Wardrobe shutters that don’t sit flush Soft-close hinges that start fighting A perfectly aligned gap that becomes… a zigzag Most people blame the carpenter, or the hinges, or “humidity”. Sometimes they’re right. But very often, the real culprit is simpler: your plywood thickness isn’t consistent.
That’s where calibrated plywood comes in.
What “calibrated plywood” actually means Plywood sheets are supposed to be a stated thickness—like 18mm, 12mm, 6mm.
But non-calibrated plywood can vary across the sheet: one corner might be 17.2mm
another could be 18.6mm
and across multiple boards, the difference becomes a hardware nightmare Calibrated plywood is plywood that is machine-sanded/pressed to a uniform thickness (tighter tolerance) so a carpenter can build joinery and shutter systems with confidence.
- Think of it like tailoring. A millimetre doesn’t matter on one shirt. It matters a lot on a wardrobe with 6 shutters and 12 hinges
Why thickness variation ruins shutters over time
1) Hinges are engineered for consistency
Most hinges assume your panel thickness is stable. When it isn’t: hinge cup seating changes screw bite depth changes closing angle shifts slightly That “slightly” becomes visible after repeated daily use.
2) Panel + frame alignment becomes impossible to “fix later” Carpenters often say, “We’ll adjust after a few days.”
But adjustments can only correct minor movement. If your shutters are built from boards that vary in thickness, you’re fighting: inconsistent gaps uneven pressure imperfect squareness You can hide it temporarily. You can’t solve it permanently.
3) Lamination makes the mismatch more obvious
Laminates add thickness too—and they do it uniformly.
So when your plywood is uneven underneath, laminates “highlight” it: edge banding doesn’t sit perfectly corners look slightly swollen shutter faces don’t stay in the same plane Where calibrated plywood matters most If you’re building anything with moving parts, calibrated plywood is worth it: Wardrobe shutters Kitchen shutters + drawers Modular carcasses
Lofts TV units with long shutters Sliding wardrobe systems (very sensitive) For simpler, non-moving applications (like basic partitions), calibration is less critical.
How to check if your plywood is calibrated (at the shop)
Try these simple checks:
- Ask for “calibrated” clearly on invoice If it’s not written, you’ll get “whatever was loaded”.
Stack test (quick visual test) Stack 4–5 sheets. Look at the edge line. If it looks like steps instead of a straight line—thickness varies.
Vernier/scale test (best) Measure thickness at 3 points: centre + 2 corners. A good calibrated sheet stays consistent.
The honest takeaway If your interiors involve shutters, drawers, or sliding mechanisms, calibrated plywood is not a luxury. It’s the difference between: furniture that feels tight and premium for years vs furniture that starts “behaving old” in 8–12 months
