One easily overlooked element of a drawer is the bottom. While there are no hard and fast rules for the type and thickness of drawer bottoms, there are some guidelines you can use to help you make a decision. The most common materials for drawer bottoms are 1⁄4" hardboard or plywood. For small and medium-size drawers, hardboard will stand up to a moderate amount of weight. For a heavier load, you can step up to plywood. Baltic birch plywood is a great choice. It’s made up of more veneers to make it stronger than most cabinet-grade plywood. For large, deep drawers, though, the potential for sagging is greater. This was the case when I added some drawer storage under my workbench. The drawers are 36" wide and 20" deep. And I wanted to store hand planes, routers, and jigs in them. So I chose to move up to 1⁄2" plywood for added strength. You can also glue another layer onto the existing bottom to add stiffness.
One other option to strengthen a drawer bottom is to reinforce it. This can be done by gluing a hardwood strip down the center from front to back. While choosing a material for drawer bottoms isn’t rocket science, making the right selection will result in a better drawer.
