The Shelf Sagulator
Will your shelf bend under the weight?
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Shelf Material
Red Oak (Standard)
White Oak
Hard Maple
Walnut
Cherry
Pine (Eastern White)
Yellow Pine / Fir
Poplar
MDF / Particle Board
Plywood (Birch/Maple)
Shelf Span (Distance between supports)
Inches
Shelf Depth (Front to Back)
Inches
Thickness
1/2" (0.5)
3/4" (0.75)
1" (1.0)
1 1/2" (2x Material)
2"
Total Load (Weight)
Pounds (Lbs)
Load Distribution
Uniform (Books across entire shelf)
Center Load (One heavy item in middle)
Estimated Sag
0.02"
Acceptable
0"
Visible Limit (0.02"/ft)
Danger
The Rule of Thumb:
The human eye generally notices sag if it exceeds 0.02 inches per foot of length.
This shelf is stiff enough for the load.