What Is a Table Leg Taper Angle Calculator?
Tapered legs are wider at the top (near the apron) and narrower at the foot, giving furniture a lighter, more refined look. Cutting that taper accurately — on a table saw taper jig, band saw or jointer taper jig — requires knowing the exact angle to set. This calculator converts your leg's top width, bottom width and taper length into that single-side angle using basic trigonometry.
The same geometry applies whether you're building a shop-made taper jig, dialing in a commercial adjustable jig, or setting a bevel gauge to mark the cut line by hand.
How to Read Your Results
Taper Angle (Single Side)
This is the angle to set on your jig's fence or bevel gauge. It represents how far the leg's face leans away from vertical over the length of the taper.
Taper Removed Per Side
The amount of material removed from one face of the leg, shown as a distance over the taper length — useful for double-checking your setup against a story stick or layout line.
Total Included Angle (Both Sides)
If a taper is cut symmetrically on both sides of a face (rare, but used on some designs), this is the combined angle between the two resulting cut lines.
Taper Ratio
Expressed as "1 in X," this describes how gradual the taper is — a higher number means a subtler, longer taper.
Real-World Example
A classic tapered leg starts as a 2-inch-square blank at the top and tapers down to 1 inch at the foot over a 12-inch taper length.
| Value | Amount |
|---|---|
| Top width | 2 in |
| Bottom width | 1 in |
| Taper length | 12 in |
| Single-side taper angle | ≈2.39° |
| Material removed per side | 0.5 in over 12 in |
Set your taper jig to 2.39° and cut each of the leg's two inside faces to produce a leg that shrinks from 2 inches square at the top to 1 inch square at the foot.
Tips for Cutting Clean Tapers
- Cut the two inside faces of each leg so the taper is invisible from the outside corner when the piece is assembled.
- Leave the top few inches untapered (a "taper start" or "shoulder") for a stronger mortise-and-tenon joint at the apron.
- Test the jig setting on scrap of the same dimensions before cutting your good legs.
- Sand or plane away saw marks along the taper in the direction of the grain, not across it.
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Last updated: August 2026 · Reviewed by: Simple Calculator Tools Editorial Team