How to Make a French Cleat

A french cleat is a simple, strong way to hang heavy items on the wall. Learn what wood to use, what angle to cut, and two easy ways to make french cleats.

A french cleat is a simple, strong way to hang heavy items on the wall. Learn what wood to use, what angle to cut, and two easy ways to make french cleats.

How to Make a French Cleat

A french cleat is a strong, simple way to hang heavy items like cabinets, artwork, tools, and more.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn what type of wood to use, what angle to cut, and how to install french cleats. Plus, I’ll share step-by-step how to make a french cleat with a table saw, and a circular saw.

This tutorial contains affiliate links to supplies and tools. Purchases made using these links help support the Saws on Skates website and allows me to share more projects and tips with you. There is no cost to you for using these links. Visit my site policies for more information.

Table of Contents

  • What is a French Cleat?
  • Where Can You Use a French Cleat?
  • What Type of Wood Should You Use?
  • What Angle Should You Use to Make a French Cleat?
  • Can You Hide French Cleats?
  • What Kind of Saw Can You Use?
  • How to Make a French Cleat
  • How Do I Prefer to Make French Cleats?
  • How to Install a French Cleat
  • Video: How to Make and Install French Cleats

What is a French Cleat?

A French cleat is a strong, simple way to hang heavy items on the wall. The cleats are made from two pieces of wood, each with a 45-degree beveled rip cut on one edge.

Related: Beginner’s Guide to Woodworking Terms

The first cleat attaches to the wall studs, with the bevel facing up and away from the wall.

The second attaches to the back of the object you want to hang with the bevel facing down and toward the wall.

Then, the object’s cleat hooks onto the one attached to the wall. The two boards interlock, and gravity holds the cleats together. 

A DIY french cleat used to hang an object on the wall

Fasteners aren’t needed to join the cleats, meaning you can separate them, and the object can easily be removed and reconfigured. French cleats are a popular way to store tools in a workshop because of the ability to remove and reconfigure them.

Related: 9 Clever Ways to Make a Small Workshop Feel Bigger


Where Can You Use a French Cleat?

  • Cabinets
  • Mirrors
  • Artwork
  • Fireplace mantles
  • Headboards
  • Shelving units
  • Tool storage for workshop or garage

What Type of Wood Should You Use?

French cleats are pretty forgiving. You can make them with just about any type of wood, such as boards like 1×4s and 1×6s. However, ½” or ¾” plywood that you’ve ripped into strips is a popular choice for making French cleats. Look for quality sheets that are relatively free of voids and knots.

Related: Beginner’s Guide to Wood Sizes

Thickness

  • ½” wood is typically used for lighter objects like mirrors and artwork
  • ¾” wood is typically used for heavier objects such as cabinets

Width

  • Usually made from a board that is 5” wide, but you can make them wider or narrower

What Angle Should You Use to Make a French Cleat?

French cleats are usually cut at a 45-degree angle. But the angle doesn’t have to be exactly 45 degrees. Let’s say you wanted to hang a single mirror on the wall. If you cut a French cleat from a single board at 47 degrees, the two sections of the cleat would fit together.

But you may want the angle to be exact for some projects. Let’s say you wanted to make a batch of French cleats for a tool storage wall. You’ll likely want the angle to be the same for each cleat. Making the angle the same for each cleat will ensure that the objects can be removed and reconfigured, and all of the cleats will fit together correctly.


Can You Hide French Cleats?

French cleats are often exposed at the back of an object. The cleats are functional but not necessarily attractive. By planning ahead, you can hide the cleat within your project.

Let’s say you want to attach a cabinet you built to the wall with a French cleat. Instead of making the cabinet’s back flush with the sides, you could set it in ¾”, allowing space for a ¾” cleat. The cabinet’s sides would conceal the cleat, giving your project a more polished look.

Sketch showing to conceal a DIY french cleat at the back of a wall cabinet

What Kind of Saw Can You Use?

You can use a table saw, or circular saw to make French cleats. 

It’s important to make sure the cut is straight. Otherwise, the cleats may not fully contact each other, resulting in a joint that might not be as strong as it could be.

Also, if the cut is not straight, the object you’re trying to hang might not be level.

Table Saw

WARNING: Table saws are powerful tools capable of causing severe injuries, including lacerations, amputations, eye damage, and broken bones.

Before using a table saw:

  • Read and understand the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Wear safety equipment, including eye protection, ear protection, and a dust mask.
  • Ensure safety devices are correctly installed and functioning.

Related: 21 Table Saw Safety Rules (& Mistakes to Avoid)

Parallel the Rip Fence

A misaligned rip fence can affect the quality of your cuts and increase the risk of kickback when a workpiece binds against the blade or drifts away from the rip fence toward the blade, propelling it back at a high rate of speed. Kickback is dangerous. Learn an easy way to parallel a rip fence in here.

Install the Riving Knife

A riving knife is a crucial safety feature that helps prevent kickback. Ensure your table saw has a riving knife or splitter installed and properly adjusted behind the saw blade. Check your saw’s manual if you need help setting it up.

Use a Rip Blade

When ripping material on a table saw, a rip blade reigns supreme over its versatile cousin, the combination blade.

Rip blades typically have fewer teeth (24 to 30) than combination blades (usually 50). Fewer teeth prevent binding, reduce friction, and require less force to push the workpiece, making rip cuts easier, faster, and less demanding on your saw’s motor.

While combination blades offer the convenience of handling both rip and crosscuts (cuts across the grain), they sacrifice dedicated performance in both areas. Their higher tooth count makes them less efficient for ripping, leading to slower cuts and potential binding.

I recently started using this 24-tooth ripping saw blade.

Clean the Blade

Wood pitch can build up on saw blades. This buildup can increase the chances of burning the edges of your workpiece. The buildup can also require more feed pressure. In other words, the buildup can make a sharp blade feel like a dull blade. Learn how to clean saw blades and which cleaner I use here.

Wax the Table Saw

Wood pitch not only builds up on your saw blades but also on the table and rip fence of your table saw. This buildup causes friction. Waxing your table saw reduces friction and reduces the chances of oxidation. Learn how to wax your table saw and which wax I use here.

Set the Blade Angle

Sometimes, precisely setting the blade angle can be difficult. Using a digital angle gauge is a quick and easy way to precisely set the angle of your table saw every time. Learn how to use a digital angle gauge here.

Set the Blade Height

Setting the blade 2″ to 3″ above the workpiece produces the least friction and the least amount of heat. But it also creates a greater chance for injury because more of the blade is exposed. I set my blade about an ⅛” above the material. Setting the blade an ⅛” above the material helps to reduce injuries because a smaller amount of the blade is exposed.

Use a Push Block

Long push sticks provide less control over a workpiece and create a pivot point, which could allow your hand to fall into the blade. Instead of a push stick, I use a push block with a lower center of gravity so it doesn’t create a pivot point like a push stick.

Make a Test Piece

Use a piece of scrap wood to run a test piece to make sure everything is adjusted the way you want before making any cuts on the pieces for your project.


Circular Saw

Just like a table saw, a circular saw can benefit from a clean saw blade. Waxing the baseplate of the circular saw will help reduce friction.

Related: How to Change a Circular Saw Blade

A circular saw is a handy tool, but it doesn’t usually cut straight without a bit of help from a fence or a guide. This means you’ll need a guide to cut a French cleat.

I used the Kreg Straight Edge Guide to make the French cleats for this tutorial. I have to give credit where credit is due. In my review of the Straight Edge Guide, I said that I would use it again, but “there are a few tools that I might reach for first before using my Straight Edge Guide.”

But I have to say the Straight Edge Guide was a quick and easy way to make French cleats.

Related: How to Use a Kreg Straight Edge Guide


How to Make a French Cleat with a Table Saw

Printed Instructions

Supplies

📝 NOTE: I’m showing just one way to use a table saw to make a French cleat. In this tutorial, I’m using ¾” plywood. You could use 1× material like a 1×4 or 1×6 instead. I’m making the two sections of the French cleat from one piece of plywood. You could also rip a 45-degree bevel on the edge of two pieces instead.

Step 1. Rip the Plywood to Width

To get started, I ripped a piece of ¾” plywood to 5”.

Important Safety Reminder: After changing the blade, I made a mistake and forgot to reinstall my table saw’s riving knife, a crucial safety feature for preventing kickback. Please ensure your riving knife is in place before using your saw.


Step 2. Mark the Angle

First, I located the center on the width of the board.

Using a pencil to mark the center of a french cleat

Next, I located the center on the height of the board.

Using a pencil to mark the center of a french cleat

Then, I used a speed square to mark the intersection of those two points.

Using a speed square to mark the angle of a french cleat

Step 3. Cut the Bevel

I used a digital angle gauge to set the blade to 45 degrees.

Related: How to Use a Digital Angle Gauge

Using a digital angle finder to set the blade angle of a table saw to make a DIY french cleat

Before I made any cuts on the pieces for my project, I tried the setup on a few test pieces.

With the saw turned off, I positioned the 45-degree mark on the workpiece so that it was centered from side to side on the saw blade.

Position a test piece for a french cleat on the table saw blade

Then, I used a push block to make the test cut.

Making a test piece for a french cleat using a table saw

I used my finger to feel both edges of the test piece and adjusted the fence until the pieces were the same width.

📝 NOTE: The pieces don’t have to be the same width if you make cleats for a single object; however, you may want them to be the same for some projects. Let’s say you’re making a batch of cleats for a tool storage wall. You’ll likely want them to be the same width, ensuring the objects can be removed and reconfigured and all of the cleats will fit together correctly.

Comparing two sections of a french cleat

When I was happy with the setup on my test pieces, I made the cut on the plywood for my project.

Showing how to use a table saw to make a french cleat

How to Make a French Cleat with a Circular Saw

Printed Instructions

Supplies

📝 NOTE: I’m using the Straight Edge Guide opposite of the Kreg instruction manual. Typically you would position the Straight Edge Guide on the good side (the side you want to keep) and cut on the waste side. In this tutorial, I’m positioning the guide on the waste side and cutting on the good side (the side I want to keep).

Step 1. Make the First Cleat

I used a Kreg Multi-Mark to measure in 2″ on each end of the board.

Marking a piece of plywood to make a french cleat

Next, I placed a piece of rigid foam insulation on my workbench. The insulation will protect my workbench when making the cuts.

Placing a piece of foam insulation to cut a french cleat

Then, I placed the Kreg Straight Edge Guide on my workpiece. I positioned the cut line indicators on my marks, clamped the guide, and pushed the cut line indicators towards the guide.

Related: How to Use a Kreg Straight Edge Guide

Position a straight edge guide on a piece of plywood to cut a french cleat

I set my circular saw blade to 45 degrees.

Setting a circular saw to 45 degrees to cut a french cleat

Next, I made the cut making sure to keep the baseplate of the saw against the guide for the entire length of the cut.

Showing how to cut a french cleat with a circular saw

Step 2. Make the Second Cleat

NOTE: You may have to adjust the measurements below depending on the width of your circular saw’s baseplate.

I used a Kreg Multi-Mark to measure in 2-¾” on each end of the board.

Using a pencil to mark the location for a  second french cleat

Next, I placed the Kreg Straight Edge Guide on my workpiece. I positioned the cut line indicators on my marks, clamped the guide, and pushed the cut line indicators towards the guide.

I set my circular saw blade back to 90 degrees.

Then, I made the cut making sure to keep the baseplate of the saw against the guide for the entire length of the cut.

Showing how to use a circular saw to cut the second part of a french cleat

How Do I Prefer to Make French Cleats?

I’ve always made French cleats using my table saw. This was my first time making cleats with a circular saw and the Straight Edge Guide.

As I mentioned earlier, I have to give credit where credit is due. In my review of the Straight Edge Guide, I said that I would use it again, but “there are a few tools that I might reach for first before using my Straight Edge Guide.”

But I’ve had a change of heart. The Straight Edge Guide was a quick and easy way to make French cleats. The next time I need to make some cleats, I will be using a circular saw, and my Straight Edge Guide instead of my table saw.


How to Install a French Cleat

Printed Instructions

Supplies

Step 1. Attach the Cleat to the Object

On the wide side of the cleat, layout the locations for countersink holes. The shorter side of the cleat will face the object. The countersink holes will attach the cleat to the object that you want to hang on the wall. For my project, I was mounting this yard tool rack on the wall in my garage.

Related: How to Make a DIY Yard Tool Rack

I used an awl to make a starting point for the drill bit.

Related: What is an Awl? (and How to Use it)

I used a countersink bit to drill a hole at each mark.

Related: How to Use a Countersink Bit

Using a drill to make countersink holes to attach a french cleat to the back of an object

I attached the cleat using 1-¼” wood screws.

📝 NOTE: You may need to use a different length screw for your project.

Using a drill to drive screws to attach a french cleat to the back of an object

I attached a piece of wood the same thickness as the cleat on the bottom of the rack. This piece makes the rack stand straight up and down on the wall.

Attaching a cleat to the bottom of an object

Step 2. Attach the Cleat to the Wall

First, I positioned the rack where I wanted it on the wall. I used a pencil to mark the top edge and each side.

Marking where to hang an object on the wall using a french cleat

Next, I placed the second cleat on the back of the rack and measured to the bottom of the cleat. Mine measured 4-¾”.

📝 NOTE: Your measurement may be different.

Measuring the height of a DIY french cleat

At the wall, I measured down 4-¾” from the pencil line and made a mark.

Related: How to Use a Tape Measure Correctly (Tips for Success)

Measuring where to position the bottom of a french cleat on the wall

Then, I placed the bottom of the cleat on that mark. Be sure the short side is facing the wall, and the bevel is facing up. I leveled the cleat and used a pencil to draw a line the entire length of the cleat.

Using a pencil to mark the bottom of a DIY french cleat on the wall

I used a stud finder to locate the studs along that line. After I found all of the studs, I used a pencil to mark the center of each stud on the wall.

Using a stud finder to install a french cleat

Next, I placed the cleat back on the line and transferred the center of the studs from the wall onto the cleat.

Using a pencil to transfer the stud locations from the wall onto a french cleat

I marked locations for countersink holes that will attach the cleat to each stud.

Next, I used an awl to make a starting point for the drill bit.

Then, I used a countersink bit to drill a hole at each mark.

At the wall, I placed the cleat back on the line with a level on top of the cleat. I attached the cleat using 2-½” wood screws.

Showing to install a french cleat on the wall

Then, I hooked the cleat on the back of the rack onto the cleat on the wall.

Hanging an object on a french cleat

Video: How to Make and Install French Cleats



Final Thoughts

A French cleat is a strong, simple way to hang heavy items like cabinets, artwork, tools, and more. They are easy to make with a table saw or circular saw.

Get the free French cleat handbook (including the detailed instructions and measurements) now!

Thank you for stopping by. If you enjoyed this tutorial, would you please take a moment and pin it to Pinterest? I’d really appreciate it!


Recommended For You


Pin This For Later

One Comment

  1. Hi All,

    Here in the uk we’ve been using French cleats for years in my case some 65years since my dad taught me.
    We use it in both upper and lower cabinets in kitchen installation and bed room,bathrooms as well.
    All our shop and garage storage is the same they’re so easy to produce and install.
    However the best use is according to the boss ( my wife) after I showed her how to make them is for her bird boxes, bat rests and planters.
    When the birds have finished raising their young off they pop then she starts sterilising them and replaced them after repairs as needed.
    As for her planters they are hung on any available vertical structure, wall, fence, post ect where ever she sees fit and the removal is so easy lift straight up and pull away.
    So dont be afraid of using this system it’s easy and providing you put the receiving pieces up level you’ll have no problems at all.

    Enjoy
    Ian and Margaret

COMMENTS

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.