Cut list optimizer

Enter your parts and sheet sizes. Get a cutting layout with blade loss, offcuts and the order of the cuts.

Your measurements

Editable example. Use measured sizes, all in the selected unit. Use one material and thickness per plan. For grain, enter its direction as the length on every sheet and part, then leave rotation off.

Units Blade kerf Trim from each edge

Kerf is the width removed by the blade. Replace the example with your measured cut width.

Trim includes the blade loss for preparing each edge. Zero uses the existing edges. Dimensions accept decimals, with length first; inches also accept 1/8 or 12 1/2.

Material and thickness

Parts you need

Paste a parts list

One part per line, copied from a spreadsheet or typed: length, width, quantity, name (for example 30, 16, 2, Side). Tabs, commas or semicolons all work.

Or open a CSV file

Sheets you have

Enter each stock size and the quantity available. A rectangular offcut can be another stock row. Type a price for each to see what the stock in the plan costs.

Up to 200 parts, 100 stock pieces and 40 rows per list. No files or measurements are sent to us: a file you open stays on your computer.

Open a saved list

The list saves as a file on your device. Open it here to edit it again. Reloading this page starts with the example.

Example plan. Replace the measurements before using it.

Cutting plan

5 of 5 parts placed

1 sheet used · 1 stock piece untouched · 45.8% of used stock in parts

Plywood, one thickness · Blade kerf 0.125 in · Trim 0 in from each edge.

Parts: 2,112 in²
Blade loss: 34 in²
Edge trim: 0 in²
Offcuts left: 2,462 in²
Rounding adjustment: 0 in²
Used stock total: 4,608 in²

Totals are rounded to 0.001 in². Parts, blade loss, edge trim, offcuts and the rounding adjustment add up to the used stock total.

Not in finished parts: 2,496 in². This is blade loss, edge trim and offcuts plus the rounding adjustment. Offcuts may be reusable.

Eight arrangements are tried with different part orders and first-cut directions. This is a workable layout, not a guarantee of the least waste. Changing stock sizes may improve it.

Measure each cut from the left end or top edge of the piece and keep the blade on the waste side of the line. Every piece on the drawings is named, and each one comes off as named.

S1.1 · Sheet 96 × 48 in

Each piece is named on the drawing, with its size where there is room; a name outside a piece points to its center, and pale pieces are named in another drawing of the same stock. The table below gives every size. The rest of the area is offcuts, trim and blade loss. Length runs left to right and width top to bottom; locked grain follows the length. Not a full-size template.

Parts on S1.1
Part	Finished size	From left / top	Rotated
P1.1 · Side	30 × 16 in	0 / 0 in	No
P1.2 · Side	30 × 16 in	30.125 / 0 in	No
P2.1 · Shelf	24 × 16 in	60.25 / 0 in	No
P2.2 · Shelf	24 × 16 in	0 / 16.125 in	No
P2.3 · Shelf	24 × 16 in	24.125 / 16.125 in	No

Cutting order

Rip the sheet (96 × 48 in) 16 in from the top edge: a 96 × 16 in piece for cut 2. The rest is a 96 × 31.875 in piece for cut 5.
Cross-cut the 96 × 16 in piece 30 in from the left end: Side (30 × 16 in). The rest is a 65.875 × 16 in piece for cut 3.
Cross-cut the 65.875 × 16 in piece 30 in from the left end: Side (30 × 16 in). The rest is a 35.75 × 16 in piece for cut 4.
Cross-cut the 35.75 × 16 in piece 24 in from the left end: Shelf (24 × 16 in). The rest is an 11.625 × 16 in offcut.
Rip the 96 × 31.875 in piece 16 in from the top edge: a 96 × 16 in piece for cut 6. The rest is a 96 × 15.75 in offcut.
Cross-cut the 96 × 16 in piece 24 in from the left end: Shelf (24 × 16 in). The rest is a 71.875 × 16 in piece for cut 7.
Cross-cut the 71.875 × 16 in piece 24 in from the left end: Shelf (24 × 16 in). The rest is a 47.75 × 16 in offcut.

Offcuts to keep or discard

11.625 × 16 in (S1.1abbb)
96 × 15.75 in (S1.1bb)
47.75 × 16 in: enough for 1 more side or 1 more shelf (S1.1babb)

Before you cut

Check the part sizes, quantity, material and grain direction against your project. The layout arranges the parts you enter; it does not work out joints, hardware clearances or structural strength. Plan around defects separately.

Print with your browser's normal print settings or choose Save as PDF. The printout includes the stock, finished parts, offcuts, cutting order and any shortage. The CSV lists positions and dimensions; use the printout for the cut sequence. The picture holds every drawing on one image, to post in a forum or send to whoever does the cutting.

For stock you only need to cut to length, use the board cutting planner. Keep material quantities separate from installation work in a written quote comparison.