Every time I need to photograph something, I take it out to our little plastic (very weathered & dirty) outdoor bench, put a place mat down and try to get just the right shot. I was tired of trying to do that all while trying to keep the dirty plastic bench out of the picture. So, I told my husband I had a project for him and explained what I thought I wanted – a large tray. That led to a conversation about what would work and how we could create something better than a tray. The idea for a fence table was born!
I am a hands-on person and I really need to see things in 3-D to understand how they will work, so going into this project, I wasn’t REALLY sure it would be what we’d talked about or what I wanted.
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The hubs knew what he needed so we headed to Home Depot and gathered supplies. Our fence table cost just shy of $30.
How to Make a DIY Fence Table –
NOTE: Your fence will need to have horizontal 2×4 supports as this is what you’ll be attaching the fence table to.
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Box of 1 1/4″ Deckmate Screws (lifetime, all purpose)
- 2 – 4″ heavy duty tee hinges
- 1 – 8 foot 2×2 board
- 4 – 6 foot 5×8 pine dog ear picket boards
Note: We used treated wood so it would last longer.
Tools You’ll Need:
- Sander
- Level
- Drill
- Tape Measure
- Circular Saw or Hand Saw
- Speed Square
- Pencil
Directions:
1. Cut the fence boards to 48 inches from the bottom.
2. Lay the four boards down, side by side, spacing them with screws.
3. Trim the remainder of the fence boards to fit perpendicular across the spaced boards. (You can see this pictured below.)
4. Restack the wood so the table supports are evenly spaced on the bottom and the 48″ pieces are on top with gaps between them and screw together with 2 screws per cross piece per board. This can be visualized in the “DIY Fence Table Down” image below. (You can use the screws as you did in step 2 to create even gaps.)
6. Flip your table over and add a scrap of wood to each corner. These scraps go on the table supports away from the fence as they will hold the detachable legs in place. (See image below.)
7. Once you have one solid piece, you’ll screw it to the fence using the tee hinges. (See photo below for reference.) You are almost done at this point!
8. You’ll need an extra pair of hands for this step! Have someone hold your table level while you hold the 2×2 board where you want the legs and cut to create the custom fit detachable legs.
9. Once that’s done, sand it down and you have a fence table!! (Stain if desired.)
NOTE: Fence boards can warp significantly after they’ve been in the weather. If you find this is happening to your table, remove the single ‘bad’ board and replace with a new one.
The entire project took just over an hour it wasn’t exactly what I’d envisioned but it works perfectly. In addition to using it for photography, we use it to hold the makings for our s’mores parties, gardening supplies and more!
What would you use your fence table for?!
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Love this fence!
This is perfect for a potting shelf that can be out of the way when not being used! Thank you
This is a great idea! I have been trying to make more space on my garden to fill it with flowers
Omg! I love this. I’m so making ean do this very soon.
I bet he will like it too. Thanks sara
so cute! Wish we had a wooden fence
I love this! I need to make this for our gatherings, we have tons when the weather is nice. This would be perfect for food etc. Thanks for the idea!
Loooove this!Going to pin this for inspiration for Hubs!
aw thats cute idea!
Larry did an awesome job – I’m jealous!
I’d love to do this, but my fence isn’t nearly as pretty as yours and it’s mostly in the shade.
I love this. What a great space saver!
This totally turned out awesome!! I need one of these!
I love this, I am totally getting hubby to make this for me.
I can’t wait to see yours!!
Love that! Very nice! I wish we had a fence, I want one too!
You and your hubs came up with a great idea! I was recently at a friends who had a smaller version to set drink on while they were playing horseshoes in the back yard! Awesome idea!
What a great idea! You could win a contest with this idea. Keep it in mind next time there is a do it yourself contest. You would definitely win!
Thank you!!
That is such a great idea!You could use this for plants also
Nice!! What about using a pallet instead of buying the wood?
It’s doable – you’d have to disassemble the pallet (or cut it in half) – but the hubs thinks it would be more work. If you make one, I’d love to see it!
This is really cute. I can see my husband making this for me with pallets. 🙂 Looks so awesome.
I love that you can lay it flat when your done!! That would be great for us so we wouldn’t have to be worrying about one of our kids smacking their head on it or something worse. I really like the action shots of your husband hard at work.. you guys seem like a great couple 🙂
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This is actually genius! We host a lot of parties in the summer in our back yard, and this table sure would come in handy, what a space saver also, love how it folds down.
I was thinking already about making something like this on the side of my small Barn shed
But it was going to be bigger and used as a awning, then when not in use fold down like that
I would have to put the 2×4’s along the side which would look like what is on your fence and
Maybe bigger hinges lol
I bet that would be nice!
I absolutely love this idea!
What a great idea! I would use something like that for potting plants, or for holding picnic supplies.
Ohh fab….
Hubby is making several of these (doesn’t know it yet tehe)
Make great breakfast bar for summer (haha im in uk!!)
Also thinking paint with blackboard paint so when down kids can use.
Looks like I could use that for a great potting bench.
I am so going to use this idea!
Great idea. Saw a similar thing done as a laundry table at a motel YEARS ago. It had attached, hinged legs that folded up under it along the back. Needless to say, this idea isn’t just for outdoor fences (although I have the perfect spot.)
That’s awesome!
Oh wow! That is awesome! I love it!
Thank you! 🙂
Wow. This is amazing. It sounds like you’re the the perfect team, too!
I love this idea. I might just do this on my deck as a prep station!
I would LOVE something like that in our backyard, but our fence is the opposite of yours, with none of the support on our side 🙁
You could still do it! You’d just screw all the way through to the support on the other side.
Great idea! This will hold the bird dishes. I have a couple on the ground now I’ll just move them to the top of the table. Thanks!
Do you have a more step by step plan/instructions thing for a first time DIYer?
Which part are you having trouble with?
Me too, I am confused. Description of steps one and two-trying to match it to materials list, but not getting it.
I will go in and update the post this week. I’ll let you know when that’s done!
I am going to do this! I love the idea of more surface area that can fold flat when not in use. it will work great beside our outdoor table (like a sideboard or buffet). I think I will cover it with a colorful vinyl tablecloth that way it will be protected , wipe clean and will also look like artwork on the wall! thanks for the idea!
I need to adapt this fence table to a wall table in my sewing room. I thank you for your help in this endeavor. I’m sure I can pull it off without much trouble.
That sounds awesome! I’d love to see a photo when you get that done!
Love your fence table Sara, such a creative idea! Thinking of using your idea to make one before summer comes.
Would be great next to the grill for extra food space
Great ideas. Super excited to give it a try 🙂