How to Build a Wood Bench With a Hinged Top

Measure up 5-inches from one 14-inch side of a piece of 14-by-20-inch 3/4-inch plywood and mark a line across the plywood.

Attach a 3/4-inch router bit to a router and cut a 1/2-inch-deep and 3/4-inch-wide groove along the line you drew. Cut two more 1/2-inch-deep and 3/4-inch-wide grooves along the edges of the plywood, starting from the first groove you made and going up to the top of the plywood piece. This will make all three grooves form a square “U” shape on the plywood. Repeat with a second piece of 14-by-20-inch plywood. Set aside.

Lay a piece of 12 1/2-by-45 inch plywood flat on a work surface and bead a line of glue along the 45-inch edges.

Abut two pieces of 15-by-45-inch plywood on either side of the flat piece, perpendicular to it. From the end, this will make a square “U” shape that matches the routered “U” shape cut into the 14-by-20-inch pieces of plywood.

Secure the upright panels to the flat panel with 1-inch screws driven every 4 to 5 inches along the bottom edge of the upright panels into the sides of the flat panel.

Lay one of the routered plywood pieces flat on the work surface, housing side up and bead glue into the housing cuts.

Insert the ends of the “U” shaped box into the housing cuts so the box is standing on end. Bead glue onto the ends of the box and fit the second routered plywood piece over that end. Ensure the 5-inch overhang from the routered pieces are on the same side. Let the glue dry.

Stand up the unit, so it is resting on the ends of the routered panels with the 5-inch overhang, which are the feet of the bench.

Insert a corner bracket into each corner of the bench box and secure them there with 1/2-inch screws driven through the screw holes of the brackets. This makes a sturdy joint without marring the outside of the bench with screw holes.

Paint the bench, as well as a piece of 14-by-45 1/2-inch plywood, which will be the lid. Let the paint dry.

Center a 40-inch piano hinge along the back edge of the lid and secure it in place with 1/2-inch screws. Center the lid over the top of the bench and secure the other half of the piano hinge to the back of the bench.