Free Cutting List Calculator
Ditch the notebook and pencil. Enter your project dimensions into our cutting list calculator and instantly generate an optimized plan that reduces scrap and saves you money at the lumberyard.
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Try the Linear Cutting List Calculator
Input the length of your stock material and add all the required cuts to see how they can be grouped efficiently.
Linear Cutting Calculator
Optimize 1D materials like timber, pipe, and extrusions.
What is a Cutting List?
A cutting list is a comprehensive schedule of all the individual parts required to build a project, detailing the quantity, thickness, width, and length of every single piece. Whether you are framing a shed, building custom cabinetry, or fabricating steel frames, a precise list is essential.
However, simply having a list isn't enough. You need to know how to map those required pieces onto raw materials efficiently. This is where cutting list software comes in. By running your dimensions through a calculator, the software performs "bin packing" math to find the perfect nesting arrangement.
Manual Planning vs. Digital Cutting Lists
Upgrading from a notepad to a digital optimizer offers significant advantages:
- Zero Guesswork: You never have to stand at the saw wondering if you should cut the long pieces or short pieces first.
- Material Savings: A digital cut list optimizer consistently finds 10-20% more yield than a human can calculate manually, directly lowering project costs.
- Kerf Accuracy: Software automatically deducts blade thickness between every single cut.
- Offcut Management: Instead of generating dozens of useless tiny scraps, software groups cuts to leave you with one large, usable offcut for the next job.
Learn more about implementing this in our guide on how to create a cut list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stop Wasting Time on Manual Math
Create your free account to access our suite of professional cut list calculators, save your projects, and track inventory.
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Related Tools: Cut List Optimizer | Cut List Calculator | Cut List Software
More Optimizers: Sheet Cutting Optimizer | Length Cutting Optimizer