Cutting List Calculator
Plan a cut list and find how many stock boards to buy. Enter the finished piece length, how many you need, the board length and your saw kerf, plus any trim removed from each board.
How to plan a cutting list
- Enter the finished length of one piece and how many pieces you need.
- Enter the stock board length and your saw kerf.
- Read the pieces per board, the boards needed, and the offcut left over.
Examples
Ten 18 in shelves from 8 ft boards
Piece 18 in, quantity 10, stock 96 in, kerf 0.125 in
5 pieces per board, 2 boards, 5.5 in offcut
Frequently asked questions
How many boards do I need?
Divide the usable board length by the piece length plus one kerf to get pieces per board, then divide your quantity by that and round up. For ten 18 inch pieces from 96 inch boards you need 2 boards.
What is the saw kerf and why does it matter?
The kerf is the width of material a blade removes on each cut, often about 1/8 inch. Across many cuts it adds up, so ignoring it can leave you one piece short on the last board.
What does trim waste do?
Trim waste is length cut off the end of each board to square it or remove a defect before cutting parts. It is removed first, so it lowers the usable length on every board.
Why is my offcut so large on the last board?
The tool reports the offcut per board for a full set of pieces. The final board often holds fewer pieces, so its real leftover can be longer than the figure shown. Plan that drop for smaller parts.
What if a piece is longer than the board?
Then no pieces fit a single board and the tool reports zero pieces per board and zero boards. You will need longer stock or you must join shorter pieces to reach the length.
Related tools
Board Feet Calculator
Calculate board feet of lumber from thickness, width and length. Enter quantity and price per board foot to get total board feet and project cost.
Shelf Sag Calculator
Calculate how much a loaded shelf will sag from its span, depth, thickness, load and material. See deflection per foot and whether it is acceptable.
Wood Shrinkage Calculator
Calculate how much a board shrinks or swells as its moisture content changes. Enter width, start and end moisture, and species or cut for the result.
Appliance Energy Calculator
Find what an appliance costs to run from its wattage. Enter watts, hours per day and your rate to see kWh and cost per day, month and year.
Aquarium Volume Calculator
Calculate your fish tank volume in gallons and liters from inside dimensions in inches. Set a fill level to estimate the actual water it holds.
Baseboard Calculator
Estimate linear feet and pieces of baseboard or trim for a room. Enter length and width, subtract doorways, set piece length and add waste.