A double‐ended cantilever beam as a distributed parameter dynamic vibration absorber has been applied to a single‐degree‐of‐freedom system subjected to harmonic forces.In this investigation, the beam has been analyzed under the well known model of Timoshenko and the computation of best parameters is based on the Chebyshev’s optimality criterion.This is somewhat novel in the field since: The design of cantilever beams as dynamic vibration absorbers is usually made under the hypotheses of the Euler‐Bernoulli theory; It is the first time that the Chebyshev’s criterion is applied to the design of a double‐ended cantilever beam used as a dynamic vibration absorber. For a ready use of the results herein presented, design charts allow a quick choice of optimal parameters such as tuning ratio and mass ratio.