Choosing nails for cabinets should feel easy yet many builders still pause as the gun points at fresh maple. They fear splits and big holes. I did the same in my first kitchen build. I grabbed thick finish nails. The heads left craters that stared back at me all night. I filled each one with putty and sanded until my arms shook. The next morning I tried slim brads plus a thin line of glue. The crown sat flat. The holes hid under a quick wipe. That small change shifted my whole routine.
You stand in that same spot today. You hold a box of nails and ask what size nails for cabinets. This guide answers that question in plain talk. You get numbers, clear steps, and shop tips that save time.
Quick Answer First
- Use 18 gauge brad nails for most trim and face frames
- Lengths run from one and one quarter inch to two inch based on part thickness
- Add a thin bead of good wood glue for strong hold
- Move to 16 gauge finish nails for heavy parts or hidden areas
- Hold tiny parts like scribe or bead with 23 gauge pins plus glue
- For three quarter inch plywood shoot 18 gauge one and a half inch brads into solid backing
That set covers nearly every cabinet job.
Gauge Explained
Gauge means thickness. A small number marks a thick nail. A large number marks a thin nail. Cabinet work lives between 15 gauge and 23 gauge.
- 15 gauge feels stout and makes a big mark
- 16 gauge holds strong and leaves a smaller mark
- 18 gauge hits the sweet spot for visible work
- 23 gauge pins nearly vanish and rely on glue
I keep three guns on one shelf. A 16 gauge finish gun handles heavy stretchers. An 18 gauge brad gun handles most runs. A 23 gauge pin gun handles tiny pieces. That trio meets every project that rolls through my door.
Parts of a Nail
A quick look at nail parts helps you pick the right box in the store.
- Shank is the long body and can be smooth or have tiny ribs for grip
- Head can sit proud, sit flush, or almost vanish on pins
- Point splits fibers lightly so the stock does not tear
- Material ranges from bright steel to stainless for wet rooms
- Coating melts under heat and grabs tight as it cools
Bright steel works fine in dry rooms. Stainless protects crown near sinks. Pick what matches the space.
Task by Task Nail Sizes
Builders often fail when they use one size for every part. Change the nail to fit the task and the wood will thank you.
Face Frames to Boxes
- Nail type 18 gauge brad
- Length one and a half inch
- Space nails every ten inches
- Add glue on the box front
You shoot through a three quarter inch frame into a three quarter inch edge. You gain three quarter inch of bite and the holes stay small.
Applied Skins
- Nail type 18 gauge brad
- Length one and a quarter inch for quarter inch skins
- Space in a light grid every eight inches
- Add glue for flat bond
Half inch skins move up to one and a half inch nails.
Light Trim and Scribe
- Nail type 18 gauge brad or 23 gauge pin
- Length one inch to one and a quarter inch
- Space every ten inches
- Add a slim glue line
Pins almost vanish. Use brads if the trim will face stress.
Crown at the Top
- Nail type 18 gauge brad for most crowns
- Length one inch to one and a quarter inch into face frame meat
- Space every fifteen inches
- Run a fine bead of construction adhesive behind the crown
If the crown build up feels heavy add two hidden 16 gauge shots so the run stays true.
Cabinet Backs
You have two sound paths.
- Screw on backs with glue for shop boxes that ride trucks
- Narrow crown staples at one and a quarter inch for home builds
- Space four inches on edges and rails
- Add glue in the rabbet
Two legs of a staple straddle grain and resist pull.
Drawer Boxes
- Nail type 18 gauge brad or narrow crown staple
- Length one and a quarter inch
- Space four inches apart
- Flood joints with glue for lasting hold
Cleats and Stretchers
- Nail type 16 gauge finish or better screws
- Length two inch for standard layers
- Space eight inches
- Run glue behind cleats
Screws bite deeper but 16 gauge works when you hide the heads.
Shelf Nosing
- Nail type 23 gauge pin
- Length one inch
- Space eight inches
- Glue carries the load while pins stop slips
Three Quarter Inch Plywood
Builders ask daily about fasteners in thick sheets. Use this rule. Two times the top board thickness or three quarter inch of bite into the base.
- Face frame to ply uses 18 gauge one and a half inch
- Trim to ply uses 18 gauge one and a half inch
- Cleat to ply uses 16 gauge two inch or screws
- Ply to ply in a rabbet uses staples at one and a half inch
Follow that list and your fasteners will sit right.
Nail Length Math
Two short checks pick your nail every time.
- Double the thickness of the piece you shoot through
- Aim for at least three quarter inch bite without blow out
Example. A quarter inch skin needs a one and a quarter inch brad. Half inch trim needs a one and a half inch brad. Run the test on scrap and you will see.
Holding Power and Hole Size
Thick nails hold more yet leave big scars. Thin nails hide yet need glue. Use this ladder.
- 23 gauge pins hide almost fully and hold little
- 18 gauge brads hold most cabinet trim
- 16 gauge finish nails hold loads and leave a clear mark
- 15 gauge nails hold doors yet mark deep
Start light then step up only when needed.
Clean Holes Need Good Tool Setup
Depth and air set the hole. Angle controls tear out.
- Start with low depth then click deeper until the head sits just shy of flush
- Keep pressure near eighty pounds per square inch
- Turn the driver blade so the skinny edge cuts across the grain
Hold the nose flat. Toe nail only when the part demands it.
Stop Splits and Blowouts
Hard maple can split like dry toast. Small changes stop pain.
- Use 18 gauge over 16 gauge in hardwood
- Keep nails three eighth inch away from edges
- Snip the tip for a blunt crush instead of a wedge
- Drill a pilot for any 16 gauge near an end
- Spin the gun so the driver crosses grain not with it
If a blow out happens yank the nail from the back with linesman pliers. Plug the gap with a shaved sliver and glue then sand.
Glue Plus Nails
Glue shapes pro results. The nail holds until the glue cures.
- Wood glue bonds wood to wood and cleans with water
- Construction adhesive fills gaps behind crown and skins
- Paintable caulk seals crown to ceiling and flexes through seasons
Run a skinny bead and wipe any squeeze right away.
Material Guides
Hardwood Face Frames
Dense wood sails smooth when you stay light.
- Lean on 18 gauge nails
- Add clamps to press joints
- Hide any 16 gauge shots deep in corners
MDF and Paint Grade
MDF crushes easy yet fills well.
- Fire 18 gauge one and one quarter inch brads
- Keep depth gentle to dodge craters
- Use screws for weight bearing parts
Particleboard and Melamine
Edges chip. Work slow.
- Pre drill and drive screws where strength matters
- Fire 18 gauge brads only into full panels
- Stay clear of raw edges
Veneered Plywood
Thin faces bruise under deep heads.
- Test depth on off cuts
- Aim for heads just past flush
- Fill tiny divots with clear putty before finish
Straight Answers to Top Questions
- What size nails for cabinet making
Use 18 gauge brads from one and a quarter inch up to two inch. Glue supports the joint.
- What nails should I use for cabinets
Choose 18 gauge for most visible work. Use 16 gauge only in hidden load spots. Use 23 gauge pins for tiny returns.
- What kind of nail is used for three quarter inch plywood
Pick 18 gauge one and a half inch brads for trim to sheet. Pick staples at one and a half inch for backs in rabbets.
- Which is stronger 16 gauge or 18 gauge
- 16 gauge nails hold more yet leave bigger holes. 18 gauge* nails look clean when glue backs them up.
Nail Selection Steps
- Measure the piece you shoot through
- Double that number for a starting length
- Check the base material and grain
- Use the slimmest gauge that holds when glued
- Test depth on scrap for blow through
- Mark a simple spacing plan
- Tack two nails to lock alignment
- Finish the run and wipe glue
Spacing Rules
- Face frames ten inch gaps
- Crown fifteen inch gaps
- Skins eight inch grid
- Backs four inch edge gaps
- Tiny trim eight inch gaps
Closer near stress like door pulls.
Tool Picks
Reliability beats brand fame.
- A clean 18 gauge brad gun covers most work
- A 16 gauge gun steps in for muscle tasks
- A 23 gauge pin gun handles fine stuff
Pick guns that fire the full range of lengths you need. Oil each tool before the first shot of the day. Store nails in dry boxes.
Shop Safety
- Wear clear goggles on every shot
- Keep hands out of the nail path
- Switch guns to single fire for cabinets
- Kill air flow before clearing jams
A brad can curl out of oak and seek flesh faster than thought. Respect the gun.
Fast Fix Guide
- If a nail sits deep dial back depth
- If a nail sits proud add one click of depth
- Edge blow out means back the gun from the edge
- Splits call for thinner nails and glue
- Jams clear with the gun off the hose
Keep spare driver blades and hex keys handy so downtime stays short.
Seasonal Wood Movement
Wood swells across grain in wet months and shrinks in dry months. Nails can lock that movement and cause cracks. Glue a center spot then pin the ends so the board can breathe.
Part and Size Chart
| Part | Gauge | Length in inches | Space in inches |
|——|——-|——————|—————–|
| Face frame | 18 | 1.5 | 10 |
| Skin | 18 | 1.25 | 8 |
| Scribe | 18 | 1 | 10 |
| Crown | 18 | 1.25 | 15 |
| Heavy crown hidden | 16 | 2 | 15 |
| Back panel | Staple 18 | 1.5 | 4 |
| Cleat | 16 | 2 | 8 |
| Drawer bottom | Staple 18 | 1.25 | 4 |
| Tiny return | 23 | 1 | 8 |
The table keeps choices fast when sawdust flies.
Time and Cost
Small holes cut filler time in half. Pins on stained trim may need no filler at all. Thick nails cost cents less yet burn minutes in sanding and touch up. Your time beats any nail price.
Four Shop Stories
- A poplar crown run floated clean with 18 gauge one and a quarter inch brads plus adhesive. No heavy marks.
- An oak face frame glued and shot with 18 gauge one and a half inch brads stayed tight during a humid summer.
- MDF doors trimmed with 18 gauge brads sunk flush at light depth and one quick pass of filler made ready for primer.
- Shop cabinets loaded in a truck kept square after narrow crown staples locked backs at four inch centers.
Each tale shows light nails stand strong when glue backs the joint.
Extra Tips
- Shoot across the grain for less split risk
- Fire into solid meat not thin edges
- Hold tiny returns with blue tape until glue sets
- Stagger nails to avoid one long split line
- Mark nail path with pencil for clean alignment
Dry fit crown on the bench then lift as one piece to the wall. Your seams will look tight.
Nail Material Choices
- Bright steel nails stay cheap and work in dry rooms
- Galvanized nails fight rust near damp zones and paint hides the heads
- Stainless nails stay clear under clear coats in kitchens and baths
Stainless costs more yet saves finish in wet spaces.
Work Without a Nailer
Some shops live quiet.
- Glue and clamp face frames
- Drive slim screws from inside the box
- Use trim head screws for crown then fill heads
- Push hand brads into small trim with a magnetic set
A small cordless compressor also keeps volume low when air tools still appeal.
Mistakes to Dodge
- Thick 15 gauge nails in visible frames slow finish
- Nails too close to ends create splits
- Over depth shots in MDF carve craters
- Crown without adhesive sags later
- Random spacing looks sloppy to every eye
Learn once then keep your notes handy.
Quick Plan for the Next Build
- List every part
- Ask the gauge and length for each
- Pick lightest gauge with glue
- Set depth on scrap
- Mark paths
- Shoot
- Fill holes while the gun still sits warm
Fast notes beat memory during long days.
Tool Care
- Two drops of oil each morning
- Drain the tank of water at close
- Wipe the nose with a rag
- Store nails dry
A clean gun feels crisp and prevents drag marks.
Final Wrap
You now hold a clear map for what size nails for cabinets. Start with slim 18 gauge brads, pick length by simple math, add glue, test depth, and move with calm skill. Small moves bring neat holes and tight joins. Your next crown will sit flat and your putty knife will rest early. Enjoy the build and share that first smooth cabinet with friends. It will stand strong and look sharp.