Plans to Build a Barstool with Arms

DIY Barstool with Arms: Learn How to Build One with Detailed Plans

This is a great piece of seating that can be used indoors or outdoors… The plans to build a barstool with arms are very simple to construct using straight off-the-shelf lumber! The barstool features arms and a back, and several can easily be built in a weekend!

Plans to Build a Barstool with Arms_Copy

Materials:

  • 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws (<– affiliate link!)
  • 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws
  • 2-1/2″ screws
  • 1-1/4″ brad nails
  • Wood glue
  • Sandpaper (100, 150, 220 grits)
  • Finishing supplies (primer & paint, or stain, sealer)

Lumber:

Materials are listed to build ONE barstool

  • 2 – 1×3 at 8′
  • 4 – 2×2 at 8′ (or 2 – 2×4 at 8′ ripped in half)

Cut List:

  • 2 – 2×2 at 16-1/2″ – Upper Back Leg
  • 2 – 2×2 at 29-1/2″ – Lower Back Leg
  • 4 – 2×2 at 16″ – Back Stretchers
  • 2 – 2×2 at 34-1/2″ – Front Legs
  • 2 – 2×2 at 19″ – Front Stretchers
  • 2 – 2×2 at 18-1/2″ – Side Stretchers
  • 2 – 2×2 at 22″ – Arms
  • 1 – 2×2 at 16″ – Seat Stretcher
  • 1 – 2×2 at 18-1/2″ – Lower Stretcher
  • 3 – 1×3 at 10-5/16″ – Back Slats
  • 7 – 1×3 at 21-1/2″ – Seat Slats

Plans to Build a Barstool with Arms

 

Step One

Cut the pieces for the back legs. Cut a 5° bevel in the lower edge of the upper back leg pieces. With the pocket hole jig set for 1-1/2″ material, drill pocket holes in the upper edge of the lower leg. Assemble the legs as shown using glue and 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws.

Plans to Build a Barstool with Arms_Back Leg

Step Two

Cut the pieces for the back stretchers and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure to the back legs as shown using glue and 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws. Orient all of the pieces so that the pocket holes face down, except for the stretcher located under the seat (the third one down) so they won’t have to be filled!

Plans to Build a Barstool with Arms_Back Frame

Step Three

Cut the pieces for the front legs and the front stretchers. Cut a 5° bevel in the top of each leg. Drill pocket holes in each end of the stretcher pieces. Secure to the legs as shown using glue and 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws. The pocket holes in the lower stretcher piece will face down.

Plans to Build a Barstool with Arms_Front Leg Frame

Step Four

Cut the pieces for the side stretchers and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure to the back legs and upper front stretcher using glue and 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws.

Plans to Build a Barstool with Arms_Side Stretchers

Step Five

Cut the pieces for the arms and cut a 5° bevel in each end. The back end of the arms will line up with the second back stretcher. Secure the arms to the front and back legs as shown using glue and 2-1/2″ countersunk screws.

Plans to Build a Barstool with Arms_Arms

Step Six

Cut the piece for the seat stretcher and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure to the side stretchers as shown using glue and 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws.

Plans to Build a Barstool with Arms_Seat Stretcher

Step Seven

Cut the pieces for the lower stretcher and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure to the lower front and back stretchers as shown using glue and 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws.

Plans to Build a Barstool with Arms_Lower Stretcher

Step Eight

Cut the pieces for the back slats. Set the pocket hole jig for 3/4″ material and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure the slats to the back frame as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. The front face of the slats will be flush with the front face of the stretchers.

Plans to Build a Barstool with Arms_Back Slats

Step Nine

Cut the pieces for the seat slats. The two outer slats will have a 1-1/2″ x 1-1/2″ notch cut out of one end so that it will fit around the upper back leg. The slats will be placed approximately 1/4″ apart. Secure in place using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails.

Plans to Build a Barstool with Arms_Slats

Finish as desired.

 

If the barstools are going to be used outdoors, they should be constructed out of cedar or pressure treated pine (which can be painted after it dries). Have any questions about the plans to build a barstool with arms? Contact me at cher {at} designsbystudioc {dot} com!

Originally posted 2014-05-07 08:00:28.

9 Comments

  • LindySez says:

    Wow, you are amazing. You are going to put the furniture industry out of business!

  • […] (JPEG Image, 340 × 270 pixels) Plans to Build a Barstool with Arms. This is a great piece of seating that can be used indoors or outdoors… The plans to build a […]

  • jenn says:

    This is great and exactly what we’ve been looking for. Thank you thank you thank you!

    • CherTexter says:

      I am so glad, Jenn! You are so welcome and I really appreciate you stopping by! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! 🙂

  • One wop says:

    These plans are the best I’ve found, and with arms also. I purchased the wood but am having problems finding the best combination to use so that there will not be any waste or need to buy additional wood. Do you have that combo?

    • CherTexter says:

      Hello, there! I’m not exactly sure what is meant by “combo”… Are you asking about a cutting diagram?If so, I normally start with the longest piece (or pieces) and cut them first, then plan the cuts for the smaller pieces from what is left over. Does that make sense? If not or if that is not what is being asked, let me know! Thank you for the kind words – they are very much appreciated!

      • One wop says:

        Hi Cher
        Yes that’s exactly what I mean. I put all the cuts on a spreadsheet, and no matter what combinations I try there isn’t enough wood for either the 2×2’s or the 1×3’s. Although the total inches for the 2×2’s have 5.5″ left over I was unable to get them all cut from the 4 pieces. The 1×3 cuts cannot be made from the 2 pieces. The total inches for the pieces needed is 196.4″, but the total inches of 2 8′ pieces is 192. I guess I can only do the best I can to get most of the cuts done I will probably have to get another piece of each.

  • Paul Morrison says:

    Wow! GREAT stool plan!! Just what I’ve been looking for. Except, can you modify it a little to make it “stackable?” I’d like to be able to stack 3-4 of them to make covering them easier.

    Your site and plans are SUPER!!

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