Projects / Plywood bookcase plans / 72″ tall, 30″ wide, 7 shelves

72″ plywood bookcase, 30″ wide

A 72-inch plywood bookcase, 30″ wide, with 7 shelves and a ¼″ back. Anchor anything this tall to the wall.

IntermediateA weekend10 parts¾″ plywood or ¼″ plywood
¾″ plywood · 48″ × 96″A SideA SideBBB ShelfB ShelfB ShelfB Shelf¾″ plywood · 48″ × 96″B Shelf¼″ plywood · 48″ × 96″C Back

Cutting diagram

¾″ plywood · 48″ × 96″A SideA SideBBB ShelfB ShelfB ShelfB Shelf¾″ plywood · 48″ × 96″B Shelf¼″ plywood · 48″ × 96″C Back

Bright pieces are your parts; the dimmed wood is left over. Every cut allows ⅛″ for the saw blade.

Cut list

PartQtyWidth × lengthCut from
ASide211¼″ × 72″286 × 1829 mm¾″ plywood
BShelf711¼″ × 28½″286 × 724 mm¾″ plywood
CBack130″ × 72″762 × 1829 mm¼″ plywood

How to build it

  1. Rip the plywood into 11¼″ strips first, then crosscut two sides at 72″ and 7 shelves at 28½″.
  2. Iron edge banding onto every front edge and trim it flush.
  3. Screw the top and bottom shelves between the sides, then space the rest evenly, about 11⅛″ apart.
  4. Square the case by measuring the diagonals, then nail the ¼″ back on to lock it square.
  5. Fill the screw holes, sand, and paint or finish. Screw it to the wall through the top shelf.