Rabbet Joint

A woodworking joint formed by cutting a stepped notch (rabbet) along the edge or end of one board so a second board fits into the recess. Rabbet joints are widely used in cabinet box construction — particularly for attaching back panels into the sides and for joining the top and bottom to the side panels. The stepped profile increases glue surface area and provides positive alignment compared to a simple butt joint.

Specifying this for a job? Captivating Pro members buy at 20–40% off retail and get cut sheets before rough-in.