This simple and elegant planter bench project is ideal for the porch, patio, or pool. Filled with plants and flowers, it will define a corner of the porch or patio with style.

Featuring all straight cuts and modular construction, the project allows the builder to decide what combination of planter boxes and connecting benches works best for their own space. Bills of material are included for individual boxes and benches, as well as for the combination pictured.

The planter bench as pictured is built from redwood for its beauty, strength, and durability, although other woods can be substituted if properly treated. The finished planter boxes measure about 20.5 inches square by 17 inches tall, and the benches measure 36 inches long by 15 inches wide.

Reply to Jack McClary
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90 Responses to “Planter Bench”

  1. Charles Galea

    Hi , I’m a newbie in woodworking and was wondering whether there is a video with step by step instructions on how to manufacture this planter bench. With all honesty I’m finding it hard to work. With the plan only.
    Thanks.

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Paul,

      Thank you for contacting us.

      To see the plans for this project you must be a member and signed into your membership. If you are interested in signing up, please click on the link below:

      https://go.wwgoa.com/a19766/

      If you have any other questions, please chat, email, or call Customer Service. 

      Sincerely,

      Sarah
      Wood Workers Guild of America Video Membership

      Reply
  2. Joe Newman

    excellent project, clear concise plans…thanks. is there a video to accompany this such as the chair build one?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi James. To access these plans you will need to be logged into your membership. Let us know if you have any questions.
      Sarah
      Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

      Reply
  3. William Nettles

    I have planters now that need to be replaced. These plans will work nicely

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi Jeff. You will need to be logged into your membership to have access to the plans. If you have any questions please give our customer service team a call at 1-855-253-0822.
      Jean
      Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

      Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Fidel. Thank you for your feedback. I have forwarded your comment to the proper department. We value your opinion and it will help with the development of our online streaming community.
      Thanks
      Jean
      Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

      Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello James!

      Make sure you’re logged into your membership and your plans are available!

      Thank you!

      Jessica
      Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

      Reply
  4. CHRISTINE

    Had a planter bench just like this at a former home. Loved changing out the flowers seasonally and sitting there with my coffee in the morning. I’ve missed it, but now I can make one for my current home. Thanks!

    Reply
  5. Robert White

    This is going to be very good. One for the back deck and one for the front

    Reply
  6. F.Robert Sweezy

    I built an eerily similar bench/planter set back in 1997 for our deck. 3 planters with 2 benches connecting them. It was all pressure-treated stock and has been outside for 23 years withstanding the test of time and the elements. My bench seats were from 2×6 stock and the boxes were made from 1×6 boards. I lined each box with felt paper before filling with dirt. If I had to do it over again I would have made the floor of the planter box about 10 inches from the top. My box floor is currently is only 1″ from the bottom so it is extremely heavy when filled with dirt.

    Reply
  7. Richard Gell

    I’m logged in and have tried two different browsers and still can’t get the link for the plans to work

    Reply
  8. Raj Vaddi

    i am looking to a front porch bench and this project seems like a great fit for my front porch. Greatly appreciate the effort put in place to have it available for every one.

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi Eric. In order to view the plans you need to be logged in to your membership. If you have any questions, please contact our customer service team at 1-855-253-0822.
      Thanks
      Jean-Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

      Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi Terry. To access the plans, you will need to be logged into your membership. If you have any questions, please contact our customer service team at 1-855-253-0822.
      Thanks
      Jean-Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

      Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi Bruce. I am sorry, in order to view the plans you do need to have a membership. I do see that your membership has expired. If you have any questions, please contact our customer service team at 1-855-253-0822.
      Thanks
      Jean-Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

      Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi Terry. In order to view the plans you need to be logged into your membership with your username and password. If you have any questions, please contact our customer service team at 1-855-253-0822.
      Thanks
      Jean-Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

      Reply
  9. David

    I bought these same plans about 10 years back, glad to see they’re still a popular design.

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi John. To view the plans you will need to log into your membership with your username and password. If you have any questions, please give our customer service team a call at 1-855-253-0822.
      Thanks
      Jean-WWGOA Video Membership

      Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi James. To view the plans you will need to be logged into your account with your username and password. If you have any questions you can contact our customer service team at 1-855-253-0822.
      Thanks
      Jean-WWGOA Video Membership

      Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi Charles. This is designed such that you would cut the hole to match the exact diameter of your put so that the pot rests on the plywood platform. For structural integrity I would suggest making the hole a maximum size of 11″ diameter. Paul-WWGOA

      Reply
  10. John

    Plan will not download. Clicking on “download plan” puts it into continuous loop. Tried several different, all with the same results. This is my first download after signing up for Premium membership – hopefully its not a sign of things to come!

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi John. We are sorry you are having trouble with downloading the plan. Please try hard refreshing the page or using a different browser. If you are still not able to download, please give our customer service team a call at 1-855-253-0822 and they can assist you.
      Thanks,
      Jean-WWGOA Video Membership

      Reply
  11. john robinson

    ods can be substituted if properly treated. The finished planter boxes measure about 20.5 inches square by 17 inches tall, and the benches measure 36 inches long by 15 inches wide.

    Reply
  12. Norman E Parker

    I love WWGOA. It has made me better woodworker. Still a lot to learn and tools to get.

    Reply
  13. w6jhb

    Nice looking bench/planter combo, but I question the use of nail to assemble it. Seems to me that the wild changes in weather & humidity from season to season would cause enough wood movement to make them come loose. Wouldn’t stainless screws be better here?

    Reply
    • F.Robert Sweezy

      I used galvanized nails on mine which I built in 1997 and it has stayed together nicely. I did use deck screws on a repair made 3 or 4 years ago but regret it as they are unsightly.

      Reply
  14. David and Lori Nimmons

    I CAN not wait to add this project to my list of completed tasks

    Reply
      • Customer Service

        Hi Tommy. You will need to be logged into your membership in order to download the plans.
        Thanks
        WWGOA Video Membership

        Reply
    • Customer Service

      Here is the link for the Planter Bench Plans:

      file:///P:/Operations/Customer%20Service/PDFs/Wood%20Working/WWGOA-Planter%20Bench.pdf

      Please let us know if you are still unable to view the plans!

      Reply
        • Customer Service

          Hi Judith. In order to view the plans you do need to be a premium member. You will need to login with your username and password. If you have any questions, please contact our customer service team at 1-855-253-0822.
          Thanks
          Jean- Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

          Reply
        • Customer Service

          Hi Jeffrey. I am sorry you are having trouble viewing the plans. You do need to be logged in with your username and password. Please try hard refreshing the page or using a different browser. If you are still unable to view the plans, please contact our customer service team at 1-855-253-0822 and they can assist you with this.
          Thanks
          Jean-Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

          Reply
      • Don Folscher

        I am not sure where that link will take me.. It looks like a shared drive on someones machine instead of a web url.. Maybe I will just make this by imitating the pic.

        Reply
        • Customer Service

          Hi Don,

          Thank you for contacting us. here is the link: https://www.wwgoa.com/plan/planter-bench/

          You will need to be logged into your membership to view it.

          If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-253-0822, or chat with us on our site.

          We greatly appreciate your business!

          Sincerely,

          Joan
          Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

          Reply
        • Customer Service

          Hello Ken,

          Thank you for contacting us. here is the link: https://www.wwgoa.com/plan/planter-bench/

          You will need to be logged into your membership to view it.

          If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-253-0822, or chat with us on our site.
          Sincerely,

          Sarah
          Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

          Reply
  15. Ed O'Flaherty

    Had build a similar project years ago with discarded cedar deck boards the boss (AKA the wife) loved it. The project was expropriated by a son when he installed a pool in his own yard a few years ago. Time to make another.

    Reply