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This is an entryway locker system: a center divider splits the case into two cubby columns, each with its own shelf, so the finished piece can hold a mail-sort shelf on one side and open cubby storage on the other — or be built and lined up side by side as a multi-unit wall system, which is how the design is really meant to be used. Building it square matters more here than on most single pieces, because if you ever add a second or third unit next to this one, an out-of-square case will show as a visible gap or mismatch where two units meet.
The mail-sort slots are small dividers screwed to one shelf, not a separate structural system — build the case first, then treat the mail sorts as an accessory you position and fasten once the shelf they sit on is already solid. Measure diagonally corner to corner as you square up each stage; if the two diagonal measurements don't match, push the two corners of the longer measurement toward each other until they do.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x12 board, 8 ft | 4 each |
| 1x2 board, 8 ft | 3 each |
| 1/4" plywood, full sheet | 1 each |
| 1x4 board, 30 inCut into the small mail-sort dividers. | 1 each |
| Wood screws, 2" | 30 each |
| Finish nails, 2" and 1-1/4" | 60 each |
| Wood glue | 4 oz |
| Wood filler and finishing supplies (paint, primer, 120-grit sandpaper) | 1 set |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Sides1x12 | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 76" |
| Center cubby divider1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 76" |
| Shelves1x12Two shelves per cubby column. | 4 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 14" |
| Top1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 30" |
| Back1/4" plywood | 1 | 1/4" × 30" × 76" |
| Mail-sort dividers1x4Small vertical dividers screwed to the mail-sort shelf. | 5 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 4" |
| Top trim1x2 | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 30 1/2" |
| Side trim1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 76 1/2" |
| Shelf trim1x2 | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 14 1/4" |
Buy 9 boards at 8 ft.
4 boards
1 board
3 boards
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Because this piece sees light everyday use, a nailer with 2" nails is plenty of fastener — 2" countersunk screws with glue or 1-1/4" pocket-hole screws work too. Measure and mark out every joint with a square before assembly.
Mark out where the mail-sort dividers will sit on the mail-sort shelf, then fasten them in place.
Mark the joint locations for the sides on both their inside and outside faces, so you know where to line boards up and where to start fasteners. Apply glue and fasten the sides to the shelves and center divider.
Attach the top to the sides and the center cubby divider.
Tack the back on with glue and 1-1/4" nails. If everything else was assembled with a nailer, make sure the back is also fastened into the shelves, not just the sides.
Nail the top trim on with glue and 2" finish nails, keeping the top flush and letting the ends overhang 1/4" on each side. Add the side trim the same way, also overhanging 1/4".
Add the shelf trim, keeping tops flush, and drive a nail or predrilled screw through the edge of the side trim into the ends of the shelf trim to keep that joint tight.
At every stage, measure diagonally corner to corner and compare the two measurements — if they don't match, push the two corners of the longer diagonal toward each other until they do. This matters even more if you're building multiple units to line up side by side.
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