What are the finished dimensions?

11 1/2" (292 mm) wide, 2 7/8" (73 mm) deep (3 7/16" (87 mm) with the knob), 14 1/2" (368 mm) high; slot up to 10 1/2" (267 mm); rated 7 1/2 lb (3.4 kg). The drawings are dimensioned in feet and inches; the materials list, cut list and steps give metric sizes alongside.

What skill level do I need, and how long does it take?

It's rated intermediate. Expected build time: Two weekends, paint and silicone curing between. It suits someone who has built a simple piece of furniture or cut a mortise and tenon before; each step still names the tools it uses.

How much does it cost to build?

Roughly US$45–85 in materials at typical US lumber-yard prices. Prices vary a lot by region, so price the materials list at your local yard before you start.

What tools do I need?

Steel rule; Pencil; Try square; Straightedge (for the rip cuts); Marking gauge; Compass (to scribe a paneled door); Awl; Level; Scissors; Printer (templates at 100%); Masking tape, 1/4" (6 mm) wide; Fine-tooth saw (backsaw); Coping saw with 15 TPI blades; Block plane; 1/2" (13 mm) chisel; Mallet; Utility knife; Files; Bench vise; Sanding block; Sandpaper 120 and 220 grit; Foam brushes; Lint-free rags; Candle stub (wax); Drill/driver with 1/8", 11/64" and 3/16" (3, 4.4, 5 mm) bits, a countersink and a 4" (100 mm) driver bit; Screwdriver; Caulking gun; 2 bar clamps, 18" (457 mm) opening or more; 6 spring clamps, 1 1/2" (38 mm) opening; Hold-down clamp and a bench stop (a scrap screwed to the bench); Glue brush; Scrap strips, a full can and a rag for the silicone; plus a tape, pencil, safety glasses, hearing protection and gloves. The interactive checklist on this page lets you tick off what you already own.

Where does this plan come from?

It is restored from "Letter Box for Door", The Practical Woodworker, vol. 1, pp. 460-462, with Figs. 28-33, an unsigned how-to article from that is now in the public domain. We redrew it as a modern build guide with a materials list, metric sizes, a cut list and clear illustrated step-by-step assembly drawings, every part drawn. Every dimension follows the original article, and the article is reproduced inside. This edition is our own; it is not affiliated with or endorsed by the original publisher.

Can a beginner follow it?

It's rated intermediate, so it helps to have built something framed before, or to have a handy friend on the bigger lifts. Each step is a single job with its own drawing: the parts that step adds are shaded, the nails, screws and bolts it drives are marked where they go, and the hardware for that step is listed beside it. An exploded drawing at the front shows how the whole build goes together before you cut anything.

A 14-page print-ready PDF (US Letter) to download after purchase. It prints well at home or at a copy shop, and reads fine on a tablet in the workshop.

Door Letter Box Plans · Restored Plan PDF

Name: Door Letter Box
Brand: Square & Furrow
SKU: SF-WS-32
Price: 12.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Door Letter Box

€12,00

"Most entrance doors are furnished with slots through which letters can be slipped," says the old book; its letter box hangs behind the slot, and the whole front "slides up". Ours is that box, widened for today's slots.

At a glance

Size: 11 1/2" (292 mm) wide, 2 7/8" (73 mm) deep (3 7/16" (87 mm) with the knob), 14 1/2" (368 mm) high; slot up to 10 1/2" (267 mm); rated 7 1/2 lb (3.4 kg)
Skill: Intermediate
Build time: Two weekends, paint and silicone curing between
Materials: approx. US$45–85
In the plan: 14-page PDF, US Letter, 12 illustrated steps, imperial, with metric in the lists and steps

Inside the 14-page plan

The original article and its drawings, restored and reproduced in full
An exploded drawing that shows how every part goes together
Dimensioned views of the finished build, in feet and inches
Materials list and hardware schedule, with today's actual lumber sizes and metric equivalents
Cut list, so you can cut everything before you start assembling
Clear illustrated step-by-step assembly drawings: one job per step, every part drawn, fastener positions marked

Safety: Screw it into solid wood only (step 11), never a hollow-core, steel or fiberglass door. Measure your slot first (next page): up to 10 1/2" (267 mm), the box's top level with the slot's top edge or above, never below. Rated 7 1/2 lb (3.4 kg). The door drops by its own weight: keep fingers clear of the fillets. The pane is glass: wear gloves, or use 1/8" acrylic with young children.

The PDF plan is a digital download; nothing ships. Adapted from "Letter Box for Door", The Practical Woodworker, vol. 1, pp. 460-462, with Figs. 28-33, an unsigned public-domain article. Restored, redrawn and edited by Square & Furrow, produced with AI-assisted tools and checked against the original article. Not affiliated with the original publisher.

Illustrated step by step

Imperial + metric

Cut list & checklist

Instant PDF download

Built to work

Door Letter Box

Built in home workshops more than a century ago, and redrawn for the way you build today.

Rendering

From the workshop archive

Restored from the original article

From the archive “Letter Box for Door” Public domain · restored by Square & Furrow

This is the public-domain how-to article home craftsmen built from more than a century ago. We restore its drawings and reproduce the article in full inside your plan, then rebuild it as a modern edition: today's lumber sizes, metric measurements, a cut list and illustrated steps. Every dimension is checked against the original.

The original article for the door letter box, public domain, restored — The original article, restored

Inside the door letter box plan: original sheet, exploded drawing and assembly steps — Inside your plan

Step by step

Every part drawn. Every fastener marked.

Each step is one job with its own clear drawing: the parts it adds are shaded, every nail and screw position is marked, and the hardware and tools sit right beside it. An exploded view shows how the whole build goes together before you make a single cut.