DIY Wheelchair Accessible Picnic Table
Quick answer: This wheelchair accessible picnic table is a standard A-frame picnic table with one crucial change: the tabletop extends 17⅜″ past the legs on one end, so a wheelchair rolls straight under the table surface. It’s built from pressure-treated 2×8s, 2×6s, and 2×4s with 2½″ exterior screws — about $100 in lumber, beginner friendly. Free plans below; the printable PDF is $5. Designed and built by Jamison Rantz, and the original was delivered to Camp Fish Tales in Pinconning, Michigan.
We can’t tell you enough how amazing our readers are — we love getting emails and pictures of your builds. But when an email came in from a fellow builder in Michigan requesting plans for a wheelchair accessible picnic table he’d be building for a camp, we knew we wanted to get involved. Not only did we create the plans — we built a table and personally delivered it to Camp Fish Tales in Pinconning, Michigan.
Camp Fish Tales gives people with disabilities and special needs the chance to really experience the outdoors in a wheelchair-accessible camp setting. We were blown away — by the camp, and by the staff working their tails off to get it ready for the season. They even have a handicap-accessible zip line donated by the Detroit Pistons.
If this build speaks to you, please visit their website — you can donate or find a way to get involved.
Handicap Accessible Picnic Table Plans
The complete printable PDF — full cut list, dimensioned diagrams, and all six steps. Build one for your camp, park, church, or backyard.
Tools & materials
Dimensions
96″ long × 37¼″ wide × 30″ tall. The benches span 69¼″; the rest of the length is the roll-under end.
Cut list
How to build a wheelchair accessible picnic table
Step 1 — Assemble the tabletop
The top is five 8-foot 2×8s with ¼″ gaps, tied together by three 2×4 × 37¼″ cleats — one 21″ from each end and one centered — driven down with 2½″ exterior wood screws. Those end-cleat positions are what create the long accessible overhang later, so measure them carefully.
Step 2 — Attach the legs
The four legs are 2×6s at 33″ with angled ends, attached to the cleats flush with the edge using 2½″ exterior screws. Optional upgrade: use two ⅜″ × 3½″ carriage bolts at each leg joint instead of screws — or counterbore a 1″ hole for the washer and nut and use 3″ bolts.
Step 3 — Install the seat supports
The seat supports are 2×6s at 69¼″, screwed across the legs 8½″ down from the top cleats. Note the layout: the tabletop overhangs the supports by 17⅜″ on the accessible end — that’s the roll-under clearance that makes this table what it is.
Step 4 — Install the braces
The 2×4 × 27¾″ diagonal braces run from the center cleat down to each seat support, locking the whole frame against racking. Fasten with 2½″ exterior screws.
Step 5 — Assemble the benches
Each bench seat is two 2×6s at 58″ with a ¼″ gap, joined by 2×4 × 11¼″ cleats placed 27¼″ in from each end.
Step 6 — Install the benches
Set the bench assemblies on the seat supports with a 2″ overhang on both sides and screw them down from above with 2½″ exterior screws. Flip it upright, sand the edges, and it’s ready for camp.
Handicap Accessible Picnic Table Plans
The complete printable PDF — full cut list, dimensioned diagrams, and all six steps. Build one for your camp, park, church, or backyard.
Building for a backyard instead of a camp? We compared all five of our outdoor tables — cost, time, and use — on the outdoor table plans page.
Questions? Comments?
As always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to comment below — and if you build one of these for a camp, park, or someone who needs it, we’d especially love to see pictures in the comments. ENJOY!
Great plans –
Done it for my Grand child Birthday –
Used the new one instead of the old 🙂
Many thanks.
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how are you keeping the ends of the top from wanting to curl or twist. As most pressure treated tables curl with large spans. Even with keeping your rings turned the proper way they still wanna curl most of the time.Great design just curious.. And thank you for the site its a great place to come for ideas even learned a few things too bwahahahaha
Thanks Michael. I’m glad you found our site and are enjoying it. On this particular table we did not add anything on the ends to prevent curling or twisting. However we did consider a long metal bracket to help with this issue.