Build a Custom 2-Drawer Unit — Complete Plans for Any Size

Your bedside table needs to be exactly 400mm wide. The store sells 500mm or 600mm. You could make it work — if you don't mind the overhang blocking the hallway.

Standard furniture doesn't fit non-standard spaces.

Autofab's drawer unit designer lets you enter your exact dimensions — width, depth, height, even individual drawer heights. The system calculates every piece, every cut, every slide. Professional plans in seconds.

Here's the full project from start to finish.

Recommended Tools

Tool	What it's for
Circular saw or table saw	Straight, precise cuts in plywood
Drill with bits and drivers	Pilot holes and assembly
Pocket hole jig	Hidden screw joints (Kreg or similar)
Tape measure	Marking dimensions accurately
Combination square	Checking 90° angles
Clamps (at least 4)	Holding pieces during gluing
Sandpaper (120 and 220 grit)	Smoothing surfaces before finishing
Safety glasses	Eye protection during work
Drawer slide mounting jig	Installing drawer slides level

Required Materials

For the default 600 x 450 x 700mm 2-drawer unit in 18mm plywood:

Material	Qty	Notes
Plywood 18mm (1220 x 2440mm)	1-2 sheets	Standard 4'x8' sheets
Pocket hole screws	50 pcs	Length depends on thickness
Wood glue (PVA)	1 bottle	Carpenter's white glue
Full-extension drawer slides	4 pairs	Soft-close recommended
Wood finish	1 can	Lacquer, varnish, or oil

The Pieces

With Autofab's plans, you get all 18 pieces calculated to the millimeter for your exact dimensions. The structure has 6 pieces (sides, top, bottom, back, divider) and each drawer has 6 pieces (front cover, inner front, back, two sides, bottom). You can cut them yourself or take the cutting diagram to your nearest cutting center.

Cut List

Structure (6 pieces):

#	Part	Dimensions	Qty
1	Left Side	682 x 450 x 18mm	1
2	Right Side	682 x 450 x 18mm	1
3	Bottom Panel	564 x 450 x 18mm	1
4	Top Panel	600 x 450 x 18mm	1
5	Back Panel	664 x 564 x 18mm	1
6	Divider	564 x 432 x 18mm	1

Each Drawer (6 pieces x 2 drawers = 12 pieces):

#	Part	Dimensions	Qty
7	Front Cover	596 x 319 x 18mm	1
8	Inner Front	504 x 278 x 18mm	1
9	Back Panel	504 x 278 x 18mm	1
10	Left Side	396 x 278 x 18mm	1
11	Right Side	396 x 278 x 18mm	1
12	Bottom	504 x 396 x 18mm	1

Cutting Layout

The plans include optimized nesting diagrams — all 18 pieces arranged on standard plywood sheets:

Sheet 1

Sheet 2

No math, no measuring errors. Print and take it to the cutting center.

Assembly

14 steps, about 120 minutes total. The structure goes up first, then each drawer is built as a sub-assembly and installed with slides.

Phase 1 — Main Structure

Step 1 — Place the Base (~5 min)

Step 1: Base panel

Place the base on a flat, stable surface. This is your reference — everything builds from here.

Step 2 — Right Side Panel (~10 min)

Step 2: Right side panel

Align the right side panel with the base. Use a combination square to check the 90° angle before fastening. Clamp, drill pocket holes, and screw tight.

Step 3 — Left Side Panel (~10 min)

Step 3: Both sides in place

Repeat with the left side panel, verifying it's square with the base.

Step 4 — Divider (~10 min)

Step 4: Horizontal divider installed

Install the horizontal divider that separates the two drawer compartments. Make sure it's level — this determines how smoothly the drawers operate.

Tip: Pre-drill all pocket holes before assembly. It's faster and more accurate when you focus only on alignment.

Step 5 — Top Panel (~10 min)

Step 5: Top panel completes the box

Set the top over both sides and fasten. Check diagonals — they should be equal.

Step 6 — Back Panel (~10 min)

Step 6: Back panel adds rigidity

Attach the back panel. This keeps the entire unit square and rigid. Fasten with screws every 150mm along the edges.

Phase 2 — Drawer Assembly (repeat for each drawer)

Step 7 — Inner Front (~5 min)

Step 7: Drawer inner front

On a separate surface, position the drawer inner front. This is the base of the drawer sub-assembly.

Step 8 — Right Side (~5 min)

Step 8: Drawer right side

Align the drawer right side with the inner front and fasten, ensuring it's square.

Step 9 — Left Side (~5 min)

Step 9: Drawer left side

Repeat with the left side, checking for squareness.

Step 10 — Back Panel (~5 min)

Step 10: Drawer back panel

Align the drawer back panel and fasten firmly, closing the frame.

Step 11 — Bottom (~5 min)

Step 11: Drawer bottom installed

Place the drawer bottom and fasten it. The drawer box is now complete.

Step 12 — Slide Installation (~15 min)

Step 12: Slides mounted

Mount the slides on both the structure and the drawer, following the manufacturer's instructions. The PDF includes a dedicated guide on slide installation.

Step 13 — Front Cover (~10 min)

Step 13: Drawer front cover installed

Install the decorative front cover using shims to maintain the even gaps specified in the design.

Step 14 — Second Drawer (~15 min)

Step 14: Complete 2-drawer unit

Repeat steps 7 through 13 for the second drawer. Verify both drawers open and close smoothly.

What's in the Plans

Technical drawings — front, side, and exploded views with every dimension
Optimized cutting layouts — nesting algorithm, minimal waste across 1-2 sheets
Step-by-step assembly — 3D diagrams for each of the 14 steps
Materials and hardware list — quantities for your exact dimensions
Appendix guides — Pocket Holes, Drawer Slides, Finishing, Maintenance

Customization

Every dimension is adjustable:

Parameter	Range	Default
Width	300–1200mm	600mm
Depth	300–600mm	450mm
Height	400–1200mm	700mm
Thickness	15–19mm	18mm
Top Drawer Height	100–600mm	323mm

Change one dimension and the entire plan recalculates — cut list, nesting, assembly diagrams, everything.

Ready to Build?

Enter your dimensions in the 2-drawer unit designer and download your plans. Width, depth, height, drawer proportions — all customizable.

Your measurements. Your plans. Instant download.