A clean, snug-fitting row of dovetails is a hallmark of fine craftsmanship. That’s one reason why there are so many different dovetail jigs on the market, each promising to help its buyer turn out rows of beautiful dovetails in record time. We reviewed 6 of the most popular dovetail jigs on the market and were very impressed with a number of them.
Every one of the dovetail jigs reviewed can produce a snug and accurate dovetail joint. The factors that separate them are the diversity of joints they can create, the width of workpieces they can handle, and the setup and adjustment time they require. The best jigs offer a good balance between versatility and learning curve regarding the complexity of their setup and adjustment.
We reviewed five bench-mounted dovetail jigs – the Leigh D4R, Porter-Cable 4212, Porter-Cable 4216, Porter-Cable 4210 and Porter-Cable Omnijig, the market-leading clamp-on jig, the Keller 135-1500 Journeyman, and the Leigh RTJ400 Router Table Joinery Jig which is a departure from the standard bench-mounted dovetail jigs and uses your router table to cut dovetails and box joints.
BEST VALUE DOVETAIL JIG - PORTER CABLE 4212

Review: Porter Cable 4212 Dovetail Jig
Porter Cable 4212 Dovetail Jig Review
- Very handy setup lines and instructions etched onto the templates
- Includes built-in gauges for setting the router-bit height
- Intuitive with easy switching between templates, joints, and different-size boards
- Amazing value for money
- Instruction manual could be better

BESTOVERALL DOVETAIL JIG - LEIGH D4R-PRO

Review: Leigh D4R-PRO Dovetail Jig
Leigh D4R-PRO Dovetail Jig Review
- Sliding template fingers, which allow beautiful dovetail configurations to be arranged by eye
- Single template that produces both through and half-blind dovetails with variable spacing, as well as sliding dovetails
- Very well made precision tool - top quality materials and construction like all Leigh Industries' products
- Fast and easy setup once mastered with diagrams on the jig itself which act as helpful reminders
- Complexity of jig means the learning curve is steeper than with other jigs

BEST ROUTER TABLE DOVETAIL JIG - LEIGH RTJ400

Review: LEIGH RTJ400 Router Table Joinery Jig
LEIGH RTJ400 Router Table Joinery Jig Review
- Elliptical guide bush for precise adjustment
- Cuts a wide variety of dovetail and box joints
- Fast and accurate
- Well designed with high quality components
- No dust collection

BEST CLAMP-ON DOVETAIL JIG - KELLER 135-1500 JOURNEYMAN

Review: Keller 135-1500 Journeyman Dovetail Jig
Keller 135-1500 Journeyman Dovetail Jig Review
- Since there are no adjustments to make, the setup is quick and easy
- Does not rely on the use of guide bushes. There's no offset to allow for because the ball-bearing guide on the straight bit is exactly the same diameter as the bit itself, so “What you see is what you get” when you cut the pins.
- Unlike bench-mounted dovetail jigs, there is no limit to the size of stock that you can use
- Quality Made in the USA for 35 Years
- You can only cut through dovetails

BEST OF THE REST - TOP QUALITY DOVETAIL JIGS TO CONSIDER

Review: Porter Cable 4216 Dovetail Jig
Porter Cable 4216 Dovetail Jig Review
- Porter Cable’s patented adjustment lines and router bit depth gauge which allows you to set bit depths without measuring, making it quick and easy to use
- Supplied with all the templates for cutting every type of dovetail - Half-Blind/Sliding Dovetail Template (Model 4211), Through Dovetail/Box Joint Template (Model 4213), Miniature Template (Model 4215)
- Durable, single-piece steel base design requires no assembly and allows for clamping or bolting directly to the work bench
- On-board instructions provide clear user guidance for the various applications
- You can't cut variable-spaced joints


Review: Porter Cable 77240 24-Inch Omnijig Joinery System
Porter Cable 77240 24-Inch Omnijig Joinery System Review
- Adjustable, split finger design allows user to change both position and width of pins for chosen joint style
- "Set & Forget" template positioning stops and router bit depth gauges minimize test cuts and provide repeatability across applications
- Router bit depth gauges allow user to quickly and accurately set the depth without taking measurements
- Stabilizer bar enhances router control while deflecting chips downward for a cleaner work environment
- The price is almost $250 higher than the Leigh D4R which is a better jig all round


Review: Porter Cable 4210 Dovetail Jig
Porter Cable 4210 Dovetail Jig
- Very handy setup lines and instructions etched onto the templates
- Includes built-in gauges for setting the router-bit height
- Durable, single-piece steel base design requires no assembly and allows for clamping or bolting directly to the work bench
- You'll need to buy additional templates to cut anything other than half-blind or sliding dovetails
