These storage cubbies were custom designed for a holding kids backpacks, uniforms, and equipment for a friends martial arts school. Each cubbie is about 20″ high, 12″ deep, and 9 1/2″ wide; and there are 18 of them in this single unit.

These plans are definitely not for the beginning DIYer, as they require the ability to cut large plywood sheets and to cut precise dados. Though the actual build and assembly is fairly simple once the pieces are cut. Of course, if you don’t have a table saw and dado blade, you can also use a track saw to cut the panels and a router to make the dados. I just personally find the table saw easier to set up repetitive cuts and get precise results.

If you have any questions about the plans for these storage cubbies, leave us a comment down below.

Materials list

• 2 – 4×8 sheet of 3/4″ plywood
• 2 – 1×4 @ 6′
• 1 – 1×8 @ 6′
• 2 – 4×8 sheet of hardboard
• Wood glue

Tools required

• Table saw, with a dado blade
  • or track saw and a router with a straight bit
• Miter saw
• Trim nailer
• Staple gun

Step 1: Cut your plywood

Building these storage cubbies starts with cutting both of your plywood sheets down into all of the separate pieces. I found that ripping the plywood into two 24″ wide panels is the easiest way to start this process, as it makes the panels easier to handle. I actually let the big box stores make these cuts for me, as it also makes it easier to load the pieces in my truck by myself. Follow the cut diagrams below to cut the following pieces:

• 1 top @ 63″ x 12″
• 2 sides @ 65 1/2″ x 12″
• 3 shelves @ 62″ x 12″
• 15 dividers @ 20 3/8″ x 12″

Step 2: Cut your dados

Once you have you pieces cut, it’s time to add the dados that allow all of these pieces to slide together. All of the dados are 3/4″ wide to match the width of the plywood. Cut them as follows:

• For the 2 side panels, cut 1/4″ deep dados starting at:
  • 3″ from the bottom edge
  • 23 3/4″ from the bottom edge
  • 20″ from the top edge
• For the top panel, cut 3/16″ deep dados starting at:
  • 10 3/8″ from both ends
  • 20 3/4″ from both ends
  • right in the middle (31 1/8″ from both ends)
• For the three shelves, cut 3/16″ deep dados starting at:
  • 9 7/8″ from both ends
  • 20 1/4″ from both ends
  • right in the middle (30 5/8″ from both ends)

Step 3: Create the 2×4 support frame

Now that your panels are all cut, let’s move onto the 2×4 support frame for these storage cubbies. Here you’re going to rip 1/4″ off of each outer edege of the 2×4 boards, leaving them at 1 1/2″ x 3″. This makes them have square corners. Cut them down to size per the diagram below, then use wood glue and screws to assemble the frame.

Step 4: Assemble

Now it’s onto assembling these storage cubbies. You are going to use wood glue and finish nails at every joint as you go along. Follow the order of assembly laid out in the gallery below:

1. Assemble the outer frame
2. Add the 2×4 support frame
3. Install the first shelf
4. Add the lower dividers
5. Install the second shelf
6. Add the middle dividers
7. Add the upper dividers

TIP: Now is a good time to add a first coat of paint to your cubbies since you can still access them from both sides.

Step 5: Add the back

After all of your dividers are installed, ensure the piece is square by measuring diagonally from corner to corner and then doing the same for the opposite two corners. These two measurements should be equal, if not, your storage cubbies are out of square and need to be adjusted.

Once you have them square, install the hardboard back using staples every 12″ along the outer frame and the backs of the dividers. A good tip to make certain you are stapling into the dividers is to snap a few chalk lines along the back to show you where the centers of the dividers are.

Step 6: Dress up the face

Now that you’re whole unit is complete, it’s time to dress up the face. Start by using some edge banding tape on all of the exposed plywood edges to give it a nice finished look. Optionally, you can also add a front lip to these units to help keep things from falling out. Use your 1×4 boards for the middle two shelves and your 1×8 board for the from trim board. If you want to really lock all of your pieces into place, you can cut 3/8″ deep dados per the diagram below in each of those trim boards so they are recessed in the cubbies half way. Alternatively, you can just glue and nail them directly the to plywood face.

After assembly, it’s on to touch final painting. We hope you find these plans useful. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. If you build your own cubbies from these plans, send us a few pics and tell us how it went using our submit your build feature.

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