A good step stool earns its place every day: reaching the top kitchen shelf, changing a light bulb in a closet, or giving an older child a boost at the bathroom sink. This plan builds a 12" tall stool with an 18" x 11-1/4" top from three common pine boards, using only straight crosscuts, glue and screws.
It is a step up from the small 9" stool in our free PDF. It is taller, the top is wider and deeper, and the aprons wrap around the outside of the legs, so every screw that holds the base together bites into strong side grain instead of weak end grain. Better still, the boards you buy make two stools.
At a glance
| Finished size | 18" long x 11-1/4" deep x 12" tall |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Easy: crosscuts, one optional jigsaw cut, pilot holes and screws |
| Time | 2 to 3 hours, plus finish drying |
| Materials cost | About $35 to $60 for lumber and screws (enough wood for two stools), plus finish |
How it is built
Two leg panels stand at the ends with the grain running up and down, which is the strong direction for a leg. A 1x4 apron runs along the front and another along the back, screwed to the edges of both legs. The top sits on the legs and aprons and is screwed down into both. The top overhangs 1" past each leg and 1/4" past each apron, so there is no wide lip to step on.
Tools
- Saw for straight crosscuts: a miter saw, or a circular saw with a speed square
- Jigsaw (only for the optional foot cutout and hand hole)
- Drill/driver, a 7/64" or 1/8" drill bit and a countersink bit
- 3/4" spade or Forstner bit (for the cutout corners and hand hole)
- Two or more clamps
- Tape measure, combination square, pencil
- Random orbit sander or sanding block with 120 and 180 grit
- Safety glasses, hearing protection and a dust mask
Not sure which saw or drill to start with? See our beginner woodworking tool list.
Shopping list with rough costs
| Item | Actual size | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 pine 1x12 x 4 ft | 3/4" x 11-1/4" | $14 to $24 |
| 1 pine 1x10 x 4 ft | 3/4" x 9-1/4" | $10 to $18 |
| 1 pine 1x4 x 6 ft | 3/4" x 3-1/2" | $5 to $10 |
| Wood screws #8 x 2" (about 18 per stool) | $6 to $10 | |
| Wood glue | $4 to $8 if you do not have it | |
| Polyurethane or paint, quart | $12 to $20 if you do not have it |
Prices are rough 2026 US home center prices for common pine and vary by region. A "select" or "clear" grade board costs more but has fewer knots. Whatever grade you buy, choose the clearest board for the top and avoid loose or cracked knots anywhere you will stand.
Cut list (actual sizes)
| Part | Name | Qty | T x W x L | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Top | 1 | 3/4" x 11-1/4" x 18" | 1x12 pine |
| B | Legs | 2 | 3/4" x 9-1/4" x 11-1/4" | 1x10 pine |
| C | Aprons | 2 | 3/4" x 3-1/2" x 16" | 1x4 pine |
Check the math:
- Height: leg 11-1/4" + top 3/4" = 12".
- Depth of the base: leg 9-1/4" + two aprons 3/4" each = 10-3/4". The 11-1/4" top overhangs 1/4" front and back.
- Length of the base: the aprons are 16" and run flush with the outside faces of the legs, so the legs sit 16" apart outside to outside and 14-1/2" apart inside. The 18" top overhangs 1" at each end.
Plans written this way, with part letters and actual sizes, are easier to follow once you know the conventions. Our guide on how to read woodworking plans covers them.
Board layout: two stools from the same boards
| Board | One stool | Two stools (with 1/8" kerfs) | Left over after two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1x12 x 4 ft (48") | A 18" | A, A = about 36-1/4" | About 11-3/4" |
| 1x10 x 4 ft (48") | B, B | B x 4 = about 45-3/8" | About 2-5/8" |
| 1x4 x 6 ft (72") | C, C | C x 4 = about 64-3/8" | About 7-5/8" |
The 1x10 is the tight board. If you plan to build two stools, choose one with clean, square ends, trim as little as possible, and measure before every cut. If you only build one stool, all three boards have plenty of spare length.
Step by step
- Cut the parts. Square one end of each board, then cut A, B and C. Cut the legs straight across the 1x10 so the grain runs from top to bottom of each leg. Clamp a stop block or use the first leg to mark the second, so both legs are exactly the same height. A stool with uneven legs will always rock.
- Make the foot cutout (optional but recommended). On the bottom of each leg, mark a 5" wide by 1-1/2" high notch centered on the leg, which leaves two feet about 2-1/8" wide. Drill a 3/4" hole at each upper corner of the notch, inside the line, then cut between the holes with a jigsaw. The round corners look better and are less likely to crack than sharp ones. Feet with a gap between them sit steadier on uneven floors.
- Cut a hand hole (optional). In the center of the top, mark two points 3" apart along the length. Drill a 3/4" hole at each point and cut out the wood between them with a jigsaw to make a slot about 3-3/4" long. Sand it smooth so it is comfortable to grab.
- Sand all parts with 120 grit, then 180 grit, while they are flat and easy to reach.
- Attach the first apron. Stand both legs on their front edges, 14-1/2" apart inside. Lay an apron across them, flush with the top ends of the legs and with the outside faces of the legs. Spread glue on the leg edges, clamp, and drill two countersunk pilot holes through the apron into each leg, centered on the 3/4" leg thickness (3/8" from the end of the apron) and about 3/4" from the apron's top and bottom edges. Drive the 2" screws.
- Attach the second apron the same way on the back edges.
- Check the base. Measure the diagonals across the top of the base. Equal diagonals mean the base is square. Set it on a flat floor and press each corner. If it rocks, sand the long foot a little at a time.
- Attach the top. Lay the top upside down on a clean surface and set the base on it, upside down and centered: 1" from each end, 1/4" from the front and back. Trace around the base. Flip the base back, spread glue on the top edges of the aprons, set the top in place on your lines and drive three screws down into each apron (5/8" in from the front and back edges) and two into the top end of each leg (1-3/8" in from the ends). Countersink so the heads sit below the surface.
- Finish. Round over every edge with sandpaper. Fill the screw holes if you like, then apply two or three coats of polyurethane or a durable paint, sanding lightly between coats. Add felt or rubber pads under the feet to protect floors and reduce sliding.
Safety notes
- In the shop: wear safety glasses and hearing protection, clamp the work for every cut and every drilled hole, and keep your hands clear of the blade path. Unplug the jigsaw before changing blades.
- Using the stool: stand in the middle of the top, not on the overhangs, and step straight up and down rather than leaning or reaching to the side.
- It is a stool, not a ladder. It is designed for everyday household use by one person at a time. We have not tested it to a weight rating. If you need to reach higher, use a proper ladder.
- Kids: supervise young children on any stool. For toddlers, the lower 9" stool in our free PDF is a better height.
- Maintenance: check the screws every few months and tighten them if the stool starts to feel loose.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The stool rocks | Legs cut to slightly different heights, or a twisted board | Mark the long foot on a flat floor and sand it down a little at a time |
| A screw broke out the side of a leg | Pilot hole not centered on the 3/4" leg edge | Back the screw out, glue the split, clamp it overnight, then drill a new pilot hole 1/2" away |
| The apron end split | No pilot hole, or the screw was too close to the end | Glue and clamp the crack, and always pre-drill and countersink near board ends |
| The base wobbles side to side | Glue missing or screws loose at the apron joints | Tighten the screws and add a small square glue block in each inside corner where an apron meets a leg |
| The top cupped after a few weeks | The board dried out indoors after the build | Start with a flat board, let it sit indoors for a few days before you build, and finish both faces of the top equally so they gain and lose moisture at the same rate |
Make it your own
- Lower stool for kids: cut the legs to 8-1/4" for a 9" tall stool, and use 1x3 aprons cut to the same 16" length.
- Paint plus stain: a painted base with a stained top looks great and hides knots on the legs.
- Hardwood top: oak or maple wears better than pine. Measure your board, since hardwoods are often sold in slightly different thicknesses.
Next projects
This stool is one of many small builds that teach the basics. See our list of weekend woodworking projects under $50 for more ideas, and get our free PDF 10 Beginner Weekend Woodworking Projects with ten plans, including the smaller 9" step stool, a bookcase and a cedar planter, each with a full cut list. If you want hundreds more plans after that, many readers start with this large woodworking plan collection.