Definition
Kerf
The width of the material a saw blade removes as it cuts, which is lost from the board. A typical table saw blade takes about 1/8 inch, a circular saw about 3/32 inch, and a hand saw around 1/32 inch.
Kerf has to be counted once per cut, so a board carrying three pieces needs two kerfs, not three: the last piece runs to the end of the board. Forgetting kerf is why a cut list comes up one piece short.
Tools that use this term
Cut List Calculator
Total board feet and linear length for a list of parts, with quantity for each part.
Cut List Optimizer
Estimate how many stock boards a cut list needs, allowing for saw kerf, end trimming and waste.
Lumber Calculator
Work out board feet, cubic volume and linear length for sawn lumber in inches, feet, centimetres or metres.
Material Waste Calculator
How much extra material to buy for a waste percentage, and what that waste actually costs you.