If you want one router jig that can cover drawer work, boxes, and furniture without taking over a small shop, the Porter-Cable 4216 12 in. Deluxe Dovetail Jig Combination Kit is the best overall pick. It comes with the broadest confirmed set of templates and accessories in this group, so you can cut more than one style of joint without piecing together a kit later.
That does not make it the right choice for every bench. A compact General Tools jig makes more sense for occasional work, while the basic Porter-Cable 4210 is a better fit when your work is mostly half-blind drawer dovetails. The important part is matching the jig to the joints you will actually cut, then confirming that your router, guide bushing, bit shank, stock thickness, and mounting plan work together.
Best overall: Porter-Cable 4216 Deluxe Dovetail Jig Combination Kit
The Porter-Cable 4216 is the sensible choice for a small shop that wants room to grow without buying a specialized jig for every job. Porter-Cable specifies that the kit accepts stock from 1/4 inch to 1-1/8 inches thick. Its three-template setup covers half-blind, rabbeted half-blind, sliding, through, and miniature dovetails, along with box joints. That range is why it earns the top spot here.
The kit includes the 4211, 4213, and 4215 templates, four router bits, four template guides, depth gauges, and the jig base. For a woodworker building a run of drawers now and a small box or casework project later, having those pieces in the original package is more useful than starting with a narrower jig and adding accessories as needs change.
Pros: Broad confirmed joint selection; includes three templates and the needed router accessories; works with stock up to 12 inches wide.
Cons: The larger kit asks for more setup attention; it can be more jig than an occasional box-maker needs.
Best for: A hobbyist or small-shop furniture maker who expects to make several kinds of machine-cut dovetails.
Skip it if: You only need a compact jig for a few boxes or drawers each year, or if your work is almost entirely half-blind drawers.
Before buying, check the supplied router bits against your router collet and confirm that your router base and guide bushing work with the jig's template-guide setup. Plan for a stable bench mount or a removable board that clamps securely to the bench.
Budget and compact pick: General Tools E-Z Pro Dovetailer II, model 861
The General Tools 861 fits the woodworker who wants a smaller, self-contained jig for occasional drawer or box work. General Tools lists it as a fully assembled aluminum jig that can be used with a hand-held router or a router table. The package includes a 14-degree, 1/2-inch dovetail bit with a 1/4-inch shank, plus the alignment tool, clamps, guide knobs, and wrench.
Its documented range is 1/2-inch to 1-inch stock, and the manual covers half-blind, through, box, and edge-to-edge joints. That gives an occasional user more options than a single-purpose drawer jig while keeping the tool compact enough to put away after a project.
Pros: Compact one-piece format; includes the cutter and setup accessories; works with a hand router or router table.
Cons: Its stock-thickness range is narrower than the Porter-Cable picks; it is not the broad multi-template package offered by the 4216.
Best for: A woodworker with limited storage who makes boxes and a modest number of drawers.
Skip it if: You need the 4216's miniature-joint options or expect to work outside the 1/2-inch to 1-inch stock range.
The included bit has a 1/4-inch shank, so do not assume it fits a router that lacks a 1/4-inch collet. Also confirm whether you will use the jig on a router table or with a hand-held router before setting up the workpiece.
Best for half-blind drawers: Porter-Cable 4210 12 in. Dovetail Jig
The Porter-Cable 4210 is the focused choice for drawer-heavy work. It accepts stock from 1/4 inch to 1-1/8 inches thick and up to 12 inches wide. The standard kit centers on Porter-Cable's 4211 template, which makes half-blind, rabbeted half-blind, and sliding dovetails. Those are the joints many drawer projects call for.
It includes the jig base, 4211 template, router bit, template guide, lock nut, wrench, and manual. The 4213 and 4215 templates are available separately for through dovetails, box joints, and miniature joints, but they are not part of the standard package. That distinction matters when comparing it with the 4216.
Pros: Purpose-built template for common drawer joints; accommodates 12-inch-wide stock; keeps the standard package centered on a straightforward use case.
Cons: It does not include the 4216's complete template set; adding other joint types means adding optional templates.
Best for: A woodworker making drawer boxes who values half-blind and sliding dovetails more than a large menu of joint patterns.
Skip it if: You want through dovetails, box joints, or miniature joints included on day one. The Porter-Cable 4216 kit is the more complete starting point for that work.
Which dovetail jig should you buy?
Buy the Porter-Cable 4216 if you want the most complete fixed-pattern kit of these three and expect your projects to vary. Choose the General Tools 861 when compact storage and occasional use matter more than the widest template selection. Pick the Porter-Cable 4210 when half-blind drawer joinery is the main job.
Whichever jig you choose, make a few joints in scrap from the same stock before cutting project parts. Secure the jig and workpiece, follow the manufacturer's manual, and use appropriate eye, hearing, and dust protection when routing.
See the Porter-Cable 4216 Deluxe Dovetail Jig Combination Kit.
As an Amazon Associate, Colwood Craft earns from qualifying purchases.