Cabinet cut list
36-inch base cabinet cut list (3/4″ plywood, frameless)
9 parts for a frameless 36″ base cabinet, nested on two 4×8 sheets of 3/4″ plywood at 91% and 3% yield, with the back on a 1/4″ sheet. Open it in CutBore to change a size and re-nest in seconds.
- Frameless
- 3/4″ carcass
- Applied back
- Kerf 1/8″
- Trim 0″
- 4×8
36-inch base cabinet · 9 parts (7 sizes) · 3 sheets · 91% on sheet 1
| Part | Qty | Length | Width | L × W | Grain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side | 2 | 30 1/2″ | 23″ | 30 1/2″ × 23″ | Locked |
| Bottom | 1 | 34 1/2″ | 23″ | 34 1/2″ × 23″ | Locked |
| Front stretcher | 1 | 34 1/2″ | 4″ | 34 1/2″ × 4″ | Locked |
| Back stretcher | 1 | 34 1/2″ | 4″ | 34 1/2″ × 4″ | Locked |
| Shelf | 1 | 34 3/8″ | 22″ | 34 3/8″ × 22″ | Locked |
| Door | 2 | 30 3/8″ | 17 7/8″ | 30 3/8″ × 17 7/8″ | Locked |
| Back | 1 | 30 1/2″ | 36″ | 30 1/2″ × 36″ | Locked |
Grain locked on every part
- Sheets
- 3
- Sheet 1 yield
- 91%
- Cuts
- 11
- Offcut
- —
What this cut list assumes
- Box
- Frameless (European-style) 3/4″ plywood carcass, 30 1/2″ tall and 23 1/4″ deep (23″ sides plus the 1/4″ back). With a 4″ toe kick and a 1 1/2″ countertop, that gives a 36″ counter height. The doors add 3/4″, so the face of the doors sits 24″ from the wall. Toe kick is a separate 4″ base or cabinet legs — not in this cut list.
- Material
- 3/4″ plywood for the box, shelf and doors. The back is 1/4″ plywood, applied — glued and stapled or screwed over the back edges of the sides, bottom and top. Full width and height of the box. No dado, no rabbet.
- Joinery
- Bottom and shelf sit between the sides, so they are 1 1/2″ narrower than the box. Two 4″ stretchers at the top, front and back. The shelf is 1/8″ narrower than the opening and set back 1″ from the front edge.
- Doors
- Two full-overlay 3/4″ plywood slab doors, 1/16″ gap at each outside edge and 1/8″ between the pair. Door height is the box height minus 1/8″.
- Saw
- 1/8″ kerf and 0″ edge trim. Grain is locked on every part. Length in the parts table always runs with the grain.
Cut order for sheet 1
11 cuts free the seven 3/4″ parts on sheet 1. Start with the rip at 23″. The 34 1/2 × 4″ back stretcher lands on a second sheet; cut it from an offcut or nest a run. Grain is locked. The numbers match this diagram.
- 1Rip23″Rip strip for #1 Bottom, #3 Side, #4 Side
- 2Crosscut34 1/2″Frees #1 Bottom
- 3Crosscut30 1/2″Frees #3 Side
- 4Crosscut30 1/2″Frees #4 Side
- 5Crosscut34 3/8″Crosscut band for #2 Shelf
- 6Rip22″Frees #2 Shelf
- 7Rip17 7/8″Rip strip for #5 Door, #6 Door
- 8Crosscut30 3/8″Frees #5 Door
- 9Crosscut30 3/8″Frees #6 Door
- 10Rip4″Rip strip for #7 Front stretcher
- 11Crosscut34 1/2″Frees #7 Front stretcher
How many sheets does a 36-inch base cabinet take?
Three: two 4×8 sheets of 3/4″ plywood for the box, shelf and doors (91% and 3% used), and one sheet of 1/4″ plywood for the back at 24%.
Why two 3/4″ sheets when the area of a 36″ base is close to one sheet? Kerf, grain lock and the shape of the parts stop the last pieces fitting, so they spill onto a second sheet that’s only 3% used. If you’re building more than one cabinet, put them in one job and that leftover gets used.
Questions
Can I use this as a sink base?
Yes. Leave the shelf out, and cut the plumbing holes in the back once the cabinet is placed, or leave the back off and add a 4″ rail in its place. Many shops also band and seal the bottom because it sees water. The rest of the cut list stays the same.
Will a 34 3/8-inch plywood shelf sag?
It can under heavy loads like canned goods or dishes. A 3/4″ shelf this wide holds normal kitchen loads better if you band the front edge or glue on a 3/4″ × 1 1/2″ hardwood nosing. To check a specific load, use a shelf sag calculator such as the Sagulator.
Why are the doors 17 7/8 inches wide?
Because two doors share the 36″ box. Take 1/16″ off each outside edge and 1/8″ between the doors, then split what’s left: (36″ − 1/4″) ÷ 2 = 17 7/8″.
Does a 36-inch frameless cabinet need a center divider?
No. A frameless box with full-overlay doors has no center stile, and this template doesn’t use a divider. Add one only if you want two separate bays or a shorter shelf span.
Can I change the width?
Yes. In CutBore, change the bottom, shelf and door widths. The rest and the saw list update as you type. Bottom and stretchers = W − 1 1/2″. Shelf = W − 1 5/8″. Back = W. A pair of doors = (W − 1/4″) ÷ 2 each. The sides don’t change.
Other cabinet sizes
Open this example in CutBore
The parts load into a new job, so you can change sizes and re-nest for free with no account. If you already have a job open, CutBore asks before switching, and your saved job isn’t overwritten. Browser print on this page is the parts table, nest and saw list — the $4.99 Founding Pass is a separate shop packet, not this page.