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
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?