# Through dovetail joint

> What are the proportions of a through dovetail joint?

- Category: Joinery › Dovetail joints
- Kind: Hardware
- Basis: Xem Studio design — geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions
- Page: https://xemstudio.com/objects/through-dovetail-joint/ · JSON: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=through-dovetail-joint · Plain text: https://xemstudio.com/objects/through-dovetail-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 | 60.0 | 90.0 |

**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).
- The box corner joint: tails on one board, pins on the other, showing on both faces.
- Print both boards flat; the dovetail shapes are vertical walls in that orientation.

## Sizes

| dimension | value |
|---|---|
| stock | 10 mm boards, 60 mm wide |
| parts | tail board, pin board |
| tails | 3, 10.67 mm at the shoulder → 14 mm at the end |
| slope | 1:6 (9.46°) |
| pins | 6 mm at the narrow side; half-pins at the edges |
| assembles | the tail board drops onto the pin board (one direction only) |
| holds | pulling the tail board away along its length |

## 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/through-dovetail-joint/index.json · license: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/through-dovetail-joint/LICENSE.md

- through-dovetail-joint-tail-board: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/through-dovetail-joint/through-dovetail-joint-tail-board.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/through-dovetail-joint/through-dovetail-joint-tail-board.stl) — Tail board: three tails
- through-dovetail-joint-pin-board: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/through-dovetail-joint/through-dovetail-joint-pin-board.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/through-dovetail-joint/through-dovetail-joint-pin-board.stl) — Pin board: pins and two half-pins
- through-dovetail-joint-assembled: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/through-dovetail-joint/through-dovetail-joint-assembled.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/through-dovetail-joint/through-dovetail-joint-assembled.stl) — All parts in their assembled position (each part its own solid)

## Questions

**What is the dovetail angle?**

1:6 (9.46°) here; 1:8 (7.1°) is common for hardwood boxes.

**Can you 3D print a dovetail joint?**

Yes — print both boards flat and add your fit allowance to the angled faces.

## Fits with

- [Half-blind dovetail joint (lapped dovetail)](https://xemstudio.com/objects/half-blind-dovetail-joint/)
- [Sliding dovetail joint (dovetail housing)](https://xemstudio.com/objects/sliding-dovetail-joint/)
- [Box joint (finger joint)](https://xemstudio.com/objects/box-joint/)
- [Dovetail halving joint (dovetail lap)](https://xemstudio.com/objects/dovetail-halving-joint/)