Eastern Bluebird birdhouse dimensions & cut list
The exact entrance hole, floor size, depth, and mounting height for a Eastern Bluebird nest box — plus a cut-list generator for your lumber and a printable diagram.
Quick-answer dimensions
Cut-list generator
Printable dimension diagram
Placement & mounting
| Mounting height | 4-6 ft |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open grassy areas, fields, large lawns, orchards; low human/feeder traffic. |
| Placement notes | Face the entrance away from prevailing wind, ideally toward open habitat. Space boxes 100+ yards apart, or pair two boxes 5-15 ft apart to reduce swallow competition. No perch. |
Materials & cautions
Materials checklist
- 3/4 in untreated cedar, cypress, or pine (one ~1x6 or 1x8 board, ~4 ft)
- 1 1/4 in galvanized or exterior deck screws
- Drill + 1 1/2 in spade/Forstner bit for the entrance
- Recessed floor with ~1/4 in drainage gaps at the corners
- Two ~1/4 in vent slots high on the sides
Cautions
- No exterior perch (helps predators and invasive species).
- Add roof overhang and recessed floor for rain; drill drainage holes.
- Monitor weekly; remove House Sparrow nests (a non-native, unprotected species).
Sources & how the cut list is computed
The biological requirements above (entrance hole 1.5 in round, floor 5x5 in, interior depth 9 in, entrance 6 in above the floor, mounting 4-6 ft) are curated from the sources below and last reviewed 2026-06-18.
The interactive cut-list is DETERMINISTIC GEOMETRY, not an official plan. It assumes a simple back-mounted butt-joint box: the front and back panels overlap the two side panels (front/back width = interior floor width + 2x board thickness), the side panels fit between them (side run = interior floor depth), the floor sits inside (interior floor width x depth), and the roof overhangs. Heights come from the species cavity depth; a sloped roof makes the back panel taller than the front by the chosen slope. It is labeled a STARTING cut list; users should verify against the linked official plan and their own joinery.
Hobby-woodworking and backyard-habitat information only. Not wildlife-rescue, veterinary, or medical advice. Follow local regulations; for native cavity-nesters, monitor responsibly and control invasive House Sparrows and European Starlings per local guidance.