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A five-drawer plywood dresser — three small drawers over two large ones — sitting on an open bottom shelf instead of a closed base.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sides | 2 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 18 3/4" | 3/4" plywood | ☐ |
| Side trim | 8 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 15 3/4" | Pine 1x2 | ☐ |
| Legs | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 31 3/4" | Pine 2x2 | ☐ |
| Bottom rails, short | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 15 3/4" | Pine 2x2 | ☐ |
| Bottom rails, long | 6 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 55 1/2" | Pine 2x2 | ☐ |
| Front/back trim | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 55 1/2" | Pine 1x2 | ☐ |
| Divider trim | 6 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 7 1/2" | Pine 1x2 | ☐ |
| Top | 1 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 57" | 3/4" plywood | ☐ |
| Top trim, sides | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 15 3/4" | Pine 1x2 | ☐ |
| Top trim, front/back | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 60" | Pine 1x2 | ☐ |
| Bottom shelf | 1 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 55 1/2" | 3/4" plywood | ☐ |
| Back panel | 1 | 1/4" × 18 3/4" × 58 1/2" | 1/4" plywood | ☐ |
| Small drawer box sides/fronts/backs | 12 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 16" | Pine 1x6 | ☐ |
| Small drawer box sides | 6 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 15 1/2" | Pine 1x6 | ☐ |
| Small drawer bottoms | 3 | 1/4" × 16" × 17" | 1/4" plywood | ☐ |
| Small drawer faces | 3 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 17 3/4" | Pine 1x8 | ☐ |
| Large drawer box sides/fronts/backs | 8 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 16" | Pine 1x6 | ☐ |
| Large drawer box sides | 4 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 24 7/8" | Pine 1x6 | ☐ |
| Large drawer bottoms | 2 | 1/4" × 16" × 26 3/8" | 1/4" plywood | ☐ |
| Large drawer faces | 2 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 27 1/8" | Pine 1x8 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4" plywood, 4x8 sheet Sides, top, bottom, and shelf. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1/4" plywood, 4x8 sheet Back panel and drawer bottoms. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 1x2, 8 ft | 5 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 2x2, 8 ft Legs and rails — go with straight, high-grade stock here, it carries real load. | 6 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 1x6, 8 ft Drawer box sides. | 4 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 1x8, 10 ft Drawer faces. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Drawer knobs or handles | 5 each | ☐ |
| 16" bottom-mount drawer slides, pair | 5 pair | ☐ |
| Pocket hole screws, assorted | 1 box | ☐ |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" | 1 box | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 6 oz | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: 3/4" plywood, 4x8 sheet, Pine, 1x2, 8 ft, Wood glue
Drill 3/4" pocket holes along the side and top edges on the insides of the two plywood sides. Attach the 1x2 trim to the front and top edges with 1-1/4" nails and glue before you go any further — it's much easier to do flat than after the carcass is assembled.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: Pine, 2x2, 8 ft, Pocket hole screws, assorted
Attach the legs to the sides through the predrilled pocket holes. Then attach the bottom with pocket holes and 2-1/2" pocket hole screws.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: Pine, 2x2, 8 ft
Add the front and back rails to establish the dresser's shape. If you're adding the drawer dividers, consider installing them now too — it gets tight to fit a drill in once the case closes up further.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 2x2, 8 ft
You may need a countersink bit to drive screws in the tighter spots. Accuracy is what makes or breaks a five-drawer bank — every opening needs to be identical, or the drawer faces won't line up in a row later.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: 3/4" plywood, 4x8 sheet, Pine, 1x2, 8 ft
Attach trim to the outside edges of the top panel with 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket hole screws, then attach the completed top to the dresser.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: 3/4" plywood, 4x8 sheet
Drill 3/4" pocket holes on all four edges of the bottom shelf and attach it to the frame with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Tape Measure. Materials: Pine, 1x6, 8 ft, Wood glue
Build each drawer box 1" narrower than its opening's overall width — that's the clearance standard bottom-mount slides need, and the number to double-check against your actual openings before you cut.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 1x8, 10 ft, Drawer knobs or handles, 16" bottom-mount drawer slides, pair
Attach the drawer slides to the case and to the boxes, then hang the drawers. Attach the drawer faces last, with an even gap on all sides — spacers held against the case help keep the gap consistent while you nail and glue.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: 1/4" plywood, 4x8 sheet
Attach the back panel last, once you're confident the drawers are sliding correctly — leaving it off until now means you can still reach in and adjust anything that isn't running smoothly.