Learn how to make a DIY hairpin leg console table!
DIY hairpin leg console table & sources for hairpin legs!
This quick and unplanned DIY hairpin leg console table has turned out to be a really great piece. I had a 52-inch piece of wood left over from another project, and it was the perfect size for a console-type table in a skinny little pass-through area we have in our apartment.
I ordered some hairpin legs because I’ve been dying to make something with hairpin legs. The legs were a total splurge, but I love them! This is an easy project that would be a great intro into furniture making.
Since it’s a console table that doesn’t hold much weight, I didn’t have to worry about building support into the underside of the table; I just finished my table top and screwed the legs on!

Supplies I used…
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- 10 feet (length) x 9 inches (width) x 3/4 inch (thickness) piece of pine—Home Depot cut it down for me in the store.
- Power sander and 220-grit sandpaper
- Rust-Oleum wood stain in Golden Oak
- Rust-Oleum Ultimate Polyurethane in Satin (for interior)
- Tack cloth, rag, paint brushes (great deal on chip brushes here)
- Legs, leg hardware, and a power drill. I got my legs on Etsy…you can browse the various hairpin legs and shops here. I was looking for a very specific height, so I had them custom made. You can browse ready-to-go legs here on Amazon.
And here’s how I made my DIY hairpin leg console table!
(Remember to wear a mask and eye protection while sanding and working with wood, and wear an appropriate mask while working with paints, stains, and finishes. Follow the directions and warnings from your particular brand. Do not use any tools without proper training, precautions, and supervision. Read my full terms of use here.)
Step 1: Sand and prep a piece of wood
Even though the wood is unfinished, I gave it a good sand to break the surface and smooth out the edges. I sanded at an angle to round the edges just a bit. After sanding, I wiped it down with tack cloth and gave it a coat of stain. (If you’re new to finishing wood, check out my beginner’s guide for staining and finishing wood.)
I wanted a lighter stain for this piece so that I’d have a nice contrast with the legs. I was iffy about the Golden Oak while it was going on, but I think it turned out really nice. You can leave your wood unfinished, but it won’t be as durable.

Step 2: Finish the piece
Even if you don’t want to stain your piece, at minimum, I’d recommend brushing on some polyurethane or polycrylic. This will protect with wood and make the table easy to wipe down. If you’re wondering what the difference is between polycrylic and polyurethane, you can check out my tutorial I did all about how I chose to refinish my Ikea Gerton desktop.
I wanted a very matte finish for this piece, so I gave it three coats of satin water-based polyurethane. I sanded very lightly between coats to smooth out any brush strokes and air bubbles. Another great option is Varathane water-based matte polyurethane. It has a gorgeous natural and durable finish.

Step 3: Attach hairpin legs to the table
When the finish dried, I attached my legs using a power drill. I bought my hairpin legs already finished because I didn’t want to deal with cleaning and painting steel.
This was tricky and a little scary because my piece of wood is only 3/4 of an inch thick, so I didn’t want the screws to go all the way through the wood or split it. But I also needed them to be beefy enough to hold the legs in place.
Note—since this table is pretty narrow in terms of depth, you should consider anchoring it to a wall if you have little ones who might try to pull at it. We didn’t have any kids at the time, and I wasn’t worried about the cats messing with it. They jumped on it a few times but never knocked it over.
And here’s the final product! What do you think? A super easy table that really only needs a piece of wood and four legs! And it fit perfectly in this super narrow spot in our apartment.


How do I find hairpin table legs for DIY projects?
I have done a few projects with hairpin legs, and I’ve sourced the legs from different places. For the tutorial in this project, I had the hairpin legs custom made on Etsy. This is the most expensive option—they are solid steel (not hollow) and came powder coated black already.
More affordable options to buy hairpin legs
I have purchased a few more affordable hairpin leg options, too. For my DIY indoor cat house that doubles as a side table, my modern DIY floor planter build, and my simple hairpin leg plant stand DIY. I purchased the legs off of Amazon. This is an especially affordable option if you don’t want to get a custom size.

Here are a few good hairpin leg listings on Amazon—there are a lot of sizes available!
- 8″ hairpin legs
- 10″ hairpin legs
- 14″ hairpin legs
- 19″ hairpin legs
- 16″ hairpin legs
- 22″ hairpin legs
- 28″ hairpin legs
- 34″ hairpin legs
I’ve also ordered and repurposed legs from a whole desk. The legs were hollow hairpin legs, but they were still pretty sturdy and perfect for a desk. The desk I got and painted (you can see it in this roundup article of painted furniture projects I’ve done) is no longer available, but it was really similar to this one.

DIY Hairpin Leg Console Table

Looking for a hairpin leg console table? This is the first furniture project I made, and it’s incredibly easy! Learn how to make a DIY hairpin leg console table, as well as my favorite sources for hairpin legs.
Materials
- Piece of wood
- 220-grit sandpaper
- Wood stain and finish
- Rag and paint brushes
- Hairpin legs and wood screws
Tools
- Electric drill
- Orbital sander
Instructions
- Cut a piece of wood to the desired size. Sand and prep a piece of wood to ensure a smooth, even finish.
- Stain and finish the piece of wood as desired. You can skip the stain, but I do recommend finishing the piece with polyurethane or polycrylic.
- Flip the piece of wood upside down and position the hairpin legs. Use a drill and wood screws to attach all four legs to the bottom of the console table top.
Notes
Hairpin leg sources
I've purchased hairpin legs from a few different places. The hairpin legs I used in this project were custom-created from a seller on Etsy. Etsy has a lot of great options you can browse here. I've also purchased hairpin leg sets on Amazon (here is a 34" set).
Pin my DIY Hairpin Leg Console Table!


Brittany is a seasoned DIY home and garden expert, running a creative brand since 2014 that inspires others with approachable plant care guides, woodworking tutorials, and decor projects. She is a certified project manager and has completed extensive coursework in the art and science of growing your own plants. Her work has been recognized by major publications, and she routinely collaborates with fellow DIY industry leaders—but her favorite thing to do is inspire you! Learn more about her here.
Great console table. I’m going for the cubbyhole console table and raw steel hairpin legs. If you’re looking for more height choices, check out http://www.diyhairpinlegs.com. They also do custom made legs if you can’t find the right legs.
Love your table! Would you mind sharing where you had your legs custom made at? I’m not looking for a specific height, but rather a smaller base plate. I want to make a narrow table like you (max 10″), and almost all base plates are 4.75-5″, so they will just barely fit. Your base plates look smaller, so I’d love to know where you had them made? Thanks!!
Thank you!! I used Tarheel Custom Wood on Etsy. I have also had table legs made by EConWelding on Etsy. Both were fantastic to work with!
Hello love your table!!! I am wondering what height did you use? I have some reclaimed boards that would make a great table, but I am not sure of what height I should have it at. I am going to use it for our front entrance area.
Thanks
Lori
Hey Lori! I used 36″ legs, but to be honest, I’d knock a few inches off and probably go with 34″ if I could go back. It also depends on how thick your boards are. If they are pretty thick, I’d knock that down to 32″ or 33″, even. Good luck!