Printable Shelf Span Chart
This one-page span chart is for anyone planning shelves for books and wanting a quick reference before cutting or buying materials. It lists approximate maximum shelf spans for books by material, with columns for 3/4 in thickness, no edging, and 1 1/2 in edging. Rows include solid oak, solid pine, and birch plywood. The figures are rough guidance for heavy books, not exact engineering values, and lighter loads can span farther.
Free printable · PDF
- 1 page
- US Letter — choose “Fit to page” for A4
- PDF, 53 KB
Free for personal, family and classroom use.
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Use it as a planning sheet when comparing shelf materials or deciding whether edging will help a shelf span a longer distance. Check the row for your material, then match the column to your shelf build. Keep the numbers in mind during layout and cut planning, especially for deeper shelves or loads of hardcovers and reference books.
Good for
- Compare shelf spans by material
- Plan shelves for heavy books
- Check edging before cutting parts
Tip: Print it and keep it with your cut list so you can check spans during layout.
4 files · PDF, DOCX, XLSX
Get every sheet: Bookshelf Plans Pack
This sheet plus 3 more in one download, with the editable Word and Excel files. Printable plans for three bookcases with cut lists, a shelf span and sag reference chart, a build checklist and an Excel cut list calculator.
$7.00 USD, one-time 4 files · about $1.75 each
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