A good cut list saves boards, money and trips to the yard. Enter the parts you need, your stock board length and your saw kerf below, and this optimizer packs the longest pieces first to show how many boards you need, exactly what to cut from each one, and how much ends up as waste.
Your cut list
Parts needed (length in inches × quantity)
How the math works
This is a one-dimensional (boards only) optimizer using First Fit Decreasing: it expands your list into individual pieces, sorts them longest first, then places each piece on the first board where it fits — opening a new board only when it does not fit anywhere. Each piece consumes its length plus one saw kerf when another piece already sits on that board.
Waste % = (total stock length − total part length) ÷ total stock length × 100
Worked example: stock 8 ft (96″), kerf ⅛″ (0.125″), parts 30″ × 2 + 24″ × 2 + 18″ × 1. Total part length is 126″. The optimizer packs Board 1: 30″ + 30″ + 24″ (offcut 11.8″) and Board 2: 24″ + 18″ (offcut 53.9″) — 2 boards in total, and waste is (192 − 126) ÷ 192 = 34.4%. That second offcut is over four feet long, so keep it: it is a usable board for a future small part.
Tips before you cut
- Cut the longest pieces first. That is exactly what the optimizer does — long pieces are hardest to place, so they get first pick of fresh boards. Short pieces fill the gaps.
- Measure your real kerf. A standard ⅛″ is the default here, but a thin-kerf blade is nearer 3⁄32″ and a dado stack is wider. Measure a test cut if waste matters.
- Leave a little extra on first cuts. Rough-cut parts ¼″ long, then trim to final size after joinery — it forgives a wobbly cut and a board that is not perfectly straight.
- Save the offcuts. Short pieces from this plan are perfect for scrap wood projects. For sheet goods instead of boards, use the plywood sheet calculator, and for volume and cost use the board foot calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is kerf?
Kerf is the width of material your saw blade removes with each cut — about ⅛″ (0.125″) for a standard table-saw blade. Every cut eats a kerf-width slice, so five cuts across a board lose over half an inch in total. This optimizer adds one kerf between pieces on the same board.
Why does the optimizer cut the longest pieces first?
Long pieces have the fewest places they can fit, so placing them first avoids the classic mistake of filling boards with short pieces and then finding no board left for a long one. Short pieces are flexible and slot into the gaps the long pieces leave behind.
What is the difference between a 1D and a sheet optimizer?
A 1D optimizer (this tool) packs lengths along boards — one dimension. A sheet optimizer packs rectangles across a plywood sheet — two dimensions, length and width — which is a harder problem. Use this tool for boards and dimensional lumber, and a sheet calculator for plywood panels.
How do I use the offcuts?
Label each offcut with its length and species as soon as you cut it, and store long ones flat. Anything over about 12″ is usable for small parts, cleats, drawer sides or glue-ups. Shorter pieces still work for test cuts, wedges and the scrap projects linked above — throw away only what is truly too short or damaged.