Cut List Optimizer
Estimate how many stock boards a cut list needs, allowing for saw kerf, end trimming and waste.
At a glance
- What you enter
- Total finished length of all parts, Number of parts, Length of one stock board, Saw kerf, End trim per board, Waste allowance
- What you get
- Whole boards before waste, Boards to buy, Total length bought, Length left over, Estimated yield, Board feet if the stock is 2x4
- Formula shown
- Yes, every step, right below your results.
- Cost and privacy
- Free, no account needed, and nothing you type is stored.
See worked examples ↓ Read the FAQ ↓ Share this calculator ↓
Results are estimates for general information only, always verify with a professional or official source before acting on them.
How to use the Cut List Optimizer
- 1 Enter Total finished length of all parts (in), Add up the length of every part, multiplied by how many you need of each.
- 2 Enter Number of parts
- 3 Enter Length of one stock board (in), 96 inches is an 8 foot board. Common hardwood comes in 6, 8, 10 and 12 foot lengths.
- 4 Enter Saw kerf (in), About 1/8 inch on a table saw blade and 3/32 inch on a circular saw.
- 5 Enter End trim per board (in), The amount squared off each end of a rough board before it can be measured and cut.
- 6 Enter Waste allowance (%), Ten percent for clear stock, up to twenty when grain has to match or the grade is low.
- 7 Press Calculate. You get Whole boards before waste, Boards to buy, Total length bought, Length left over, Estimated yield, Board feet if the stock is 2x4, and every intermediate step stays visible under "How is this calculated?"
- 8 Change one number at a time to see what moves the result, that is usually the most useful thing a calculator can tell you.
Worked examples
Real numbers run through this calculator. Open any example to load it into the form above and change it.
Table build with 14 parts
420 inches of parts, 14 cuts, 8 foot boards, table saw kerf, ten percent waste.
You enter
- Total finished length of all parts
- 420 in
- Number of parts
- 14
- Length of one stock board
- 96 in
- Saw kerf
- 0.13 in
- End trim per board
- 1 in
- Waste allowance
- 10%
You get
- Whole boards before waste
- 5
- Boards to buy
- 6
- Total length bought
- 576.00 in
- Length left over
- 154.25 in
- Estimated yield
- 73.2%
- Board feet if the stock is 2x4
- 21.00 bf
Five boards before waste, six to buy.
Shelving in 1x12
300 inches of shelf lengths, 10 parts, 8 foot boards with a circular saw kerf.
You enter
- Total finished length of all parts
- 300 in
- Number of parts
- 10
- Length of one stock board
- 96 in
- Saw kerf
- 0.09 in
- End trim per board
- 1 in
- Waste allowance
- 15%
You get
- Whole boards before waste
- 4
- Boards to buy
- 5
- Total length bought
- 480.00 in
- Length left over
- 179.06 in
- Estimated yield
- 62.7%
- Board feet if the stock is 2x4
- 17.50 bf
Four boards before waste, five to buy with the higher allowance.
Oak parts that must match
360 inches of visible parts, 12 cuts, 8 foot boards, twenty percent waste for grain matching.
You enter
- Total finished length of all parts
- 360 in
- Number of parts
- 12
- Length of one stock board
- 96 in
- Saw kerf
- 0.13 in
- End trim per board
- 1 in
- Waste allowance
- 20%
You get
- Whole boards before waste
- 4
- Boards to buy
- 5
- Total length bought
- 480.00 in
- Length left over
- 118.50 in
- Estimated yield
- 75.3%
- Board feet if the stock is 2x4
- 17.50 bf
Grain matching is the hidden cost on a visible project.
Guides that go with it
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Frequently asked questions
What is saw kerf and how much does it cost me?
How many boards will my cut list need?
Why does this estimate sometimes ask for more boards than I need?
Should I allow for defects in a cut list?
Terms used here
Short, plain-language definitions of the words this calculator uses.