Simple DIY End Table with Drawers

In this post, I’m sharing how to build a simple DIY end table with drawers!

Wooden DIY end table with 4 drawers and black knobs

This post is sponsored by my friends at Kreg Tool and contains affiliate links. See website policies.

This adorable table is the perfect addition for adding a little extra storage next to your office desk, your couch, or even your bathroom vanity.

The tall, but skinny design packs plenty of storage without taking up a lot of floor space. The size and shape would even make a great nightstand or bedside table, too!

No matter what you use it for, it’s a really fun build and if you’re ready to see how it came together, let’s get building!

Tools & Materials

Tools:

Miter Saw
Circular Saw
Cutting Guides (Kreg Rip Cut & Kreg Accu-Cut)
Drill/Driver
Kreg Pocket Hole Jig
Brad Nailer
Table Saw (optional)

Materials:

(1) 4×8 sheet ¾″ plywood (birch used here)
(1) 4×4 (half sheet) ¼″ plywood
(2) 2x2x8 boards
(2) 1x2x8 boards
(4) pair 16″ ball bearing drawer slides
1 ¼″ pocket hole screws
2 ½″ pocket hole screws
2″ wood screws
Wood Glue
Iron On Edge Banding

What to Know Before Building an End Table with Drawers

This DIY end table build is an excellent weekend woodworking project. Made with basic materials and simple joinery, it’s a fairly quick build.

Tips on Building Drawers

If you’re second guessing this project because it has drawers, DON’T! This is the perfect project to practice and learn a little more about building and installing them.

Shara Woodshop Diaries holding drawer box up close with blurred background

Check out these posts for additional tips and videos on building and installing drawers:

Overall End Table with Drawers Dimensions

The overall dimensions of this project are 21″ deep x 21″ wide x 30″ deep.

Diagram showing DIY end table with drawers overall dimensions 21" x 21" x 30"

Helpful Resources to Use with this Build

You may find these resources and posts helpful when working on this project.

How to Build an End Table with Drawers

I’d consider this an intermediate level project build. I’m sharing the step by step process with some tips along the way below.

But if you prefer to print, you can grab the printable plans on KregTool.com.

Back Panel Options

The printable plans linked above vary slightly from what I actually built below. From the front and sides, they are exactly the same. The only difference between the two is the back side.

In many cases, end tables are placed in the middle of a room (not against a wall), so the back side is exposed. So I made the plans so that the back panel is assembled the same as the sides–using ¾″ plywood with trim in case you wanted to use it that way.

However, the cabinets I was actually building were going to be placed between two desks and against a wall, so the back side wouldn’t be seen.

So, to save on materials, I used 2×2 framing on the back and stapled a ¼″ plywood panel over it. See step 7 below.

You could build this project either way depending on how you plan to use it and whether you want the back to match the sides.

Step 1: Assemble Side Panels

The sides of the end table are made up of 2x2s for the legs and ¾″ plywood for the panels. I’ve included a full cut list with plywood diagram in the plans here.

I like to cut my own 2x2s, but you can certainly use the precut ones from the store. Check out this post about how I make 2x2s if you’re interested in making your own!

I cut four 2x2s to 29 ¼″ long for the legs and then cut two ¾″ plywood panels to 16″ x 27 ½″ for the sides.

Shara Woodshop Diaries using circular saw and Kreg Rip Cut to cut plywood sheet

I drilled ¾″ pocket holes along the sides of the plywood, then used 1 ¼″ pocket hole screws to secure them between the 2×2 legs.

Shara Woodshop Diaries driving pocket hole screws to assemble side panels of end table

I made two identical panels like this making sure to keep the plywood panel flush to the inside edges of the 2x2s.

Step 2: Build End Table Frame

Once the side panels were assembled, I completed the rest of the end table frame using 2x2s. This is where these cabinets differ slightly from the printable plans.

In the plans, I show using a ¾″ plywood panel on the back side, but below, I just used a 2x2s on the back instead.

I cut four 2x2s to 16″ long and drilled 1 ½″ pocket holes into the ends of each. Then, I assembled a frame like shown using wood glue and 2 ½″ pocket hole screws.

Shara Woodshop Diaries driving pocket hole screws through 2x2s to assemble end table frame

The top 2x2s should be flush to the top edge of the sides. There should be 24 ½″ space between the top and bottom 2x2s.

Make sure to place the pocket holes toward the inside or down so they won’t be seen in the finished project.

Once the frame was assembled, I added a single drawer divider to separate the top drawer from the bottom three. I used a 1×3 for this, but a 1×2 would work fine.

Shara Woodshop Diaries driving pocket hole screws to add drawer divider into end table frame

I installed this piece 6″ down from the top 2×2 using pocket holes and screws.

End table main frame assembled sitting on workbench

Step 3: Assemble Drawer Boxes

I cut the four sides of my drawer boxes from ¾″ plywood and the bottom panel from ¼″ plywood.

You can find all the measurements in the plans.

Shara Woodshop Diaries assembling drawer box on workbench with pocket hole screws

I cut ¼″ dadoes ¼″ deep ½″ up from the bottom edge of the four sides to install the bottom panel into. This is optional–you can simply glue and screw/staple the bottom on if you don’t want to bother with dadoes.

Check out this post about how to assemble drawer boxes for more details. I built four identical drawer boxes like this to go into the end table.

Step 4: Install Drawer Slides and Drawer Boxes

I installed 4 pair of 16″ ball bearing drawer slides into the end table. Since this project would have inset drawer fronts, I installed them ¾″ inset from the front edge of the cabinet.

Close up installing drawer slides into cabinet

Then, I installed the drawer boxes from step 3 onto the slides.

Close up using driver to drive screws through drawer slide into side of drawer box in end table cabinet

Check out this post for more information on how to install drawer slides and drawer boxes.

Step 5: Add Drawer Fronts

I cut four drawer fronts 5 ¾″ x 15 ¾″ from ¾″ plywood and applied iron on edge banding to the edges for a cleaner look.

Iron on edge banding is totally optional, but it hides the plys and makes the end result look a little nicer.

Using an iron to apply iron on edge banding to drawer front pieces

Learn how to apply edge banding to plywood here.

Then, I installed these onto the drawer boxes leaving ⅛″ gaps around all sides.

There are tons of ways to install drawer fronts, but one trick is to drill the holes into the drawer front where you want your knobs or pulls to go.

Lay the project over on its back and place the drawer fronts where you want them making sure the spacing is even. Drive a screw through the knob/pull hole(s) to temporarily position the fronts in place.

Driving screws through center of drawer front to temporarily secure drawer fronts

Then, flip it back right side up and use 1 ¼″ wood screws through the inside of the drawer box to permanently secure them in place.

Using a driver to secure drawer fronts from inside of drawer box

TIP: If you didn’t want to drill these holes, double sided tape (like Krazy Tape) would work well to temporarily position the fronts so you can screw them on.

Step 6: Attach Top

The top panel is a 21″ square piece of ¾″ plywood. I applied edge banding along all sides to hide the plys–but again, that’s optional.

I removed the top drawer from the cabinet so I could access the top frame. Then, I flipped the top upside down and centered the end table on it so that there was 1″ overhang on all sides.

Then, I used 2″ wood screws through the 2×2 frame at the top of the front and back to secure.

Driving screws through top frame to secure top panel of end table with drawers

NOTE: If you follow the printable plans where you add the ¾″ plywood back panel, then you attach the top using pocket holes and screws through the plywood on the side and back panels.

Step 7: Attach Back and Trim

I used some scrap strips I had cut from other material for to trim out the sides, but 1x2s would work perfect as well.

I cut to fit these pieces and glued one at the top and one at the bottom of the side panels. Then I added one towards the middle so that it was even with the drawer divider on the front.

Finally, I cut and stapled a ¼″ plywood back panel over the back side.

Obviously, if you already installed the ¾″ plywood back panel according to the plans (like I’ve mentioned already…are you tired of hearing about it yet?), then you wouldn’t need to add the back here.