18-Inch Base Cabinet Cut List and Plywood Layout
This original SawNest companion converts an 18-inch outside cabinet width into a seven-part plywood carcass. It is a starting layout for a narrow base cabinet, not a universal construction plan: the dimensions below state exactly where the bottom sits and what the sample leaves out.
Download the cut listA narrow carcass leaves a useful continuous offcut
All seven rectangles fit on one 48 × 96 sheet with 1/4-inch edge trim and a 1/8-inch blade kerf. Finished parts occupy 61.3% of the purchased sheet. The diagram reports the solver placement; the percentage does not relabel kerf and trim as reusable waste.
- Carcass
- 18 in wide × 34 1/2 in high × 23 1/4 in deep
- Construction
- Measured 3/4 in sides; bottom captured between them
- Stock
- One 48 × 96 sheet; 1/4 in edge trim; 1/8 in kerf
- Excluded
- Back, toe-kick details, face frame, door, hardware, and edge banding
18-inch base cabinet cut list
The 16 1/2-inch bottom span comes from the outside width minus two measured side thicknesses. Width and length are layout axes; confirm face-grain orientation against the actual drawing.
Swipe horizontally to see every cut-list field →
| ID | Part | Width | Length | Qty | Layout / design rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B18-SIDE | Cabinet side | 23 1/4 in | 34 1/2 in | 2 | Grain locked with cabinet height |
| B18-BOTTOM | Bottom | 22 1/2 in | 16 1/2 in | 1 | Captured between the sides |
| B18-SHELF | Adjustable shelf | 21 7/8 in | 16 3/8 in | 2 | 1/8 in width and depth clearance |
| B18-STRETCHER | Top stretcher | 4 in | 16 1/2 in | 2 | Rotation allowed |
The opening follows the material, not the nominal label.
For two sides that actually measure 3/4 inch, the clear inside span is 18 − (2 × 3/4) = 16 1/2 inches. The sample shelf is 1/8 inch narrower and 1/8 inch shallower than the bottom so it can move without binding.
If the bottom enters dados, overlaps the sides, or the plywood measures 23/32 inch, recalculate before cutting. A narrow cabinet can also need a different toe-kick or pullout clearance than a wider box.
bottom span = 18 − (2 × 0.75) = 16.5 inshelf span = 16.5 − 0.125 = 16.375 infinished part area = 2,823.91 sq in = 61.3% of one sheetFour checks this layout cannot make for you
- Measure both side panels before calculating the captured parts.
- Confirm the chosen toe-kick construction does not shorten the sides.
- Lock the side-panel grain direction before optimizing.
- Test shelf clearance and door or pullout hardware on the real box.