Shelf Pin Hole Spacing Calculator

Inputs

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Drillable interior height of the cabinet side (between bottom and top panels or rails).
mm
Center-to-center hole spacing. 32 mm is the European system standard.
mm
Minimum distance from the top of the drillable zone to the first hole.
mm
Minimum distance from the bottom of the drillable zone to the last hole.
mm
Centered balances the leftover top and bottom; fixed-start pins the first hole at the top clearance (jig-from-top workflows).
Distance from the cabinet front/back edge to each hole row. 37 mm is the system standard and what most jigs index to.
mm

Results

Default result
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Holes per row(n)
18
Pass

Drill the same layout on all four rows (two per side).

floor((H - c_t - c_b)/p) + 1.

Also computed

First hole from top(y₁)78mm

Measured down from the top of the drillable zone.

Last hole from top(yₙ)622mm

Row span((n-1)·p)544mm

Below last hole(c_b')78mm

Row setback(s)37mm

37 mm from front and back edges is the 32 mm system convention; keep both rows of a side identical.

Method notes 4 notes
  • The 32 mm system pairs a 32 mm pitch with 37 mm row setbacks and 5 mm pins; 1/4 in pins on a 1-1/4 in pitch are the common imperial equivalent.
  • Drill all rows from the same reference edge so shelf holes line up — a flipped jig is the classic source of rocking shelves.
  • Holes 8-10 mm deep in 16-19 mm panels leave a safe back wall; through-drilling needs backing to prevent blowout.
  • For drawer slides on the same rows, keep the system holes aligned with the slide screw pattern (most slides are drilled for 32 mm increments).

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