How to Build a Rolling Workbench with this Simple DIY

Build a rolling workbench with easy to follow DIY plans. This is perfect to add more storage in your garage to hold your tools and get you organized!

For years I was creating and building in whatever corner of our apartment or balcony space my hubby would let me claim. Then we bought a house and our garage became a dumping ground for everything we didn’t know what to do with.

Throughout the past three years as projects have gotten bigger and power tools are used on an almost daily basis it became much more necessary to make a place to confine the mess and get organized.

Then walked in the Shanty2Chic sisters….or more in they talked. They started sharing their own organization on Periscope and it motivated me to get my butt in gear to create a space that screamed for more creativity and projects.

So, today I am excited to say phase one of our garage makeover is complete! And I am even more excited to share with you how to build a rolling workbench…your very own, grown-up, awesome workbench. It has seriously changed my DIY life!

Rolling workbench image.

I started by, of course, searching through Pinterest to get some inspiration. I love the workbench Shanty2Chic built and also Ana White’s workbench. I used both of these as a guide to create one that would fit well in our space and also based on what material I already had. This workbench cost us less than $35 to build! Since then the price of the casters went up, but this project is still much cheaper than buying a workbench. Here’s how you can make your own.

Materials to Build a Rolling Workbench

TOOL LIST

  • Drill
  • Chop saw – to cut 2×4’s and 4×4’s
  • Table Saw – to cut down plywood
  • Jigsaw – to cutout 3.5×3.5 squares from bottom shelf plywood
  • Kreg Jig

CUT LIST

  • 4-4″x4″ cut at 30″
  • 2-2″x4″ cut 84″ long
  • 4-2″x4″ cut 27″ long
  • 2-2″x4″ cut 74″ long
  • 2-2″x4″ cut 20″ long
  • 2-2″x4″ cut 24″ long
  • 1-30″x84″ plywood
  • 1-27″x81″ plywood with 3.5×3.5 cutout squares in each corner

INSTRUCTIONS

1 | Cut

Start by getting all your boards. Follow the cut list above to get them all cut to size. Once they are cut, layout the top and bottom shelves so you can visually tell where each piece is going.

Pieces of wood and rollers for building a workbench image.

Wood framed up for building a workbench image.

2 | Drill

Using your kreg jig, drill 2 holes in each end of your 4 30″ cross boards. Attach these to the 84″ boards to create a rectangle with 2 support pieces. This is your top platform.

Drilling into wood image to building a workbench

Next, using your kreg jig, drill 2 holes in each end of your 74″ boards and your 2 20″ boards. Attach these to your 4 30″ 4×4 legs to create the base. This part is a little bit tricky to do free hand so it is best to use a couple of large bar clamps if you have them.

Wood with holes drilled in it rolling workbench plans

#diyproject #garageorganization #workbench #tutorial

3 | Attach

Once your base is assembled, flip it over and carefully place it inside the frame you created for the top. From here, you can easily attach the top to the base with a couple screws in each corner.

Rolling workbench wood framed up image.

4 | Casters

While the workbench is still upside down, drill a hole in the center of each 4×4 for your casters. If you want to glue them in you can but the weight of the workbench will be enough to keep it on the casters. Be sure you get casters that are made to hold the weight. To be safe, I used casters that each can support 150 lbs each.

These casters from Amazon would work great!

Drill bit in wood for rolling workbench

5 | Top

Flip the workbench over and insert your casters if you have not done so already. After you have done that, place the 30″ x 84″ piece of plywood on the frame and screw it in.

Rolling workbench wood being screwed together image.

6 | Shelf

Now, the only thing left to do is insert the 27″x81″ plywood with 3.5″x3.5″ cutouts on the bottom frame. You can attach this board with screws if you want but the legs will hold them in place so you don’t need to attach it to the frame if you don’t want to.

If you’re having a tough time getting it into place, use a rubber mallet to pound it into place.

Rolling workbench made from wood sitting in a garage image.

Roll it to its new home and you’re done!

I love how huge ours is and helps give a home to so many of the miscellaneous tools that have just been floating around our garage. I think my favorite feature, however, is the fact it can roll to wherever I need it. So when I’m working on a big project I can just roll it to the driveway and then back into the garage when I’m done for the evening…or who are we kidding, naptime. Because, honestly, when else do we work on projects, ladies! #amiright

Vice grips on wood of the rolling workbench image.

Rolling workbench with tools image.

I am excited to start phase two of our garage makeover this week, which includes pegboard organization and some cutesy wall art. Yes, I just said wall art for the garage. When I told Justin my plan he thought I was crazy but I promised him it’ll be manly enough for the garage that even he will like it. I can’t wait!!

Are you going to try to build a rolling workbench?

If you love this workbench, I’d love for you to pin it or share it with all your friends using the buttons below!

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Before and after image of bar stool makeover image.

 

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20 thoughts on “How to Build a Rolling Workbench with this Simple DIY

  1. Only $35? That’s insane! A prebuilt workbench like this would have surely cost at least a few hundred, so that’s some amazing savings. Plus you get the sweet satisfaction of having built your own furniture, which is a reward in itself. Great job :)

  2. Amanda this is such a great project! I’m always looking for ideas on improving my work/project space and I love this workbench! The fact that it has wheels and can be moved around makes it even better. Thanks for sharing!!

    Shonee
    http//:www.hawthorneandmain.com

  3. Seriously 35 bucks? what great way to start building this workbench for a cheaper cost, looking forward for your next projects!! Thanks!

  4. Can you clarify step one? Are those the 30 inch legs or is there another cut that needs to be done?

  5. Really love to read this post and its seems like a great blog i have ever seen
    Nice and easy to follow. Thank you.

  6. I have the lumber in my garage ready to go! I used treated 4X4s so the price was a bit higher. My Lowes did not have the single male insert casters so I went with ones with 4 holes on a plate and will use lag bolts to hold them on. I’ll let you know how it goes.

    1. I did the same thing but redrilled all the holes to get the screws closer to the center of the 4×4

  7. Wow thanks for this, I found a new project for this weekend. I can’t believe how cheap it is to make! Is it possible to build this without a jig, or will it not be sturdy enough? I might have to go find a cheap one if not.

  8. made this yesterday. thanks for the plans. only thing is your picture only showed a total of 7 cross boards on top and bottom when the cut list called for 8 so i just put where I felt it would go. And I cut the legs a little longer and left off the casters. going in a portable garage with a sand floor so casters would be impractical. I put my legs on 4″ x 8″ x 16″ concrete blocks to keep it out of the sand. All in all a nice size table. Also I’m too cheap to purchase a kreg jig so I just took a 1/4″ drill bit, made a couple of small pilot holes 1 1/2″ from edge then stuck my bit in the hole and manuevered my drill and bit downward and voila cheap pocket holes.

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