Do-it-yourself pallet bench: DIY guide and tips

Euro pallets can be purchased online or at a local retailer or DIY store. New pallets cost between €15 and €50 based on whether they are sanded and varnished or untreated. You can find used ones for as little as €10 or even for free on a classified ad portal or at an industrial park.

Or maybe you even have a few pallets at home left over from your last DIY project. Only use pallets that are in good condition. The wood should not be heavily splintered or discoloured. This saves you time and effort repairing and cleaning the pallets.

Recycling is all the rage at the moment. Used pallets are a cheap and sustainable way to build your own garden bench from pallets. Also check out our upcycling ideas or our article on sustainable home furnishing, if you’re interested.

Regardless of whether you opt for used or new pallets for your bench, the first thing you should do is sand them down to avoid painful splinters. Plus, paint adheres better to sanded surfaces. The fastest way to sand the euro pallets is with a handy multi-sander that can get to the most difficult corners. 

Start with a coarse sandpaper before moving on to a finer grain. Also round off the corners of the pallets while you’re at it. Important: Wear a mask and protective goggles when sanding, so that the fine dust particles from the wood do not get into your eyes or lungs! Also take the time to read about the additional safety precautions for DIY projects.

To ensure that the bench is able to withstand the elements, it is recommended that you pre-treat it with impregnating primer. This protects the wood not only from moisture, but also from insects and mould. After the primer has dried, you can apply wood varnish or stain. You can choose from a wide range of colours for both. White remains a highly popular colour. It can be used to create a wide variety of looks – everything is possible from the quaint country home to the trendy industrial look. Light grey or dark anthracite in combination with red seat upholstery looks really elegant.

Speaking of cushions, you can find ones specifically designed for pallet furniture that match the size of a euro pallet in shops and other retailers. They are suitable for benches where you will be using the entire pallet as the seat. If you screw a backrest or armrests to the seat, you will need smaller cushions. You can also make your own cushions out of foam. 

If you want to build a pallet bench, the first thing you need to decide on is the size. A euro pallet is 120 cm long, 80 cm wide and 14.4 cm high. It is long enough for two people to sit comfortably side by side. For a three- or four-seat bench, you’ll need two pallets that are joined together by an additional board. If, on the other hand, you only have a limited amount of space available, for example, because your balcony is narrow, you can also cut the pallets down to the right size. It’s best to use a jigsaw to saw the pallet to length. 

The great thing about pallets is that you can build the individual elements and then connect them later on. This means you can gradually add new pieces to your simple bench to create an outdoor lounge ensemble. An L-shaped set-up is also possible.

The height of the seat will depend on how many pallets you stack on top of each other, which seat cushions you decide to use and whether or not you choose to mount casters on your pallet bench. Two to three pallets are typically stacked on top of each other.

To be able to sit comfortably on your wood pallet bench, you also need a backrest. The easiest way to add one is to fasten a pallet to the back of the seat. You can also cut a pallet to the required size and place it at an angle to the seat and screw it in place. You can lend your bench a lighter, airier look by removing individual boards from the pallet using a crowbar or by removing the entire sub-frame (including the wooden blocks).

Your bench made from euro pallets is now finished. For even more comfort, there are useful features you can add. Armrests, also made from pallets, make for a cosy experience. They should be as long as the seat is wide, so that you can rest your arm comfortably on them. You can either remove the sub-frame of the pallet or use the gaps between the boards as cup holders or to store snacks in.

The space under the seat of your pallet bench can be used for storage. You can build drawers quickly from four boards cut to size and a sheet of plywood as a base. If you need more space because you want to store the cushions in the bench, for example, you can build your bench as a chest.

Even if you treated your pallet bench and other DIY garden furniture with wood preservative, it should not be permanently exposed to moisture. On rainy days and during the winter, it is advisable to cover the pallet furniture with a hood or cover to protect it from the elements. If nothing else is available, a simple plastic tarp will do. You can find out how to spruce up your wood furniture in the spring in the article How to treat your wood in the spring.

In our instruction guide we’ll show you how to build a simple garden bench with an upright backrest made from three pallets. Using it as a basic guide, you can then add extra features and try out your own ideas.

1. Sand the pallets using a multi-sander.
2. Apply impregnating primer and let it dry.
3. Paint or spray the pallets with wood preservative or stain.
4. Place two pallets on top of each other and screw them together.
5. Place the third pallet in back of the first two pallets, use G-clamps to fix it in place and then fasten it to the other pallets using screws.

There is a full range of stylish garden furniture you can make from euro pallets and give your own personal touch. For example, we’ll show you how to build a matching table from pallets in a separate instruction guide. Of course, having a garden bar made from pallets is an absolute must. If you like the rustic look of pallets, you can also complement it with furniture made from a similar material, such as a table made from fruit crates or stools of from fruit crates.