How to Build Drawers
A drawer is a five-piece box (two sides, a front, a back and a bottom) sized from the cabinet opening and the slides it runs on. The slide decides almost everything: side-mount ball-bearing slides need the box 1 in (25.4 mm) narrower than the opening, undermount slides only about 3/8 in (10 mm). Work out the box first, then build it square, then hang a separate drawer front on it.
1. Measure the opening
Measure the width between the cabinet sides, the height of the opening and the inside depth, at the front and at the back. If the opening is wider at the back than at the front, the sides are bowed: fix that before you size the drawers, or the slides will bind.
2. Choose the slides
| Slide | Box width | Box length | Box height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side-mount ball-bearing | Opening − 1 in (25.4 mm) | Slide length | Opening − 1 in or more |
| Undermount (concealed) | Opening − about 3/8 in (10 mm) | Slide length exactly | Opening − about 1 1/4 in |
| Roller (bottom-mount) | Opening − 1 in (25 mm) | Slide length | Opening − 1 in |
| Center-mount | Opening − 1/4 in or less | Slide length + 1 in | Opening − 1/2 in |
| Wooden runners | Opening − 1–2 mm | Cabinet depth − 1/2 in | Opening − 1/8 in |
These are the common values; each maker publishes its own clearances, so check them before cutting. Undermount slides also need the bottom set 1/2 in (13 mm) up from the bottom edge of the sides and a notch in the back. For more on each type, see drawer slide types and sizes.
3. Work out the parts
The simplest box has the front and back between the sides. Example: an opening 500 mm wide and 150 mm high, 500 mm side-mount slides, 15 mm plywood sides and a 6 mm bottom in 6 mm deep grooves:
| Part | Qty | Size (mm) | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box width | 475 | 500 − 25 | |
| Side | 2 | 500 × 120 | Slide length × box height |
| Front and back | 2 | 445 × 120 | 475 − 2 × 15 |
| Bottom | 1 | 456 × 481 | Inside size + 2 × 6 groove − 1 |
| Drawer front | 1 | Opening + overlay | Separate, screwed on |
Keep the box height at least 25 mm (1 in) less than the opening so the drawer can be lifted onto its slides, and more if the drawer front overlays the cabinet.
4. Choose the joints
- Butt joints with screws or confirmats: fastest, fine for melamine and plywood, strong enough for most drawers.
- Pocket screws: hidden on the outside of the front and back, where the drawer front covers them.
- Rabbets: the sides sit in a rabbet in the front and back; more glue surface, very strong.
- Locking rabbet or dovetails: the traditional joints, for drawers you want to show off.
Cut a 1/4 in (6 mm) groove for the bottom 1/2 in (12 mm) up from the bottom edge of all four parts, or nail and glue the bottom underneath the box; that is simpler and stronger for heavy drawers.
5. Assemble square
Glue and fasten the four sides, slide in the bottom, and check the diagonals: equal diagonals mean a square box. A box out of square by even 2 mm will not run smoothly. Let the glue dry before you fit the slides.
6. Fit the slides and the front
Screw the cabinet members first: on a frameless cabinet, on a line 37 mm from the front edge, using a straight board as a spacer so both sides sit at exactly the same height. Then fix the drawer members to the box, set the box in place and test it. Finally hang the drawer front: hold it in position with double-sided tape, open the drawer and drive two screws from inside the box, then check the gaps (2–3 mm, about 1/8 in) and add the remaining screws.
Common mistakes
- Sizing from the box instead of the opening: every clearance is measured from the opening.
- Forgetting the slide clearance, so the drawer is 1 in too wide.
- Slides longer than the cabinet is deep: remember the back panel and anything screwed to it.
- Sides that are not parallel, which makes the drawer bind halfway.
Plans with drawers
Our dresser and nightstand plans size every drawer box, bottom and front for you from the size of the furniture:
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller than the opening should a drawer be?
For side-mount ball-bearing slides, 1 in (25.4 mm) narrower: 1/2 in on each side. Undermount slides need about 3/8 in (10 mm) in total. Always check the slide maker's chart.
What length of drawer slide do I need?
The inside depth of the cabinet minus about 1 in, rounded down to the nearest slide size. A 24 in deep base cabinet takes 22 in slides; a 560 mm carcass takes 500 mm slides.
What thickness should drawer sides be?
1/2 in (12–15 mm) plywood is the usual choice. Melamine drawers use 16 mm board. Bottoms are 1/4 in (6 mm), or 1/2 in for wide, heavy drawers.
What is the easiest way to build a drawer?
A butt-jointed box with the front and back between the sides, glued and screwed or pocket-screwed, a bottom nailed and glued underneath, and a separate false front screwed on from inside.
How do you build a desk drawer?
Like any cabinet drawer: measure the opening under the desktop, choose the slides (or simple wooden runners for a shallow pencil drawer), size the box from the slides, and screw the slides to the desk sides or to blocks under the top.