How to Make a French Cleat (2 Easy Ways)

Looking for a simple, strong way to mount shelves, tools, or cabinets? A French cleat is the perfect solution! In this tutorial, I’ll show you two easy ways to make one; whether you have a table saw or a circular saw, you’ll get a rock-solid cleat sturdy enough to hang almost anything.

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.

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.

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
- Table Saw
- Circular Saw
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 game-changer if you’ve ever needed a rock-solid way to hang something heavy on the wall. I love using this method because it’s simple, sturdy, and easy to customize for different projects.

It works with two interlocking strips, each with a 45-degree beveled edge. First, you attach one cleat to the wall, securing it to the studs with the bevel facing up and away from the wall. Then, you fasten the second cleat to the back of whatever you’re hanging, with the bevel facing down toward the wall.

When you lift the object onto the wall-mounted cleat, the two pieces lock together, and gravity does the rest. No fasteners are needed to join the cleats, which makes it easy to remove and reposition whatever you’re hanging. That’s why I love using French cleats; they’re flexible and endlessly reconfigurable, perfect for everything from workshop storage to cabinets and even wall art.

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

Where Can You Use a French Cleat?

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

Choosing the Right Wood for Your French Cleats

One of the great things about French cleats is how versatile they are; you can make them from almost any wood. I’ve used solid boards like 1×4s and 1×6s, but most of the time, I rip ½” or ¾” plywood into strips. Just make sure to pick a good-quality sheet with minimal voids and knots for the best results.

How Thick Should a French Cleat Be?

½” wood – Works well for lighter items like mirrors and artwork.
¾” wood – A better choice for heavier projects like cabinets.

What’s the Best Width?

I usually make my French cleats about 3 to 5 inches wide. If I need extra strength, I go wider. If I’m hanging something smaller, I’ll make them narrower.

What’s the Best Angle for a French Cleat?

I usually cut French cleats at a 45-degree angle, but it doesn’t have to be exact. If you’re just making a single cleat for something like hanging a mirror, a slight variation, say 47 degrees, still works fine since the two pieces will lock together.

But when making multiple cleats, like for my tool storage wall, I always stick with the same angle. Keeping it consistent ensures everything fits together correctly, so I can move things around and swap out items without any hassle.

How to Hide a French Cleat for a Clean Look

French cleats are super functional, but let’s be honest, they’re not always the prettiest thing to look at. Since they usually sit on the back of a project, they can end up being visible. But with a bit of planning, I’ve found it’s easy to hide them for a cleaner look.

For example, when I mount a cabinet to the wall with a French cleat, I don’t make the back panel flush with the sides. Instead, I set it in ¾” to leave just enough space for a ¾” cleat. That way, the cleat tucks neatly inside, hidden by the cabinet’s sides. It keeps everything secure but gives the project a much more polished look.

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

Best Saws for Cutting French Cleats

When cutting French cleats, a table saw or circular saw will get the job done. Both work well, but the key is making sure your cut is as straight as possible.

If the cut isn’t precise, the two cleats won’t make full contact, which can weaken the joint. And if the angle is off, whatever you’re hanging might not sit perfectly level. Taking your time to get a clean, accurate cut will ensure the cleat locks in securely and keeps everything aligned.

Essential Table Saw Tips

A table saw is one of the most powerful tools in your shop, but it’s also one of the most dangerous. That’s why I always take a few extra steps to

ensure I’m working safely and getting the best cuts possible.

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

Table Saw Safety Checklist

Read and understand the manufacturer’s instructions.
Wear proper safety gear: eye protection, ear protection, and a dust mask.
Make sure safety devices like the riving knife are properly installed and working correctly.

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.

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.

How to Make a French Cleat with a Table Saw

Printed Instructions

Get a FREE copy of the French Cleat Handbook including measurements and step-by-step instructions.

Supplies

Wood (You could use 1×4s, 1×6s, or plywood. I used ¾” plywood for my cleats.)

Tools

Tape Measure
Kreg Multi-Mark
Speed Square
Digital Angle Gauge
Table Saw
Push Block (I used this one)

📝 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.

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.

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