Splayed Table Leg Angle Calculator
Enter the leg spacing at the top and at the floor to solve the geometry of a leg that splays in both directions. The results include the two projected angles, true compound splay, and the length to mill.
True compound splay from vertical (°)8.62
- Widthwise offset per leg (in)
- 3
- Depthwise offset per leg (in)
- 3
- Total horizontal offset per leg (in)
- 4.24
- Width-view splay angle (°)
- 6.12
- Depth-view splay angle (°)
- 6.12
- Splay direction in plan (°)
- 45
- Finished leg centerline length (in)
- 28.32
- Rough blank length (in)
- 29.32
- End-plane tilt from square (°)
- 8.62
Negative projected angles mean the feet taper inward in that direction.
End-plane tilt is geometric; saw miter and bevel settings depend on how the blank is oriented.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the top attachment points center-to-center in width and depth.
- Enter the desired center-to-center foot spacing on the floor.
- Enter the vertical distance from the attachment plane to the floor.
- Add the extra stock you want to retain at each end for trimming.
- Use the offsets and angles to lay out a test leg before cutting the project stock.
How splayed table-leg angles are calculated
A four-legged table can spread in the width direction, the depth direction, or both. This calculator starts with the rectangular footprint at the top and the rectangular footprint at the floor. It treats each leg as a centerline from one corner of the top footprint to the corresponding corner of the floor footprint.
Let Wt and Dt be top width and depth, Wf and Df be floor width and depth, H be vertical height, and A be trim allowance per end. The signed horizontal offsets for one leg are X = (Wf - Wt) / 2 and Y = (Df - Dt) / 2. Half is used because the full footprint difference is shared by the two legs across that direction.
The combined horizontal offset is R = sqrt(X^2 + Y^2). The projected width and depth splay angles are alpha = atan(X / H) and beta = atan(Y / H). The true angle of the leg centerline away from vertical is theta = atan(R / H). All three are converted from radians to degrees. The direction of the splay when viewed from above is phi = atan2(Y, X), measured from the width direction.
Length and blank allowance
The finished centerline length is the three-dimensional diagonal: L = sqrt(H^2 + X^2 + Y^2). The rough blank length is B = L + 2A. The two allowances are added along the leg, not vertically. If the top and floor spacing match in both directions, both offsets are zero, the leg is vertical, and the plan direction is not applicable.
Using the angles in the shop
A larger footprint difference or a shorter height makes the splay steeper. Negative width or depth offsets mean the feet taper inward in that view; the projected angle carries that sign. The compound splay remains a non-negative magnitude because it describes the total deviation from vertical.
The end-plane tilt equals the true compound splay when the top and bottom end planes must finish horizontal. It is not a universal miter-saw setting. Miter and bevel scales use different references, and their settings change when a blank is rotated or held on an edge. This calculator also models centerlines only: it does not compensate for leg thickness, design the apron or mortise-and-tenon joint, check racking resistance, or account for wood movement. Confirm the layout with a full-size drawing, jig, or scrap leg before cutting the final parts.
Worked example
Suppose the top attachment spacing is 24 inches wide by 16 inches deep, the desired foot spacing is 30 inches by 22 inches, the vertical height is 28 inches, and you leave 1/2 inch at each end. Each leg moves 3 inches outward in width and 3 inches in depth, so its total horizontal offset is sqrt(3^2 + 3^2), or 4.24 inches.
The two projected splay angles are each 6.12 degrees. The true compound splay is 8.62 degrees at a 45 degree plan direction. The finished centerline length is 28.32 inches, and the rough blank length is 29.32 inches after adding 1 inch of total trim allowance.
Common questions
How do I calculate the angle of splayed table legs?
Find the offset of one foot from its top attachment point, then divide that offset by the vertical height and take the arctangent. For legs that move in both width and depth, combine the two offsets with the Pythagorean theorem before finding the true splay angle.
What is the difference between projected splay and true compound splay?
Projected splay is the angle seen in one elevation, either the width view or the depth view. True compound splay is the three-dimensional angle between the leg centerline and vertical, so it combines both projected offsets.
Should table-leg spacing be measured center-to-center or outside-to-outside?
This calculator uses center-to-center spacing at both the top and the floor. Outside-to-outside dimensions can work only if you convert them consistently for the actual leg thickness and orientation; the calculator does not make that thickness adjustment.
How long must an angled leg blank be?
The finished blank must be the three-dimensional centerline distance from the top attachment point to the foot, which is longer than the vertical height. Add enough extra stock at both ends for trimming, squaring, and layout cleanup.
Why are compound-miter saw settings not the same as the true splay angle?
The true splay is a geometric angle from vertical. Saw miter and bevel settings describe the blade relative to a particular table and how the leg is held, so the same leg can require different dial settings with a different setup.
Can the calculator handle inward-sloping legs?
Yes. Enter a smaller floor spacing than top spacing in either direction. The matching projected offset and angle become negative, showing the inward direction, while the centerline length remains positive.