Drawer Box Calculator

Drawer Boxes That Fit the Slides

Drawer hardware dictates box width more than the door style does. Side-mount ball-bearing slides usually need ½″ clearance per side (1″ total), while undermount and some soft-close systems publish different deductions—always read the slide spec. This calculator assumes the sides run the full depth and sandwich the front and back, with a groove capturing the bottom on all four walls.

How to use this calculator

1. Measure the clear cabinet opening width and enter the slide length (box depth) and desired box height.
2. Set total slide clearance, material thickness, and how deep the bottom groove is cut.
3. Cut sides, front/back, and bottom to the listed sizes; dry-fit on the slides before final assembly.

Overlay faces, grooves, and clearances

The box size here is independent of whether the drawer front is inset or overlay—those faces are applied or integrated later. Groove depth should leave enough meat outside the dado (often about half the material thickness) so the bottom does not blow out the wall. Bottoms are typically ¼″ plywood sized to sit in the groove with a little play; do not glue the bottom solid across a solid-wood box if seasonal movement is a concern. Leave a small gap above the box to the cabinet member so the drawer does not rub when the case racks slightly.

FAQ