Parameters
Style
Classic nesting box: the roof slopes forward so rain runs off the front.
Dimensions
All dimensions are interior (nesting space).
Interior floor width (X axis)
Interior floor depth (Z axis)
Interior height of the front panel — it is lowered slightly so the roof seats flush
Interior height of the back panel — the difference to the front sets the roof slope
Entrance hole
NABU guide values: 26–28 mm blue/coal tit · 32 mm great tit · 34–35 mm sparrow/nuthatch · 45 mm starling
Interior floor to the bottom of the hole — at least 170 mm to keep cats and martens out
Hole for a round dowel below the entrance (0 = none). Note: NABU advises against perches — they also help predators.
Bottom of the entrance hole to the centre of the perch hole
Roof
Front taller (entrance stays in front), rain runs off to the back.
Roof overhang above the front (weather protection for the entrance)
Roof overhang beyond the side walls
Pilot holes in the roof — the roof is screwed on and stays removable for cleaning (0 = none)
Mounting
Floor & drainage
Drain holes in the floor keep the nest dry (NABU recommends 4–5 × 5 mm).
The floor extends forward as a landing board (0 = none); the front wall then plugs into slots in the plate
Material
For outdoors: untreated solid wood or exterior plywood, at least 12 mm
Tool cut width — contours are offset outward by kerf/2
Spacing between parts in the cut layout
Finger joints & layout
Target finger width — 25–35 mm looks right on 12 mm material
Minimum fingers per edge
Birdhouse Designer
Design nesting boxes and bird feeders with finger joints in four styles: shed roof, gable roof, open front or an open feeder with arched portals. Set the entrance hole freely (bird-friendly guide values sit right next to the field), add a perch, landing board or mounting back panel – every style remembers its own dimensions. Check everything in 2D and 3D and export the cut files, including STEP and STL.
Four styles
Shed roof as the classic, gable roof fixed at 45° with roof panels finger-jointed at the ridge, open front with an entrance gap – and the feeder: an open tray with portal frames, a ridge purlin and hanging holes.
Bird-friendly
Hole sizes with guide values right at the input, cat-safe hole height, drainage holes in the floor. Perch hole and landing board are optional – including an honest note on why conservation groups advise against perches.
Thoughtful construction
All walls finger-jointed with clean corners; the roof is screwed on through pilot holes and stays removable for cleaning. The extended back panel with mounting holes goes on a tree or wall – with a matching notch in the roof.
Tips for nesting boxes
- Material: For outdoors use untreated solid wood or exterior-grade plywood of at least 12 mm. Skip paint on the inside; a natural oil on the outside is enough.
- Entrance hole: The hole size selects the species: about 28 mm for blue tits, 32 mm for great tits and sparrows, 45 mm for starlings. Keep the hole high above the floor so cats cannot reach the nest.
- Placement: Mount the box 2–3 m high with the entrance facing east or south-east, away from the weather side and the midday sun.
- Cleaning: The screwed-on roof comes off for cleaning. Clear the old nest in late summer or autumn, after the breeding season.
Laser cutter settings
- Kerf: Enter the full kerf width of your laser, typically 0.1–0.2 mm. The fingers are widened by that amount so the joint closes tight. Cut a small test corner before the whole box.
- Material: Measure the real sheet thickness with calipers and enter that value: nominal 3 mm plywood is often 2.7–3.2 mm, and the fit of finger joints (box joints) depends on it.
- Export: SVG for LightBurn, xTool Creative Space or Glowforge, DXF for CAD, PDF to check the layout. All files are at 1:1 scale in millimetres; cut inner contours before outlines.
- Corners: No dogbones or corner relief needed: the narrow laser kerf cuts the inside corners of the joints sharp. Corner relief is only a CNC router topic.
Made with this tool
All makes
Design for free in the tool above, export as SVG, DXF or PDF. See all tools or compare plans.