33 DIY Workbench Ideas to Fit Any Garage or Shop
DIY workbench ideas for any garage or shop, from compact and folding benches to rolling flip-top carts and big assembly tables. Find the one that fits your space.
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Every shop needs a workbench, but no two shops are the same. Maybe you are squeezed into a corner of the garage, maybe you fold everything away between projects, or maybe you finally have the room to build something big. Whatever your situation, there is a bench here to match it. I rounded up 33 DIY workbenches and sorted them by the problem they solve, so you can skip straight to the ones that fit your space and the way you work.
Originally published November 18, 2015.
Small Workbenches
Tight on space? These compact benches give you a real work surface without taking over the room.
1
woodshopdiaries.com
Small Footprint, Storage on Every Side
Working in a tight corner? Shara at Woodshop Diaries built a compact rolling bench that gives you a real work surface without taking up the whole garage. The clever part is the sides, where leftover plywood turns into clamp rails and cubbies for the glue, sandpaper, and drills that usually clutter the top. It is a beginner-friendly build that doubles as a storage cart.
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2
tylynnm.com
Easy and Quick to Build
Tylynn built this straightforward bench for her husband’s side of the shop, and it is about as quick and forgiving as a workbench gets. The roughly six-foot top gives you real room to spread out, and the design is easy to size up or down. A great first build if you want a lot of surface without a lot of fuss.
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3
ana-white.com
Benches That Rearrange to Fit the Job
Ana White's modular setup is built from benches topped with countertops, so you can use one on its own, pair them as sawhorses, or push several together into a big work surface. It is a flexible answer for a shop where the job, and the space, keeps changing.
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4
thecarpentersdaughter.co.uk
First Build, and Still Going Strong
Vikkie at The Carpenter’s Daughter made this sturdy bench as her very first woodworking project, which tells you how doable it is. It is robust enough to handle real work and finally got her out of cutting in the conservatory. If you have been talking yourself out of building one, let this be the nudge.
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5
ana-white.com
Sixty Dollars of Lumber, One Sturdy Workbench
Ana White’s garage workshop workbench has been a go-to for years, and for good reason: it is a big, sturdy bench for around $60 in lumber. The ends are left open for easy clamping, and the lower shelf gives you storage to spare. A proven first build when you want the most bench for the least spend.
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Mobile Workbenches
Benches on wheels that roll to the work and tuck away when you are done.
6
sawsonskates.com
The Cart That Tidied Up My Shop
I built this rolling utility cart with just three tools over a free weekend, mostly because my laser engraver never had a home. It works as a mobile bench, an assembly table, a stand for a miter or scroll saw, or a finishing station, and the bottom shelf holds a pile of supplies.
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7
angelamariemade.com
Rolling, Budget-Friendly, and Attractive
Angela of Angela Marie Made built this rolling bench for a small back-porch shop, with a painted frame and a stained top that could pass for a kitchen island. It came in around $185, and the top hangs over the front so you have room to clamp. A smart option if you want a mobile bench that does not look like a hand-me-down.
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8
charlestoncrafted.com
Roll It Anywhere, Keep Your Tools Within Reach
Sean at Charleston Crafted built this sleek all-plywood bench to roll anywhere in the garage, with a big flat top for projects. Side shelves keep go-to tools and hardware close, and a slatted base gives you a spot to stash things underneath.
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9
jenwoodhouse.com
Clear the Scrap Pile, Roll Away a New Bench
Got a pile of offcuts and an afternoon? Jen Woodhouse built this simple roll-around bench from scrap wood with her kids in a few hours. It is a handy second surface you can push wherever you are working, and the casters lift it off the floor when you lock them down. A satisfying way to turn leftovers into something useful.
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10
rogueengineer.com
Sturdy, Rolling, and Done in an Afternoon
Jamison at Rogue Engineer needed a quick, cheap bench of his own, so he built this rolling one in about a half an hour. It uses only half a sheet of MDF, which means the leftovers are enough to build a second. A no-fuss surface for when you just need a solid place to work.
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11
woodshopdiaries.com
Drawers Below, a Flip-Up Top Above
Shara at Woodshop Diaries built this medium-sized rolling bench to pull double duty, with drawers for storage and a top that flips open for even more. She designed it with a future CNC machine in mind, so there is room to grow into it.
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12
thehandymansdaughter.com
Small, Mobile, and Ready to Clamp Anywhere
Vineta at The Handyman’s Daughter built this small mobile bench around a T-track top, so you can clamp a workpiece almost anywhere on the surface instead of just along the edges. It is big enough to build on, small enough to roll out of the way, and packed with shelves below. A great fit if clamping is always a wrestling match on your current bench.
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13
thehandymansdaughter.com
Basic 2×4 Bench, Built to Hold a Saw
Vineta at The Handyman’s Daughter used this sturdy 2×4 and plywood bench as her miter saw home for years, and it is about as approachable as a build gets. A flat top, a big lower shelf, and side shelves give you work room and storage in one. A solid starting point if you want one bench to anchor the whole shop.
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14
jaimecostiglio.com
Built Low for Basements and Sheds with Short Ceilings
Got a basement or shed with low ceilings? Jaime Costiglio built this bench at a shorter 30 inches so it fits under tight overhead space while staying a comfortable height for assembly. The chunky legs make it rock solid, and there is open storage below for tools. It rolls, too, so you can park it against a wall when you need the floor.
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15
shanty-2-chic.com
Quick, Cheap, and Rolls Where You Need It
Ashley at Shanty 2 Chic built this bench for around $100 with the casters included when she set up the shop in her new house. It is a quick, beginner-friendly build that rolls out of the way when you are done. A budget-friendly way to get a real workbench under your tools in a hurry.
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Folding and Portable Workbenches
Set up when you need them, fold or pack away when you do not. Built for small shops and driveway DIYers.
16
sawsonskates.com
My Folding Bench Sets Up Fast and Disappears Faster
I built this folding workbench for anyone short on space or working without a real shop. It sets up sturdy when you need a surface and folds flat when you are done, like a heavy-duty card table for the garage. It is light enough to carry out to the yard or over to a buddy’s house, which has bailed me out more than once.
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17
ana-white.com
Four Square Feet Folded, Twelve When You Need It
Ana White built this folding workbench with her sister to solve the space problem head on: it tucks into about four square feet against the wall, then folds out to a roomy work surface. It rolls on locking casters and keeps your tools right there with it. Worth a look if you only build now and then and cannot spare the floor.
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18
pneumaticaddict.com
Folds Flat and Rolls, a Rare Combination
Elisha at Pneumatic Addict wanted a bench that was both mobile and collapsible, which is harder to pull off than it sounds. Hers folds down to a compact rectangle you can slide into a crowded garage, then opens up to hold a full-size top and double as an outfeed table. A clever answer when every square foot counts.
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19
wilkerdos.com
Drops Down to Work, Folds Up to the Wall
April Wilkerson mounted this folding bench right to the wall, so it drops down when you need a surface and tucks flat against the wall when you do not. It is a quick build, and with a coat of paint it could moonlight as a craft table indoors. Ideal if you want to reclaim every inch of floor the moment the work is done.
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20
instructables.com
Collapsible, and It Hides Under Your Main Bench
This collapsible bench was sized to slide right under the maker’s existing one when it is not in use, which is about as space-smart as it gets. It also sits at the right height to back up a miter saw as an outfeed support. A neat second surface for a shop that is already full.
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21
funkyjunkinteriors.net
Folds Flat and Follows You Outside
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors loves working in the sun, so she set up this portable worktable to fold flat and travel wherever the project is. It is an easy answer for limited space, or for anyone who would rather build on the patio than in a stuffy garage. Set it up, work, then tuck it away.
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22
ana-white.com
Stores the Tools Inside, Pops Up Into a Bench
Ana White’s portable workbench is really a box that holds your tools and then unfolds into a sturdy work surface. It stows under a bed for about $40 in materials, which makes it a lifesaver for apartment builders or anyone working without a shop. Grab it, set it up, and you are ready to build just about anywhere.
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Multi-Purpose Workbenches
Flip-tops and saw stations that let your workbench pull double-duty.
23
sawsonskates.com
Two Tools, One Footprint, Flip to Switch
I built this flip-top cart so I could mount something like a planer on one side, flip the top, and the other side is a flat workbench. It rolls on locking casters and skips the full sheets of plywood that are a pain to handle in a small shop. Two pieces of shop furniture in the space of one.
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24
theawesomeorange.com
Give Two Heavy Tools a Permanent Home
Sadie Mae of The Awesome Orange was tired of hauling her planer and Kreg Foreman onto the bench every time she needed them, so she built this flip-top to give them a permanent spot. Flip it and the tools disappear, leaving a flat surface for assembly or outfeed. She sized it to pair with her miter station for an even bigger workspace.
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25
pneumaticaddict.com
One Cart, Four Tools, Always at the Ready
Elisha at Pneumatic Addict designed this double-ended flip-top to mount several big tools on one rolling cart, so a planer or sander is always a quick spin away. The tops pivot on a center axle, and a good set of locking casters keeps it put while you work. A real space-saver if your bench top keeps disappearing under benchtop tools.
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26
tylynnm.com
One Bench That Holds Both Your Saws
Tylynn built a mobile bench that holds a table saw and a miter saw at once. The miter saw shelf drops down to cut, then lifts flush to fill in as a full outfeed table.
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27
ana-white.com
Saw Station, Outfeed, and Storage on Wheels
Ana White built this roughly twelve-foot setup to be a complete saw station, with a spot for a sliding miter saw and a cart that holds a table saw. The carts roll, the table saw cart doubles as outfeed, and storage is worked in throughout. Built for the shop that has room to spread out.
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Big Workbenches
When you have the room, these workbenches give you serious surface and storage to spread out.
28
fixthisbuildthat.com
Big, Strong, and Cheap to Build
Brad at Fix This Build That set out to build the biggest, sturdiest work table he could for as little money as possible. The result is a roomy rolling table from a handful of 2x4s and a sheet of MDF, joined simply enough for a first-timer.
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29
ana-white.com
Sized to a Full Sheet, Built in a Day
Ana White sized this work table to a standard four-by-eight sheet, so it is built for assembling big cabinet boxes, dressers, and tabletops. It is strong, minimal, and designed to go together in a single day by one person.
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30
woodshopdiaries.com
When You Finally Have Room to Go Big
Got the space for a proper bench? Shara at Woodshop Diaries built this large rolling workbench with a generous top for laying out tools and assembling projects. It is loaded with storage, including end cubbies and a dedicated home for a circular saw.
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31
jenwoodhouse.com
Main Workbench, Rebuilt Smarter
After living with a bench that took over her shop, Jen redesigned this one to be stronger and earn its keep. It has shelves, a place for paint and stain cans, a clamp track for easy clamping, and magnetic strips to corral stray bits.
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32
fixthisbuildthat.com
Solid-Wood Bench, Built from Cheap Lumber
Brad at Fix This Build That proves a heavy, solid-wood bench does not need a big budget, building this one from plain construction-grade lumber. The thick top takes a beating, doubles as an assembly or outfeed table, and you can drill dog holes for clamping.
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33
fixthisbuildthat.com
Ten Drawers and a Lit Pegboard Back
Brad designed this bench for a working garage, with five drawers on each side and a pegboard back lit by a built-in light. There is even a spot to sit while you work.
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Hi there – I’m Scott, a woodworking enthusiast and creator of Saws on Skates, a site I started in 2015 to share easy-to-follow tutorials, space-saving shop tips, and project inspiration for DIYers at any skill level. Learn more about my woodworking journey here.
Hi Scott, love your blog! Found it via Woodworkers Workshop (was searching diy cupboard plans and I really like yours). I love the idea of the wheels on your workbench and tools but how do you keep them from rolling around when you’re making something? Do they have locks on them? Just curious, lol.
Jan
Hi Jan – Thank you for the note and for the compliments! That’s a good question about the tools/workbench. Yes, all of my tools are on locking casters. You can find them just about anywhere… Home Depot, Lowe’s, Harbor Freight, etc. Please let me know if you have any more questions – Scott