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How to Build a Basic Drawer – No Fancy Tools

Build a simple drawer with just a saw and drill.

Head to my new YouTube channel for the full video tutorial. I’ll walk you step-by-step through a few different ways to build drawers without any fancy tools. And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE while you’re there to see lots more how-to videos.

How to Build a Drawer

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Tools & Materials:

Lumber:

  • 3/4″ Plywood
  • 1  |   1 x 4 @ 6′
  • 1  |   Drawer Face

Cuts:

  • 2  |   1 x 4 @ 15″ (sides)
  • 1  |   1 x 4 @ 10″ (front & back)
  • 1  |   Plywood @ 10″ x 15″ (bottom)

I used scrap pieces of lumber for this drawer, so the lumber and cut lists are just for reference. Adjust as necessary for any size drawer you need. I’ve used plywood or 1x6s for the drawer sides as well, depending on the project. The process is the same no matter how big the drawer is.

Step 1. Cuts

Cut boards to length according to your project and sand until smooth.

How to Build a Drawer step2

Step 2. Pocket Holes

Drill pocket holes in the drawer bottom and the front and back pieces.

I used a Kreg K5, but the Kreg R3 or Kreg mini works just as well.

IF YOU DON’T OWN A POCKET HOLE JIG, you can countersink screws in the sides through the front, back, and bottom of the drawer. Place them in the same locations as I placed the pocket holes. Fill the holes with wood filler afterwards, and you’re good to go. Make sure to pre-drill holes through the sides to prevent the wood from splitting.

You could even use nails. Or just brad nails and wood glue. Or wood staples and glue. The options are endless. You’re just trying to build a box.

How to Build a Drawer step1

Step 3. Front & Back

Position the front of the drawer flush with the bottom and sides of the bottom. Attach with wood glue and 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws (or countersink screws through the front piece into the drawer bottom).

How to Build a Drawer step3

Repeat for the back of the drawer.

How to Build a Drawer step4
Drawer – top side view

With the front and back attached, the drawer should look like this:

How to Build a Drawer step5
Drawer – bottom side view

Step 4. Sides

Position the sides of the drawer, clamp in place, and attach with 1 ¼” pocket hole screws and wood glue (or countersunk screws).

Start by attaching the sides to the front and back:

How to Build a Drawer step6
Drawer – top view

Then flip the drawer over and attach the drawer bottom to the sides:

How to Build a Drawer step6
Drawer – bottom view

Let the wood glue dry and you have yourself a sturdy drawer.

How to Build a Drawer step7

Step 5. Drawer Face

Once you finish the drawer box, cut and fit the drawer face for whatever you’re building and attach it to the front of the drawer.

The drawer face hides the pocket holes on the front board, and the pocket holes on the back board face the back of the project – no pocket holes to be seen!

How to Build a Drawer
Drawer – isometric view

There are a million ways to build a drawer. This is just one method I like to use – it’s quick, strong, and gets the job done.

Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

Thanks for stopping by!

For more project ideas, you can find me on Pinterest. And to stay up to date with the latest shenanigans, follow me on Instagram.

Bitterroot DIY
How to Build a Drawer

Hap

Thursday 6th of February 2020

Different levels of woodworking for all, never stop learning- it is wood after all- something we really enjoy working with.

tylynn_sattler

Thursday 13th of February 2020

For sure! It's all a learning process.

Simple drawer maker

Monday 13th of January 2020

I must be really slumming it as I made my drawers with a circular saw and some plasterboard screws! Solid as a rock.

tylynn_sattler

Monday 13th of January 2020

Whatever gets the job done!

Mark Bauer

Friday 28th of June 2019

This is a great drawer design that is quick and easy. It is perfect for rough use in a workshop. I'm constantly building drawers for under-the-table and under-the-shelf for storage. I was spending way too much time with box-joint corners - this design is obviously faster without that much difference in usability.

tylynn_sattler

Monday 1st of July 2019

Thanks Mark. It's definitely a quick alternative and works great for a workshop.

Juliana

Sunday 3rd of February 2019

Love this drawer tutorial. I never thought of making pocket holes. Thanks. I would have just screwed the boards together, but this looks so much neeter. I think I want to make more drawer units for my kitchen this way. It will make a very nice island with my butcher block top I have salvaged. You are right. For a beginner like me, this makes drawer making very doable for me.

tylynn_sattler

Monday 4th of February 2019

I'm so glad it's helpful for you!

Roy M.

Monday 24th of September 2018

I can build much better drawers with just a table saw (Standard carbibe blade even), and glue. Though I routinely use a stacked Dado set myself, and dovetail jig. This article claims "No fancy tools," but the kreg jig is getting a bit fancy and some guys don't even own a miter saw, much less one accurate enough to build a suitably square drawer. Perhaps we need a definition of what the author of the article considers "Fancy." Considering the strength dados and dovetails offer, I would hardly consider them "Fancy." More like "mandatory."

Guy Scott

Saturday 8th of February 2020

If you don’t own a miter saw, you probably shouldn’t be building cabinet drawers. Kreg isn’t fancy either, it’s an ingenious product. Simplifies the process with little investment. We can’t all build stuff like Roy Boy though, now he’s a real manly man. Probably makes his own dowel pins too. My grandpa would be proud of you... if you weren’t such a tool. I enjoyed this tutorial, just wish you would’ve put the drawer face and slides on to complete process.

tylynn_sattler

Tuesday 25th of September 2018

Thank you for the input, Roy. I wrote the tutorial for people who do not have a table saw or access to training for dados and/or dovetails. The Kreg pocket hole jig is an inexpensive alternative that many hobby/weekend-warrior woodworkers don't mind purchasing (or already have on hand). I have also made drawers with dados and dovetails and, thought they do offer good strength, the pocket hole alternative is plenty strong and a good starting point for someone who isn't quite ready to take on dados and dovetails. I haven't had any trouble with any of the drawers I've made using the pocket hole method.

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