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How much plywood do kitchen cabinets need?

Sheet counts for frameless (European-style) base and wall cabinets built from 3/4-inch plywood with 1/4-inch backs, worked out with the cut list optimizer rather than a rule of thumb. The small kitchen below — four base and four wall cabinets — is loaded into the optimizer so you can change any size.

Parts

LabelLength inWidth inQtyGrainMaterialRemove

Stock sheets

NameLength inWidth inQtyGrainPriceRemove

9 sheets, 22.6% waste, 76 of 76 parts placed.

9sheets
22.6%waste
76/76parts placed
130cuts

You need: 7 × 3/4 Plywood (96″ × 48″), 2 × 1/4 Plywood (96″ × 48″)

Sheet 1 3/4 Plywood · 96″ × 48″ · 6 parts · 7.9% waste
3/4 Plywood: 96 × 48, 6 parts, 8% wasteBase side34 1/2 × 23 1/4Base side34 1/2 × 23 1/4Base side34 1/2 × 23 1/4Base side34 1/2 × 23 1/4B24 bottom22 1/2 × 23B24 bottom22 1/2 × 234 1/8 × 23123456789109648grain →
Cut sequence (10 cuts)
  1. Crosscut 34 1/2″ from the 96″ × 48″ piece
  2. Rip 23 1/4″ from the 34 1/2″ × 48″ piece
  3. Rip 23 1/4″ from the 34 1/2″ × 24 5/8″ piece
  4. Crosscut 34 1/2″ from the 61 3/8″ × 48″ piece
  5. Rip 23 1/4″ from the 34 1/2″ × 48″ piece
  6. Rip 23 1/4″ from the 34 1/2″ × 24 5/8″ piece
  7. Rip 23″ from the 26 3/4″ × 48″ piece
  8. Crosscut 22 1/2″ from the 26 3/4″ × 23″ piece
  9. Crosscut 22 1/2″ from the 26 3/4″ × 24 7/8″ piece
  10. Rip 23″ from the 22 1/2″ × 24 7/8″ piece

Every cut goes straight through the piece. Distances are measured from the top or left edge of the piece as drawn; the kerf is on the waste side of each line.

Reusable offcuts (2)
  • 4 1/8″ × 24 7/8″
  • 4 1/8″ × 23″
Sheet 2 3/4 Plywood · 96″ × 48″ · 7 parts · 7.5% waste
3/4 Plywood: 96 × 48, 7 parts, 7% wasteB36 bottom34 1/2 × 23Base side34 1/2 × 23 1/4Base side34 1/2 × 23 1/4Base side34 1/2 × 23 1/4B24 shelf22 3/8 × 21 1/2B24 shelf22 3/8 × 21 1/2B24 toe kick22 1/2 × 4 1/21234567891011129648grain →
Cut sequence (12 cuts)
  1. Crosscut 34 1/2″ from the 96″ × 48″ piece
  2. Rip 23″ from the 34 1/2″ × 48″ piece
  3. Rip 23 1/4″ from the 34 1/2″ × 24 7/8″ piece
  4. Crosscut 34 1/2″ from the 61 3/8″ × 48″ piece
  5. Rip 23 1/4″ from the 34 1/2″ × 48″ piece
  6. Rip 23 1/4″ from the 34 1/2″ × 24 5/8″ piece
  7. Rip 21 1/2″ from the 26 3/4″ × 48″ piece
  8. Crosscut 22 3/8″ from the 26 3/4″ × 21 1/2″ piece
  9. Rip 21 1/2″ from the 26 3/4″ × 26 3/8″ piece
  10. Crosscut 22 3/8″ from the 26 3/4″ × 21 1/2″ piece
  11. Crosscut 22 1/2″ from the 26 3/4″ × 4 3/4″ piece
  12. Rip 4 1/2″ from the 22 1/2″ × 4 3/4″ piece

Every cut goes straight through the piece. Distances are measured from the top or left edge of the piece as drawn; the kerf is on the waste side of each line.

Reusable offcuts (3)
  • 4 1/4″ × 21 1/2″
  • 4 1/4″ × 21 1/2″
  • 4 1/8″ × 4 3/4″
Sheet 3 3/4 Plywood · 96″ × 48″ · 8 parts · 3% waste
3/4 Plywood: 96 × 48, 8 parts, 3% wasteBase side34 1/2 × 23 1/4B36 shelf34 3/8 × 21 1/2B24 door29 3/4 × 23 7/8B24 door29 3/4 × 23 7/8W36 door29 7/8 × 17 7/8W36 door29 7/8 × 17 7/8Wall side 3030 × 11 1/4W36 rail34 1/2 × 3123456789101112139648grain →
Cut sequence (13 cuts)
  1. Crosscut 34 1/2″ from the 96″ × 48″ piece
  2. Rip 23 1/4″ from the 34 1/2″ × 48″ piece
  3. Rip 21 1/2″ from the 34 1/2″ × 24 5/8″ piece
  4. Crosscut 34 3/8″ from the 34 1/2″ × 21 1/2″ piece
  5. Crosscut 29 3/4″ from the 61 3/8″ × 48″ piece
  6. Rip 23 7/8″ from the 29 3/4″ × 48″ piece
  7. Rip 23 7/8″ from the 29 3/4″ × 24″ piece
  8. Rip 17 7/8″ from the 31 1/2″ × 48″ piece
  9. Crosscut 29 7/8″ from the 31 1/2″ × 17 7/8″ piece
  10. Rip 17 7/8″ from the 31 1/2″ × 30″ piece
  11. Crosscut 29 7/8″ from the 31 1/2″ × 17 7/8″ piece
  12. Crosscut 30″ from the 31 1/2″ × 12″ piece
  13. Rip 11 1/4″ from the 30″ × 12″ piece

Every cut goes straight through the piece. Distances are measured from the top or left edge of the piece as drawn; the kerf is on the waste side of each line.

Sheet 4 3/4 Plywood · 96″ × 48″ · 11 parts · 4.7% waste
3/4 Plywood: 96 × 48, 11 parts, 5% wasteW18 door29 7/8 × 17 7/8B36 door29 3/4 × 17 7/8B36 door29 3/4 × 17 7/8B18 door29 3/4 × 17 7/8W36 top/bottom34 1/2 × 11W36 top/bottom34 1/2 × 11W36 shelf34 3/8 × 10 1/2W36 shelf34 3/8 × 10 1/2B36 toe kick34 1/2 × 4 1/2W30 top/bottom28 1/2 × 11W30 top/bottom28 1/2 × 1112345678910111213141516171819209648grain →
Cut sequence (20 cuts)
  1. Crosscut 29 7/8″ from the 96″ × 48″ piece
  2. Rip 17 7/8″ from the 29 7/8″ × 48″ piece
  3. Rip 17 7/8″ from the 29 7/8″ × 30″ piece
  4. Crosscut 29 3/4″ from the 29 7/8″ × 17 7/8″ piece
  5. Crosscut 28 1/2″ from the 29 7/8″ × 12″ piece
  6. Rip 11″ from the 28 1/2″ × 12″ piece
  7. Crosscut 29 3/4″ from the 66″ × 48″ piece
  8. Rip 17 7/8″ from the 29 3/4″ × 48″ piece
  9. Rip 17 7/8″ from the 29 3/4″ × 30″ piece
  10. Crosscut 28 1/2″ from the 29 3/4″ × 12″ piece
  11. Rip 11″ from the 28 1/2″ × 12″ piece
  12. Rip 11″ from the 36 1/8″ × 48″ piece
  13. Crosscut 34 1/2″ from the 36 1/8″ × 11″ piece
  14. Rip 11″ from the 36 1/8″ × 36 7/8″ piece
  15. Crosscut 34 1/2″ from the 36 1/8″ × 11″ piece
  16. Rip 10 1/2″ from the 36 1/8″ × 25 3/4″ piece
  17. Crosscut 34 3/8″ from the 36 1/8″ × 10 1/2″ piece
  18. Rip 10 1/2″ from the 36 1/8″ × 15 1/8″ piece
  19. Crosscut 34 3/8″ from the 36 1/8″ × 10 1/2″ piece
  20. Crosscut 34 1/2″ from the 36 1/8″ × 4 1/2″ piece

Every cut goes straight through the piece. Distances are measured from the top or left edge of the piece as drawn; the kerf is on the waste side of each line.

Sheet 5 3/4 Plywood · 96″ × 48″ · 12 parts · 19.5% waste
3/4 Plywood: 96 × 48, 12 parts, 20% wasteW30 door29 7/8 × 14 7/8W30 door29 7/8 × 14 7/8W30 door29 7/8 × 14 7/8W30 door29 7/8 × 14 7/8Wall side 3030 × 11 1/4Wall side 3030 × 11 1/4Wall side 3030 × 11 1/4Wall side 3030 × 11 1/4B18 bottom16 1/2 × 23W30 rail28 1/2 × 3B18 stretcher16 1/2 × 4W18 rail16 1/2 × 313 1/4 × 335 7/8 × 13 7/85 7/8 × 11 1/45 7/8 × 11 1/45 7/8 × 11 1/4123456789101112131415161718199648grain →
Cut sequence (19 cuts)
  1. Crosscut 29 7/8″ from the 96″ × 48″ piece
  2. Rip 14 7/8″ from the 29 7/8″ × 48″ piece
  3. Rip 14 7/8″ from the 29 7/8″ × 33″ piece
  4. Rip 14 7/8″ from the 29 7/8″ × 18″ piece
  5. Crosscut 28 1/2″ from the 29 7/8″ × 3″ piece
  6. Crosscut 29 7/8″ from the 66″ × 48″ piece
  7. Rip 14 7/8″ from the 29 7/8″ × 48″ piece
  8. Crosscut 16 1/2″ from the 29 7/8″ × 33″ piece
  9. Rip 23″ from the 16 1/2″ × 33″ piece
  10. Rip 4″ from the 16 1/2″ × 9 7/8″ piece
  11. Rip 3″ from the 16 1/2″ × 5 3/4″ piece
  12. Rip 11 1/4″ from the 36″ × 48″ piece
  13. Crosscut 30″ from the 36″ × 11 1/4″ piece
  14. Rip 11 1/4″ from the 36″ × 36 5/8″ piece
  15. Crosscut 30″ from the 36″ × 11 1/4″ piece
  16. Rip 11 1/4″ from the 36″ × 25 1/4″ piece
  17. Crosscut 30″ from the 36″ × 11 1/4″ piece
  18. Crosscut 30″ from the 36″ × 13 7/8″ piece
  19. Rip 11 1/4″ from the 30″ × 13 7/8″ piece

Every cut goes straight through the piece. Distances are measured from the top or left edge of the piece as drawn; the kerf is on the waste side of each line.

Reusable offcuts (5)
  • 13 1/4″ × 33″
  • 5 7/8″ × 13 7/8″
  • 5 7/8″ × 11 1/4″
  • 5 7/8″ × 11 1/4″
  • 5 7/8″ × 11 1/4″
Sheet 6 3/4 Plywood · 96″ × 48″ · 16 parts · 13.6% waste
3/4 Plywood: 96 × 48, 16 parts, 14% wasteWall side 3030 × 11 1/4Wall side 3030 × 11 1/4Wall side 3030 × 11 1/4W30 top/bottom28 1/2 × 11W30 shelf28 3/8 × 10 1/2W30 top/bottom28 1/2 × 11W30 shelf28 3/8 × 10 1/2W30 shelf28 3/8 × 10 1/2W30 shelf28 3/8 × 10 1/2B36 stretcher34 1/2 × 4B36 stretcher34 1/2 × 4B18 shelf16 3/8 × 21 1/2W18 top/bottom16 1/2 × 11W30 rail28 1/2 × 3W18 top/bottom16 1/2 × 11B18 toe kick16 1/2 × 4 1/216 3/8 × 7 1/28 7/8 × 10 1/24 1/8 × 114 1/8 × 11123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627289648grain →
Cut sequence (28 cuts)
  1. Crosscut 30″ from the 96″ × 48″ piece
  2. Rip 11 1/4″ from the 30″ × 48″ piece
  3. Rip 11 1/4″ from the 30″ × 36 5/8″ piece
  4. Rip 11 1/4″ from the 30″ × 25 1/4″ piece
  5. Rip 11″ from the 30″ × 13 7/8″ piece
  6. Crosscut 28 1/2″ from the 30″ × 11″ piece
  7. Rip 10 1/2″ from the 65 7/8″ × 48″ piece
  8. Crosscut 28 3/8″ from the 65 7/8″ × 10 1/2″ piece
  9. Crosscut 28 3/8″ from the 37 3/8″ × 10 1/2″ piece
  10. Crosscut 28 1/2″ from the 65 7/8″ × 37 3/8″ piece
  11. Rip 11″ from the 28 1/2″ × 37 3/8″ piece
  12. Rip 10 1/2″ from the 28 1/2″ × 26 1/4″ piece
  13. Crosscut 28 3/8″ from the 28 1/2″ × 10 1/2″ piece
  14. Rip 10 1/2″ from the 28 1/2″ × 15 5/8″ piece
  15. Crosscut 28 3/8″ from the 28 1/2″ × 10 1/2″ piece
  16. Rip 3″ from the 28 1/2″ × 5″ piece
  17. Rip 4″ from the 37 1/4″ × 37 3/8″ piece
  18. Crosscut 34 1/2″ from the 37 1/4″ × 4″ piece
  19. Rip 4″ from the 37 1/4″ × 33 1/4″ piece
  20. Crosscut 34 1/2″ from the 37 1/4″ × 4″ piece
  21. Crosscut 16 3/8″ from the 37 1/4″ × 29 1/8″ piece
  22. Rip 21 1/2″ from the 16 3/8″ × 29 1/8″ piece
  23. Rip 11″ from the 20 3/4″ × 29 1/8″ piece
  24. Crosscut 16 1/2″ from the 20 3/4″ × 11″ piece
  25. Rip 11″ from the 20 3/4″ × 18″ piece
  26. Crosscut 16 1/2″ from the 20 3/4″ × 11″ piece
  27. Crosscut 16 1/2″ from the 20 3/4″ × 6 7/8″ piece
  28. Rip 4 1/2″ from the 16 1/2″ × 6 7/8″ piece

Every cut goes straight through the piece. Distances are measured from the top or left edge of the piece as drawn; the kerf is on the waste side of each line.

Reusable offcuts (5)
  • 16 3/8″ × 7 1/2″
  • 8 7/8″ × 10 1/2″
  • 4 1/8″ × 11″
  • 4 1/8″ × 11″
  • 4 1/8″ × 6 7/8″
Sheet 7 3/4 Plywood · 96″ × 48″ · 8 parts · 81.1% waste
3/4 Plywood: 96 × 48, 8 parts, 81% wasteB24 toe kick22 1/2 × 4 1/2W18 shelf16 3/8 × 10 1/2B24 stretcher22 1/2 × 4B24 stretcher22 1/2 × 4B24 stretcher22 1/2 × 4W18 shelf16 3/8 × 10 1/2B24 stretcher22 1/2 × 4B18 stretcher16 1/2 × 473 3/8 × 486 × 10 1/26 × 10 1/25 7/8 × 5 5/81234567891011129648grain →
Cut sequence (12 cuts)
  1. Crosscut 22 1/2″ from the 96″ × 48″ piece
  2. Rip 4 1/2″ from the 22 1/2″ × 48″ piece
  3. Rip 10 1/2″ from the 22 1/2″ × 43 3/8″ piece
  4. Crosscut 16 3/8″ from the 22 1/2″ × 10 1/2″ piece
  5. Rip 4″ from the 22 1/2″ × 32 3/4″ piece
  6. Rip 4″ from the 22 1/2″ × 28 5/8″ piece
  7. Rip 4″ from the 22 1/2″ × 24 1/2″ piece
  8. Rip 10 1/2″ from the 22 1/2″ × 20 3/8″ piece
  9. Crosscut 16 3/8″ from the 22 1/2″ × 10 1/2″ piece
  10. Rip 4″ from the 22 1/2″ × 9 3/4″ piece
  11. Crosscut 16 1/2″ from the 22 1/2″ × 5 5/8″ piece
  12. Rip 4″ from the 16 1/2″ × 5 5/8″ piece

Every cut goes straight through the piece. Distances are measured from the top or left edge of the piece as drawn; the kerf is on the waste side of each line.

Reusable offcuts (4)
  • 73 3/8″ × 48″
  • 6″ × 10 1/2″
  • 6″ × 10 1/2″
  • 5 7/8″ × 5 5/8″
Sheet 8 1/4 Plywood · 96″ × 48″ · 4 parts · 25.4% waste
1/4 Plywood: 96 × 48, 4 parts, 25% wasteB36 back30 × 35W36 back29 1/2 × 35W30 back29 1/2 × 29W18 back29 1/2 × 1730 × 12 7/829 1/2 × 12 7/86 5/8 × 296 5/8 × 18 7/8123456789648grain →
Cut sequence (8 cuts)
  1. Crosscut 30″ from the 96″ × 48″ piece
  2. Rip 35″ from the 30″ × 48″ piece
  3. Crosscut 29 1/2″ from the 65 7/8″ × 48″ piece
  4. Rip 35″ from the 29 1/2″ × 48″ piece
  5. Rip 29″ from the 36 1/4″ × 48″ piece
  6. Crosscut 29 1/2″ from the 36 1/4″ × 29″ piece
  7. Crosscut 29 1/2″ from the 36 1/4″ × 18 7/8″ piece
  8. Rip 17″ from the 29 1/2″ × 18 7/8″ piece

Every cut goes straight through the piece. Distances are measured from the top or left edge of the piece as drawn; the kerf is on the waste side of each line.

Reusable offcuts (4)
  • 30″ × 12 7/8″
  • 29 1/2″ × 12 7/8″
  • 6 5/8″ × 29″
  • 6 5/8″ × 18 7/8″
Sheet 9 1/4 Plywood · 96″ × 48″ · 4 parts · 40.4% waste
1/4 Plywood: 96 × 48, 4 parts, 40% wasteW30 back29 × 29 1/2B24 back23 × 30B24 back30 × 23B18 back30 × 1729 × 18 3/823 × 17 7/813 5/8 × 24 7/813 5/8 × 2330 × 7 3/4123456789648grain →
Cut sequence (8 cuts)
  1. Crosscut 29″ from the 96″ × 48″ piece
  2. Rip 29 1/2″ from the 29″ × 48″ piece
  3. Crosscut 23″ from the 66 7/8″ × 48″ piece
  4. Rip 30″ from the 23″ × 48″ piece
  5. Rip 23″ from the 43 3/4″ × 48″ piece
  6. Crosscut 30″ from the 43 3/4″ × 23″ piece
  7. Crosscut 30″ from the 43 3/4″ × 24 7/8″ piece
  8. Rip 17″ from the 30″ × 24 7/8″ piece

Every cut goes straight through the piece. Distances are measured from the top or left edge of the piece as drawn; the kerf is on the waste side of each line.

Reusable offcuts (5)
  • 29″ × 18 3/8″
  • 23″ × 17 7/8″
  • 13 5/8″ × 24 7/8″
  • 13 5/8″ × 23″
  • 30″ × 7 3/4″

This kitchen: 7 sheets of 3/4 and 2 of 1/4 plywood

Base cabinets 36″, 24″, 24″, 18″ and wall cabinets 36″, 30″, 30″, 18″ (30″ tall): 76 parts on 7 sheets of 3/4 plywood and 2 sheets of 1/4 plywood, 22.6% waste, 1/8″ kerf.

Sheets of plywood per number of cabinets

Every count below comes from the optimizer, using 4×8 sheets, a 1/8-inch kerf and grain locked on all 3/4-inch parts. Base cabinets are 24 inches wide, 34 1/2 tall and 24 deep with a slab door; wall cabinets are 30 × 30 × 12 inches with two doors.

CabinetsBase: 3/4 sheetsBase without doorsWall: 3/4 sheets1/4 backs (base / wall)
11111 / 1
22221 / 1
33331 / 1
44331 / 2
66551 / 2
87662 / 3
109782 / 4

The pattern is worth knowing before you shop. One base cabinet with its door needs 1 sheet, and ten need 9 — the bigger the order, the more the small parts (stretchers, toe kicks, shelves) fill the gaps around the sides. Wall cabinets are shallow, so their parts come from 11-inch strips and 8 sheets cover ten of them. Leave the doors out — because you are buying doors or making them from solid wood or MDF — and the base-cabinet count drops to 7 sheets for ten boxes.

The cut list behind the numbers

These are the parts for the kitchen loaded in the optimizer above. Identical sizes across cabinets are merged: every base cabinet has the same 34 1/2 × 23 1/4-inch side, and one sheet holds four of them — two across the 48-inch width and two along the 96-inch length.

PartLength × widthQtyMaterial
Base side34 1/2″ × 23 1/4″83/4 Plywood
B36 bottom34 1/2″ × 23″13/4 Plywood
B36 stretcher34 1/2″ × 4″23/4 Plywood
B36 toe kick34 1/2″ × 4 1/2″13/4 Plywood
B36 shelf34 3/8″ × 21 1/2″13/4 Plywood
B36 door29 3/4″ × 17 7/8″23/4 Plywood
B36 back30″ × 35″11/4 Plywood
B24 bottom22 1/2″ × 23″23/4 Plywood
B24 stretcher22 1/2″ × 4″43/4 Plywood
B24 toe kick22 1/2″ × 4 1/2″23/4 Plywood
B24 shelf22 3/8″ × 21 1/2″23/4 Plywood
B24 door29 3/4″ × 23 7/8″23/4 Plywood
B24 back30″ × 23″21/4 Plywood
B18 bottom16 1/2″ × 23″13/4 Plywood
B18 stretcher16 1/2″ × 4″23/4 Plywood
B18 toe kick16 1/2″ × 4 1/2″13/4 Plywood
B18 shelf16 3/8″ × 21 1/2″13/4 Plywood
B18 door29 3/4″ × 17 7/8″13/4 Plywood
B18 back30″ × 17″11/4 Plywood
Wall side 3030″ × 11 1/4″83/4 Plywood
W36 top/bottom34 1/2″ × 11″23/4 Plywood
W36 shelf34 3/8″ × 10 1/2″23/4 Plywood
W36 rail34 1/2″ × 3″13/4 Plywood
W36 door29 7/8″ × 17 7/8″23/4 Plywood
W36 back29 1/2″ × 35″11/4 Plywood
W30 top/bottom28 1/2″ × 11″43/4 Plywood
W30 shelf28 3/8″ × 10 1/2″43/4 Plywood
W30 rail28 1/2″ × 3″23/4 Plywood
W30 door29 7/8″ × 14 7/8″43/4 Plywood
W30 back29 1/2″ × 29″21/4 Plywood
W18 top/bottom16 1/2″ × 11″23/4 Plywood
W18 shelf16 3/8″ × 10 1/2″23/4 Plywood
W18 rail16 1/2″ × 3″13/4 Plywood
W18 door29 7/8″ × 17 7/8″13/4 Plywood
W18 back29 1/2″ × 17″11/4 Plywood

How to estimate plywood for your own kitchen

  1. 1. List every box. Write down each base, wall and tall cabinet with its width. Sinks, drawer banks and corner cabinets are still one box each.
  2. 2. Use the table for a first budget. Roughly one 4×8 sheet of 3/4 plywood per base cabinet (doors included) and about 0.8 sheet per wall cabinet, plus one 1/4-inch sheet for every five base-cabinet backs or two to three wall-cabinet backs.
  3. 3. Enter the real list. Edit the parts above — change widths, delete doors, add drawer fronts or a pantry — and the optimizer recalculates the exact sheet count and prints cutting diagrams.
  4. 4. Add a spare. Buy one extra sheet of 3/4 for a large kitchen: a single mis-cut side or a sheet with a damaged face costs more in a return trip than the plywood itself.

For single-cabinet details see the base cabinet cut list and wall cabinet cut list; drawers usually come from 1/2-inch Baltic birch, covered in the drawer box cut list. Read plywood grain direction before you lock grain on doors and sides.

Other plywood calculators

FAQ

How many sheets of plywood for one base cabinet?

A 24-inch frameless base cabinet with its door uses most of one 4×8 sheet of 3/4 plywood plus a quarter of a 1/4-inch sheet for the back. Several cabinets share offcuts, so the per-cabinet figure drops as the kitchen grows.

How many sheets of plywood for a whole kitchen?

Count the cabinets, then use the tables on this page as a starting point: roughly one sheet of 3/4 plywood per base cabinet and about 0.8 sheet per wall cabinet, plus one 1/4-inch sheet for every two to five backs. Enter your real cabinet list in the optimizer for an exact number.

Do these counts include doors and drawer fronts?

They include plywood slab doors. If you buy doors or build them from solid wood or MDF, delete the door rows in the optimizer — a base cabinet without its door often fits more parts per sheet.

Should cabinet boxes be 3/4 or 1/2 inch plywood?

3/4 inch (actually about 23/32 or 18 mm) is standard for cabinet sides, bottoms and shelves. 1/2 inch is used for some wall cabinets and drawer boxes, and 1/4 inch for backs and drawer bottoms.