21 Fabulous DIY Benches You Can Build for Cheap

These 21 stylish, inexpensive DIY benches include a huge range of benches perfect for every room in the house.

A great bench has got to be one of the most versatile pieces of furniture you can have in your home. Whether you need a spot to put on shoes near the front door, more seating for a dining table, a piece of furniture for the end of the bed, or extra seating outdoors, a bench can do the job.

These DIY benches include tutorials for creating beautiful benches in all different shapes and styles. There are built-in benches, outdoor benches, benches with backs and benches without.

Most of these benches are new builds, but there are also some really smart upcycled benches in the bunch that were repurposed from inexpensive finds.

Whatever kind of bench you’re looking for, I feel pretty confident you’ll find the perfect inspiration here!

To make it easy to find exactly what you are looking for, I’ve organized these DIY bench ideas into four sections:

• DIY wood benches – these benches are built entirely from wood and are generally the simplest designs
• DIY upholstered benches – benches with cushioned or tufted tops for when you want a comfy seat
• DIY benches with storage – benches with built-in storage (some of these are also cushioned)
• Unique DIY benches – benches with a really unique design, these are great if you want to make a big statement

You can find more details about each bench along with the full tutorial at the link below each photo.

DIY Wood Benches

This simple wood bench is one of my favorite pieces I’ve built. It’s made from inexpensive 2x4s and looks beautiful paired with the matching DIY dining table. It also works great in an entryway or outdoors on a patio.

Sometimes you really just need a simple, compact bench for a small space. This little bench from Angela Marie Made is about as easy and inexpensive as it gets – this entire bench was made using one 2″x12″ board and cost less than $10!

This wood bench from Houseful of Handmade is both simple and stylish. This is a particularly great design for showcasing a really nice wood species or even a great live edge slab top.

This long dining bench looks complicated, but the step-by-step instructions from Little House on the Corner make this very DIYable. (The plans do include measurements in centimeters, so if you are in the US, you may have to do a bit of converting, but the rest of the world is in luck!)

DIY Upholstered Benches

This elegant tufted bench was repurposed from an old wooden table, but Sustain my Craft Habit includes all the measurements and info so you can build your own from scratch if you don’t have a table to repurpose. This simple bench would look beautiful in an entryway, at the end of a bed, or tucked away in a reading nook.

This cute mid-century modern bench from Maggie Overby Studios was actually made from an old coffee table! This is such a smart way to create an inexpensive bench in your favorite furniture style.

DeDe from Designed Decor was able to build this cute little bench entirely using scrap wood from her garage, but even if you needed to purchase new wood, this is a super budget-friendly build. The tufted top makes this bench extra comfy and it’s a great way to incorporate a gorgeous fabric that will be perfect for your space.

This cute bench from Pretty DIY Home was made using an old headboard. This is such a smart way to repurpose an old headboard and this one definitely looks a million times better as a bench than it did as a headboard!

My favorite part of this beautiful wood bench has to be those gorgeous chunky legs. This bench would look beautiful in any room, but Stephanie from Abbotts at Home uses hers at the end of her bed and stores her decorative pillows underneath at night, which is such a smart idea.

DIY Benches with Storage

This simple DIY bench from Designing Vibes looks amazing against that board and batten wall. The simple cubbies are a super easy way to add storage using your favorite baskets and bins.

Here’s another fun little bench that only needs one 1″x12″ board! This little bench from The Handyman’s Daughter includes plenty of storage underneath along with a cushioned top making it a perfect spot for storing and putting on shoes.

This DIY bench from Designing Vibes has the sleek built-in look of a window seat with tons of hidden storage, but it’s actually on casters so that it can be moved out of the way when needed.

Zoe from Pine and Poplar is always creating gorgeous DIY furniture and this entryway bench is no exception. With a comfy cushioned top and deep drawers for storage, this bench is perfect for an entryway or hallway.

Unique Benches

This DIY live edge wood bench from Homemade Heather is absolutely stunning. If you can get your hands on a beautiful wood slab like this, this simple bench is such a fantastic way to showcase it.

I would never have guessed that this gorgeous sea grass bench from Pine and Poplar was a DIY! This beautiful bench really makes a statement and the step-by-step tutorial includes plenty of tips for weaving the sea grass.

This DIY pipe leg bench from Charleston Crafted is a such a fantastic industrial piece. I love the look of the pipe base and this would look great in a mudroom, paired with an industrial dining table, or even in a home gym.

This modern wood bench from DIY Candy is seriously stunning. This is another one that I never in a million years would have guessed was a DIY. This bench is actually a Crate and Barrel knock off and while the orginal was $999, this DIY version was only $60!

This sweet bench from Repurpose and Upcycle is the perfect way to upcycle a vintage crib. I can just see this out on a front porch next to a pitcher of sweet tea.

This DIY bench from Charleston Crafted is another great example of an upcycled headboard bench. This version uses the headboard for the back and the footboard for sides and turned out beautifully. You could create all different styles of benches with this tutorial simply by using different headboard shapes.

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