Finding the Center of a Circle

Several projects for Lowe's Creative Ideas for Woodworkers have called for round edge-glued panels, such as this Child’s Nightstand project. For proper positioning, it's important to find the center of the circle.

On a square piece it’s quite easy – just mark a line from across opposing corners or center points on the edges – the intersection of these lines will be the center.

There are a dozen ways to do this, but we've found the following steps to be about the easiest and fastest way to find the center of a circle.

1. Position a framing square a few inches away from one edge of the circle, and use the square as a guide to mark a line across the width of the circle.


2. At the points where this line meets the edge of the circle, draw perpendicular lines using that extend across the width of the circle.


3. Beginning where the perpendicular lines meet the first line you marked, mark two diagonal lines that extend across the circle and meet the ends of the lines you marked in step 2.

As is the case with a square work piece, the intersection of these diagonal lines marks the circles’ center.