Raised Panel Door Calculator

Raised Panel Door Calculator - Stile, Rail, and Panel Dimensions

A raised panel door is built from a frame - two stiles and two rails - around a center panel that "floats" in a groove rather than being glued in place, so it can expand and contract with the seasons without cracking. This calculator sizes every part of that door from your target dimensions.

How to Use the Raised Panel Door Calculator

1. Door Width and Height: Enter your target finished door size, in inches
2. Stile Width: The vertical frame pieces - 2.25" is a common default
3. Rail Width: The horizontal frame pieces - also commonly 2.25"
4. Panel Raise: The height of the profile cut around the panel's edge, typically 1/8" to 3/8"

Construction Reference

The center panel sits in a groove cut into the inside edge of the stiles and rails, typically 3/8" to 1/2" deep - and critically, it should never be glued into that groove. Wood panels need room to expand and contract across their width with humidity changes, and a glued-in panel will eventually crack or blow out the frame joint. This is a different construction method from a Shaker door's traditional flat panel; see our comparison of Shaker versus raised panel doors for how the two styles differ in look and construction.

Because the panel must float, cut the groove a little deeper than the panel needs today, so a solid-wood panel has room to expand and contract across its width with the seasons without binding or cracking the frame.

Related Tools

• Overlay Calculator - Fit this door to its cabinet opening
• Cabinet Door Hinge Calculator - Hardware for the finished door