Outdoor Rocking Chair

Originally posted May 5, 2017 by Brad.

This rocking chair started as a scrap-lumber challenge after a few back porch repairs left me with extra outdoor boards. Instead of letting the material sit around, I wanted to see if I could turn it into a simple outdoor chair with a matching set of free plans.

After nearly ten years of use, I can vouch for the design. It has become my favorite outdoor relaxation spot, and the simple screwed-together construction made it easy to repair after one rough accident.

Download the free plans Support PTB

Watch The Build

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Design And Material

The build began with leftover boards from the porch project. That made the chair a practical experiment rather than a fine-furniture build. The goal was an outdoor rocker that could be built with common material and basic shop tools.

While designing the chair, I tried to keep the joinery simple. Most of the joints can be cut with a dado blade, but the design does not require anything exotic. One part originally used a large radius cut from a 2 x 6 for the back rests. After building it, I realized that piece could probably be simplified with a straight cut without changing the comfort very much.

Finished Chair

This chair was built as an honest outdoor-use project, not as a family heirloom. The original version was screwed together without glue. If the chair loosens up over time, construction adhesive or waterproof glue would be an easy upgrade.

Long-Term Use And Repair

After many years of rocking in this chair, I can say it is extremely comfortable. It has been my favorite outdoor relaxation spot through a lot of seasons.

The simple construction also turned out to be a strength. At one point the chair took a spill off a porch about three feet high and one of the leg supports broke. Because I still had the plans and the chair was screwed together, I was able to cut a replacement part, disassemble the damaged area, remove the broken support, and install the new piece without much trouble.

That repair is one reason I still like this design. It is not complicated for the sake of being complicated. The parts are understandable, the joinery is approachable, and if a piece gets damaged later, the chair can be repaired instead of thrown away.