homestead.fyi / TOOLWALL

French-Cleat Tool Wall

A 4 x 6 ft tool wall: 3/4 in plywood on the wall studs with five 45° French cleats, for hanging tool holders.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
48 x 72 inSize
5Cleats
2 to 3 hrBuild time
$76.54Materials

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewfinished
3D view
Front elevation
Front elevation 56 in 80 in
Right elevation
Right elevation 5 1/2 in 80 in
Plan viewfrom above
Plan view 56 in 5 1/2 in

Cut list: sheet goods

PartStockSizeNote
Backer3/4 ply48 x 72screwed to the studs, 16 in on center
Cleat 13/4 ply46 x 3rip at 45°, 3 in wide; the bevel faces up and in
Cleat 23/4 ply46 x 3rip at 45°, 3 in wide; the bevel faces up and in
Cleat 33/4 ply46 x 3rip at 45°, 3 in wide; the bevel faces up and in
Cleat 43/4 ply46 x 3rip at 45°, 3 in wide; the bevel faces up and in
Cleat 53/4 ply46 x 3rip at 45°, 3 in wide; the bevel faces up and in

Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out

Sheet 1: 3/4 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Backer48 x 72Cleat 146 x 3Cleat 246 x 3Cleat 346 x 3Cleat 446 x 3Cleat 546 x 3

Shopping list $76.54 checked / $0.00 estimated

ItemStoreQtyEachLineNote
23/32 in (3/4 in) CDX plywood, 4x8 sheetLowe's1$46.57$46.57see sheet cutting diagrams
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb boxHome Depot1$29.97$29.97
Total before tax$76.54
Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.

Build steps

  1. Screw the 3/4 in backer plywood to the wall studs with 3 in screws, every 16 in.
  2. Rip the offcut into five 3 in strips with the table saw blade at 45°, then cut each in two: one half goes on the wall, one half on the tool holder.
  3. Screw a cleat to the backer, with the bevel facing up and in, every 14 in. Leave a gap above each.
  4. Make holders from scrap, each with the other half of a cleat on the back, hung so the bevels lock. Move them around as the shop changes.

Before you start