Pocket Hole Joinery: Complete Guide

Pocket hole joinery uses angled screws to join boards. It’s fast, requires minimal setup, and works well for cabinets, face frames, and furniture that won’t be disassembled.

How Pocket Holes Work

A specialized drill bit creates an angled hole and a flat-bottomed pocket in one operation. The pocket hole screw enters at a steep angle, threading into the adjoining board. The screw head seats in the pocket, hidden from view on the back side.

The joint relies on the screw for strength. Unlike traditional joinery where wood bears against wood, pocket holes depend entirely on the screw’s holding power in the mating piece.

Kreg and Other Systems

Kreg dominates the pocket hole market. Their jigs range from $20 clamping guides to $200 bench-mounted stations. The more expensive versions drill faster and more consistently but use the same basic principle.

Other brands offer similar tools at lower prices. They work, though fit and durability vary. For occasional use, budget options suffice. Heavy users usually migrate to Kreg equipment.

Choosing Screw Sizes

Screw length matches material thickness. For 3/4-inch stock, use 1-1/4 inch screws. For 1/2-inch material, use 1-inch screws. The goal is full thread engagement in the mating piece without punching through.

Coarse threads grip softwoods and plywood. Fine threads hold better in hardwoods and MDF. Using the wrong thread type leads to stripped holes or insufficient holding power.

Best Uses

Face frames join quickly with pocket holes. Set the jig, drill the holes, and assemble—no clamps needed beyond the initial setup. What takes hours with mortise-and-tenon takes minutes with pocket screws.

Cabinet boxes, drawer fronts, and tabletop attachments also suit pocket holes well. Any joint hidden from view where speed matters more than tradition makes a good candidate.

Limitations

Pocket holes aren’t traditional joinery. In fine furniture, they feel like shortcuts. Some woodworkers use them exclusively; others never touch them. The choice depends on what you’re building and who sees the back side.

The joints can loosen over time, especially in wood that moves seasonally. For heirloom furniture, traditional joinery remains the better choice. For kitchen cabinets, pocket holes work fine for decades.