# Dado joint (housing joint)

> How deep should a dado be?

- Category: Joinery › Edge & case joints
- Kind: Hardware
- Basis: Xem Studio design — geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions
- Page: https://xemstudio.com/objects/dado-joint/ · JSON: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=dado-joint · Plain text: https://xemstudio.com/objects/dado-joint/sheet.txt
- License: dimension sheet CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio); files Xem Studio Design License (free to use and sell from, not to redistribute as files: https://xemstudio.com/license/)
- Use in every chat: add https://xemstudio.com/mcp as a connector (https://xemstudio.com/use-with-ai/)

## Overall (mm)

| length | width | height |
|---|---|---|
| 90.0 | 80.0 | 100.0 |

**Exact dimensions.** True size, with no printing tolerance added.

## Notes

- Woodworking joint drawn for 3D printing: the parts lock together by shape, so a print can be joined without glue or screws. Drawn at true size with the parts line to line (zero gap) in their assembled position — add your printer's fit allowance to the mating faces (your AI or slicer can do this).
- A square groove across a panel that the shelf sits in.

## Sizes

| dimension | value |
|---|---|
| stock | 15 mm side panel, 10 mm shelf, 80 mm deep |
| parts | side panel, shelf |
| dado | 10 mm wide (the shelf), 5 mm deep (one third of the panel) |
| assembles | the shelf slides or drops in |
| holds | shelf loads; needs glue, a screw or a sliding dovetail against pulling out |

## Where the files are

- Xem Studio: [Joinery design (geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions)](https://xemstudio.com/) — web — Xem Studio design

## Free STEP/STL (3 parts, Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio)

Index: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dado-joint/index.json · license: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dado-joint/LICENSE.md

- dado-joint-side-panel: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dado-joint/dado-joint-side-panel.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dado-joint/dado-joint-side-panel.stl) — Side panel with a 5 mm deep dado
- dado-joint-shelf: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dado-joint/dado-joint-shelf.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dado-joint/dado-joint-shelf.stl) — Shelf, seated 5 mm in the dado
- dado-joint-assembled: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dado-joint/dado-joint-assembled.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dado-joint/dado-joint-assembled.stl) — All parts in their assembled position (each part its own solid)

## Questions

**How deep should a dado be?**

About one third of the panel: 5 mm in a 15 mm panel.

## Fits with

- [Sliding dovetail joint (dovetail housing)](https://xemstudio.com/objects/sliding-dovetail-joint/)
- [Rabbet joint (rebate joint)](https://xemstudio.com/objects/rabbet-joint/)
- [Tongue and groove joint](https://xemstudio.com/objects/tongue-and-groove-joint/)