Build Your Own Outdoor Jenga Game

Make this fun-to-play game with common 2×4 and 1×10 boards and a few basic tools.

Jenga is a fun game to play on the kitchen table, but how about outdoors, either on a driveway, deck table, or the deck itself?  This version is about midway in size between standard tabletop Jenga and the giant Jenga outdoor game typically played with 4×4 blocks. And because you’ll build a case to store and carry the blocks, this whole setup—built from standard dimensional pine lumber—weighs just 31 pounds, so it’s easy to carry and take to picnics, parties, tailgates, and campouts. The best part is you can flip the case over to use as an elevated, flat playing surface, if needed. So, use the following plans for building your own outdoor Jenga game, and have lots of fun with family and friends.

The basic rules of Jenga:

• The blocks are stacked in a tower in layers of 3 blocks side-by-side, with each layer perpendicular to the previous layer.
• Players take turns pulling a block from the tower without toppling the tower. Once pulled, the block is placed on top of the tower, stacked similarly as below.
• The person who causes the tower to fall loses.

Materials:

• (5) 2”x4”x8’ pine boards
• (1) 1”x10”x8’ pine board
• #8 x 1-3/4” wood screws

NOTE: Although you can use 2×3 stock for your blocks, we don’t recommend it because 2x3s tend to be graded as furring stock (a rougher grade used mostly as a construction filler), meaning it will have more knots and uneven edges and be more prone to warping.

Step-by-step Outdoor Jenga plans:

1. Start by building the blocks, which are cut down from 2×4 stock. For ease of handling, cut the 2x4s into three 23”-long segments where possible; the remainder from each board will be about 26”-27”. You might have to cut shorter or longer segments to avoid large knots or cracks.
2. Rip away one rounded edge from each 2×4. Then rip each board to 2-1/2” wide.

3. Next, you need to reduce each board’s thickness to 1-1/4”. You can do this by ripping them at the table saw, but if you have a thickness planer, it will do the job cleaner and safer.

4. Now crosscut the boards to 7-1/2” long. You need 54 blocks to play the game, but it’s a good idea for now to make 4-5 extras, just in case some suffer tear-out during the next step. You might also decide some have knots that impede game play and will be tossed aside. Set aside two of these blocks to use later as the case handles.

5. With a router in a router table or secured upside down in a vise, rout a ¼” round-over around all edges and ends of each block. If you elect to use the router handheld, be sure to place the blocks on an anti-slip surface, such as a foam rubber router mat.

6. Sand the blocks on all surfaces so they’re very smooth (best for game play). If you don’t have a stationary or benchtop belt/disc sander, you can secure a portable belt sander in a vise upside down to use in the same manner. Use a 180-grit sanding belt for best results. Hand-sand all surfaces, including the rounded edges and ends, until smooth.

7. Cut the 1×10 case members to size. Crosscut two pieces 16-3/4” and two at 12-1/4”. Screw these pieces together to form the case. Sand the case smooth inside and out.

8. Retrieve the two blocks set aside for the handles. Tilt the saw blade to 20° and raise the blade 1”, then rip along one edge of each handle block. Reset the blade to 0° and set the height so that it intersects with the angled cut, then rip as shown.

9. Rout a round-over along the two outer edges. Sand the block smooth, including rounding the bottom inner edge. Screw the handles to each end of the case.

10. Crosscut two pieces for the bottom at 16-3/4” long, then rip them to 6-7/8” wide. Screw these pieces to the bottom of the case. Sand the bottom smooth.

11. Relieve all sharp edges and corners with sandpaper.

12. Now go play Outdoor Jenga!