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Free floating shelves plans for a set of three identical hollow wall shelves, each 900 mm wide and 250 mm deep, mounted on hidden 45-degree French cleats. You get the parts list, dimensions, material breakdown, and an optimized cutting diagram you can download as a PDF and take to the workshop.

The hollow construction (top, bottom, two short side returns, and a wall cleat) keeps the shelves light while giving you solid wood to screw a cleat into - each shelf holds 15-20 lbs of books or kitchenware with no visible brackets. The 900 mm length is the sweet spot: long enough to look generous, short enough that a single 18 mm plywood top doesn't sag in the middle.

What's in the PDF

• Parts list with dimensions - 18 parts total across 5 part types (tops, bottoms, side returns, wall cleats, shelf cleats). Every part labeled, quantified, and dimensioned in mm.
• Optimized cutting diagram - generated from a single 18 mm plywood sheet (2440 × 1220 mm / 4'×8'). Color-coded by part type so you can see at a glance which piece is which.
• Sheet count and material cost estimate - all three shelves and their cleats fit on one sheet with room left over for offcuts.
• Kerf accounted for - 3.2 mm (1/8") default, adjustable to your blade.

Click "Open in Optimizer" below - your parts and stock are pre-filled, you just download the PDF. No signup needed for a single optimization.

Tools you'll need

• Table saw or track saw - the side returns are small enough to cut on either
• Drill driver, plus a long level for setting the wall cleats
• 23-gauge pin nailer or brad nailer for tacking the box together while glue cures (clamps work too)
• Edge banding iron and a trimmer if you want clean exposed edges, or 220-grit sandpaper if you'll fill and paint the plies
• Stud finder - the wall cleat must hit at least two studs per shelf at this length

Time estimate

Half a day to cut, half a day to assemble all three, an hour to mount. Add finishing time on top - one coat of oil or wax, or skip finish entirely if you're using pre-finished plywood.

Build sequence

1. Rip the 250 mm-wide tops and bottoms first from the long edge of the sheet. These are the most-visible parts; cut them when your saw fence is fresh.

2. Cut the side returns and cleats from the offcut. The returns are 100 mm tall, 250 mm deep; the cleats are 60 mm tall, 860 mm long.

3. Rip the wall cleats at 45 degrees down the middle. Each 60 mm cleat strip becomes two 30 mm-tall triangular pieces - one wall-side, one shelf-side. A table saw with the blade tilted is the easiest way; a track saw with a 45-degree adapter also works.

4. Edge band the front of every top and bottom panel. The two short side returns also get banding on the front edge. Iron, trim flush, hit with 220 grit. Do this before assembly - much easier on a flat piece.

5. Glue and pin the side returns to the bottom panel. The bottom is the structural base; squaring this up squares the whole shelf.

6. Glue the shelf-side cleat to the inside back of the bottom panel. Triangle-up so the wall cleat will slot into it.

7. Drop the top in and clamp. Glue the top to the side returns and the back of the cleat. Clamp until dry.

8. Mount the wall cleats first using a level at the height you want the shelf to sit. Drive screws into studs - drywall anchors alone won't hold a loaded shelf safely.

9. Slide each shelf onto its cleat. Add a single 25 mm screw through the bottom of the shelf into the cleat from below to lock it in place - prevents anyone lifting the shelf off accidentally.

Material options

• Plywood (18 mm) - the default. Cheapest path to a durable shelf, takes paint or stain.
• Pre-finished melamine - skip edge banding on the white edge if that look works for you. Use the melamine cut calculator to plan the cut.
• MDF - smoothest paint surface but heavier and more prone to sag at this 900 mm span. Acceptable if you're filling with closed-cell foam, otherwise stick with plywood. The MDF calculator handles MDF stock sizes.
• Solid hardwood - looks great but at this width you'd glue up panels from narrower stock, which is a different project. The plywood version looks indistinguishable once finished and edge-banded.

Common mistakes

Skipping the cleat triangle. A flat ledger strip works but the shelf won't sit tight to the wall. The 45-degree cleat pulls the shelf snug as it slides on - non-negotiable for a shelf that looks like it floats.

Mounting cleats with drywall anchors only. A shelf with 15 lbs of books on it pulls down hard. Find studs.

Forgetting to edge band before assembly. Iron-on banding is much easier on a flat piece. Cut, band, then assemble.

Building all three at once without checking the first. Build one, mount it, look at it on the wall before cutting the other two. Catches dimension errors before they triple.

FAQ

Are these floating shelf plans really free?

Yes. The plans, parts list, dimensions, and PDF cutting diagram are all free during early access. No card, no part limits, no watermarks.

How much weight can these floating shelves hold?

15-20 lbs per shelf is comfortable - enough for a row of books, a stack of plates, or kitchen canisters. The limiting factor is the cleat-to-stud connection, not the shelf box itself. If you need to hold more, use longer screws and hit a stud at every cleat-end.

What does the PDF include?

The PDF has the optimized cutting diagram (sheet-by-sheet, color-coded by part), the full parts list with dimensions, kerf settings, and total sheet count. Designed to print at letter or A4 and be readable next to a saw.

Can I change the shelf length?

Yes. Open in the optimizer and edit the top, bottom, and cleat width to match your wall. Going much longer than 1100 mm with 18 mm plywood will start to sag - bump the top to 25 mm if you need a longer shelf, or add a hidden internal divider mid-span.

Do I need to seal the inside of the hollow shelves?

No. The interior is glued shut at assembly and never gets touched again. Plywood off-gases briefly when freshly cut but stops within a week. If you're paranoid, brush a single coat of shellac inside the bottom panel before closing it up.

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