What is particleboard?
Particleboard is pressed wood chips bound with resin: cheap and nicely flat, but less strong than plywood and sensitive to moisture. You rarely see it bare, it is usually faced with a decorative melamine layer, which makes melamine board. Raw particleboard is mostly used where it will be hidden or laminated.
Types
- Standard particleboard: hidden structure, substrates, budget carcasses.
- Moisture-resistant particleboard (often green), for damp areas; still seal cut edges.
- Melamine-faced board: pre-finished white or wood decor, ready to use.
Which thickness?
- 3/4 in (18 mm): carcasses and shelves.
- 1/2 in (12 mm): lighter parts.
Cutting it cleanly
The chip core can crumble at the edge, so use a sharp fine-tooth blade, score the line first, and back the cut with a sacrificial board. Keep cut edges clean and band them, because the core soaks up moisture fastest. Support the sheet so it does not sag and pinch the blade.
Get your particleboard cutting plan. In cutlistlab, enter your parts and get a layout with the least waste and a clean cutting order, free, no account.
Frequently asked questions
Is particleboard strong enough for shelves?
For short, supported shelves yes; it sags over wide spans. Use 3/4 in and keep spans short, or pick plywood for wide/load-bearing shelves.
Can particleboard handle moisture?
Standard swells; use moisture-resistant (green) in damp areas and seal the cut edges.
How do I stop the edge chipping?
Sharp fine-tooth blade, score the line first, and back the cut with a sacrificial board.