The Bottom Line
The Kreg Pocket Hole Jig 320 is an excellent entry point for DIYers wanting to try pocket hole joinery without a big investment. While it requires more setup time than bench-mounted models, its portability and ease of use make it perfect for small to medium projects.
Product Overview
The Kreg Pocket Hole Jig 320 represents the sweet spot in Kreg's lineup—more capable than their basic models but still affordable and portable enough for casual woodworkers. This handheld jig creates angled pocket holes that allow you to join wood pieces with hidden screws, making it invaluable for building everything from picture frames to kitchen cabinets without visible fasteners.
Priced around $40-50, the kit includes the jig itself, a stepped drill bit, driver bit, clamp adapter, and 25 pocket screws to get you started. The adjustable drill guides handle material from ½" to 1½" thick, covering most common lumber dimensions. Unlike fixed workbench models that can cost $150+, this portable option lets you bring the tool to your work, whether that's in a cramped garage or on a job site.
What We Love
- Versatile thickness range: The adjustable guides work with everything from ½" plywood to thick 1½" hardwood boards, making it suitable for furniture, cabinets, and trim work
- Complete starter kit: No frustrating trips to the hardware store—the included clamp, bits, and screws let you tackle your first project immediately
- Truly portable design: At just 2 pounds, it fits in a small toolbox and works great in tight spaces where a bench jig wouldn't fit
- Consistent hole placement: The built-in spacing guide eliminates guesswork, ensuring your holes line up perfectly for strong, gap-free joints
- Beginner-friendly setup: Color-coded thickness settings and clear instructions mean you'll be drilling accurate holes within minutes of opening the box
Room for Improvement
- Slower for large projects: Building a full bookcase means constantly repositioning and reclamping, which can double your drilling time compared to bench-mounted systems
- Plastic construction concerns: While lightweight, the plastic body can feel less substantial than all-metal alternatives, especially when drilling hardwoods
- Repetitive clamping required: Long rails or multiple joints mean frequent setup adjustments, which can become tedious on bigger builds
Real-World Performance
After using the 320 on projects ranging from simple picture frames to a full kitchen island, I've found it delivers consistent results when you match it to appropriate projects. The jig excels at smaller assemblies—think face frames, small cabinets, or repair work where you need just a handful of joints. The drill guide produces clean, accurately angled holes in both softwoods and hardwoods, though you'll want to go slower in dense materials like oak or maple to avoid overheating the bit.
Standout Feature
The built-in spacing guide is a game-changer for consistency. Instead of measuring and marking each hole location, you simply align the guide with your previous hole and drill. This creates perfectly spaced joints every time, eliminating the weak spots that can occur with eyeballed spacing.
The clamp adapter works well on boards up to about 8 feet long, though longer pieces require creative clamping solutions. I've found that pre-drilling pilot holes for the clamp screws speeds up the process significantly. The included stepped drill bit stays sharp through hundreds of holes, and the stop collar prevents over-drilling that could weaken your joints.
User Experience & Setup
Setup is refreshingly straightforward—adjust the guide for your material thickness (clearly marked with color codes), clamp the jig to your workpiece, and drill. The learning curve is minimal, though it takes a few practice holes to get the clamping pressure right. Too loose and the jig shifts; too tight and you risk marking softer woods. The instruction manual includes helpful diagrams showing proper technique and common mistakes to avoid.
"I was intimidated by pocket holes at first, but this jig made it so simple. Built my first face frame cabinet in a weekend, and the joints are rock solid. The spacing guide was a lifesaver for keeping everything lined up perfectly."
- Sarah from Colorado
The most time-consuming aspect is repositioning for multiple holes on the same piece. Each move requires loosening the clamp, sliding to the next position, checking alignment, and retightening. On a recent kitchen island project, this added about 30% to my drilling time compared to using a friend's bench-mounted Kreg system. However, the portability more than made up for it when I needed to work in tight corners and awkward positions.
Value Analysis
At around $45, the 320 kit offers exceptional value for occasional users. You're getting a complete system that would cost $80+ if purchased separately—the jig, specialized bits, clamp, and starter screws. Compare this to Kreg's workbench models starting at $150, and the 320 makes financial sense for anyone building fewer than 10 projects per year. The included components are genuine Kreg quality, not cheap knockoffs, so they'll last through years of weekend projects.
💡 Compared to Similar Products: Harbor Freight's pocket hole jig costs $20 less but lacks the precision and durability of Kreg's drill guides. Rockler's competing model is similarly priced but doesn't include the clamp adapter, making the 320 the better complete package.
Long-term value is solid—replacement bits run about $15, and a box of 100 screws costs $8. The jig itself should last decades with reasonable care. I've used mine for over three years without any wear issues, though I do store it in a padded case to protect the plastic components. For someone just getting into woodworking or needing occasional strong joints, it's hard to beat this price point.
Who Should Buy This?
The Kreg 320 is ideal for DIY enthusiasts who want professional-looking joints without professional-level investment. It's perfect for weekend warriors building occasional furniture, contractors doing trim work, or anyone who needs portable joinery capability. The ease of use makes it great for beginners, while the quality results satisfy experienced woodworkers on smaller projects.
Perfect For:
- Beginning woodworkers: Simple setup and forgiving technique make pocket holes accessible to anyone with basic tool skills
- Space-limited workshops: No permanent bench mounting required—works great in apartments, garages, or shared spaces
- Mobile contractors: Lightweight and portable for on-site cabinet installation, trim work, or repairs
- Occasional builders: Cost-effective for those building 2-5 projects annually rather than daily production work
Skip If:
- Production woodworking: The constant repositioning becomes inefficient when drilling hundreds of holes weekly
- Very large projects: Kitchen full of cabinets or extensive built-ins warrant investing in a bench-mounted system
- Heavy-duty use: Professional shops need the durability and speed of all-metal, pneumatic systems
"Perfect for my needs as a weekend furniture builder. Made a dining table, two nightstands, and several picture frames so far. The joints are incredibly strong, and I love being able to work anywhere in my small garage."
- Mike from Texas
Final Verdict
The Kreg Pocket Hole Jig 320 delivers professional-quality joints in a budget-friendly, portable package. While it can't match the speed of bench-mounted systems for large projects, its versatility, ease of use, and complete kit make it an excellent choice for most DIY applications. The plastic construction might feel less robust than all-metal alternatives, but it keeps the weight down and the price reasonable without compromising functionality.
If you're new to pocket hole joinery or need a portable solution for smaller projects, the 320 offers exceptional value and will serve you well for years. Just don't expect production-level efficiency on massive builds—know its limitations and it won't disappoint.
