When building cabinets, how you join your plywood components is just as important as the design itself. Two of the most common methods are pocket screw joinery and dados or grooves cut into plywood. Both can result in strong, reliable cabinets — but they each come with their own strengths, weaknesses, and best-fit applications.
Let’s break down the differences so you can choose the method that’s right for your shop.
Pocket Screw Joinery
Pocket screw construction has exploded in popularity thanks to its accessibility. Systems like the Kreg Jig make it possible for almost anyone to get started with professional-looking cabinet joints.
Pros of Pocket Screws
- No specialized equipment — All you need is a drill and the pocket hole jig. Compared to investing in a table saw with dado blades, the barrier to entry is much lower.
- Strong joints — When used correctly, pocket screws hold panels tightly and can withstand years of use.
- Flexible placement — You can hide pocket holes in areas of the cabinet where they’ll never be seen.
- Great for carcasses, not doors — They’re perfect for box construction, but not recommended for frame-and-panel doors, which require more traditional joinery.
Cons of Pocket Screws
- Alignment can be tricky — Because the joint is essentially two flat pieces butted together, the parts can shift slightly during clamping and driving.
- Less self-squaring — Unlike a tongue and groove system, there’s nothing to physically guide the pieces into perfect position. Careful clamping is essential.
Pocket screws are ideal for entry-level woodworkers and shops that need a quick, low-cost way to produce strong cabinets without investing in a lot of extra tooling.
Dados and Grooves
Cutting dados (grooves cut along the width of a piece) or grooves (cuts made along the length of the piece) into plywood is a more traditional joinery approach. It requires more skill and tooling, but the results are hard to beat for strength and accuracy.
Pros of Dados and Grooves
- Perfect alignment — “Tab A goes into Slot B.” The joint naturally aligns itself, preventing panels from slipping out of square.
- Increased strength and stability — With glue and fasteners, the joint is exceptionally strong. The grooved piece can even become load-bearing, transferring weight across the cabinet.
- Professional standard — Dados and grooves are a hallmark of fine cabinet construction and can handle heavy, long-term use.
Cons of Dados and Grooves
- Setup takes time — You’ll need to carefully set blade height and groove width, making test cuts to ensure a proper fit.
- Higher tooling costs — A table saw with a dado blade stack, or a router with specialty bits, is required. For wider grooves, multiple passes may be necessary.
Dados and grooves are best for professional shops or advanced DIYers who want long-lasting cabinets with perfect alignment and the ability to bear heavier loads.
Which Should You Choose?
- If you’re just getting started, working with minimal tools, or want a fast way to build solid cabinet boxes: Pocket screws are the winner.
- If you have access to a table saw or router and want the strongest, most reliable joinery for the long term: Dados and grooves are worth the investment.
In reality, many shops use both methods together — pocket screws for quick assembly and dados for critical structural components.
Final Thoughts
The joinery method you choose depends on your experience level, tool investment, and project needs. Pocket screws open the door for beginners and small shops, while dados and grooves provide unmatched precision and strength for more advanced builds.
Either way, CabinetPlans.io makes it easy to generate dimensioned plans, cut lists, and drawings — so you can focus on building, no matter which joinery method you prefer.
CabinetPlans.io allows you to build your cabinets with both pocket screw joinery or grooves and dados depending on your preference.
