How to Make Closet Drawers

Determine the width and number of drawers for your closet drawer unit. A standard width is 24 inches with a height of 7 inches, but you can customize your dimensions. Tally the total inches of the height, and add 1 inch for clearance between each drawer. Add 2 inches to this measurement to allow for the bottom drawer and the drawer slide railing. Use the total for your height measurement.

Cut four pieces of 2-by-4 inch lumber according to your height measurement. Attach two pieces to the back wall studs and use the other two pieces for the front supports.

Locate the studs on the back wall of the closet with a stud finder and mark the stud spots with a carpenter’s pencil.

Drill starter pilot holes in the rear stud pieces and attach to the wall with 3-inch wood screws. Draw a chalk line from the center of the back wall studs to the front edge for the drawer unit. Hammer a 1-inch nail into each back wall stud. Attach a string to the nail. Hold the front left stud and mark the position on the floor. Repeat this process for the stud for the right side.

Place an L-bracket along the back and right edges of the left stud. Fill in screw holes onto the stud and onto the floor with a carpenter’s pencil. Remove the stud and drill starter holes on the stud and into the floor, following the pencil marks. Complete attaching the screws to attach the L-bracket to the floor and to the stud manually. Repeat this process to attach the stud to the floor on the right side. Use a long level to ensure the front studs are straight.

Measure and cut the hardboard for the drawer bottoms and the plywood for the back panel, sides and front of the drawers according to your dimensions. Run a bead of contact cement along the outer edge of the bottom pieces. Attach the back, side and front pieces to the bottom pieces with 1/2-inch finishing nails. Use 1-inch finishing nails to secure the side pieces to the edges of the front and back panels. Clamp the drawers and allow them to dry for 24 hours.

Run a tape measure from the edge-to-edge of the studs to measure the width and height dimensions to create the top surface for the drawer unit. Cut a quarter-inch piece of plywood, according to your measurements. Use 1-inch wood screws to attach the top surface piece to the edges of the studs.

Attach the drawer rails to the left and right sides of each drawer. Mark the studs for the drawer rail positions. Start with the bottom drawer. Use a pencil to fill in the screw hole positions on the studs for each drawer. Drill starter holes and finish attaching the screws for each rail with a screwdriver.

Place the slide units on the sides of each drawer and mark the screw locations. Drill starter holes and finish attaching the slides with a screwdriver.

Use the procedures in Step 7 to cut and attach plywood to create sidewalls for the left and right sides.

Sand edges, prime and paint the top and sidewalls that house the drawer unit, and to finish the fronts of each drawer to complete your closet drawer project.