Tree Swallow birdhouse dimensions & cut list
The exact entrance hole, floor size, depth, and mounting height for a Tree Swallow nest box — plus a cut-list generator for your lumber and a printable diagram.
Quick-answer dimensions
Cut-list generator
Printable dimension diagram
Placement & mounting
| Mounting height | 5-6 ft |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open fields, meadows, and shorelines near water; few trees. |
| Placement notes | Place 5-6 ft up in the open near water/fields, facing south or east (NestWatch). Pairing with a bluebird box 20-25 ft away reduces competition. Add a 'fledgling ladder' (kerf cuts or hardware cloth) under the hole so chicks can climb out. |
Materials & cautions
Materials checklist
- 3/4 in untreated cedar or pine (~1x6 board, ~3.5 ft)
- 1 1/4 in galvanized or exterior deck screws
- 1 3/8 in spade/Forstner bit
- Fledgling ladder (kerf cuts or hardware cloth) under the entrance
- Drainage + vent gaps
Cautions
- Open-habitat species; will not use boxes set in woods.
- No perch.
- Competes with bluebirds and House Sparrows; monitor.
Sources & how the cut list is computed
The biological requirements above (entrance hole 1.38 in round, floor 5.5x5.5 in, interior depth 9 in, entrance 6 in above the floor, mounting 5-6 ft) are taken from the sources below and last reviewed 2026-06-18.
Data basis: NestWatch 'Right Bird, Right House' — Tree Swallow (1 3/8 in hole, 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in floor, 9 in interior depth, 5-6 ft height, faces south/east, ~35 ft spacing), fetched 2026-06-18.
The interactive cut-list is DETERMINISTIC GEOMETRY, not an official plan. It assumes a simple back-mounted butt-joint box: the front and back panels overlap the two side panels (front/back width = interior floor width + 2x board thickness), the side panels fit between them (side run = interior floor depth), the floor sits inside (interior floor width x depth), and the roof overhangs. Heights come from the species cavity depth; a sloped roof makes the back panel taller than the front by the chosen slope. It is labeled a STARTING cut list; users should verify against the linked official plan and their own joinery.
Hobby-woodworking and backyard-habitat information only. Not wildlife-rescue, veterinary, or medical advice. Follow local regulations; for native cavity-nesters, monitor responsibly and control invasive House Sparrows and European Starlings per local guidance.