How do you size a drawer relative to the drawer opening?

[dennis thompson]

When you build a drawer how do you size it relative to the opening?
i.e. if the drawer opening is 8" by 3" would you
size the drawer 7 15/16" by 2 15/16"?
Thanks
Dennis

[glenn bradley]

Your example measurements seem to refer to the drawer front and a flush build as opposed to the drawer box. I leave 1/16" all around for flush drawer fronts so 7-7/8" x 2-7/8". The drawer box is another matter altogether and will be effected by drawer type; piston, side rail, mechanical glides, etc.

[Jim Becker]

You can do a simple calculation and just leave 1/16" all around or whatever measurement you prefer...or you can take the harder method and calculate the required size based on the season and species and how it is projected to move as it gets warmer or colder. I suspect most of us pick 1/16" or whatever and just build. That said, there have been a few drawer fronts that have slapped me up-side my head long after a project was finished when the wood moved up in size and began to bind. So I do pay more attention to the space across the grain for inset drawer fronts these days...