Calculate the lumber, hardware, and total cost to build your perfect workbench. Choose from popular designs and get a complete cut list and shopping list.
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For budget builds, Southern Yellow Pine or Douglas Fir 2x4s work excellently. They're affordable, widely available, and plenty strong. For a premium bench, hard maple, white oak, or beech are traditional choices. Avoid softwoods like white pine for the top surface as they dent easily. The base can be any sturdy wood since it just needs to be strong.
A minimum of 3" thickness is recommended for a solid workbench top. This provides enough mass to absorb vibration and resist racking. For a laminated 2x4 top, four boards (6" total) gives excellent mass. Roubo-style benches traditionally have 4-6" thick tops. Torsion box designs (Paulk style) achieve rigidity through construction rather than mass.
Dog holes are incredibly useful for work holding with bench dogs, holdfasts, and various jigs. If you do any hand tool work, they're almost essential. For power tool users, they're still valuable for clamping. 3/4" round holes spaced 4-6" apart in rows is the most common configuration. You can always add them later with a drill and Forstner bit.
Many woodworkers prefer a simple oil finish like boiled linseed oil (BLO) or a hardwax oil. These penetrate the wood, are easy to apply and repair, and provide decent protection. Avoid film-forming finishes like polyurethane on the top surface as they can become slippery and will chip. Some prefer no finish at all, letting the bench develop a natural patina.
Heavier is generally better for stability, especially for hand tool work. A good solid bench should weigh at least 200-300 lbs. The Roubo style can easily exceed 400 lbs. If your bench is lighter (like a Paulk style), add weight to the lower shelf or attach it to the wall/floor. The bench shouldn't move when you're planing or sawing.