51 DIY Outdoor Table Top Ideas (perfect for your patio or deck)

How to Build Outdoor Table (with plans)

The best way to have an outdoor table that is unique, perfectly adjusted to your outdoor space, and completely your style, is to build it yourself. I have collected some of the best DIY table ideas for you. There are beginner projects and some that require some woodworking experience as well. Click the link underneath each image and you will go to the full step by step instructions and tutorials for all the tables.

Related Reading: How to Weatherproof Outdoor furniture

This is a quick and cheap table (it only costs around $30 to make). It is the perfect beginner project. Just follow the plans with one of the recommended wood types and you will have a pretty outdoor table with a custom top in no time. 

This picnic table is super adorable and so functional. You can fold it up and take it with you for days playing in the park. The wooden table top is so pretty.

This smart little coffee table for the patio deck has a rugged look and is easy to build.

What a great table for elaborate diner parties out on the deck. This dining table with built-in ice trough is perfect for entertaining.

If you don’t have the space for a large dining table but like the idea of having a built-in ice bucket, then this side table is the perfect idea for you. If you build this outdoor bar it will be the talk of your garden parties.

Something old and something new. This pretty outdoor table has a tabletop made of concrete that is paired with on old table base. I love this round table top idea.

You just need some leftover 2×4 to create this cute little side table. Paint it in a cheerful color and it will fit it perfectly in your garden.

How pretty is this DIY cable spool table. Hard to believe it is completely handmade (even the cable spool is a built). The pretty french stencil on the top makes it even more perfect.

Let’s not forget out small friends in the garden. With some scrap wood you can totally DIY this cute squirrel feeder (birds will love it too).

If you got your DIY mojo flowing then why not tackle this project. A complete build of an outdoor dining table with matching benches. I love the contrast of the wood color on the tabletop against the base.

Rustic Outdoor Table top Ideas

Let me give you some ideas for how can you make an inexpensive patio table that has a nice rustic look. Use reclaimed materials and repurposed wood for your table top and you’ll have a functional, cool and rustic table for your outdoor space.

Do not throw out an old garden gate, but instead turn it into this beautiful rugged tabletop for your garden table.

This table with a concrete top is a complete build. I love the rustic look of the concrete combined with the stained wood base.

Can you believe this table is built from pallet wood? I didn’t think pallet wood could look so pretty, but I love this little coffee table with the glass top. It is the perfect example of how pretty and functional DIY outdoor furniture can be.

From leftover bits of repurposed wood to a beautiful table top. This DIY patio table is so pretty and hard to imagine that it was all junk before the DIY project.

Concrete pavers are the simple but effective tabletop on this backyard coffee table and end table. You can find pavers like this in any hardware store.

For all the lovers of wood, this table shows off all the pretty colors of different types of wood stain. Lovely rustic garden table with matching bench.

Upcylce an old garden table with leftover bits of pallet wood and add a functional galvanized steel top and you have a perfect DIY potting bench.

Combine a thrift store find with some slats from a pallet and create this lovely little end table for your patio.

Another great way to use pallet wood: create a round table top and place it over a metal crate to create the perfect outdoor coffee table.

If the old top of your table is getting a bit dinged and too rustic: create a cover of new wood to make a new table top.

From new to old looking. This DIY outdoor dining table is made from new wood but made to look rustic and aged with the proper treatment.

Unique DIY Table Top Ideas

If you have an old garden table that is in dire need of a little makeover you have come to the right place. Here are some of the best ideas for pretty table tops that you can DIY onto an old table.

With pretty tiles for the top and a coat of paint for the legs, this patio coffee table is ready for the next years of living the good life in the garden.

A large stencil turns this plain old garden table into a work of beauty.

Let’s have some fun and games. Paint a checkerboard on your tabletop and you are ready for fun filled summer evenings on the deck.

When making a new tabletop for your old table, why not make it a pretty chevron style table?

This project is for the patient creative ones among us: a DIY mosaic table with a pretty flower pattern.

I love this quick and fun update that turns a small stool into a unique sidetable. Who would have thought to use glow in the dark paint for a little patio table.

This new tabletop for an old table is perfect if you love the farmhouse decor style. The grey-washed look of this herringbone top is so pretty.

A collection of seaglass is used to give this small round table a completely new look and a very pretty table top.

Morrocan tiles are the star of this DIY table makeover. What a pretty tabletop this is!

An old table, reclaimed wood and some patience was what it took to create this unique outdoor table with a star pattern on top.

If you tend to drop a plate or two, don’t worry. You can use the broken china to make a pretty tabletop for your porch coffee table.

Upcycled Outdoor Table Ideas

I love a good upcycling project. And what better way to do some repurposing of leftover junk or thrift store finds into fun and functional garden furniture.

Let’s do some more upcycling. With the proper treatment, you can use any indoor table in your outdoor space. Like this old kitchen table that is repurposed into a patio table.

I love this BBQ table remodel. It is so functional and useful now that it is turned into a patio cart.

When you have junk…. you make a little side table. Hard to believe that the base of that tree trunk table is made from old buckets.

Don’t throw out your old metal table if the wooden top has seen better days. Pair the metal legs with a galvanized tray and you have an instant little side table that is perfect for entertaining on the porch.

This pretty garden table is made from a garden planter and a cable spool. What a genius pairing of upcycle materials.

A rusty old milk can and a pretty floral tabletop are a match made in heaven.

If you are so lucky to find an old cable reel you have the perfect starting point for a garden coffee table.

A perfect pairing: the base of an old sewing table and the wooden table top of a thrift store table. What a fun and pretty garden table this is.

A table top made from pallet wood over an old metal fire pit. What a great and cheerful repurpose for the backyard.

DIY Outdoor Tabletop Fire Pit

Who doesn’t want to sit around the table with food, drinks and good friends on those long summer nights? And what would be better if the fire for bbyen and marshmallow roasting was built right in? Well let me show you some of the best ideas for garden tables with a fire pit table top.

This outdoor coffee table has both a fire pit and a cooler built-in. Pretty much a genius idea!

If you already have a fire pit but the cover is an eyesore, then you will love this idea for a custom-made table top for your fire pit.

Marshmallow roasting is on! This patio table has the fire pit built right in.

Turn your stone fire pit into a pretty outdoor coffee table with a handmade tabletop.

And here is another version of that fire pit coffee table idea. Who could have thought that it is so easy to create a functional and pretty table that doubles as a fire pit.

The lovers of rustic and cool will love this idea for a DIY concrete fire pit table.

Turn an old coffee table into a fire table with a tiled table top. Perfect upcycled garden table idea.

The woodworking pros among us will find this fire pit dining table for the deck an interesting and fun build.

This bbq cart is a pretty side table for the patio or deck and the perfect starting point for an outdoor kitchen.

Another outdoor grilling station that is super functional and great for entertaining your guests in the backyard.

How fun was that?! I loved putting this collection of great DIY outdoor tables together. I hope you liked it too.

I hope you liked this collection of DIY outdoor table top ideas. Let me know if you have ever endeavored on any outdoor furniture projects and built or recycled a table for your outdoor space. And if you had a favorite among my picks, please tell me, I’d love to know.