Simple Plywood Desk Plans: Cut List from One Sheet
A sturdy, plain desk: a 48" × 24" top on two solid plywood side panels, held square by a modesty panel at the back and a stretcher under the front edge. Everything comes out of one 4×8 sheet of 3/4" plywood, and the leftover is enough for a monitor shelf.
- Finished size
- 48" W × 24" D × about 29-3/4" H
- 3/4" plywood, 4×8 ft
- 1 sheet · 69% 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.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | 1 | 24" × 48"(grain locked) | desk size |
| Side | 2 | 22 1/2" × 29"(grain locked) | 29 + 23/32 top ≈ 29-3/4 desk |
| Modesty panel | 1 | 12" × 46 9/16" | 48 − 1-7/16 |
| Front stretcher | 1 | 4" × 46 9/16" | 48 − 1-7/16 |
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: 1 sheet of 3/4" plywood, 4×8 ft.
3/4" plywood, 4×8 ft: 1 sheet, 69% yield
Materials list
- 1 sheet of 3/4" plywood, 4×8 ft
- 1-1/4" pocket screws or #8 × 1-5/8" screws, about 30
- Wood glue
- Edge banding for the top front edge, about 4 ft
How it goes together
The top sits on the two sides, which are flush with its ends. The modesty panel and the front stretcher fit between the sides at 48" − 1-7/16" = 46-9/16".
The sides are 29" tall, so the desk is 29" + 23/32" ≈ 29-3/4" high, a standard sitting height. They are 22.5" deep, so the top overhangs 1-1/2" at the front for knee and chair clearance.
The modesty panel is 12" tall and fixed flush with the back edges of the sides, tight under the top. It is what stops the desk racking side to side, so glue and screw it well. The 4" front stretcher stiffens the front edge of the top against sag.
Build order
- Rip a 24" strip for the top and a 22-1/2" strip for the sides.
- Cut the modesty panel and stretcher from the remaining width.
- Screw the modesty panel and stretcher between the sides (pocket screws work well), checking for square.
- Fix the top from underneath with screws through the stretcher, the modesty panel and cleats on the sides.
- Edge-band or round over the front edge of the top.
FAQ
Can I build a desk from one sheet of plywood?
Yes. This 48" × 24" desk uses one 4×8 sheet of 3/4" plywood with room to spare (see the layout for the exact yield). The leftover is enough for a small shelf or a monitor riser.
What about a kids' desk?
Scale the height: for a child, a desk height of about 22"–25" is typical depending on age. Shorten the sides by the difference. The other parts stay the same, or narrow the desk by changing the 48" and every "between the sides" part along with it.
Why do the sizes subtract 1-7/16" instead of 1-1/2"?
Plywood sold as 3/4" actually measures 23/32" (about 0.72"). Two sides are 1-7/16" thick, not 1-1/2", so every part that fits between two sides is cut 1-7/16" shorter than the outside width. Measure your own sheet with calipers before cutting: if it is a true 3/4", subtract 1-1/2" instead and re-run the list in the optimizer.
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 →