DIY Homemade Weight Bench (Ideas, Plans & How To Guide)

Homemade Weight Bench Ideas (DIY Creative Ideas) 

Once you decide to build your own weight bench, it can be difficult to start. You may not know what the bench should look like or how it should function. To that end, seeing the work of others can help inspire you or show you options you may not have thought about. 

In this section, we will showcase several different DIY bench projects to spur your creativity and give you new ideas to consider. 

The first bench is a multi-use bench that supports a fair amount of weight but also acts as storage. The bench has a padded top for comfort on your back when you are lifting. The padded top also lifts up on a hinged edge, offering storage inside the bench. 

The caster wheels do lock, but this is still a weak point for the bench overall. With wheels that have turn locks, the bench can easily move when you are lifting, which is a danger. Rubber padded feet would be a better option. 

The aluminum reinforced edges offer more strength and support and will hold the weight of a grown adult and up to 300 pounds on a bench press. With proper footing instead of wheels and steel edge support instead of aluminum, that weight limit and durability would increase. 

Read More - Ultimate Guide To Home Gym Storage

Aside from that, this is an inexpensive and simple build. With padding and a leather-wrapped benchtop, it is comfortable, functional, and can even be made from reclaimed wood, which can sometimes be acquired for free. 

Similar to the above DIY weight bench, the image below is also a cheap and straightforward build. The U-shaped frame design uses 4x6 wood posts doubled up on each end. This not only adds support to the bench itself but offers a higher weight limit on the user and weights being lifted. 

The benchtop board is 3/4-inch plywood with a pad and cloth-wrapped topper. It is comfortable on the back and shoulders, but there are a few downsides. First is the lack of center support. Over time the bench will begin to bow and can eventually break. Using metal L-shaped brackets can help prevent this, but it won't prevent it altogether.  

The other side is that this bench will absorb sweat and odors because of the cloth top. While it is breathable, those odors will build up and become difficult to remove over time. A leather or faux leather would be easier to keep clean and prevent odor retention. 

Related Article - How To Make Your Own Bench Press

Using lag bolts to connect the bench and rack prevents this. However, it does make the bench immobile, which can be uncomfortable when you want to perform other exercises. However, for the cost and the time to build, this is a great bench for a DIY home build.  

Not only is this build extremely sturdy, but it was made for free. All of the wood came from reclaimed lumber and pieces of discarded wood. Having a strong weight bench for free is a great deal by any means. 

The solid wood bench is sturdy, has a wide base, and can hold a full-sized adult as well as up to 500 pounds on the bar. However, it may not provide comfort to the back and shoulders when lifting. 

Because of the ultra-low cost of this build, you can generally afford padding and a leather or faux leather wrap to add some comfort to the project. At the very least, a yoga mat can be nailed or stapled to the top, which will be a cheap solution to a small problem. 

DIY Weight Bench Design & Build Plans 

Before you can build your bench, you need to make a plan. Many DIYers will draw a plan, make measurements, and perform the build on paper before making a cut with a tool on real wood or steel. 

This process does take time, but it makes the process much easier and smoother in the end. In addition, when you draw up your plans, you get the advantage of making changes or finding things that won't work before you waste time and money or effort on the real thing, which is the most significant advantage of them all. 

When making your plans, you need to consider the weight limits of the material you are using as well as functionality and overall comfort. Wood is the most common material for DIY weight benches, but rolled steel and metal are also used. These can be uncomfortable without proper padding, especially around the buttocks and shoulders. 

Once the plans are drawn, you will know what materials you need to use and purchase. You will also know how much material is needed and how it will all work together. You can find plans online that tell you everything, but drawing your own plans can be more satisfying and specialized to your specific needs. 

How To Make Your Own Weight Bench (DIY Step By Step Guide)

There are a lot of materials you can use to make a weight bench. As we have stated before, wood is the most common. It is affordable, easy to cut and shape, and looks good when completed. Because of the popularity of wood weight benches, we will cover a step-by-step guide to building a basic weight bench as a DIY project. 

Pros & Cons Of Building A DIY Weight Bench 

Building your own weight bench has a lot of benefits. However, there are some drawbacks, too. Let's look at both to see if this DIY project is something worth your time and effort.

Frequently Asked DIY Homemade Weight Bench Questions 

Is building your own weight bench easy? 

Depending on the type of bench and materials you use to build it, a bench can be made and completed in a few hours. Some may take several hours or even a few days, depending on the complexity. You can also make the project more complex by adding features to the bench, such as storage, movement, or additional frame support. 

How long does a DIY weight bench last? 

A DIY weight bench may last quite a while, but it will take care and quality craftsmanship to last as long or near as long as commercial-made benches. When you buy the quality materials and build the bench yourself, you can expect a few years of constant use out of it.

However, you won't be able to perform intense workouts or lift heavy weights. Doing so will drastically shorten the life span of the bench. 

What can I use instead of a weight bench? 

There are several alternatives to using a weight bench for lifting and working out. One of the most common is a balance ball. These large balls help you lift properly and engage more muscles to get a more thorough workout.

You can also use a standard bench or bench seat, such as a piano bench or even an aerobic step. Something flat, offering support, and off the ground will work as a workout bench.