Woodworking Joinery Guide

The joints

• Butt joint: simplest, weakest without reinforcement. Use with screws and glue or dowels.
• Dowelled joint: strong, hidden, needs drilling accuracy.
• Half-lap: flat, strong, easy with a saw and chisel.
• Mortise & tenon: the workhorse of furniture — strong, classic.
• Dovetail: very strong, beautiful, for drawer fronts and boxes.
• Dado / groove: shelf and panel joinery, great with a router.

Choosing by use

• Drawers: dovetail or box joints
• Table aprons to legs: mortise & tenon
• Shelves into sides: dados
• Panels: biscuits or floating tenons

Practical tips

• Clamp and check square before glue dries.
• Fit joints dry first — tight is better than loose.
• Glue on all surfaces but never force a joint.

Plan your pieces with the furniture plan generator.