Cutlist Calculator

Woodworking, metalworking, and DIY projects often involve cutting long stock materials—such as boards, pipes, or bars—into smaller pieces. One of the biggest challenges in these projects is optimizing cuts to reduce waste. Miscalculations can lead to unnecessary material loss, higher costs, and frustration.

That’s where the Cutlist Calculator comes in. This simple yet powerful tool helps you plan cuts efficiently by taking into account your stock length, saw blade thickness (kerf), and the dimensions and quantities of the pieces you need. It then generates an optimized cut plan to maximize material usage and minimize waste.

Whether you’re a professional carpenter, a hobbyist woodworker, or someone working on a one-off DIY project, this calculator can save you time, money, and effort.

How to Use the Cutlist Calculator (Step-by-Step)

The tool is designed to be user-friendly. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using it:

Step 1: Enter Stock Length

• Input the total length of the material you’re working with in millimeters.
• For example, if you’re cutting from a 2400mm board, enter 2400.

Step 2: Input Kerf (Saw Blade Thickness)

• The kerf is the width of material lost due to the saw blade’s thickness.
• By default, the calculator sets this at 3mm, but you can adjust it depending on your saw blade.

Step 3: Add the Pieces You Need

• Enter the length (in mm) and quantity of each piece you want to cut.
• Click “Add” after entering each piece.
• Repeat until you’ve listed all required cuts.

Step 4: Review Your Cutlist

• The pieces you’ve added will appear in a list.
• You can remove any item if you made a mistake.

Step 5: Calculate

• Click “Calculate” to generate your optimized cut plan.
• The tool will simulate cutting, taking kerf into account, and show you how many stock pieces you’ll need.

Step 6: View Results

• The calculator displays:
  • The number of stock pieces required
  • A breakdown of which cuts fit into each stock piece
  • The total waste in millimeters
• You can also copy or share results for convenience.

Step 7: Reset if Needed

• Click “Reset” to start over with a fresh cutlist.

Practical Example

Let’s say you have a 3000mm board and a saw blade kerf of 3mm. You need the following cuts:

• 4 pieces of 700mm
• 2 pieces of 400mm

Step 1: Enter Stock Length

• Stock length = 3000mm

Step 2: Enter Kerf

• Kerf = 3mm

Step 3: Add Pieces

• Add 700mm × 4
• Add 400mm × 2

Step 4: Calculate Results

The calculator might suggest:

• Stock #1: Cuts: 700, 700, 700 | Waste: 193mm
• Stock #2: Cuts: 700, 400, 400 | Waste: 797mm

Summary: You’ll need 2 stock pieces of 3000mm each, with a total waste of 990mm.

Without this tool, you’d likely cut inefficiently and waste even more material.

Benefits of Using the Cutlist Calculator

✅ Save Money – Reduce material waste and avoid buying extra stock.
✅ Increase Efficiency – Plan cuts faster without manual calculations.
✅ Accuracy – Minimize human error with optimized cut sequencing.
✅ Convenience – Copy or share results instantly with team members.
✅ Versatility – Useful for woodworking, metalworking, glass cutting, and other trades.

Key Features

• Custom Stock Length Input – Fits any board or bar size.
• Kerf Adjustment – Accounts for saw blade thickness.
• Piece Quantity Management – Add multiple pieces easily.
• Real-Time Cutlist Display – Review added cuts instantly.
• Optimized Results Table – See which cuts belong to which stock.
• Waste Calculation – Understand exactly how much material is lost.
• Copy & Share Options – Save and distribute your cutlist conveniently.
• Reset Button – Start over at any time.

Use Cases

• Carpentry & Furniture Making – Cutting wood panels and planks.
• DIY Projects – From shelves to home repairs.
• Metalworking – Cutting pipes, rods, or bars efficiently.
• Glass & Acrylic Cutting – Planning precise cuts with minimal loss.
• Construction Projects – Managing large cutlists for framing or finishing.

Tips for Best Results

• Always measure stock length carefully before inputting.
• Double-check your kerf value (different saws vary).
• Add a buffer to stock length if material may warp or have defects.
• Group similar sizes together to improve efficiency.
• Use the copy/share function to keep cutlists handy on your phone or print them for the workshop.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is a cutlist calculator?
It’s a tool that optimizes how to cut material stock into smaller pieces with minimal waste.

2. Do I need to install anything?
No, it’s a web-based tool that works directly in your browser.

3. Can I use it for wood only?
No, it works for wood, metal, glass, acrylic, and any other material cut to length.

4. What does “kerf” mean?
Kerf is the thickness of the saw blade, representing material lost during cutting.

5. What if my saw kerf is larger than 3mm?
You can adjust the kerf input to match your blade’s thickness.

6. How do I remove a piece from the cutlist?
Click the “Remove” button next to the piece in your list.

7. Can I calculate without entering a kerf?
Yes, you can set kerf to 0mm, but results will be less realistic.

8. How accurate are the results?
The tool uses a best-fit algorithm, which is highly efficient but may not always be 100% perfect in real-world cutting.

9. Can I save my results?
Yes, use the Copy or Share buttons to save or send your cutlist.

10. What happens if I don’t enter stock length?
The calculator cannot generate results without a valid stock length.

11. Can I add multiple different piece sizes?
Yes, you can add as many different lengths and quantities as you need.

12. What if I need only one cut?
The calculator still works—you’ll simply get one cut and the waste measurement.

13. Does the tool consider grain direction in wood?
No, it only calculates length cuts. Grain considerations must be handled manually.

14. How do I reset everything?
Click the Reset button to clear inputs and start fresh.

15. Is this tool free to use?
Yes, it’s completely free.

16. Can I use it offline?
No, you need internet access to run the calculator.

17. Is my data stored anywhere?
No, everything runs locally in your browser and isn’t saved externally.

18. Can I share results with my team?
Yes, use the Share button for quick distribution.

19. What units does the calculator use?
It uses millimeters (mm) for all measurements.

20. Who can benefit most from this tool?
Woodworkers, carpenters, metal fabricators, DIY enthusiasts, and construction professionals.

Conclusion

The Cutlist Calculator is an essential tool for anyone working with stock materials. By accounting for kerf and efficiently organizing cuts, it helps you save money, reduce waste, and streamline your workflow.

Instead of spending hours calculating cut patterns manually, you can now generate results in seconds—making your projects smoother, smarter, and more cost-effective.