Calculator · Joinery & fasteners
Dado & Rabbet Depth Calculator
The free Dado & Rabbet Depth Calculator answers one question: Safe dado and rabbet depths for your stock. Enter your numbers in inches or millimeters and the result updates instantly in your browser, with no sign-up and no app to install. Use it on your phone at the bench, then copy or print the result for your cut list.
A dado should be no deeper than half the stock thickness; one third is the usual sweet spot.
Dado & Rabbet Depth
- Recommended dado depth (⅓)
- 1/4″
- Maximum dado depth (½)
- 3/8″
- Rabbet depth (½)
- 3/8″
- Remaining material
- 1/2″
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Which other joinery & fasteners calculators help with this project?
- Biscuit Size Calculator — Which biscuit (#0, #10, #20) for your stock.
- Wood Screw Length Calculator — Right screw length for joining two boards.
- Box Joint (Finger Joint) Calculator — Finger count and exact width for full fingers at both edges.
- Pilot Hole Size Calculator — Drill bit sizes for wood screws.
- Pocket holes vs. dowels vs. biscuits — Related guide
What you'll need for this project
Tools
Screws & hardware
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Build it · Beginner · 1 weekend
Download the complete plan with cut list and materials list (PDF)
Dado-Joined Bookcase — A 5-shelf bookcase with fixed dadoes for maximum strength. Drawings, cut list with board-foot totals, hardware list and step-by-step instructions.