Church Pew
Quick answer: This DIY church pew is a 57″ wide × 40″ tall bench with the classic curved pew profile, built from construction lumber — the shapely sides are templated and cut from 2x10s, then joined by a 1×10 seat, 1×6 back boards, and 1×2 trim. About $100 in materials and one day of intermediate-level work, finished to look like a weathered antique with stain, dry-brushed chalk paint, and matte poly. Free tutorial with dimensions and cut list below. Designed, built, and documented by Jamison Rantz.
After a few requests for church pew plans I figured I would put it up for a vote on Facebook. Needless to say it was a resounding yes, so I got to work. We had picked out the one that we liked and I wanted to make it look like a weathered, old church pew that had been around for a while. We love how it turned out and I hope you do too! Enjoy!
Tools & materials
Dimensions
Cut list
Every part comes from off-the-shelf boards: the two side profiles from 2x10s, seat and back supports from 2x2s cut at 7 degrees, and 54″ seat, back, and trim boards from 1x stock.
How to build a church pew
Step 1: Assemble the sides
Each side is built up from three 2×10 pieces — 40″, 26″, and 21½″ — joined with pocket holes and 2½″ pocket screws (mirror the pocket holes for the left-hand side so they all end up hidden). Plug the holes with pine pocket hole plugs and wood glue. Then trim the printable templates, adhere them to the sides with spray adhesive, connect the template lines with a pencil, and cut out the curved profile with a band saw or jig saw.
Step 2: Install the seat supports
The seat supports are 2x2s — 19–3/16″ and 24–3/16″ with a ¾″ 45-degree chamfer on the ends — positioned 15¾″ up the side and 14″ deep as shown. Pre-drill and fasten them with wood glue and 2½″ wood screws.
Step 3: Install the seat
The seat is two 1×10 × 54″ boards resting on the supports, flush with the front of the 2x2s. Pre-drill and fasten with wood glue and 2″ wood screws driven up through the supports.
Step 4: Install the back
Four 1×6 × 54″ boards make up the back, starting flush with the top of the 2×2 back support and working down. Pre-drill and attach with wood glue and 2″ wood screws.
Step 5: Install the middle support
A middle leg keeps the long span from sagging: a 2×2 × 24¾″ upright and the chamfered 2×2 cross pieces, centered under the seat. Pre-drill and install with wood glue, a 2½″ wood screw, and 2″ wood screws.
Step 6: Install the trim
Finish the woodworking with two 1×2 × 54″ trim boards — one capping the top of the back, one across the front edge of the seat — attached with wood glue and 1¼″ brad nails.
Finishing: the weathered church pew look
To get the old look we started by staining the entire pew with dark walnut wood stain from Varathane.
Then Jamie dry brushed the pew with serenity blue Chalked paint from Rustoleum. The key to dry brushing is to get a very small amount of paint on the brush. I dabbed the brush on paper to make sure I got off any excess paint. Then using quick strokes, go along with the grain of the wood.
Finally, we applied 3 coats of matte polyurethane for protection.
We absolutely love it. At first we were thinking of donating or selling it but I don’t think we can let this one go!
Church pew questions, answered
How much does it cost to build a church pew?
About $100 in lumber — two 2x10s, two 2x2s, one 1×10, two 1x6s, and two 1x2s, all standard construction and common boards from the home center, plus screws and glue. Compare that to the several hundred dollars antique pews command and it’s an easy win.
What are the dimensions of a church pew?
This one is 57″ wide, 40″ tall, and 27–3/4″ deep, with a 54″ seat — a comfortable two-to-three-seater sized for an entryway, dining table, or porch. Traditional sanctuary pews run much longer, but the profile here is the classic curved-side pew shape.
How do you build a church pew?
Six steps: pocket-screw 2×10 blanks into two wide side panels and cut the curved pew profile using the templates, add chamfered 2×2 seat supports, screw down the 1×10 seat boards, attach the 1×6 back boards, add a center support leg, and trim the seat front and back top with 1x2s. A jig saw or band saw handles the curves.
How do you make a new pew look old?
Three layers: dark walnut stain over the raw pine, a light dry-brushed coat of chalk paint (load the brush, dab most of it off on paper, then quick strokes with the grain), and three coats of matte polyurethane to lock in the weathered look.
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Questions? Comments?
As always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to comment below and especially don’t forget to post pictures of your finished products in the comments! ENJOY!
Awesome project can’t wait to try it thanks for all your hard work!!!!
Thanks Bryan! I’d love to see how yours turns out!
I’ll post a pic when its finished
Beautiful job! I love it!
Thanks!
Getting the wood today for this!! So excited!
Sweet! I wanna see it when you’re done!!
Absolutely!!
I got the plans but did not see the temples, am I missing something . Thanks
The template is included in the plans.
I have been looking for years for a church pew bench for my front entry. This is perfect! Thanks! I can’t wait to build it. I’ve been itching for a project!
Awesome. Can’t wait to see how it turns out!
Did you pocket hole the bottom and back boards before screwing into supports or did you install one board at a time
I installed them one board at a time.
Ok just finished everything but sanding and staining. Thank you so much for these plans. This was my first project following plans and you made it so easy
Awesome! Be sure to share some finished pictures.
While taking pictures to post, I had the most appropriate guest for a church pew. A praying mantis
That is stunning. Nice work and thank you for taking the time to share!
Thank you
Haha that is awesome!
Love ours! Such a fun and EASY build!! J &J are so awsone!
Thanks! And AWESOME job. Love how this turned out.
Now to really brag on myself. I made a curved one for my sister in law’s stairs! Bout got the best of me but I whipped it out anyways!!
THAT IS AWESOME! Thanks for sharing!
Thinking about building one eight feet long. Would putting a couple of more middle supports be enough or should I put in another leg support?
An 8′ footer!
Here’s an eight footer!
Do you have plans for the 8 foot?
Sorry, no. I just winged it from the original.plans. Just used 8′ lumber for seat and back and put a middle leg that used the side pattern, except cut out to allow for seat asnd back. I did use 2×8’s for seating though.
Did you use pine boards for all of it? I can’t find pine 2x10x8’s anywhere.
2x10x8 for sides/middle support & seat, but used 1x6x8 for back. Bought my lumber from Lowes. home depot also carries that length.
Wow! This is so beautiful. I need to make room in my house for this. It looks surprisingly easy to build. Would you mind quickly explaining how to cut a chamfer? Is it just 2 different bevel cuts with the miter saw? Thanks for sharing your plans!
This has been on my build list for awhile, I’m so excited to finally get started. Thank you so much for sharing the plans! I have a quick question though…did you rip the curve off your 2 by’s first?
What would you guess would be the weight limit?
How would I need to adjust the seat supports if I used 2×10 for the seats? I made two as written and love them but they sag a bit with heavier people.
Adjust by 3/4 of a inch in thickness. A 1 by is 3/4 inch and a 2 by is 1 1/2 inches.
Just finished staining, now for the matte finish, then
off to a client!
I built this today. My father in la
did everyone use pine for this? I was thinking a 1″ pine board may break with not too much weight put on it.
Just finished staining, now for the matte finish, then https://uploads.disquscdn.c… off to a client!
I built this today. My father in la https://uploads.disquscdn.c… w is starting a church and the last tenants stole all the pews. I’m building 14 8 ft pews. This was quite the challenge when putting them all together. But I also changed the style or design a little. Done more of a gothic theme for it to look a little more original to the 1930’s built sanctuary.
Thank you for great plans!! I made one and now I have orders for 5 more. Here’s how a couple have turned out. https://uploads.disquscdn.c… https://uploads.disquscdn.c… https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Hi Corey,I’m about to finish one of these up for my wife. I was wondering how you sold yours (i.e. Craigslist, FB Market, etc?) and what was your asking price?I am just starting to offer my work to the public but it still makes me very nervous. I was wondering how others do it.Thanks for any advice!
Scott, hey! I posted a picture of one I made for my mom on Facebook and I had several friends ask for one. I started way too low. I sold for 150. Way too much work and material to be that low. The last one I sold was for $250. Depending on the detail you do and the material cost in your area $200-300 is a good ball park. I made them 48” long vs 60” the plans calls for. Hope this helps.
I’m going to make a plywood template for the sides from the plans to make it easier to make multiples.
Good idea! Luan or 1/4” mdf works great for this.
The plans a brilliant. I used new scaffold boards and the finished result is perfect. A lot of work to get them to furniture quality finish but well worth it. Thanks
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
I am planning to build this shortly — what type of wood would you suggest — pine or spruce
Pine works great
I want to build this but when I try to cut the sides with a jigsaw, the blade bends so the cut face is all over the place. Any recommendations?
Just completed 2 of these for my Mother-In-Law’s house in Florida. She moved there last year after her husband past and her foyer was empty. I thought it would be neat to make it like a bus/train stop theme and included places where they had lived.https://uploads.disquscdn.c… https://uploads.disquscdn.c… https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
That looks awesome! I love the train station theme