A solid slatted bench for the front door, built from four 8 ft (96 in) 2x4 boards, not the 92-5/8 in precut studs, and one 2x2 board, with square cuts, screws and glue. Sit on the four-slat seat to pull your boots on, then park them on the open shelf underneath, where the gaps let grit and melted snow drop through. The end frames hide their screws on the inside, and the seat screws are filled and sanded before a clear satin finish.
Before you buy anything, it helps to know three things: how big the finished build is, what you’ll bring home from the store, and how the assembly goes. Here they are for the Entryway Boot Bench, straight from the plan.
How big is it?
The finished size is 38 × 15-1/2 × 18 in (97 × 39 × 46 cm), width × depth × height. Measure the spot where it will stand before you start.
What you’ll buy
The shopping list comes to about $82 at the prices we saw (Sep 27 – Oct 8, 2026). Prices change, so check your own store.
| Qty | What | At the prices we saw |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2x2 SPF, 8 ft | $2.87 |
| 4 | 2x4 SPF, 8 ft | $17.00 |
| 1 box | #8 x 2-1/2 in interior flat-head Torx wood screws | $12.63 |
| 1 | Titebond III Ultimate wood glue | $9.98 |
| 1 | DAP Plastic Wood natural latex wood filler | $11.98 |
| 1 | 3M Pro Grade Precision 9x11 in 120-grit medium sheets | $6.98 |
| 1 | 3M Pro Grade Precision 9x11 in 220-grit fine sheets | $4.27 |
| 1 | Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane | $15.97 |
The shopping list names what to buy; the cut list in the plan turns those boards and sheets into parts. Check both before your first cut.
Tools you need
- Tape measure
- Speed square
- Pencil
- Miter saw
- Drill/driver
- Drill bits (1/8 in and 5/32 in for pilot holes)
- T20 star driver bit
- Clamps (at least 2, bar clamps 36 in or longer)
- Sandpaper
- Small paintbrush
- Safety glasses
- Hearing protection
How the build goes
The plan has 6 steps, each with a drawing and the parts it uses. The plan’s own estimate is about 4–6 hours; treat it as an estimate.
- Cut and sand the parts
- Build the left end frame flat
- Build the right end frame flat
- Stand the frames up and add the aprons
- Lay the boot shelf
- Fasten the seat slats
Before you start
- Compare the shopping list with the stock sizes your store actually carries.
- Check every measurement against your own materials before cutting.
- Read the safety notes at the front of the plan and wear the protective gear it lists.
What the plan includes
- Preparation packet PDF (shopping list, cut list, tools), 7 pages
- Build guide PDF, 23 pages
- Preparation packet PDF, metric (mm) (shopping list, cut list, tools), 7 pages
- Build guide PDF, metric (mm), 24 pages
- Offline animated 3D build guide (ZIP; open guide.html in a web browser; guide-metric.html for mm)
It is a digital build plan: nothing physical ships. See the plan.
These plans are for planning and personal use. They are not engineered drawings and do not claim compliance with any building code. Check local rules and use your own judgment on site.
General planning guidance. Follow your chosen plan and tools’ instructions; ask about unclear dimensions or substitutions before cutting.