Reference
Woodworking Machine Clearance Chart
This woodworking machine clearance chart shows how much floor space each machine really needs: footprints and working zones for 43 woodworking machines, benches and garage items in one chart. These are the same numbers the free planner uses, so you can try any of them in your own room. It is for hobby woodworkers checking whether a machine fits; OSHA also advises leaving sufficient clearance for stock at the table saw. To put the numbers to use, see table saw placement and the layout examples.
How to read the chart
Footprint is the machine itself, width × depth; the front is the side you stand at. Working zones are the free floor a machine needs while you use it, for example infeed and outfeed for 8 ft boards. Floor space incl. zones is the full rectangle if no zone may overlap anything else.
In practice, zones of machines you never use at the same time can overlap, which is how real shops fit into small rooms. The planner shows overlapping zones as a yellow hint and real collisions in red. Prefer paper? Use the printable layout template with the same machines as cutouts.
Table saws
The table saw needs the most room in almost every shop: about the length of your longest stock in front of the blade (infeed) and behind it (outfeed).
| Machine | Footprint (W × D) | Working zones | Floor space incl. zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinet table saw (52" rip) 240 V | 7′ 1″ × 3′ 4″ | Infeed 9′ (front) Outfeed 6′ (back) Crosscut 3′ (left) Access 2′ (right) | 12′ 1″ × 18′ 4″ |
| Contractor/hybrid table saw (36" rip) 120 V | 5′ 7″ × 3′ 6″ | Infeed 9′ (front) Outfeed 6′ (back) Crosscut 3′ (left) Access 2′ (right) | 10′ 7″ × 18′ 6″ |
| Jobsite table saw on stand 120 V | 4′ × 2′ 6″ | Infeed 9′ (front) Outfeed 7′ (back) Crosscut 3′ (left) Access 2′ (right) | 9′ × 18′ 6″ |
| Sliding table saw (compact) 240 V | 7′ 8″ × 5′ 3″ | Infeed 5′ (front) Outfeed 5′ (back) Panel support 4′ (left) Access 2′ (right) | 13′ 8″ × 15′ 3″ |
Jointers and planers
Both need the board length on the infeed and the outfeed side. They are rarely used at the same time as the table saw, so their lanes can often overlap with the saw’s.
| Machine | Footprint (W × D) | Working zones | Floor space incl. zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jointer 6" 120 V | 5′ 2″ × 1′ 10″ | Operator 3′ (front) Outfeed 5′ 6″ (left) Infeed 5′ 6″ (right) | 16′ 2″ × 4′ 10″ |
| Jointer 8" 240 V | 6′ 2″ × 2′ 1″ | Operator 3′ (front) Outfeed 5′ (left) Infeed 5′ (right) | 16′ 2″ × 5′ 1″ |
| Benchtop planer 13" on stand 120 V | 2′ 1″ × 3′ 4″ | Infeed 6′ 6″ (front) Outfeed 6′ 6″ (back) | 2′ 1″ × 16′ 4″ |
| Stationary planer 15" 240 V | 2′ 6″ × 3′ 10″ | Infeed 6′ (front) Outfeed 6′ (back) | 2′ 6″ × 15′ 10″ |
| Stationary planer 20" 240 V | 3′ 2″ × 4′ 2″ | Infeed 6′ (front) Outfeed 6′ (back) | 3′ 2″ × 16′ 2″ |
| Jointer-planer combo 12" 240 V | 4′ 10″ × 3′ | Operator 3′ (front) Outfeed 5′ 6″ (left) Infeed 5′ 6″ (right) | 15′ 10″ × 6′ |
Bandsaws, drill presses and other machines
Smaller machines, but long stock still needs room left and right or in front and behind.
| Machine | Footprint (W × D) | Working zones | Floor space incl. zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandsaw 14" 120 V | 2′ 7″ × 2′ 3″ | Infeed 6′ (front) Outfeed 4′ (back) Workpiece 3′ (left) | 5′ 7″ × 12′ 3″ |
| Bandsaw 17"-18" 240 V | 3′ × 2′ 7″ | Infeed 6′ (front) Outfeed 4′ (back) Workpiece 3′ (left) | 6′ × 12′ 7″ |
| Drill press, benchtop (machine base) 120 V | 1′ 3″ × 2′ | Operator 2′ 6″ (front) Long stock 3′ (left) Long stock 3′ (right) | 7′ 3″ × 4′ 6″ |
| Drill press, floor 120 V | 1′ 6″ × 2′ 2″ | Operator 2′ 6″ (front) Long stock 3′ (left) Long stock 3′ (right) | 7′ 6″ × 4′ 8″ |
| Router table (cabinet/stand) 120 V | 2′ 8″ × 2′ | Operator 3′ (front) Outfeed 4′ (left) Infeed 4′ (right) | 10′ 8″ × 5′ |
| Miter saw station (10 ft with wings) 120 V | 10′ × 2′ 8″ | Operator 3′ (front) | 10′ × 5′ 8″ |
| Radial arm saw 240 V | 2′ 6″ × 2′ 11″ | Operator 3′ (front) Long stock 6′ (left) Long stock 6′ (right) | 14′ 6″ × 5′ 11″ |
| Lathe, midi (on stand) 120 V | 3′ 4″ × 1′ 11″ | Operator 3′ (front) Access 1′ 6″ (left) Tailstock 2′ (right) | 6′ 10″ × 4′ 11″ |
| Lathe, full-size 240 V | 5′ 6″ × 2′ 6″ | Operator 3′ (front) Access 2′ (left) Tailstock 2′ (right) | 9′ 6″ × 5′ 6″ |
| Drum sander (16-32 to 19-38, on stand) 120 V | 3′ 4″ × 2′ 2″ | Infeed 7′ (front) Outfeed 7′ (back) | 3′ 4″ × 16′ 2″ |
| Oscillating spindle sander (benchtop on stand) 120 V | 2′ × 1′ 8″ | Operator 3′ (front) Workpiece 2′ (left) Workpiece 2′ (right) | 6′ × 4′ 8″ |
| Belt/disc sander combo (on stand) 120 V | 2′ 8″ × 1′ 10″ | Operator 3′ (front) Workpiece 2′ (left) Workpiece 2′ (right) | 6′ 8″ × 4′ 10″ |
| Hollow chisel mortiser 120 V | 2′ × 2′ 6″ | Operator 3′ (front) Long stock 4′ (left) Long stock 4′ (right) | 10′ × 5′ 6″ |
| Shaper 240 V | 3′ × 2′ 10″ | Operator 3′ (front) Outfeed 6′ (left) Infeed 6′ (right) | 15′ × 5′ 10″ |
| CNC router, benchtop (XXL class) 120 V | 4′ 4″ × 3′ 8″ | Loading 3′ (front) Access 1′ 6″ (left) Access 1′ 6″ (right) | 7′ 4″ × 6′ 8″ |
| CNC router, 4×4 ft 120 V | 5′ 4″ × 5′ | Loading 3′ (front) Access 2′ (left) Access 2′ (right) | 9′ 4″ × 8′ |
Dust collection
Dust collectors need little working room but should sit close to the machines that make the most chips.
| Machine | Footprint (W × D) | Working zones | Floor space incl. zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dust collector 1.5 HP (single-stage bag) 120 V | 3′ × 2′ | Access 2′ 6″ (front) | 3′ × 4′ 6″ |
| Dust collector 2-3 HP (bag/canister) 240 V | 3′ 8″ × 2′ 4″ | Access 2′ 6″ (front) | 3′ 8″ × 4′ 10″ |
| Cyclone dust collector 2-3 HP 240 V | 4′ 4″ × 2′ 6″ | Drum access 2′ 6″ (front) | 4′ 4″ × 5′ |
| Shop vac + cyclone separator 120 V | 3′ 4″ × 1′ 8″ | Access 1′ 6″ (front) | 3′ 4″ × 3′ 2″ |
Benches and storage
Leave room to stand at benches and to load lumber racks and sheet goods carts.
| Machine | Footprint (W × D) | Working zones | Floor space incl. zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workbench 6 ft | 6′ 3″ × 2′ | Operator 3′ (front) | 6′ 3″ × 5′ |
| Workbench 8 ft | 8′ × 2′ 1″ | Operator 3′ (front) | 8′ × 5′ 1″ |
| Workbench 4 ft (small) | 4′ × 2′ 1″ | Operator 3′ (front) | 4′ × 5′ 1″ |
| Assembly table 4×8 ft | 8′ × 4′ | Access 3′ (front) Access 3′ (back) Access 3′ (left) Access 3′ (right) | 14′ × 10′ |
| Lumber rack (wall, 8 ft) | 8′ × 1′ | Loading 3′ (front) | 8′ × 4′ |
| Plywood/sheet goods cart | 6′ × 2′ 4″ | Loading 3′ (front) | 6′ × 5′ 4″ |
| Rolling tool cabinet / mechanic’s chest | 4′ × 2′ | Drawer access 3′ (front) | 4′ × 5′ |
| Shelving unit 48×24 | 4′ × 2′ | Access 2′ 6″ (front) | 4′ × 4′ 6″ |
Compressors, sink and vehicles
For a garage shop that still has to fit a car: vehicles with room to open the doors.
| Machine | Footprint (W × D) | Working zones | Floor space incl. zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compressor, pancake (6 gal) 120 V | 1′ 4″ × 1′ 4″ | Access 1′ 6″ (front) | 1′ 4″ × 2′ 10″ |
| Compressor, vertical (20-30 gal) 120 V | 2′ 2″ × 2′ 2″ | Access 1′ 6″ (front) Ventilation 1′ (back) Ventilation 1′ (left) Ventilation 1′ (right) | 4′ 2″ × 4′ 8″ |
| Utility sink | 1′ 8″ × 2′ | Operator 2′ 6″ (front) | 1′ 8″ × 4′ 6″ |
| Car (midsize sedan) | 6′ 1″ × 16′ 3″ | Door swing 2′ 6″ (left) Door swing 2′ 6″ (right) | 11′ 1″ × 16′ 3″ |
| Pickup truck (full-size crew cab) | 6′ 8″ × 19′ 4″ | Tailgate 2′ (back) Door swing 3′ (left) Door swing 3′ (right) | 12′ 8″ × 21′ 4″ |
Questions
Clearance questions
How much space does a table saw need?
A cabinet saw is about 7′ 1″ wide with its fence rails. With roughly 9 ft of infeed, 6 ft of outfeed and room to stand at the sides, it needs about 12′ 1″ × 18′ 4″ of floor. A jobsite saw on a stand needs about 9′ × 18′ 6″. If the room is shorter, rip long boards through an open door or add an outfeed table.
How much room do a jointer and a planer need?
An 8″ jointer needs about 16′ 2″ × 5′ 1″ including infeed and outfeed for 8 ft boards, a 15″ planer about 2′ 6″ × 15′ 10″. Lining up their lanes with the table saw’s saves a lot of floor.
Can working zones overlap?
Yes, if you never use the two machines at the same time. Most one-person shops let the jointer, planer and table saw share a lane. Zones should not run into walls, posts or a machine that stays in place, and walkways should stay at about 3 ft.
Where do these numbers come from?
Footprints are typical for each class of machine, based on published specifications of several common models and rounded to the inch. Working zones follow practical rules of thumb for 8 ft stock. They are starting points, not standards: check the manual of your machine, and measure fence rails and extension wings.
Your turn
See it in your own room
Drag any of these machines into a room drawn to scale and watch the zones.