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Bettesworth Construction
bench dog holes

How Far Apart Should You Space Dog Holes on a Workbench?

Space a vise-connected row slightly closer than the vise’s usable travel, and check any manufacturer-specific layout and accessory requirements before drilling.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 2 min read
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There is no universal spacing for workbench dog holes. If a row is meant to work with a vise, base its center-to-center spacing on that vise: make the intervals slightly shorter than its usable travel so a dog remains available across the vise’s range. WOOD Magazine’s example uses 6-inch intervals for a vise with 6 1/2 inches of jaw capacity—but that is an example, not a required standard.

Set spacing from the vise you plan to use

For a vise-connected row, measure the vise’s usable travel or jaw capacity and position the holes slightly closer together than that distance. This is the practical rule given in a WoodWorkers Guild of America Q&A: “The center-to-center spacing of your bench dog holes should be slightly less than the travel of your vise.”

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WOOD Magazine’s 2025 example applies the rule to a vise with 6 1/2 inches of jaw capacity: put the first bench hole 6 inches from the vise dog, then continue at 6-inch center-to-center intervals. Use those dimensions only if they suit your vise; another vise may call for a different layout.

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Check system-specific layouts before adopting them

Some clamping systems specify a pattern for their own setup. In its May 2018 Clamp Vise manual, Kreg describes two rows perpendicular to the mounting edge, 3 inches (76 mm) apart, for a bench that does not already have 3/4-inch dog holes. That distance describes the spacing between those two rows in that arrangement; it is not a general interval for a vise-connected row.

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Kreg also lists 96 mm spacing for dog holes in specified pre-drilled hardwood bench tops. That is a product layout, not a universal recommendation. Do not confuse it with the 3-inch spacing in the Clamp Vise manual: each figure applies to a different Kreg configuration.

Match hole diameter to your dogs and accessories

Spacing and hole diameter are separate decisions. Kreg specifies its bench dogs for standard 3/4-inch (19 mm) holes, while Veritas specifies 3/4-inch holes for Bench Pups and shows spacing as a choice in the user’s layout. Before drilling, check the requirements for the exact dogs, clamps, and other accessories you intend to use.

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Lay out the vise and rows together before drilling

  1. Identify the vise and accessories. Confirm the vise’s usable travel or jaw capacity, the position of its dog, and the hole diameter required by your intended dogs and clamps.
  2. Mark the vise dog and proposed row. Use the actual bench and vise positions rather than assuming the first hole belongs at a standard distance.
  3. Choose intervals suited to the vise. For a vise-connected row, make center-to-center spacing slightly less than the vise’s usable travel. WOOD Magazine’s 6-inch example applies to its stated 6 1/2-inch-capacity vise, not every bench.
  4. Check the complete layout and accessory fit. If you are using a manufacturer’s pattern or a pre-drilled top, follow its specifications and confirm that the vise and accessories work with that layout before drilling.

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