Beach chair made from euro pallets: DIY instruction guide and more

Planning

You can buy euro pallets online, at your local retailer or at a DIY store. New ones cost between €15 and €50, depending on whether they are untreated or sanded and varnished. You can buy used pallets for as little as €10. Make sure they’re in good condition though. The wood should be light, clean and free from splinters. A bluish discolouration of the wood indicates mould, which could be difficult to remove.

Pallets are, of course, ideal because you are reusing old wood, allowing you to be part of the recycling trend. If you’re interested in sustainable projects, check out our upcycling ideas and our article on sustainable home furnishings.

To make a DIY beach chair you’ll need anywhere from four to eight pallets, depending on the design. The total cost, including screws and paint, will be €100–250. By comparison, a beach chair you buy online or at a shop will cost you north of €250 EUR, while high-end models made of teak will set you back at least €1,000.

Beach chair variants

Euro pallets have two key advantages over other materials: You save time because you do not have to create the base frame, and they are just the right size for two people to sit comfortably side by side. In most cases, the seat consists of two or three pallets stacked on top of each other. You can also install a backrest, roof and side panels made from pallets, depending on your personal preferences and requirements. The advantage of making the side panels out of pallets is that you can place narrow flower boxes in the space between the top and bottom of the pallet. Also check out our DIY tutorial for a privacy screen made from pallets for more information.

Some beach chairs even feature a wooden door and a back panel made from roof boards. This way, they can be closed quickly when it rains without having to store the cushions away. Roofing felt is used to ensure that the roof remains watertight. It is also possible to install an awning on the beach chair that can be opened and closed. Make sure that the material is waterproof.

Heavy-duty casters that allow you to turn your beach chair in any direction are recommended.

Added features for your beach chair from pallets

You can build your DIY beach chair to meet your personal needs based on your own ideas. How about a cup holder or a small fold-out table mounted on the side panel, for example? An extendable footrest or an adjustable backrest are other great features for added comfort. Plus, they’re easy to build. And in the evening, a solar-powered light chain on the roof is just the right thing for a romantic mood.

To create more space to put your things on when relaxing in your beach chair, how about an easy-to-make balcony table or a DIY picnic table?

Preparing the pallets

First off, you should check the wood for damage and make any repairs necessary. This step is important if you’re using used pallets.

• If there are any nails sticking out, you can simply hammer them in.
• Splinters and rough spots can be smoothed out using a sander. Since a pallet has many edges and corners, we recommend using a multi-sander. 
• Use a screw to make any cracks in the wood bigger. Then apply wood glue inside the cracks and press the sides firmly together using G-clamps.
• Scrub off any dust or dirt using soapy water and a brush. You can even use a pressure cleaner if you’d like.

What do I need to keep in mind when assembling a pallet beach chair?

It is best to assemble the beach chair where you will be using it later on, for example, on your balcony, patio or in the garden. Once it’s been put together, it is difficult to move.

You need to apply wood preservative to garden furniture like your beach chair to protect it from the elements. You can also add a dash of colour by using wood paint. If you prefer a natural look, then you’re best option is to use a clear-coat stain. We recommend painting the pallets before putting the beach chair together. That way, you can reach all the nooks and crannies much more easily. The side panels, roof and back panel can also be painted later on. If you prefer to use a paint spray system instead of a brush, check out our paint spraying guide.

If you want to add an adjustable backrest, you’ll need two hinges and two pieces of wood, each about 10 cm long and filed round. Use the hinges to connect the back section to the seat. Screw one side of the boards to the backrest so that it can be folded in and out.

The roof of your beach chair should be positioned at a slight angle, so that rainwater can run off more easily. Fasten the roofing felt using special roofing felt bolts.

Let’s get started – step-by-step instructions

We have chosen a very basic beach chair made from four pallets and 40 chipboards, which can be easily assembled even by inexperienced do-it-yourselfers. Follow the steps listed below:

1. Begin by checking the wood for damage and make any repairs necessary.
2. Sand down splinters and rough spots.
3. Paint the pallets with a brush or paint spray system.
4. Screw the casters to the bottom of the lowest pallet: 2x fixed in the front and 2x steerable in the rear.
5. Stack two pallets on top of the bottom one and fasten them in place on the back using long screws.
6. Lean the backrest onto the seat with the back third positioned at an angle, and fix it in place using 25 cm long screws.
7. Connect the boards for the side panels at the top using of a crossbar.
8. Cut the side panel at an angle with a jigsaw (front: 163 cm, back: 153 cm) and fix them to the pallet frame. You could also use a sabre saw here.
9. Cut the boards for the roof and screw them onto the side panels.
10. Attach a board in the front as a shade.
11. Cut the boards for the back panel (153 cm) and fasten them to the beach chair.
12. Paint or spray the side panels, roof and rear panel.