Different Types of Drawer Joint Construction for Cabinet Drawers

The drawer of the cabinetThere are 4 basic types of construction for drawer joints. Our cabinets are only made with dovetail joints, the strongest and most reliable.

Dovetail Joint Construction 5 stars

Here is a dovetail jointThe dovetail technique is extremely strong and resistant. The different edges of the dovetail joint interlock with each other and require no screws or nails to help keep them together.

Dovetail joints are the ideal option for cabinet drawers and they are standard in our cabinets.

Mortise and Tenon Joint 3 stars

Here is a mortise and tenon jointWith this type of joint, one end of wood is inserted into another piece to form a joint. Depending on the thickness of the wood, this can be a very strong joint. However, with only one piece of wood connecting them, a mortise and tenon joint can be very susceptible to damages and is not as good as a dovetail joint. If the wood is thinner, such as in a drawer box, it will be susceptible to breaking much easier.

Dowel Joint 2 stars

Here is a dowel jointA dowel joint is basically a butt joint with dowel rods used to help hold it together. Small round pieces of wood are inserted into both drawer sides and the result is a butt ‘dowel’ joint that is a bit stronger than a regular butt joint. Overall, it is very weak and should definitely be avoided for drawer boxes.

Butt Joint 1 stars

Here is a butt jointA butt joint is an extremely basic joint where 2 pieces of wood are simply joined at the end and then nailed, screwed or glued together. Since there are no forms of interlocking reinforcement, a butt joint is very weak. Avoid this type of joint for cabinet drawers.