The Fast, strong, easy way to join wood - Drill. Drive. Done!

Pocket Holes 101

What is the purpose of pocket holes?
Pocket-hole joinery is an incredibly fast, strong, and simple way of joining wood. It essentially involves drilling a hole at an angle into one workpiece, and then joining it to a second workpiece with self-tapping screws.

What is the advantage of pocket hole joints?
While it may seem simple, the technique is revolutionary because of how easy it is. When you're done assembling, there's no need to leave your joint clamped up for hours, glue is completely optional, and there are no frustrating alignment problems to deal with. Our jigs make it so simple that you can do it in a few easy steps - drill, drive, and you're done!

When to use pocket holes
Pocket-hole joinery is perfect for a wide variety of applications. From face-frame to panel joints, edge banding to complex curves, new builds, renovations, and repairs, pocket-hole joinery can do it all. Whatever your next project, a Kreg Pocket-Hole Jig can help you build it faster, easier, stronger, and with more confidence than ever before!

How to drill pocket holes
Kreg Pocket-Hole Jigs make it extremely easy to create pocket holes. As you drill, the stepped drill bit enters the wood at a 15° angle. That’s what makes the distinctive oval shape. The pocket-hole jig ensures this angle is consistent, and that the bit is held steady as you work — making the process of drilling an angled hole fast, simple, and efficient.

How strong are pocket holes?
As you drive a pocket-hole screw into your material, the pocket and pilot hole guide the screw precisely, while the screw’s self-tapping tip drills its own hole into the mating piece. That means you don’t have to drill into both pieces, and you’ll get great holding power without splitting or stripping the wood.

As you tighten the screw, it pulls the joint tightly together. The process is simple, but there are several things going on that make it possible. For starters, the upper part of the screw doesn’t have threads. That lets it turn easily inside the pilot hole instead of driving your two pieces of material apart.

Second, the flat underside of the screw mates perfectly with the ledge at the base of the pocket. This way, the head pulls the joint tightly together to create a super-strong, lasting joint.

What are the types of pocket hole joints?
Pocket-hole joinery is versatile and can be used to create edge joints, butt joints, mitered joints, edge banding joints, box joints, T joints, and offset edge joints.

Can you make pocket holes on plywood?
Absolutely. Plywood is a very common material for wood projects, and as such is a great application for pocket-hole joinery.

Can you make pocket holes on MDF?
Yes, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is suitable for pocket-hole joinery. It does tend to be more prone to tearing and chipping along the edges, so a little extra care and Kreg pocket-hole screws can make a big difference in your results.