Bob's Free Woodworking Plans


How to Build an Octagon Picnic Table

Octagon Picnic Table

Completed Octagon Picnic Table Made of Solid Cedar

The octagon picnic table offers significant benefits to the classic picnic table design. The octagon design not only seats more people, the space between the seats makes it easier to sit down and get up.

Of course it's a matter of personal opinion, but we could say the octagon design is simply more beautiful and sophisticated than the traditional long straight picnic tables with benches along the sides.

The Octagon Picnic Table is superior to the traditional picnic table design in a number of ways. It seats eight adults in comfort as opposed to six for the traditional classic six foot picnic table with attached benches. The open seat design makes it easy for your guests to sit down and get up without inconvience to the guest sitting next to them. The octagon shaped top puts the food within easy reach of everyone. Also, everyone is in a more convenient arrangement for conversation.

Octagon Picnic Table Dimensions

Octagon Picnic Table Dimensions - Side View

Please note that there is no PDF file for these Octagon Picnic Table plans. You can either view these plans in your shop with your phone or mobile device or print a paper copy of this web page with your printer.

Our Octagon Picnic Table Plans Are Aivided Into Three Sections.

Octagon Picnic Table Assembly Instructions

Page Top    Parts Drawings   Items Needed


Assemble the Top Octagon Segments

Assemble the Top Segments In Pairs

Assemble two octagon segments together as shown above. Clamp both pieces so they fit together properly and secure the joint with 2” pocket hole screws. You will need to assemble four pairs of segments like these.

Assemble the Top Segments In Pairs

Next, arrange the assembled pairs of segments together as shown above. Again, clamp both pieces together and secure the joint with 2” pocket hole screws.

Assemble the Top Segments In Pairs

Finally, arrange and clamp the segments together as shown above and sewcure with pocket hole screws.


Attach The Top Narrow Gussets

Attach The Top Narrow Gussets

Position the Narrow Gussets on the bottom side of the Top Octagon Segments as shown above. Ensure the Octagon Segments are equally spaced from each other and the Gussets are centered over the octagon joints and also centered side to side. Secure the Gussets to the octagons with 2 1/2" rust resistant screws


Attach The Top Wide Gussets

Attach The Top Wide Gussets

Position the Wide Gussets as shown above. The Wide Gussets should be positioned against the Narrow Gussets where the Narrow Gussets come together in the center of the Top as indicated by the red arrows. Attach the Wide Gussets to the octagons with 2 1/2" rust resistant screws.


Attach The Legs To The Top Gussets

Attach The Legs To The Top Gussets

Attach the legs to the Narrow Gussets with 4" bolts, two flat washers, one lock washer, and nut as shown in the drawings. Do not completely tighten the nuts until the Picnin Table is completely assembled.


Attach The Connector Rail Gussets To The Center Of The Long Connector Rails

Attach The Connector Rail Gussets To The Long Connector Rails

Attach a Connector Rail Gusset to each Long Connector Rail with two 2 1/2" wood screws as shown in the drawings above. The Connector Rail Gussets must be centered from end to end of the Connector rails.


Assembling the Legs and Connector Rails

Assembling the Connector Rails

Attach The Top Trim Pieces

Attach The Top Trim Pieces

Position the eight Top Trim pieces so they are evenly spaced and centered on the top. Attach with three 2 1/2" screws as indicated by the red arrows in the drawing above.


Assembling The Seats

Assembling the Seats

Clamp the seat boards so they fit together properly and secure them together with 2" pocket hole screws as indicated by the red arrows in the drawing above.


Attach The Seat Gussets

Attach The Seat Gussets

Position the seat boards so there is a 3/8" gap between them. Attach the end and center seat gussets with 2 1/2" screws as shown above.


Assemble The Seat Base

Clamp the Seat Base boards and Base Extensions so they fit together properly and secure them together with 2" pocket hole screws as shown in the drawing above.


Assemble The Seat Base, Seat Posts, And Seats

Assemble The Seat Base, Seat Posts, And Seats

Position the Seat Posts on the bottom side of a set of seat boards as shown above. The edge of the Seat Post should be 2" from the end of the Gusset as shown in the Detail View. Attach the Seat Posts to the assembled seat boards with pocket hole screws as indicated by the red arrows above. Choose screws of a length that will not protude past the Seat surface on the opposite side.

Next, place an assembled Seat Base on top of the Seat Posts as shown above. Determine the location for the screw holes and drill two 3/16" holes through the Base Extensions as indicated by the blue arrows. The screw holes should be centered over the ends of the posts. Attach the assembled Seat Bases to the bottom ends of the Seat Posts with 3" screws.


Attach Corner Gussets

Attach Corner Gussets


Attach The Seats To The Legs And Connector Rails

Attach The Seats To The Legs And Connector Rails<

Congratulations! Your Octagon Picnic Table Is Complete

This completes the assembly section of our Octagon Picnic Table plans.

Octagon Picnic Table Parts Drawings

Page Top    Assembly    Items Needed


Parts Drawings - Top Octagon Segments

Drawings - Top Octagon Segments 1
Drawings - Top Octagon Segments 2

Parts Drawings - Top Gussets

Drawings - Wide Top Gussets
Drawings - Narrow Top Gussets

Parts Drawings - Top Trim

Drawings - Top Trim

Parts Drawings - Legs

Drawings - Legs 1
Drawings - Legs 2
Drawings - Finished Leg

Parts Drawings - Connector Rails

Drawings - Connector Rails 1
Drawings - Connector Rails 2

Parts Drawings - Seats

Drawings - Seats 1
Drawings - Seats 2

Hole Layout - Top Segments

Drawings - Hole Layout - Top Segments 1
Drawings - Hole Layout - Top Segments 2

Hole Layout - Seat Parts

Drawings - Hole Layout - Seat Parts

Hole Layout - Top Gussets

Drawings - Wide Gussets Drawings - Narrow Gussets 1 Drawings - Narrow Gussets 2

Hole Layout - Connector Rail Gussets

Drawings - Holes Connector Rail Gussets

Hole Layout - Rail Seat Gussets

Drawings - Hole Layout - Rail Seat Gussets


Hole Layout - Middle Seat Gussets

Drawings - Hole Layout Middle Seat Gussets

Hole Layout - End Seat Gussets

Drawings - Hole Layout End Seat Gussets

Hole Layout - Long Connector Rails

Drawings - Hole Layout Connector Rails

Hole Layout - Legs

Drawings - Hole Layout Legs

Items You Will Need

Page Top    Assembly    Parts Drawings  

Tools Needed

To build this Octagon Picnic Table, you will need basic woodworking tools including the following.

  • Table Saw
  • Electric Drill
  • Sander
  • Miter Saw/Hand Held Saw
  • Pocket hole Jig
  • Quick Clamps or C-clamps

Parts You Will Need To Make For Your Octagon Table

Parts List For Your Octagon Table

Octagon Picnic Table Cutout Drawings - 1

Cutout Drawings - 1

Octagon Picnic Table Cutout Drawings - 2

Cutout Drawings - 2

Octagon Picnic Table Cutout Drawings - 3

Cutout Drawings - 3

Copyright Notice

We hope you enjoy these free Octagon Picnic Table plans and the other free woodworking plans offered on this site. You are invited to download or print any of the plans free of charge for your own use. Please be aware that the plans are copyrighted and may not be distributed by any person or company except here on www.bobsplans.com.

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Please note that there is no PDF file for these Octagon Picnic Table plans. You can either view these plans in your shop with your phone or mobile device or print a paper copy of this web page with your printer.


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FreeOctagonTablePlans.htm (03-13-2023)