Drawer sides
3/4 in drawer sides, the heavy duty option
A file drawer full of paper, a pantry pull out stacked with cans, a wide pot drawer under the range: these drawers get loaded hard and pulled hard, every day. When we build for that, we build with 3/4 in walls. Same dovetails, same captured bottom, more wood where the stress lands.
Quick answer. 3/4 in thick sides are a +$15.99 choice on the custom drawer box. They make all four walls 3/4 in, which stiffens a wide or heavy drawer, cuts the largest dovetails we offer, and costs 1/4 in of interior width and depth against our 5/8 in standard. They are the right pick for file drawers, pantry pull outs, pot drawers and trash pull outs on side mount slides. On undermount runners, 3/4 in only works when the runner has a 19 mm version.
What changes in the box
Choosing 3/4 in makes the front, back and both sides 3/4 in thick. The outside size you order does not change; we still hold it to the 1/32 in. What you get is a stiffer, heavier box with bigger joints and a little less room inside.
- Stiffer walls. Each wall is 1/8 in thicker than standard, which is a real difference on a long side under a heavy load. The box stays square when it is packed full and yanked open.
- Bigger dovetails. The joint is cut through the whole wall, so pins and tails on a 3/4 in box are the largest we cut, with the most glue surface. They look like furniture drawers because that is what furniture makers use.
- Less room inside. Interior width and depth each lose 1/4 in against 5/8 in sides. A 30 in wide box measures 28 1/2 in inside instead of 28 3/4 in.
- More weight. More wood means a heavier empty box, and on a load rated runner that weight comes out of the rating before you fill the drawer.
Drawers that earn 3/4 in sides
File drawers are the clearest case. Hanging files load a drawer with dense weight along its full width, and the drawer is opened dozens of times a day. Pantry pull outs are next: a tall box full of cans and jars, often with a scooped front for reach, running on heavy duty side mount slides. Pot drawers and pan drawers under the cooktop carry cast iron and stacked stock pots, and they are usually the widest drawers in the kitchen. Trash pull outs get slammed. Workshop and garage drawers hold tools. All of these want a stiff wall that will not rack, and 3/4 in is the answer.
Width alone can be a reason. As a box gets wider the front and back span further, and a thicker wall keeps a very wide box from flexing when it is loaded off center. If the drawer is both wide and heavy, 3/4 in is the safe call. If it is wide and light, such as a shallow drawer for table linens, 5/8 in is fine. For anything unusual, ask us.
| Spec | 3/4 in thick drawer sides |
|---|---|
| WALL THICKNESS | 3/4 in (19 mm) on all four walls |
| UPCHARGE | +$15.99 per box on the custom box |
| INTERIOR WIDTH | Outside width less 1 1/2 in (loses 1/4 in against 5/8 in sides) |
| INTERIOR DEPTH | Outside depth less 1 1/2 in (loses 1/4 in against 5/8 in sides) |
| SPECIES | Baltic Birch or Hard Maple (Select Grade) |
| JOINERY | Interlocking dovetails at all four corners, largest scale |
| SIDE MOUNT SLIDES | Yes, the usual pairing, ball bearing full extension |
| UNDERMOUNT RUNNERS | Only runners with a 19 mm version, such as Grass Dynapro |
| WEIGHT | Heaviest of the three; count the box against the runner’s load rating |
| BEST FOR | File drawers, pantry pull outs, pot drawers, trash pull outs, wide heavy drawers |
Slides and 3/4 in sides
Side mount ball bearing slides are the natural partner for a 3/4 in box. They screw to the outside of the wall, they do not care how thick it is, and the heavy duty versions are rated for exactly the loads that justify thick sides. The box is cut 1 in under the opening for 1/2 in of clearance per side, same as any side mount box. We stock Würth PRO100 full extension side mount slides in the side mount slides section.
Undermount runners are the catch. Most are built for a drawer side between 12 and 16 mm, and a 3/4 in wall is 19 mm, too thick for the clip and notch geometry. Only runners that come in a 19 mm version will take it; Grass Dynapro has 16 and 19 mm versions, and that is the one we can say yes to. For any other brand, verify with the runner’s own documentation before you order, or stay at 5/8 in sides, which every undermount runner in our configurator accepts. The drawer slide types page lays out the two families and the undermount slide guide covers the brands.
One more thing to count. Undermount runners are rated for the drawer plus its contents. A 3/4 in Hard Maple (Select Grade) box is the heaviest box we build, and that weight comes off the top of the rating. If you want thick walls on an undermount drawer, Baltic Birch is the lighter way to get there.
How to order 3/4 in sides
Measure the outside of the box
Width, depth and height to the 1/32 in. Thick sides do not change the outside numbers, so follow the measuring guide as usual. If the inside width matters, subtract 1 1/2 in from the outside width and check it.
Choose the thick option under Drawer Side Thickness
On the custom drawer box, find the Drawer Side Thickness field and select 3/4" Thick Drawer Sides (Thick). The +$15.99 shows in the price.
Match the slides
Leave notching at None for side mount slides. For undermount, only pick a runner you have verified in a 19 mm version, or ask us first.
Questions
When should I choose 3/4 in drawer sides?
For wide, heavy drawers on side mount slides: file drawers, pantry pull outs, pot drawers, trash pull outs and workshop drawers. If the drawer is narrow or lightly loaded, 5/8 in gives you the same dovetails with more room inside and less weight.
Do 3/4 in sides work with undermount slides?
Only with runners that have a 19 mm version. Most undermount runners accept 12 to 16 mm sides, and 3/4 in is 19 mm. Grass Dynapro offers 16 and 19 mm versions. For other brands, check the maker’s documentation or stay at 5/8 in.
How much interior room do I lose with 3/4 in sides?
1/4 in of width and 1/4 in of depth compared with 5/8 in sides. Interior width is the outside width less 1 1/2 in. The outside size of the box stays what you ordered.
Does the extra weight matter?
On side mount slides rarely. On undermount runners yes, because the rating covers the drawer plus its contents and a 3/4 in box is the heaviest we build. Baltic Birch at 3/4 in is lighter than Hard Maple (Select Grade) at 3/4 in if you need thick walls on a load rated runner.
Are 3/4 in sides available on standard sizes?
No. Standard sizes are built at 5/8 in. Enter the same size on the custom drawer box and pick the thick option under Drawer Side Thickness.
Built for the drawers that take a beating
Enter your outside size, pick 3/4 in sides, and get a heavy duty dovetailed box built to the 1/32 in in our Las Vegas shop. Undermount and not sure about 19 mm? Ask us before you order.