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Shooting Bench Plans
A shooting bench for the range or the back yard, built from exterior plywood. The top is two layers glued together, so it stays flat and does not bounce under a rest. Two leg panels and a back panel make a rigid U that cannot rack, with open knee room on the side where you sit. The seat is a separate stool, so the same shooting table works for right- and left-handed shooters: slide the seat to your side.
- Default size
- 900 × 790 × 800 mm
- Parts
- 13 pieces · 9 sizes
- Sheets (2440 × 1220 mm (4 × 8 ft))
- 2 carcass + 1 door
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Build time
- About 5 hours
- Edge band
- 0 m
Cut list (default size)
| Part | Qty | Length | Width | Thick. | Board | Edges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top | 1 | 900 | 800 | 18 | Door board 18 mm (wood look) | |
| Top under-layer | 1 | 900 | 800 | 18 | Carcass board 18 mm | |
| Leg panel | 2 | 754 | 680 | 18 | Carcass board 18 mm |
Sizes in millimetres; length runs along the grain. Edges: bold lines are banded.
6 more parts, the sheet layout and the cut order are in the full plan.Resize it to any size, print labels and save it in a project.Sign in free to open it
How it is built
- Glue and screw the two top layers together from below, then screw the top down through the cleats, not into the edges of the leg panels.
- Cut a 100 mm (4 in) high arch out of the bottom of each leg panel, leaving a 150 mm (6 in) foot at each end: four feet stand steady on uneven ground.
- The back panel, on the target side, stops 100 mm above the ground and keeps the bench square; your side stays open for your knees.
- Use exterior plywood, seal every edge, paint or oil all faces and keep the bench under cover.
Common mistakes
- Adding a rail across your side: it hits your knees. The back panel and the cleats keep the bench rigid.
- Making the top from a single layer: it flexes under a rest and moves with recoil.
Tools you need
- Circular saw or table saw
- Jigsaw
- Drill/driver
- Clamps
Frequently asked questions
What are good shooting bench dimensions?
Most shooting benches have a top 30–36 in (760–915 mm) wide and 30–36 in deep, 30–32 in (760–815 mm) high, with a seat about 12 in (300 mm) lower than the top. The defaults here are a 900 × 800 mm (35 × 31 in) top at 790 mm (31 in), with the seat at 470 mm (18.5 in).
How high should the seat be?
Sit upright with the rifle on the rest: for most people the seat is 250–330 mm (10–13 in) below the top. Enter both heights; the plan warns you when the gap is outside that range.
Why a separate seat instead of an attached one?
A loose seat lets you sit square behind the rest, move to the left or right side, and carry the bench in two lighter pieces. Attached seats suit only one hand unless the top is cut in a wrap-around shape.
Can I make it portable?
Yes: join the top to the cleats and the back panel to the legs with bolts and threaded inserts instead of glue. The bench then comes apart into flat panels that fit in a truck bed, and the seat travels on its own.
What plywood is best for an outdoor shooting bench?
Exterior-grade 3/4 in (18 mm) plywood, or marine plywood if it stays outside. Seal every edge, paint or oil all faces and keep it under cover between uses.
