Cardboard Shelves and Drawers for Almost FREE

Y'all cheap college students or someone who doesn't wanna pay for expensive shelves have come to the right place! These instructions would be about how to make drawers and shelves using cardboard boxes.

Materials: 14-3/4" x 11-3/4" x 11-1/2" main box, 7-1/2" x 5-1/8" x 14-3/8" shoe box, craft knife, scissors, tape, ruler (measuring and great help in folding the edges).

Disclaimer: I got these boxes from USPS and intended for shipping purposes. You could use any boxes to start on this project.

Step 1: Begin With the Drawers

I have some shoe boxes with the size of 7-1/2" x 5-1/8" x 14-3/8".

Tape the sides of the box to seal them off. leave the short tab outside to act as a stopper.

Cut off the top of the box while leaving 1/2 inch so that the side tab doesn't fall off. make sure the top opens up like the image shown.

Step 2: Fold the Rear Stopper

Fold the top all the way to the back of the box and fold to your desired length. This folding will be the stopper so the drawer doesn't go all the way back.

Step 3: Fold the Side Stopper

Fold the side tab that was left outside to about half of its length. This will be the stopper for the side.

Step 4: Fold Your Handle

Cut about 3/4 inches down from about 4 inches wide at the front center of the box. Fold the handle inward of the box and tape it down.

Step 5: Cut the Top and Bottom of the Main Box

Locate the main tabs (usually the longer tabs) and cut them off. These will be the support beams of the drawers

Step 6: Cut the Side Tabs of the Main Box

Leave about 1/2 inch and tape it down. Make sure not to smooth out the tape but use your fingers to tape the edges so to make it act as a side stopper.

Step 7: Measure and Fold the Support Beam

Use the previous cutout to make the support beam. I used 3 boards (two as the sides and one on the top, tape them together), and fold the sides to a triangle. Cut the side tabs and tape the beam to the side.