Tools you'll need
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Miter saw — Optional but cleaner cuts on the seat ends
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5/8" spade bit — For the pivot bolt hole
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Adjustable wrench or socket set
Materials
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1 board, 10 ft 2x10 pressure-treated — The plank
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1 board, 8 ft 4x4 pressure-treated — The fulcrum and ground stakes
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1 5/8" × 8" galvanized carriage bolt — Pivot bolt
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4 5/8" galvanized fender washers — Critical — these prevent the seat from pinching fingers
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1 5/8" galvanized lock nut
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1 Bushings or HDPE sleeve — Reduces wear at the pivot. A piece of garden hose works.
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6 ft, 3/4" diameter Foam pipe insulation — Padded seat ends
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2 Heavy-duty handles or 1" oak dowel — Grab handles
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~20 #8 × 3" exterior screws
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1 quart Exterior paint or stain
Need to plan the cuts before buying lumber? Use the
free cut list calculator to minimize waste and figure out exactly how many boards to grab at the store.
Step by step
Cut the plank to length
Cut the 2x10 to 96" (8 ft). Round over both ends with a sander — sharp corners on a kid plank are a guaranteed split lip.
Sand and finish the plank
Sand the entire plank smooth (80, 120, 220). Apply two coats of exterior paint or stain. Pressure-treated lumber needs the chemicals to dry first — wait until the wood is dry to the touch before painting.
Build the fulcrum
From the 4x4, cut two 18" upright posts and one 24" cross-piece. Notch the top of each post to receive the cross-piece (a 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" notch, half-lap style). Glue and screw the joint.
Drill the pivot hole
Mark the center of the cross-piece. Drill a 5/8" hole all the way through. On the plank, mark the dead center, then drill a 5/8" hole through it too.
Drill the ground stakes
Cut two 24" 4x4 stakes for ground anchors. These get driven into the ground and the fulcrum posts are screwed to them. Don't skip this — a teeter totter that walks across the yard is a hazard.
Assemble the pivot
Slide a bushing or HDPE sleeve through the cross-piece hole. Insert the carriage bolt up from below: bolt → fender washer → cross-piece (with bushing) → fender washer → plank → fender washer → lock nut. Tighten the lock nut until the plank pivots smoothly but does not wobble side-to-side.
Add the handles
About 16" from each end, drill a 1" hole through the plank. Insert a 6" piece of oak dowel as a handle (or use store-bought bicycle grips on a piece of pipe). Glue and pin in place.
Pad the seat ends
Slit a piece of foam pipe insulation lengthwise and snap it over the underside of each end of the plank. This is what prevents bruised tailbones when the plank bottoms out.
Anchor and test
Drive the ground stakes into a level, soft area of the yard. Screw the fulcrum to the stakes. Have an adult test the seesaw first — bounce it hard a few times and re-tighten any wood-to-wood screws.
Tips
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Use fender washers — not regular washers — at the pivot. They prevent fingers from getting pinched.
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Sand and paint the plank before drilling the pivot hole. Painting end-grain after assembly is awkward.
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Add a soft landing zone under each end — bark mulch or pea gravel reduces injuries from sudden drops.
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Re-tighten the pivot lock nut after the first week of use; the wood compresses a bit as it breaks in.
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Re-coat the paint annually if you live somewhere wet — the seesaw doubles as a rain catcher.
FAQ
What age is a backyard teeter totter for?
The plan here is built for ages 4–10, two kids up to about 80 lb each. Younger or smaller kids should be supervised — the plank can move fast at the ends. Older or heavier kids put excessive load on the pivot bolt and can crack the plank under repeated stress.
Will it pinch fingers?
Not if you use fender washers (the wide ones) at the pivot, top and bottom of both the cross-piece and the plank. Regular flat washers leave a gap that fingers can slip into. The fender washers cover the entire pivot zone.
How do I anchor it so it stays put?
Drive 24" 4x4 ground stakes into the soil and screw the fulcrum posts into them. Soil should be moist but firm — sandy soil needs longer stakes (36") and a wider footprint.
How often does the pivot bolt need maintenance?
Check it weekly for the first month, then quarterly. The wood compresses around the bolt; you may need to re-tighten the lock nut. Replace the bushing after a few years if it shows wear — it's a 10-minute job and the only meaningful maintenance.
Build it, guided every step
The Fixie iOS app turns this plan into a customized build for your space — pick your dimensions, get an auto-generated cut list, order materials in one tap, and follow the steps with 3D previews.
Download Fixie on the App Store →
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