How to Choose the Right Trestle Legs for Your Next DIY Project

February 4, 2026

How to Choose the Right Trestle Legs for Your Next DIY Project

Building your own table is one of the easiest and most flexible ways to create furniture that suits your space perfectly. Whether you’re setting up a home office, building a dining table, or creating a workbench, the right trestle legs make all the difference.

At first glance, trestle legs might seem similar — but different styles are designed for very different uses. Here’s a guide to the leg options available and how to choose the best one for your project.

Plywood Trestle Legs

Best for budget builds, DIY desks and practical setups

Plywood trestle legs are a lightweight, affordable option that makes building a table fast and accessible. They’re perfect for simple projects where you want functionality, portability, and a clean, minimal look.

Great for:

Home office desks
Study nooks
Temporary tables
Garage work surfaces
Rental-friendly furniture

Because they’re easy to move and fold away, plywood legs are ideal when you need flexibility or are working in smaller spaces.

Solid Pine Trestle Legs

Best all-rounder for home furniture and everyday use

Solid pine legs offer more weight and strength than plywood while still keeping a natural timber look that suits most interiors. They’re a popular choice for people building furniture that needs to look good and handle daily use.

Great for:

Dining tables
Larger desks
Outdoor entertaining tables
Kitchen extension tables
Multi-purpose family tables

Pine is also easy to stain, paint or seal, making it simple to match your table to your home.

Extra Wide Pine Trestle Legs

Best for large or heavy tabletops

When your tabletop is wider, longer, or heavier than usual, extra wide legs provide the added stability you need. Their broader stance helps reduce movement and wobble, giving your table a more solid feel.

Great for:

Large dining tables
Timber slab tops
Wide office desks
Workshop benches
Commercial or shared-use tables

These are ideal when standard legs might feel too narrow for the size of your build.

Reclaimed Hardwood Trestle Legs

Best for statement furniture and character pieces

Reclaimed hardwood legs are chosen as much for their appearance as their strength. Each set has unique grain, texture and history, making them perfect for feature furniture.

Great for:

Statement dining tables
Interior design projects
Café and hospitality spaces
Styled event setups
Live-edge slab tables

They offer a premium, one-of-a-kind look while still being practical and foldable.

Metal Folding Legs

Best for modern, commercial and heavy-use environments

Metal folding legs focus on durability and practicality. With a clean, modern look and strong construction, they’re suited to both home and commercial use.

Great for:

Market stalls
Event tables
Workshop setups
Office fit-outs
Temporary or portable tables

They’re built to handle repeated setup and pack-down, making them ideal for people on the move.

Boho Height Trestle Legs

Best for low tables and relaxed interiors

Boho-height legs create a lower table profile, perfect for relaxed spaces and styled settings. They’re a great choice when you want something a little different from standard table height.

Great for:

Low dining tables
Coffee tables
Display tables
Event styling
Casual lounge spaces

They help create a laid-back, design-focused feel.

The Simple Way to Build a Custom Table

All trestle legs offer the same core advantage:
You can pair them with almost any tabletop — plywood, solid boards, slab timber, or benchtop offcuts — to create a custom table without the cost or permanence of a fixed frame.

They fold away for storage, move easily, and let you change your setup whenever your needs change.

So Which Should You Choose?

Ask yourself:

Is this for budget and flexibility? → Plywood
Do I want a natural timber all-rounder? → Solid Pine
Is my tabletop large or heavy? → Extra Wide Pine
Am I creating a feature piece? → Reclaimed Hardwood
Do I need durability and portability? → Metal
Am I building a low or styled table? → Boho Height

Choosing the right legs means your table will not only look right — it will feel solid, stable, and suited to the way you use it.

Folding tables