How to Make a Hairpin Leg Table (and 3 Mistakes to Avoid)

Materials Needed

• 20″ Hairpin legs (set of 4)*
• Small tabletop (upcycle an old one or purchase an inexpensive tabletop)
• Drill
• Screws
• Screwdriver (or you can use your drill)

Step 1: Select your screw length

In order to install your hairpin legs correctly, you need to use the right size screw. People often (mistakenly) assume that the screws that come with the legs will automatically be the right size for their project. Not the case!

Mistake 1

Using the wrong size screws to install your hairpin legs.

To select the correct screw length, you need to use the thickness of your tabletop as a guide. Aim for a screw that will drive about 3/4 of the way through your top.

Step 2: Mark your drill depth

For the cleanest look, you’ll want to drill pilot holes for your screws. It’s essential that you don’t blow straight through the tabletop though! It’s tough to disguise a hole in your coffee table.

Mistake 2

Drilling your pilot holes too deep.

To determine where you should mark your drill depth, use the length of your screws as a guide. You want to drill your holes slightly less deep than your screws will drive in. Take a piece of tape and wrap it around your drill bit at the depth you’ve determined, leaving a flap of tape sticking out like a little flag. The bottom of this flap will tell you when to stop drilling.

Step 3: Mark where your hairpin legs will be installed

Flip your tabletop over, top side down. Grab one of the legs and place it in the corner, then measure in 1-1/2″ – 2″ (at least) from the edge. This is where you want your legs installed. If they’re too close to the edge, the plate will show and the table will be less stable.

Mistake 3

Installing your hairpin legs too close to the edge.

Using a ruler, measure in your desired distance on both table edges adjacent to the corner you’re working on and set your leg in place. Eyeball the leg plate you be sure it’s (basically) square to the corner. Then, using a marker, draw a little circle through each screw hole onto the tabletop. This is where you’ll drill your pilot holes.

Step 4: Drill your pilot holes

Using the drill bit you marked with tape, slowly drill into each circle you drew and stop when the tape flap makes contact with the tabletop. A quick visual indicator is that you’ll see a circle emerge in the debris on the tabletop from the tape spinning through the dust.

Watch the video below to see this in action:

Some may call me a wimp, but I can’t emphasize enough the need to go slow.

You can drill further, but you can never undrill.

Step 5: Attach hairpin legs with screws

Now that you’ve made all of your pilot holes, attaching the legs will be a snap. Simply place each leg in a corner, line the holes in the leg plate up with the holes in the tabletop, and drive your screws in.

I personally prefer to use a screwdriver for this because it’s easy and gives you more control, but you could certainly use your drill to drive the screws if that’s your journey 🙂

Your hairpin leg coffee table is complete!

How quick and easy was that? This is the perfect project for a new DIYer to tackle. By avoiding the 3 mistakes I’ve outlined and successfully making a table in about 15 minutes, your confidence will grow by leaps and bounds.

You can do this!

Be sure not to miss the answers to all your frequently asked questions in the original post! Plus, I’ve included links to all of the best hairpin legs in every color and finish you could image…