Dovetail angle chart
The three slopes in general use, as an angle and as the rise over run you set a bevel gauge to. Softwood takes the steeper flare, hardwood the shallower.
| Slope | Angle from square | Rise / run | Taper over 3/4" stock | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:6 | 9.5° | 1 in 6 | 1/8" | The softwood slope. More flare, more mechanical grip, more short grain at the tail corners. |
| 1:7 | 8.1° | 1 in 7 | 1/8" | The middle. A reasonable default if you do not want to think about it. |
| 1:8 | 7.1° | 1 in 8 | 1/8" | The hardwood slope. Less flare, stronger corners, and the one that looks refined in walnut. |
Reading it
- The slope is marked as a ratio rather than an angle because that is how it is set: one unit across for N along, stepped off with a rule and a square.
- 1:6 gives more mechanical grip and more short grain at the tail corners, which is why it suits softwood. 1:8 gives stronger corners and the look people associate with fine hardwood work.
- The angle matters far less than cutting to the line consistently. A joint cut carefully at the wrong slope fits; one cut carelessly at the right slope does not.
For the case this table does not cover
- Dovetail and box joint templates
Set out the joint, print it at true 1:1 scale, and glue the paper straight onto the board.
- Mortise and tenon sizing
Tenon thickness and shoulder by the rule of thirds, and the length a blind or through mortise allows.