🔶 Dovetail Calculator

Calculate measurement over pins (male) or between pins (female) for dovetail slots and slides.

Width Across Top

Included Angle (°)

Pin Diameter

Dovetail Depth

Height (optional)

Male: M = W + d × (1 + 1/sin(α/2))
Female: M = W − d × (1 + 1/sin(α/2))
Where W = reference width, d = pin diameter, α = included angle.
Common angles: 45°, 55°, 60°

Why Dovetail Measurement Matters

Dovetail slides are precision way systems found on milling machines, grinders, and custom fixtures. Measuring them requires pins or wires placed in the angled slots — this calculator converts between the over-wire measurement and the actual dovetail dimensions.

Measurement over wires (male dovetail) and between wires (female dovetail) are the standard inspection methods
Common dovetail angles are 45, 55, and 60 degrees — each requires different trig to solve
Wear on dovetail ways shows up as a change in the wire measurement — track this to schedule reconditioning

🔶 Dovetail Calculator

Why Dovetail Measurement Matters

Related Tools

Stay Sharp