DIY Hexagon Planter

Learn how to build a hexagon out of inexpensive lumber, then fill it with your favorite plants for an eye-catching outdoor display.

Planters are traditionally round, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play with the angles of your outdoor decor. Your plants will be just as happy in these six-sided geometric planters, and the wooden boxes add visual interest to your porch or yard. All you need is a compound miter saw to cut the wood and some wood glue to assemble them into a hexagon shape. You can make your planter as large or as small as you'd like based on available lumber and the size of your plant—just cut your six wood pieces a longer length. When you’re finished, stain or paint your planter box with your favorite color, or leave it natural with a clear coat of weatherproof spar urethane.

Love this look? Try a hanging version for indoors!

Working Time 3 Hours
Start to Finish 1 Day
Difficulty Projects Easy
Involves Sawing, Nailing

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What you need

Tools

Compound miter saw
Tack cloth
Lint-free rag
Nail gun, optional
Paintbrush or bristle brush
Sandpaper

Materials

1x6 cedar board
Painters tape
Wood glue for exterior use
Brad nails, optional
Spar urethane

How to do it

Step 1 Cut Angled Boards

You’ll need a compound miter saw to cut precise angles for this project. If you don’t have one, you can rent one from a home improvement store, or ask them to pre-cut the boards for you. The length of the boards will depend on how big you want your final project to be. Ours were 8-1/2 inches wide and 7 inches tall. After cutting six boards to size, set the angle on your miter saw to 30 degrees and cut each end. The angles should run in opposite directions so that the long face tapers in. For a smaller hexagon planter, cut your cedar board into six pieces that are 6-3/8 inches wide and 7 inches tall. Wipe away any sawdust with a tack cloth.

Step 2 Assemble Hexagon

To build the hexagon, lay out the pieces to make sure the angled edges line up. Face all cut sides inward to form a hexagon. If the pieces aren’t fitting together properly, you may need to correct gaps with your saw.

Step 3 Glue and Nail Boards

adding nail to cut boards to assemble hexagon

Once you are satisfied with your arrangement, secure the pieces together. Pick a corner to start with and place a piece of painters tape along the outside edge to loosely hold the boards together while you work. Run a bead of wood glue down the edges where the two cut angles meet and press together firmly. Make sure to use wood glue for exterior use, such as Titebond III. It’s OK if some glue seeps out—just wipe off any excess with a damp lint-free rag. Allow the glue to set. Repeat this process with the remaining boards. For extra security, you can use a nail gun to nail each side of every joint.

Step 4 Stain or Paint

If desired, paint or stain your planter. For a natural look that emphasizes the planter's wood grain, apply three coats of spar urethane with a bristle brush. Allow appropriate drying time and lightly sand between coats.

Planters are designed to fit around a plant that is already in a pot. We kept the bottom open for each drainage. For a taller planter, stack two hexagon planters on top of each other and secure with wood glue.