Under-Stair Storage Cabinet Cut List Template

Plan the under-stair storage cabinet before buying sheets

Start by confirming the finished width, depth, height, access clearances, and load requirements. This template is intentionally made from rectangular plywood parts so you can adapt it without redrawing the whole project. Keep matching pieces grouped together, mark visible faces, and leave room for edge banding, backs, doors, drawers, hinges, or trim that apply to your version.

Use 3/4 inch plywood for the structural parts unless your design calls for another thickness. A template is not a structural rating: add bracing, wall anchoring, weather protection, or a thicker panel whenever the location, load, or local requirements demand it.

Under-Stair Storage Cabinet project-specific checks

Use these checks with the sample parts list before calculating sheet count or making a purchase.

• Verify stair structure, required fire protection, utilities, ventilation, access, and local constraints before opening or attaching to the enclosure.
• Template each stepped opening because floor slope, stringer line, trim, and plaster rarely match nominal stair geometry.
• Design carcasses to pass through the access opening and remain removable where services or inspections require it.
• Check drawer and door travel against handrails, newel posts, baseboard, and the normal walking path.

Under-Stair Storage Cabinet parts list

Material: 3/4 in plywood
Kerf allowance: 1/8 in between cuts
Grain direction: keep visible faces consistent

Part               | Size (in)       | Qty
-------------------+-----------------+----
Tall side panels   | 20 x 60         | 2
Medium side panels | 20 x 42         | 2
Low side panels    | 20 x 24         | 2
Case bottoms       | 18-1/2 x 30     | 3
Back rails         | 4 x 30          | 6

Review each part against the actual construction method before cutting. Reduce a shelf or bottom for side-panel thickness where needed, leave back-panel or drawer-slide clearance, and make a test piece for any groove, dado, or hardware opening. Label repeated parts as a batch so their orientation stays consistent.

Check the sheet layout and cut order

Place the largest parts first, then nest matching rectangles around them. Square footage alone cannot tell you the sheet count because saw kerf, grain direction, and the shape of the remaining offcuts matter. Enter this adjusted list in the plywood cut calculator with your real sheet size and blade kerf before purchasing material.

Break full sheets into manageable strips first, then crosscut the final parts. Keep pairs together, label the inside faces, and dry-fit the case on a flat surface before driving final fasteners. The cut list calculator is useful if the project also uses solid-wood rails, trim, or stretchers.

Check this sheet layout

Assembly checks that prevent rework

Dry-fit the major panels, measure both diagonals for square, and confirm that moving parts or equipment have the clearance you planned. Pre-drill near plywood edges, test fasteners in an offcut, and attach the back only after the cabinet or frame is square. Read how to read a cut list and saw kerf explained if you need a refresher before finalizing the layout.

How this template was prepared

The parts list models a common under-stair storage cabinet carcass or frame so you have named pieces and repeated quantities to review. It deliberately leaves hardware, joinery, edge treatment, structural loads, and site conditions open because those choices change final dimensions. Before cutting, verify every opening and finished dimension, confirm material thickness with a caliper, apply hardware clearances, and review the optimized layout against the drawing or room. For a transparent comparison of common template inputs, see the plywood project yield benchmark.

More project templates

Browse the full plywood cut list template library for related builds, then save a revised version in the CutList optimizer app when you want to compare sheet counts or keep the plan for later.