This is an easy project to build and looks great. The only thing I changed was I cut my arm rests at 7 1/2" instead of 6 1/2". It made it very easy to build that section. No extra measuring or centering. It will make your life SOOOOOO much easier if you paint or stain it before assembling. A note from now-on: "finish" your wood for outdoor projects first, that way the elements can't make their way into the wood that isn't "finished"! On the lid, we ran into trouble with the 1/2" spacing. 12-1x4 without spacing would be 48". Even accounting for the fact that the 1x4s came up a bit less than 4, more like 3 3/4, we still ended up having to adjust everything at the end.

Depending on any accompanying sand toys you choose, your child can also start to explore imaginative play, as well as assisting their sensory development when playing in their sandbox. Also, curious why you didn't do the planks 48" long instead of 47.5"? If they were 48" you would only have to cut them once. The only difference is you'd have a 1/4" overhang on each side but I don't see that being an issue. Or just make the short sides of the box 46.5" and you'd have no overhang. I like you design, very clever and looks great. I am going to build one for my daughter over the coming weekend. There will be one more of your sandboxes build in the other side of the world - in Slovakia. Thanks for inspiration.

Before you get building, please take a second to read through our Outdoor Wood Finishing Secrets - there's also information on selecting wood - so that you sandbox lasts through all your children. I'd love to make this when I get done with the gazillion other projects I have lined up for myself. hehe. I'm going to try to come up with some sort of canopy to go over it too...Thanks so much for the plans. My kids will have a ton of fun. Will waterproofing really be needed? As a kid my sandbox was just a hole in the yard with 2x6 forming a frame around it. Because sand drains really well, the only time water was a problem was while it was raining (mom made me come in). Immediately after the rain it was a little too wet, but within a pretty short time it was dry enough to use. In fact, my favorite time to play in it was first thing in the morning, while it was still wet from the dew but before it had dried out completely.

I just finished this for my daughter and it turned out great. The only comments I wanted to share are that you should consider a middle support under the bench plank in Step 2. I'm also thinking of adding middle supports for the other planks when the box is closed so she can stand on it without bowing. I built this, but used and the base of a play fort and swing set above it. It really came out beautiful. Thank U for the plan Hi, I am really interested in making this for my daughter. However, I am concerned that this wont be very waterproof and the sand will end up getting waterlogged for when she comes to use it. How waterproof is the sandpit? Any ideas of how to make it more waterproof. Aren't you concerned about it holding water in the bottom if you use a tarp? I stapled landscape fabric to the bottom of mine. Hoping that keeps the weeds out and allows the water to drain. Ive never really done a wood project before but I would like this to be 6ft x 6ft rather than the 4ftx4ft i think it is since I have my 2 kids and then their 3 cousins who come to play. The fame i can imagen would be easy to extend but I dont know what the measurements for the seats would have to be to make it a good fit to reach so that it will be able to be folded down like in this design since we have 2 large dogs who LOVE to take over the yard and do as they please. Could you please help me with a modified walk through so it can be bigger?I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT!This design looks great, very clever. I am going to build one for my daughter over the coming weekend. There will be one more of your sandboxes built in the other side of the world - in Slovakia. Thanks for inspiration. Hi! Sorry, it was just a total blonde moment! You're gonna need 4 of each, and I feel bad for messing up something so obvious! Typically, 1x4s should measure approx 3 1/2, and that's what I'd accounted for in the plan. Hopefully it's an easy fix for ya, and tell the husband I take full blame! :o) The other suggestion is to make sure when you get the hinges the screws are not too long. I got gate hinges and the screws ended up coming through the 1x4 plank which meant you'd be sitting on them. Ouch! I exchanged the hinges for smaller galvanized versions. Hi there! We've actually not had ANY problems with that so far. The seat pretty much stays put until everything's lifted to close it, and I really don't think little kids will be able to do that. I have a pretty strong 6 year old that can get mine closed, but mine's only 2 feet wide. The added 2 feet will add weight that'll keep it safer from the kids moving it. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.

As garden toys go, you really can't beat the sandpit as a go-to experience that babies, toddlers and children all love. Not only does it provide hours of fun, but it also gives younger children more of an understanding of their environment, and activities that involve sand can even help them develop their hand-eye coordination and motor skills. Cleverly designed, the bench seats fold out to form a protective cover - ideal for keeping animals out and ensuring the sand inside is free from garden debris. I was wondering why you specified a compound mitre saw as a tool needed? I have a DeWalt compound mitre saw, but I don't see any cuts that even require a mitre saw at all unless I missed something? I built this last night. It took me about 3 hours. Since I wanted to have a bottom, I took a paint tarp and stapled it to the sides of the box so the sand has something to sit in and weeds won't push up through the sand. Thank you for the wonderful plans Sandpit with Bench Lid, made from pressure impregnated timber to ensure years of enjoyment. The lid will close giving the sandpit some protection.For kids to play safely in their sandbox, it's important that the box is kept covered until the next playtime, which is why we would always recommend a sandpit with a lid or covering. This is also important to make sure that rain and any other nasties can't get in and affect the sand. With regular raking and appropriate drainage, you should be able to keep your sandpit clean and in tip-top condition. Everyone with a sand box knows that lids are a necessity. But double-duty lids are crazy awesome, especially if they convert to a seat! This easy to build sandbox with built-in seats is a reader favorite and has been built thousands of times. At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.

Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Bringing all the fun of the beach to your home in the form of a sandpit has always been a great way to keep young children entertained. Anyway, the posted finished projects look great, and like a few others, I'm making my sides 2" X 8" for more stability as I will be moving it to their home after building it. I don't know about a support. Maybe if you add one, you could take a picture to explain. Also, I didn't want to list the planks at 48" because not all boards are exactly 8', *and* if you cut one at 48", the blade takes up anywhere from 1/8"-3/16", so one would be shorter than the other. Not a big deal, but I wanted to make sure all bases were covered.Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. Sponsorship & Advertising Policy I'm heading to Lowe's now to get some lumber to build one of these for my one Grandson for his birthday. p>With a Diploma in Education specializing in Fine Arts (Painting) and a Bachelor of Arts specializing in Illustration and Visual media from the University of Arts London, Sarah previously was a London-based teacher who brought her passion for art and culture to the classroom. Her creative endeavors include painting classes and experimenting with new recipes. She draws inspiration from the world around her and enjoys sharing her knowledge with others while sipping a cup of tea.

I would love to know how to make this bigger also! I am a preschool teacher at a public school so I need one big enough for 6 to 8 kids at a time. I don't want to seats to be too heavy for me and my assistant to lift. Hoping to have our All-Pro Dads help with this project!