: 4-8 hours. Material cost: $80-$150 (pressure-treated pine). The classic design uses simple butt joints and carriage bolts — no advanced joinery.

Hardware

Use exterior-rated hardware only. Stainless steel screws and bolts (will not rust or stain the wood). Hot-dipped galvanized screws (affordable and rust-resistant). Exterior wood glue (Titebond III is waterproof). Never use interior-grade fasteners outdoors (they rust and stain the wood within months). For structural connections: carriage bolts or lag screws.

Finishing

Outdoor furniture needs UV and moisture protection. Options: exterior wood stain (semi-transparent preserves grain), exterior paint (full coverage and color options), exterior oil (tung oil, Danish oil — natural look, reapply annually), or leave untreated (cedar and teak weather to a silver-gray patina). Apply finish after construction. Reapply stain or oil every 1-3 years for maximum longevity.