Fixing Legs to Wooden Table Tops

Wooden tops are the easiest and most common surface for attaching hairpin legs and other metal furniture legs. The right fixing method depends on the thickness and size of your top, and whether you’ll ever want to remove the legs later.

Recommended Fixings

Standard Wood Screws (most builds)

• For tops 18mm thick or more, use standard wood screws.

• Choose pan head or cheese head screws – countersinking isn’t required, as our leg slots allow for slight movement during wood expansion.

• Use all the provided screw holes in the fixing plate

• Screws should penetrate roughly two-thirds of the tabletop thickness for maximum grip.

Example: For a 25 mm thick top, a 16 mm–18 mm screw length is ideal.

Threaded Inserts (removable option)

If you plan to remove or reattach your legs regularly, threaded inserts are the best choice.

• Allow the use of M5 or M6 bolts for a professional, repeatable connection.

• Can also work with thinner tops, 12–15 mm thick when drilled carefully.

• Drill a flat-bottomed hole using the exact bit size recommended (for example, 10.6 mm for an M6 insert).

• Tighten inserts slowly and squarely using an Allen key or insert tool.

Heavy or Thick Tops

• For thicker hardwood tops or large dining tables, longer screws provide better strength.

• In very heavy builds, lag bolts (large hex-head wood screws) can be used instead, though rarely necessary.

Material & Hardware Choice

• Zinc-plated screws are ideal for normal indoor use.

• For outdoor builds or damp wood types (like green oak), use stainless steel screws to prevent corrosion.

• Add stainless washers if you’re building for outdoor use to protect the leg’s powder-coat surface.

Pilot Holes

• Softwood (e.g. pine): optional, but improves accuracy.

• Hardwood (e.g. oak, walnut): drill a 3 mm pilot hole for a 5 mm screw to prevent splitting.

Summary

Situation	Best Fixing	Notes
Most table builds	Pan head wood screws	Simple, reliable
Repeated assembly	Threaded inserts + bolts	Professional and durable
Large/heavy tops	Longer screws or lag bolts	Added holding power
Outdoor or damp wood	Stainless hardware	Prevents rust and staining