Projects / Plywood bookcase plans / 30″ tall, 24″ wide, 3 shelves

30″ plywood bookcase, 24″ wide

A 30-inch plywood bookcase, 24″ wide, with 3 shelves and a ¼″ back.

IntermediateA weekend6 parts¾″ plywood or ¼″ plywood
¾″ plywood · 48″ × 48″A SideABBB¼″ plywood · 24″ × 48″C Back

Cutting diagram

¾″ plywood · 48″ × 48″A SideAB ShelfB ShelfB Shelf¼″ plywood · 24″ × 48″C Back

Bright pieces are your parts; the dimmed wood is left over. Every cut allows ⅛″ for the saw blade.

Cut list

PartQtyWidth × lengthCut from
ASide211¼″ × 30″286 × 762 mm¾″ plywood
BShelf311¼″ × 22½″286 × 572 mm¾″ plywood
CBack124″ × 30″610 × 762 mm¼″ plywood

How to build it

  1. Rip the plywood into 11¼″ strips first, then crosscut two sides at 30″ and 3 shelves at 22½″.
  2. Iron edge banding onto every front edge and trim it flush.
  3. Screw the top and bottom shelves between the sides, then space the rest evenly, about 13⅞″ apart.
  4. Square the case by measuring the diagonals, then nail the ¼″ back on to lock it square.
  5. Fill the screw holes, sand, and paint or finish.