This free plan builds a small three-shelf bookcase from three pine boards, a plywood back and 28 screws. The post gives the full cut list, a cutting diagram, dimensioned drawings and step-by-step assembly diagrams. You can also download the plan as a printable PDF, with no sign-up.
The design uses glue and screws, with no special joints. Every part is the full width of its board, so the only cuts in the boards are straight crosscuts. It suits a first piece of furniture, and it is simple to repeat if you want to build bookcases to sell.
Small Bookcase Plans at a Glance
| Overall size | 24 in. wide, 9-1/2 in. deep, 40 in. high |
|---|---|
| Shelf space | Three openings: 12-1/2 in. high at the bottom, and two at 10-1/2 in. |
| Shelf size | 22-1/2 in. long, 9-1/4 in. deep |
| Wood | Two 1 × 10 × 8 ft. boards, one 1 × 4 × 6 ft. board and a 2 × 4 ft. panel of 1/4 in. plywood |
| Hardware | 28 No. 8 × 2 in. wood screws, 26 1 in. nails, wood glue and an anti-tip kit |
| Skill level | Beginner |
| Build time | About 3 hours for a first build with power tools, plus finishing (estimate) |
| Finish | Paint or a clear water-based finish |
How This Bookcase Is Designed
- Two sides from one board. Each side is 40 inches long, so both come from one 8-foot 1 × 10.
- Four boards the same size. The top, the bottom and the two shelves are all 22-1/2 inches long. All four come from the second 1 × 10.
- Glue and screws. Each board is glued and held by three screws through each side. Our guide to types of wood joints covers stronger joints you can move on to later.
- Shelves that stay flat. The shelves span 22-1/2 in. between the sides. With the beam formula the WoodBin Sagulator uses, a 3/4 in. pine shelf this size carrying 35 lb per running foot (about 66 lb per shelf) sags about 0.025 in. That is inside WoodBin’s target of 0.02 in. per foot, which is 0.037 in. for this span. WoodBin notes that wood shelves sag about 50% more over time, which still leaves this shelf under the 1/32 inch per foot that the eye notices.
- A kick. A 1 × 4 under the bottom board lifts it 3-1/2 inches off the floor. It sits 1/2 inch back from the front edge.
- A plywood back. The back stops the case leaning sideways. It is nailed on after you square the case.
Tools You Need
- Tape measure, square and pencil
- Circular saw or miter saw for crosscuts
- Drill and driver
- 1/8 in. drill bit and a countersink
- Hammer
- Two bar clamps that open to 26 in. or more
- Sandpaper in 120 and 180 grit, and a sanding block or sander
- Safety glasses, hearing protection and a dust mask
A circular saw with a guide cuts the plywood back. Many stores will also cut the panel for you. Our post on portable power saws explains how to make straight cuts with a circular saw. Follow the instructions that came with your tools, and see our woodworking safety rules for the habits that matter in a home workshop.
Materials and Hardware
| Item | Actual size | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × 10 × 8 ft. pine board | 3/4 × 9-1/4 in. | 2 |
| 1 × 4 × 6 ft. pine board | 3/4 × 3-1/2 in. | 1 |
| 1/4 in. plywood, 2 × 4 ft. panel | 24 × 48 in. | 1 |
| No. 8 × 2 in. wood screws | — | 28 |
| 1 in. panel nails or brads | — | 26 |
| Wood glue | — | 1 small bottle |
| Furniture anti-tip kit | — | 1 |
Boards sold as 1-inch lumber are 3/4 inch thick, and a 1 × 10 is 9-1/4 inches wide. Pick straight, flat boards and sight down each one before you buy. Plywood sold as 1/4 inch is often a little thinner, which is fine for the back. Our guide on where to buy wood covers suppliers and lumber sizes.
Cut List
All sizes are in inches. The letters match the drawings.
| Part | Name | Qty | Thickness | Width | Length | Stock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Side | 2 | 3/4 | 9-1/4 | 40 | 1 × 10 | Mark shelf lines and drill pilot holes. |
| B | Top, bottom and shelf | 4 | 3/4 | 9-1/4 | 22-1/2 | 1 × 10 | All four are the same size. |
| C | Kick | 1 | 3/4 | 3-1/2 | 22-1/2 | 1 × 4 | Sits under the bottom, 1/2 in. back. |
| D | Back | 1 | 1/4 | 23-3/4 | 36-3/8 | 1/4 in. plywood | 1/4 in. plywood. Grain runs up and down. |
Cutting Diagram
Trim 1 inch off the end of each board first, so you start from a square end. Measure each part from the fresh cut. Each saw cut removes about 1/8 inch. Our post on how to measure, mark and cut wood covers the basics.
How the Parts Fit Together
The two sides (A) run the full height. The four boards (B) fit between them. The kick (C) sits under the bottom board, and the back (D) covers the case from the bottom board to the top.
Drawings With Dimensions
Front and Side Views
The case is 24 inches wide: a 22-1/2 inch board between two 3/4 inch sides. The top board sits flush with the top of the sides. The bottom board sits 3-1/2 inches above the floor.
Sides (A)
The two sides are a mirrored pair. Lines for the underside of each board sit 3-1/2, 16-3/4, 28 and 39-1/4 inches from the bottom end. Each board gets three pilot holes, 1-1/2, 4-5/8 and 7-3/4 inches from the front edge.
Back (D) and Top View
The back is 23-3/4 × 36-3/8 inches. It sits 1/8 inch in from each side and from the top, and its bottom edge lines up with the underside of the bottom board. It takes 26 nails.
How to Build the Bookcase, Step by Step
Step 1: Cut the Parts
Trim 1 in. off the end of each board so you start from a square end. Cut two sides (A) 40 in. long from the first 1 × 10. Cut four boards (B) 22-1/2 in. long from the second 1 × 10. Cut the kick (C) 22-1/2 in. long from the 1 × 4. Cut the back (D) 23-3/4 × 36-3/8 in. from the plywood. Measure each part from the fresh cut. Stack the four B boards and check that they are the same length. Trim any that are long.
Step 2: Mark the Sides
Lay the two sides next to each other with their inside faces up and their back edges touching. Measure from the bottom end and square a line across both sides at 3-1/2, 16-3/4, 28 and 39-1/4 in. These lines are the underside of each board. Draw a second line 3/4 in. above each one. Marking both sides together keeps the shelves level.
Step 3: Drill the Pilot Holes
Drill three 1/8 in. pilot holes between each pair of lines, 1-1/2, 4-5/8 and 7-3/4 in. from the front edge. Drill two more for the kick, 7/8 in. from the front edge and 1 and 2-1/2 in. up from the bottom. Turn the sides over and countersink each hole on the outside face. Sand the inside faces of all parts with 120 grit now, while they are easy to reach.
Step 4: Join the First Side to the Top and Bottom
Work on the floor or a low bench. Stand the top and bottom boards on end and lay the left side across them, inside face down. Spread glue on the end of each board. Line the top board up with the end of the side and the bottom board up with its pencil lines, 3-1/2 in. from the other end. Keep the front edges flush. Drill a 1/8 in. pilot through each hole into the board, then drive three screws into each.
Step 5: Add the Two Shelves
Glue the end of each shelf and stand it under the side, between its pencil lines. Check that the front edges are flush, then drill and drive three screws into each shelf.
Step 6: Fit the Second Side
Turn the case over so the fitted side is on the floor. Glue the four board ends. Lay the right side on top with its pencil lines over the boards and the front edges flush. Drill and drive three screws into each board, starting with the top and bottom.
Step 7: Fit the Kick
Stand the case up. Glue the top edge and both ends of the kick. Slide it under the bottom board, 1/2 in. back from the front edge. Drive two screws through each side into the ends of the kick.
Step 8: Square the Case and Nail on the Back
Lay the case face down. Measure both diagonals of the case, corner to corner. The case is square when the two match, at about 46-5/8 in. Push the longer diagonal in until they do. Run a thin line of glue on the back edges. Set the back on the case, 1/8 in. in from each side and from the top. Nail it about every 6 in. along both sides and into the back edge of each board.
Step 9: Sand and Finish
- Fill the screw holes with wood filler if you plan to paint. Let it dry, then sand it flush.
- Sand the outside with 120 grit, then 180 grit, working along the grain. Ease the sharp edges by hand.
- Wipe off the dust before you apply any finish.
- For paint, prime first. Use a stain-blocking primer over knots, because knots in pine can show through paint.
- For a clear finish, a water-based polyurethane keeps pine light in colour. Sand lightly between coats.
- Pine takes stain unevenly. If you want to stain it, apply a pre-stain wood conditioner first and test on an offcut.
- Follow the drying and recoat times on the can, and let the finish cure before you load the shelves.
Our post on wood finishing covers the supplies in more detail.
Step 10: Anchor the Bookcase to the Wall
A loaded bookcase can tip if a child climbs it. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Anchor It! campaign advises anchoring bookshelves to the wall and placing heavy items toward the bottom.
- Fit a furniture anti-tip kit near the top of the case, following the instructions in the kit.
- Fix the wall end into a wall stud where you can.
- Put the heaviest books on the bottom shelf.
Changing the Size
- Height. Change the side length and the openings. Keep the kick and the board thickness in the sum, and recheck the back size.
- Width. A 2 × 4 ft. plywood panel limits the case to 24 inches wide. Wider shelves also sag more, so keep the span close to this size for 3/4 inch pine.
- Depth. A 1 × 12 board gives 11-1/4 inch shelves. The cut lengths stay the same.
Selling This Bookcase
- State the overall size and the three opening heights in the listing, so buyers can check that their books fit.
- Say what the wood and the finish are. Buyers often ask whether a piece is solid wood.
- Include an anti-tip kit with each bookcase and tell the buyer to fit it.
- A bookcase is bulky to ship. Local pickup or delivery, markets and custom orders suit it better than mailing.
- Offer set options, such as two heights or a choice of paint colours. The cut list changes very little.
The federal tip-over standard, 16 CFR Part 1261, covers clothing storage units: freestanding furniture with drawers or doors that is 27 inches or taller. This open bookcase has neither. Check the rule before you sell a version with doors or drawers. This is general information, not legal advice.
Work out your price from your wood, hardware, finish, time and selling fees. See how to set the final selling price on your craft and how to sell woodworking projects. For more items to make, see the top 10 woodcrafts to sell and our woodworking business guide.
Download the Printable Small Bookcase Plan
The PDF has 12 pages on US Letter paper. It includes the cut list, the cutting diagram, every drawing in this post and the assembly steps. It is free, with no sign-up.
Download the small bookcase plan (PDF)
Build status: plan checked by calculation; not yet test-built. Facts checked: November 2026.
Sources
- WoodBin, The Sagulator (shelf sag calculator)
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2024, Anchor It! Summer Checklist
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2022, Safety Standard for Clothing Storage Units, Federal Register, 16 CFR Part 1261
