DIY Porch Swing – A Step by Step Guide for under $300
How to build a DIY porch swing
The most frequently asked blog post is now up! My very handy hubby helped me to create this post and I am extremely grateful. I have to admit this is mostly a foreign language to me but he assures me if you follow the plans you’ll be good!
We built this swing based on the dimensions of a small single mattress. You can also make this swing on a smaller scale, using a crib mattress. I always wanted a porch swing in our backyard but was not willing to pay the price to buy one! We knocked this project out over a few weekends and I could not be any happier! Hopefully these DIY porch swing plans help you create a swing where you will create memories for years to come.
Materials to build a DIY Porch Swing
Untreated pine (home depot or Lowes);
- 4×4 x 8ft (1)
- 2×6 x 8ft (2)
- 2×4 x 8ft (7)
- 1×6 x 8ft (3)
- 1×4 x8ft (4)
Other Material:
- 4” , 3” , & 2” wood screws
- 4 stainless eye bolts
- 1” rope
- ‘early american’ stain.
- Water-based polyurethane
- Braid Nailer
- Large black aesthetic wood screws on hand that we added just for looks (made by OWT)
Directions on how to build a DIY Porch Swing
DIY Porch Swing Plan
Refer to the plans above while following the instructions
Instructions
- Lay out the 2×4 base frame. Drill and screw it together with two 4” screws in each corner
- Cut and attach 1×6 outer baseboards with a brad nailer or drill and screw 2” screws
- Install the 4×4 corner posts using 4” wood screws, drill and screw from inside the base frame
- Install the vertical 2×4 at the back center of the swing. Again by drilling and screwing from the inside of the frame (outwards).
- Cut, and screw the 4 cross frames using 2×4’s.
Note: the cross frames are the trickiest part because of the angles. If you prefer vertical slats around the sides of the swing instead of the cross frames, it can be easier to build
- Cut the two arm rest shapes out of 2×6. We used a router to soften the edge. The front of the arm rest sits on top of the front 4×4 post. Drill and screw from the top of the armrest down into the 4×4 with two 4” screws. At the back of the arm rest, drill and screw from the outside of the 2×6, into the 4×4 with two 4” screws.
- Cut and Install the 2×6 for the top back rest. Drill and Screw using 4” screws down into the rear 4×4 posts.
- Cut several lengths of 1×2 to serve as the slats that will hold the mattress. Cut two longer pieces of 1×2 and screw them to the front and back, inside of the 4×4 frame. These will support the slats. Make sure the slats sit flush with the 4×4 frame.
- Drill and install the stainless eye bolts near the bottom of each 4×4 corner post.
- Stain with MinWax Early American, and apply 3 coats of Polyurethane to Protect.
- Hang using thick 1′ rope secured with rope clamps.
Since we hung this swing, I have spent almost every day outside! I feel like I am in a tropical vacation in my backyard!
Happy building!
xoxo,
Leanna
Good Afternoon Leanna,
First off lemme say that I’m loving the swing. I just had someone build pergola in the yard and this will add a nice touch.
I live in the Caribbean and the material are not always on hand.
Please can you provide a link for the clamps and the stainless eye bolts Also, the 4” , 3” , & 2” , were they the Large black aesthetic screws?
You did a beautiful job!!
Are you able to provide the link to the mattress you used that the dimensions will work with?
Can this have 2 anchor points instead of four
I had DIY before but was able to get one wood tree swings from treeswingstore.com and it’s one of my favorite purchases of all time?.Super sturdy, excellent quality.
This is indeed a very elegant design. I really love to put wood tree swings on our yard plus this porch swing that can be used with Family. I was able to see some designs in treeswingstore.com that is very similar and I was really planning to purchase soon.
Hi Leanna
I am looking for a specialist in making Daybed Swing. Do you know of anyone that can recommend?
Would you be able to link the mattress you used
Can you link the mattress you bought please?
Lovely porch swing! I have a porch swing and a wooden disc swing at the backyard from https://treeswingstore.com/wooddiscswing/ and I’m pretty much happy about it! It really does add some value to the house in terms of relaxation and comfort. So much so that I also want an indoor swing in the living room set up soon!
I like the concept! Can you tell me where i can found those lights?
What are those lights behind the swing?
I love this plan but I’m wanting to build it for a twin mattress. Do you by chance have dimensions/plans for that?
no sorry!
Ohh, I would love to have something like this on my porch. I only have now a wood tree swings located at my backyard. I hope https://treeswingstore.com/ will also consider porch type designs like this.
do you have plans for the pergula or dimensions on how to build that as well, besides the swing. If your husband or you could let me know that be awesome. Just built a new house girlfriend and I and want to build this for her.
I have a question: How do you protect all the mattress/covers/sheets/pillows in case of rain since you have an open pergola? Do you put everything away each night or are they scotch guarded? Do you only make up tgge daybed/swing on a nice day? No one can be home every minute in case it starts to rain! Lol Thanks, Kristy
Can you link the clamp you used on the rope? Thank you!
Will the dimensions work with twin size mattress.
no it will not. only the single size mattress
What size Timberlok screws did you use?
Hi Leanna, this beautiful!
Can I ask what material the pergola is made out of? To hold the weight of the swing?
Best regards and congratulations on your beautiful page !
Jessica (Portugal)
This swing looks perfect except we would like to build it using a crib sized mattress. Do you have the materials list and plans for a crib sized swing?
Hi there. I’m attempting this build for my wife for her birthday. I’m a civil engineer. I’ve got a few questions.
1. It looks like the mattress is a 30” x 75” mattress aka “small single” or “cot size” as you’ve said. I’m looking at how the mattress rests on the wood & it seems to me that the 2×4 frame is 30” (2’-6”) wide & 5’-11” long. 5’-11” is only 71” not 75”, which is what the mattress is supposedly. Can you tell me if I’m missing something?
I’ll add other questions as I go on to other steps. Thanks in advance.
Yes that is correct. The mattress when you receive it does not match the dimensions from the website. We got the mattress first, then built the swing around the mattress. The mattress does fit snug in the swing, which is what we wanted!
Ok. Excellent. Thanks so much for that info. That’s helps a ton. And thanks for responding so quickly. So the mattress is really more of a 30” x 71”?
Next question:
In the materials list you included 1x4s. In the drawings I only see 1x2s. Did y’all strip the 1x4s down to 1x2s? Or is one of the two places mislabeled?
How thick is the mattress you put in? I love this!
Have the lights behind the swing been a problem with the littles when they’re playing? Are they anchored at the bottom? They add so much evening charm.
Thank you for such complete video reviews of the processes, too! Much appreciated.
Nope not at all, they don’t really go back there. And the lights are not anchored at the bottom and have been fine through all the rain storms.
Did you wrap your mattress in plastic?
yes it has a plastic mattress cover then a fitted sheet!
Can you link some mattresses or cushion to fit this size swing?
its a single size mattress – smaller then a twin but bigger then a crib
Thank you for this tutorial! One question— any advice on the pillows for the back? Are they Euro size? Do you have any recommendations? Many thanks ????!
they are euro pillows! they aren’t outdoor pillows but anything that is white can be bleached easily!