Dowel Spacing Calculator

Summary

Enter board length, number of dowels, and edge margins to instantly calculate evenly spaced dowel hole positions for tight, aligned joints.

How it works

1. Enter the total board length in your preferred unit (inches or mm).
2. Set the left and right edge margins — the distance from each end to the first and last dowel.
3. Enter the number of dowels you want to place.
4. The calculator divides the usable span evenly and outputs the exact position of each dowel from the left edge.
5. Use the visual diagram to verify the layout before drilling.

Use cases

• Laying out dowel positions on face frames and cabinet carcasses.
• Aligning shelf pin or dowel rows for bookcases.
• Planning edge-to-edge panel glue-ups with alignment dowels.
• Checking that dowels clear pocket screws or biscuits in a board.
• Teaching woodworking students even-spacing principles.
• Transferring hole layout marks from one board to its mating piece.

Frequently Asked Questions