This bench looks nice, but it is 100% impossible to put together. It uses wooden dowels and a few screws. However, each side must be lined up just right to get it put together. In no way, shape or form were these holes lined up to do so. It is a CLEAR manufacturing flaw. I had to pull the sides just so to get the holes to line up for the screws and in the meantime would up breaking off three wooden dowels. No extras are included in the packaging. It took myself and my two kids pulling for dear life to line up holes while I screwed it together. It seems like it will be sturdy, but with missing wooden dowels in places from where they broke off, I have no idea how long it will last. Not worth the price for the amount of hassle.