Project plan · Workshop

Laminated-Top 2×4 Workbench: Board-Foot Takeoff and Cut List

A 72 × 24 in bench with a top laminated from 16 2×4s on edge, doubled 2×4 legs and a low stretcher frame, cut from 20 standard 8 ft boards.

Calculated plan · Last updated 6 October 2026

Cut list

Part	Qty	Size L × W × T (in)	Material / source
Top laminationGlued face to face, standing on edge	16	72 × 3½ × 1½	2×4 (1½ × 3½ in)8 ft 2×4
Leg halfGlued in pairs to make four 3 × 3½ in legs	8	30½ × 3½ × 1½	2×4 (1½ × 3½ in)8 ft 2×4
Long stretcherLow rails joining the two end frames	2	60 × 3½ × 1½	2×4 (1½ × 3½ in)8 ft 2×4
End stretcherUpper and lower rails of each end frame	4	17 × 3½ × 1½	2×4 (1½ × 3½ in)8 ft 2×4

Kerf allowance: 3 mm (about ⅛ in) per cut.

20 × 2×4 × 8 ft, allocated by the Cut List Optimizer. Hatched area is offcut.

Nominal 2 × 4 in, the basis lumberyards use for pricing.

Blank	Qty	T × W × L (in)	Board feet
Top lamination	16	2 × 4 × 72	64
Leg half	8	2 × 4 × 30½	13.56
Long stretcher	2	2 × 4 × 60	6.67
End stretcher	4	2 × 4 × 17	3.78
Total			88

Cut-list volume: 88 nominal board feet in the finished parts.
Purchased volume: 20 boards × 5.33 = 106.67 nominal board feet, including offcuts.
Stock allocation: Cut List Optimizer, first-fit by length with a 3 mm kerf: 20 boards of 96 in.

Select and acclimate the stock
Pick the straightest 2×4s for the top. Stack them with spacers in the workshop for several days so they reach the room's moisture level before gluing.
Cut to the allocation
Cut each 8 ft board as shown in the stock allocation. Sixteen boards yield a 72 in top piece and four of their offcuts provide the 17 in end stretchers.
Laminate the top in sections
Glue the top in two or three sections that fit through your planer or are easy to flatten by hand, then join the sections. Rounded 2×4 edges leave small grooves on the surface unless the faces are jointed first, which also reduces the final width below 24 in.
Make the legs and end frames
Glue the leg halves in pairs. Join each pair of legs with an upper and a lower end stretcher, keeping the 17 in rails between the legs so each end frame is 24 in wide.
Join the frames
Screw the 60 in long stretchers between the end frames at the lower rail height. Check the frame for square by measuring the diagonals.
Fit the top
Flatten the top, set it on the frame with equal overhang at each end and screw up through the upper end stretchers. Ease the edges and apply a hard-wearing finish if wanted.

Unit prices are assumed 2026 retail figures in US dollars for illustration only, not supplier quotes. Replace them with local prices before budgeting.
Dressed 2×4 dimensions are the PS 20-20 minimum of 1½ × 3½ in; measure your stock, as boards vary by supplier and moisture.
Kerf is 3 mm per cut. Allocation does not allow for removing defects or end checks, so buy one or two spare boards if the stock is poor.

Clamp work securely and keep hands clear of blades when cutting short pieces such as the end stretchers.
This is a planning estimate. Verify measurements and material condition before buying or cutting.
Planning estimates only — verify before you buy or build. Read the disclaimer.

Quantity basis for each material

2×4 stud-grade lumber, 8 ft: Board count from the cut list optimizer allocation below.
PVA wood glue, 1 US quart: Fifteen glue lines in the top plus four leg laminations.
3½ in structural wood screws, box of 50: 24 screws for 12 stretcher joints (2 each) plus 8 through the upper end stretchers into the top.