Free cut list optimizer

Plan every cut. Waste less material.

Enter the parts you need and the sheets you have. CutList Optimization finds the layout that uses the fewest sheets and tells you exactly where, and in what order, to cut.

Open the cut list optimizer See all calculators
  • Free to start
  • Nothing to install. First 5 calculations need no account
  • Kerf, grain and edge banding
A woodworker guiding a full sheet of birch plywood through a sliding panel saw in a bright workshop
The cut list optimizer with a kitchen cabinet project: parts list, two melamine sheets with the cutting diagram, and statistics with 30 of 30 panels placed and the edge banding cost

Fewer sheets, less waste

Works with any rectangular sheet material

  • Plywood
  • MDF
  • Melamine
  • Chipboard
  • Glass
  • Acrylic
  • Hardboard

How it works

From a parts list to a cutting plan in three steps

No drawing and no software to learn. Type sizes, press Calculate, take the plan to the saw.

  1. Hands measuring a plywood cabinet with a tape measure next to a notebook with a list of part sizes
    1

    Measure and list your parts

    Write down the length, width and quantity of every part, and the size of the sheets you can buy or already have.

  2. Panels table with length, width, quantity, label and edge banding for each part
    2

    Type them in and press Calculate

    The optimizer tries many arrangements for every sheet and keeps the one with the least waste.

  3. A woodworker pushing a white melamine panel through a table saw along the rip fence
    3

    Cut with confidence

    Follow the numbered cut sequence at the saw, sheet by sheet, and know every part will fit.

Calculators

Pick the calculator for your material

Every calculator is the same optimizer with an example and advice for that material. Start with any of them and change the sizes to your own.

Cut plywood parts laid out on a workbench with a tape measure, a pencil and a square Any sheet material Cut list optimizer The full tool for any sheet material: panels, stock sheets, kerf, grain, materials and edge banding. Open calculator → A circular saw on a guide rail cutting a full sheet of birch plywood on sawhorses Plywood Plywood cut calculator Plan cuts on 4 × 8 ft and 1220 × 2440 mm plywood sheets with the fewest sheets and a simple rip-then-crosscut order. Open calculator → A cabinet maker cutting a white melamine board on a sliding panel saw, with MDF boards stacked behind MDF · Melamine · Chipboard MDF & melamine cut calculator Cut MDF, melamine and chipboard boards for cabinets and wardrobes, with edge banding totals. Open calculator → A glazier scoring a glass sheet along a straight ruler Glass · Mirror · Acrylic Glass cutting optimizer Lay out window panes, mirrors and tabletops on glass sheets with straight score lines and less waste. Open calculator →

Features

Powerful for workshops, simple for everyone

Built for real cutting: the options you need and nothing you have to learn.

Cutting diagram

Every sheet, drawn to scale

See where each part goes, with its size, its label and the edges that get banding.

  • Fewest sheets and the largest usable offcut
  • Kerf spacing between every part
  • Zoom, colors and dimensions on or off
Try it now →
Cutting diagram of a 2800 by 2070 mm melamine sheet with bottoms, shelves, sides, doors and drawer fronts

Statistics

Know the numbers before you buy

Sheets used, used and wasted area, number of cuts, total cut length and edge banding cost, for the job and for each sheet.

  • How many sheets to order
  • Edge banding length and cost
  • Parts that did not fit, if any
Global statistics: used stock sheets, used and wasted area, total cuts, cut length, panels placed and edge banding cost

Two ways to optimize

Least waste or easiest to cut

Pack parts as tightly as possible, or rip the sheet into full-length strips and line up parts of the same length so they come out of one crosscut.

  • Guillotine cuts only
  • Click a cut to see it on the sheet
  • Print or export it as a PDF
See the plywood calculator →
The same melamine sheet in Easiest to cut mode: full-width strips of bottoms, shelves and sides, then a strip of doors and drawer fronts

Options

Kerf, grain, materials and edge banding

Set your blade thickness, lock parts that must keep their grain, match parts to the right material and get the edge banding total at your price per meter.

White edge banding being trimmed on the edge of a melamine panel
See the MDF & melamine calculator →
Options panel: kerf thickness, optimization priority, labels, one sheet only, material, edge banding with units, price and currency, and grain direction
A bin overflowing with plywood offcuts next to a neat stack of new sheets
Every offcut in the bin is material you paid for.

Why it pays off

Every sheet you save stays in your pocket

Sheet material is the biggest cost in most cabinet and furniture jobs. A better layout means fewer sheets to buy and fewer mistakes at the saw.

Material

Fewer sheets, less waste

The optimizer tries many arrangements for every sheet and keeps the one with the least waste.

Time

Minutes, not an evening

No sketching layouts by hand. Change a size and calculate again in seconds.

Accuracy

Parts that really fit

Kerf, grain direction and materials are taken into account, so the plan matches the saw.

Cost

No surprises

See the sheet count and the edge banding cost before you order anything.

Who it is for

For anyone who cuts sheets

From a weekend bookshelf to a full kitchen.

A person assembling a plywood bookshelf at home
DIY woodworkersKnow how many sheets to buy before you go to the store.
A cabinet maker fitting a shelf into a white melamine cabinet
Cabinet makersPlan carcasses, shelves and doors with grain and edge banding.
A furniture factory with a beam panel saw and carts of cut parts
Furniture shopsSend a clear cutting plan to the panel saw or the supplier.
A glazier scoring a glass sheet along a straight ruler
Glass and acrylicLay out panes and mirrors on stock sheets with straight cuts.

Plans

Free to start

Try it without an account. Upgrade only if you cut every day.

Without an account

Free

  • A few calculations to try it
  • All options and exports
  • Projects saved in your browser

Free account

Free

  • More calculations every day
  • All options and exports
  • Sign in with Google or email

Pro and Lifetime

Monthly, or pay once

  • Unlimited calculations
  • Priority email support
  • Supports the project

FAQ

Everything you need to know before you cut

Still have a question? Email support.

What is CutList Optimization?

A set of free online cutting calculators. You enter the parts you need and the sheets you have, and the optimizer arranges the parts on the sheets so that you use fewer sheets and waste less material.

Is it free?

Yes. You can calculate without an account, and a free account gives you more calculations every day. Pro and Lifetime plans remove the daily limit.

Which materials can I cut?

Any rectangular sheet material: plywood, MDF, melamine, chipboard, hardboard, acrylic, glass, metal sheet and more. Use the same unit for parts and sheets.

Do I need to install anything?

No. The calculators run in your web browser on a computer, tablet or phone, and your projects are saved in your browser.

Can I print the cutting plan?

Yes. You can print the diagram, export it as a PDF or PNG image, and export the cut list as CSV or JSON.

Are the cuts practical on a table saw or panel saw?

Yes. Every layout uses guillotine cuts, where each cut goes all the way across the piece being cut, and the cuts are numbered in the order you make them.

Free cut list optimizer

The saw does the cutting. We handle the planning.

Open the optimizer, type your sizes and press Calculate. Your first 5 calculations need no account.

Open the cut list optimizer
Cut plywood parts laid out on a workbench with a tape measure, a pencil and a square