Is MDF stronger than plywood?

No. Plywood is about twice as stiff along its face grain, holds screws better, especially in its edges, and sags far less under a long-term load.

Is MDF cheaper than plywood?

Yes. A sheet of MDF usually costs noticeably less than cabinet-grade plywood of the same thickness.

Which is better for kitchen cabinets?

Plywood or melamine for the boxes, which carry weight and screws; MDF for painted doors and drawer fronts, which need a smooth, flat surface.

Standard MDF swells where water reaches it, and the swelling does not go back. Use moisture-resistant (MR) MDF in kitchens and bathrooms and seal every edge.

MDF vs Plywood: Which Is Better for Furniture?

Plywood is stronger, lighter, holds screws better and sags less; MDF is smoother, flatter, cheaper and paints far better. Use plywood for the parts that carry weight and screws, cabinet boxes and shelves, and MDF for painted doors, drawer fronts and panels. Many good pieces of furniture use both.

MDF vs plywood at a glance

Compared	Plywood	MDF
Made of	Wood veneers glued in crossed layers	Fine wood fibres pressed with resin
Stiffness	High along the face grain	About half of plywood
Sag on long shelves	Low	High, and it keeps creeping
Screws in the face	Very good	Good
Screws in the edge	Good	Poor: pre-drill, use confirmats
Surface	Wood grain, may have voids	Smooth and even
Painting	Grain shows through	Excellent finish
Edges	Layers show	Smooth but thirsty, seal before painting
Flatness	Can warp a little	Very flat and stable
Moisture	Good, especially exterior grades	Swells; MR MDF is better
Weight, 3/4 in 4 × 8 sheet	60–80 lb (27–36 kg)	about 90 lb (40 kg)
Cost	Higher	Lower

Strength and sag

Plywood's crossed veneers make it about twice as stiff as MDF along the face grain, and it creeps much less under a load that stays for months. For shelves, that is the difference that matters most. A 3/4 in shelf, 10 in deep, loaded with hardcover books, stays flat to about 15 in in MDF, 22 in in pine plywood and 26 in in birch plywood. Try your own span:

Screws and joints

Plywood holds screws in its faces and its edges, so pocket screws, wood screws and glue all work. MDF holds well in its faces, but screws driven into its edges can split it. Pre-drill, keep screws at least 1 in from the ends, and use confirmat screws or dowels with glue for the joints of a cabinet.

Finish and paint

Here MDF wins clearly. Its surface is uniform, without grain or knots, so one coat of primer and two of paint give a factory finish. The cut edges absorb paint: seal them first with diluted PVA, shellac or a filler primer. Plywood shows its grain through paint, and its edges show the layers unless they are edge banded or covered with a solid wood strip.

Weight, cutting and dust

An 18 mm sheet of MDF weighs about 40 kg (90 lb), more than most plywood, which matters when you carry it alone. MDF cuts cleanly without tear-out, but makes very fine dust: wear a dust mask and use dust extraction. Plywood can splinter on the exit side of the cut; tape the line or use a fine-tooth blade.

Which to use for each part

Part	Better choice	Why
Cabinet boxes	Plywood (or melamine)	Screws in edges, lighter
Shelves	Plywood	Far less sag
Painted doors and drawer fronts	MDF	Flat, smooth, paints well
Painted built-in panels	MDF	Finish
Bathroom and laundry	Plywood or MR MDF	Moisture
Drawer boxes	Plywood	Strength, lighter

For particle board and melamine as well, see plywood vs MDF vs particle board. Whatever you choose, our plans and calculators work with any sheet:

MDF vs Plywood