The cabinet
This is a plain box for hanging clothes: two full-height sides, a top and a bottom between them, a fixed shelf about 12 in below the top with a closet rod under it, a 4 in toe kick, two nailers across the back to screw it to the wall, and two full-overlay doors. The case is 23 1/4 in deep so that with 3/4 in doors the front sits at 24 in, enough for clothes on hangers.
Why 84 in tall and not 96 in? The sides run along the 8 ft length of the sheet, and you lose some length to edge trim. Also check that a tall cabinet can stand up in the room: the diagonal of an 84 × 24 in side is about 87 3/8 in, which clears a 96 in ceiling. For a floor-to-ceiling build, use 4×10 sheets or stack an upper box on top.
Cut list
All parts in 3/4 in plywood. Parts that fit between the sides are 36 − 3/4 − 3/4 = 34 1/2 in long. If your plywood measures 23/32 in, add 1/16 in to those parts. Doors leave a 1/16 in reveal on each outside edge and 1/8 in between them, and 1/8 in at the top and at the bottom of the 80 in opening above the kick.
| Qty | Length | Width | Part | Grain | Edges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 84 | 23 1/4 | Side | Locked | 1L |
| 2 | 34 1/2 | 23 1/4 | Top / bottom | Free | 1L |
| 1 | 34 1/2 | 23 1/4 | Fixed shelf | Free | 1L |
| 1 | 34 1/2 | 4 | Toe kick | Free | None |
| 2 | 34 1/2 | 4 | Back nailer | Free | None |
| 2 | 79 3/4 | 17 7/8 | Door | Locked | 2L2W |
Add a back of 1/4 in plywood, 36 × 84 in, from a separate sheet. It squares the case and stops dust; the nailers carry the weight on the wall.
How many sheets of 3/4 in plywood
Add up the areas and you get about 9,580 sq in, a bit more than two 4×8 sheets (4,608 sq in each). Two will never be enough once kerf and grain are in play. With a 1/8 in kerf and 1/4 in trimmed from each edge, the plan comes out at three sheets, about 69% yield:
- Sheet 1: the two sides, side by side along the length.
- Sheet 2: the two doors, plus the toe kick and both nailers from the strip beside them.
- Sheet 3: top, bottom and fixed shelf, with room left for two more full-depth shelves if you want them.
Doors and sides keep their grain vertical. Top, bottom and shelves are free to rotate, which is why they pack well on the last sheet. Two identical cabinets take six sheets.
Edge banding
Band every edge you see with the doors open: the front edge of the sides, top, bottom and fixed shelf, and all four edges of both doors. That is 2 × 84 + 3 × 34 1/2 + 2 × (2 × 79 3/4 + 2 × 17 7/8) = 662 in, about 55 ft. Allow about 1 in of overhang at each end of the 13 banded edges and you need roughly 57 ft. A 50 ft roll is not enough, so buy two, or a longer shop roll.
Band the doors before you drill the hinge cups, and doors this tall usually need four hinges each. Check your hinge maker's chart for door height and weight.
Build it in Cortaplan
- Set the Unit to in and, under Cutting settings, set Blade kerf to 1/8 and Edge trim to 1/4.
- Under Sheets, pick 4 × 8 ft and type 3/4 in plywood as the Material.
- Under Parts, enter the table above, keep Grain locked on the sides and doors, and tap the banded edges.
- The result shows the sheet count, the numbered cutting diagram and the edge banding total. Tap Cut to go through the cuts one by one at the saw.
Questions
How deep should a wardrobe cabinet be?
About 24 in overall for clothes on hangers. This example uses a 23 1/4 in deep case plus 3/4 in doors.
How many sheets of plywood for a closet cabinet?
This 36 × 84 × 24 in cabinet takes three 4×8 sheets of 3/4 in plywood plus one sheet of 1/4 in for the back. A cutting plan tells you for your exact sizes.
Can I build it from melamine instead?
Yes. Use the same cut list, band the edges with matching melamine or PVC banding, and turn on No grain if the board is a plain color so every part can rotate.