Garage Shelving Cut List: 8 ft 2x4 and Plywood Shelves
A freestanding 8-foot garage shelving unit: four 2x4 shelf frames, six legs and 3/4" plywood decks. Ripping each 4×8 sheet down the middle gives two shelf decks. The 1/8" saw kerf makes each one 23-15/16" deep, not 24", and the whole frame is sized to that.
- Finished size
- 95-1/2" W × 27" D × 72" H
- 3/4" plywood, 4×8 ft
- 2 sheets · 99% yield
- 2x4, 8 ft
- 16 boards · 94% yield
Assumptions behind every number
- 3/4" plywood measures 23/32", which is typical for US sheet goods. Parts that fit between two others subtract the actual thickness. Measure your sheet; if it differs, edit the sizes in the optimizer.
- Dimensional lumber is the standard actual size: 2x4 = 1-1/2" × 3-1/2", 2x6 = 1-1/2" × 5-1/2".
- Every layout uses a 1/8" saw kerf on every cut, run through the same optimizer as the app.
Cut list
3/4" plywood, 4×8 ft
| Part | Qty | Width × Length | How it's sized |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelf deck | 4 | 23 15/16" × 95 1/2" | (48 − 1/8) ÷ 2 deep |
2x4, 8 ft
| Part | Qty | Length | How it's sized |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leg | 6 | 72" | unit height |
| Shelf rail | 8 | 95 1/2" | shelf length |
| Cross member | 12 | 20 15/16" | 23-15/16 − 2 × 1-1/2 |
Width × length is in inches, with length along the face grain. Parts marked "grain locked" are kept with the grain running their length in the layout.
Sheet and board layouts
This is the optimizer's output for exactly this list: 2 sheets of 3/4" plywood, 4×8 ft, 16 boards of 2x4, 8 ft.
3/4" plywood, 4×8 ft: 2 sheets, 99% yield
2x4, 8 ft: 16 boards
Materials list
- 2 sheets of 3/4" plywood, 4×8 ft
- 16 boards of 2x4, 8 ft
- 3" construction screws, about 120
- 1-5/8" screws for the decks, about 80
- Two L-brackets or 3" screws into wall studs to anchor the top frame
How it goes together
Each shelf is a 2x4 frame: two 95.5" rails with three cross members between them (both ends and the middle). The cross members are the shelf depth minus two rail thicknesses: 23-15/16" − 3" = 20-15/16".
Shelf depth is 23-15/16" because two 24" strips do not fit in a 48" sheet once the kerf is taken out. Build the frame to the plywood, not to a round number.
The six legs are full-height 2x4s (72"). They are screwed to the outside faces of the rails at both ends and the middle, which makes the footprint about 27" deep. The top frame is flush with the tops of the legs, the bottom frame sits about 4" off the floor, and the two middle frames are spaced to suit what you store.
The 8-foot boards are cut to 95-1/2" rather than used as bought. That leaves room to square both factory ends.
Build order
- Rip each plywood sheet down the middle (two strips at 23-15/16") and crosscut to 95-1/2".
- Cut the 2x4s from the lumber layout: rails, legs and cross members.
- Assemble four shelf frames with 3" screws, checking diagonals for square.
- Lay two legs on the floor, then screw on the top and bottom frames. Stand the unit up and add the remaining legs and the middle frames.
- Screw the plywood decks down with 1-5/8" screws every 12" along the rails.
- Anchor the unit to the wall studs. Loaded shelving is top-heavy.
FAQ
How many 2x4s do I need for 8 ft garage shelves?
For this four-shelf unit, count the boards in the lumber layout above. Each 95-1/2" rail takes a whole 8-foot board, and the legs and cross members share boards. The layout shows exactly which offcuts the cross members come from.
Why are the shelves 23-15/16" deep, not 24"?
A 48" sheet minus one 1/8" saw kerf leaves 47-7/8", and half of that is 23-15/16". If you build the frames at 24" and rip the plywood afterward, the decks come up 1/16" short.
Can I use 1/2" plywood or OSB for the shelves?
Yes for light storage, since the frame carries most of the load. Over a 47" span between cross members, 3/4" plywood stays flat under paint cans and toolboxes, while 1/2" will dip. The cut list is the same either way.
What saw kerf does the layout assume?
A 1/8" kerf on every cut, which is a standard full-kerf table saw or track saw blade. With a thin-kerf blade the parts still fit; you just get slightly bigger offcuts.
Change a size, add a part or use up offcuts. The optimizer re-nests it in seconds.
Open this plan in EZNESTING →