How to build a bookcase

A bookcase is a box with shelves in it, and it fails in the same three ways every time: shelves that sag under books, a case that racks sideways, and a tall, shallow unit that tips when someone pulls on a shelf. Set your sizes below and the engine checks all three before you buy a sheet.

Check your size first

Free, instant and no account. The engine checks it the way a structural engineer would, and says so plainly when it won't hold up.

What goes wrong on a bookcase

Shelf sag: Books are heavy. A long shelf in plywood bows over months, and the fix is a shorter span, a thicker shelf or a stiffening edge. The check works out the sag for your span and stock.
Racking: Without a back, a bookcase folds into a parallelogram. A back panel fixed into the case is what keeps it square.
Tipping: Tall and shallow tips over. The check compares height to depth and tells you when it needs a wall anchor or a deeper base.

The build, start to finish

Have the sides, top, bottom and shelves cut from sheet goods (the yard's panel saw can do it from the cut list).
Mark the shelf positions on both sides together so they line up.
Join the top and bottom to the sides, then the shelves, checking for square as you go.
Fix the back panel to lock the case square.
Stand it up, anchor it to the wall if the plan says so, and load it.

The full plan has the exact cut list, a shopping list, a 3D view you can stand in your room, and step-by-step assembly for your sizes.

Other builds

Setting up your bench…

Build guides · Bookcase